GREETINGS & SALUTATIONS
In this edition:
Billionaires go bonkers in Mountainhead
Glastonbury 2025
It’s hot.
I wouldn’t be English if I didn’t mention the weather (“so hot I’ve reverted to the state of a whimpering child” is all you need to know), but like a marathon runner chucking paper cups of water in their face, I pushed on and finished my feature film script Verses. It’s a psychological fantasy/horror about an obsessive fan who mutates into their idol, a multi-hyphenate global superstar.
It’s kind of my homage to David Lynch, mixing Mulholland Drive with The Fly, Black Swan and even a dash of Don’t Look Now (I also wrote it with Challengers in mind, for the energy…) It’s a surreal, sometimes satirical story about what happens when success doesn’t come your way, and how that untapped potential manifests as something unhealthy. Not based on my life in any way whatsoever, you understand!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE? - https://verses-141g31c.gamma.site
After finishing a few additional tweaks I will probably move on to another long-gestating television project based on the village where I live. I’ve often wondered what would happen if we ever had to isolate ourselves from the rest of the world - I mean, who DOESN’T have daydreams like that? - so I’ll be splashing around in satirical post-COVID waters, writing about how the neighbours survive a deadly killer virus AND EACH OTHER. (Think White Lotus meets Shaun of the Dead.)
JUST ONE MORE THING…
My eldest child has finished secondary school. My youngest is about to finish junior school. The times they are a-changin’ indeed. Time only speeds past faster and faster, so, a reminder - if we ever needed one - to get cracking on those long put-off things which really get you excited about life.
I’ve been having a clear out of things I no longer need, that only take up space in my life (and house). So I’m saying farewell to my filming equipment (hopefully I can find a good home for all my gear) - partly because it only reminds me that I’m not using it, mostly because I know if I’m going to do any more filming I will be using other people’s equipment! It is a bit like saying goodbye to a long-lost era, but that’s not a bad thing - I’m no longer there, I’m here instead!
FILM
YOUR MONSTER
A short, sharp release in cinemas earlier this year, I caught this recently on NOW TV, and after reading positive reviews I would wholeheartedly agree - this film is a lot of fun. Essentially a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast - but with the Beast representing depression - it’s a fun horror/comedy in which a struggling actress (Melissa Barrera) is stuck in a bad place post-break-up only to find a monster is living in her apartment. Of course, it sounds daft, but it is one of those films which totally commits to its premise and mostly delivers on it. It doesn’t quite stick the ending - at least it takes a turn somewhat - but there’s a lot to enjoy and the leads spark of each other nicely.
VERDICT: Surprising and fun.
ANORA
Another film which, despite winning all the Oscars, had a limited cinema release where I live (in the tiny, hamlet-esque CITY of Chelmsford). I’ve been an admirer of filmmaker Sean Baker since Tangerine, more so of making low- budget films to critical acclaim (the world needs more Sean Bakers).
Mikey Madison stars as Anora, a dancer in a Brooklyn strip club who meets and marries the son of a Russian oligarch, who very much disapproves of this.
The first hour is great - the story and situation are interesting, Madison deserves her Oscar - but then there’s a switch in tone and the rest of the film plays out in an odd, almost hyperactive way. I won’t get into spoilers but it did leave me with questions about my expectations and what Baker was trying to say. Dreams versus reality; as if life can be as easy as a Disney fairy tale. But man is that Russian kid annoying.
VERDICT: Conflicted.
PIECE BY PIECE
A documentary charting the life of uber-music producer and performer Pharrell Williams told in the form of Lego. Why? This is a question which hangs over the film. It’s different, for sure, and who doesn’t like seeing Lego versions of Snoop Dogg and Daft Punk, but I struggled to see who this was aimed at.
A documentary about Pharrell? Why not. It has its moments where you think “Oh yeah, he produced that song too!” In fact, he produced an incredible amount of songs twenty years ago or so. But in the cold light of day, this isn’t a Lego film aimed at the Ninjago/Batman/Lego Movie kiddy brigade. Yes, Piece by Piece is a PG film (there are a few S-words dropped), but Lego (the company) was never going to let their product be used for the grown-up market, so there’s Pharrell’s story is rendered watered-down (They even have to use “PG spray” during a druggy meeting).
If you want an inspiring story, there’s some stuff here (although it is very much told via the prism of THE CHOSEN ONE), but would little kids be interested? Probably not. Would the grown ups? Possibly. If you saw this on a TV, you’d watch it and go “Yeah, that was quite interesting.” But I say this as a massive Lego fan - this did not need Lego.
VERDICT: Watchable, if irrelevant.
TELEVISION
MOUNTAINHEAD
Showing on NOW TV, Mountainhead is a satirical comedy/drama by Succession’s Jesse Armstrong - so that should give you a good idea what you’re in for: Commentary, hip-speak, cutting edge wit, so on the razor’s edge it is in danger of toppling off at any moment.
Four billionaires, clearly based on the likes of Musk and Bezos, group together at a retreat as the world falls apart outside. There are some funny moments (Billionaires comparing how rich they are to each other - lots of “Billionaire problems” to raise a smirk), but it also has plenty of fish in the barrel to shoot at. In fact, the film is one big target. It’s almost too easy to mock people like this because we do it on a daily basis. The stand-out in the cast is Steve Carrell, who is the glue which holds all of these super-annoying characters together. It takes a while to get going, and the characters irk to the point of watching with gritted teeth but ultimately mixes the absurd and the terrifying with great skill.
VERDICT: Doom-scroll doomwatch.
GLASTONBURY ‘25
It’s that time of year again when my Freeview box struggles to stay above 0% as it records all of BBC’s coverage of the best music festival, Glastonbury. And then there’s the stuff they didn’t show on TV: BBC iPlayer is jammed with even more performances, and this year the Beeb have really gone for it - it’s probably going to take me a week to watch it all.
So who were my stand-outs, I don’t hear you ask: Alanis Morrissette, Lorde, Scissor Sisters, Divorce, Biffy Clyro, Brandi Carlile, Franz Ferdinand, Lewis Capaldi, Wolf Alice, Neil Young, Charli XCX, Haim, Lola Young… I mean, what a mix. I always had great admiration for singers/bands who can recreate the song on stage without struggling, and En Vogue were amazing. It’s not easy to do what they do and to get it so spot-on was astounding. Gary Numan prowled and scowled like he’d just got back from an apocalyptic future, John Fogarty gave it a load of welly, Supergrass were typically great, but my favourite was without a doubt, Pulp.
For old gits like me who can’t handle live music in the flesh, watching Glasto every year is a reminder of the good in the world.
VERDICT: A vintage year.
ON ROTATION
Here are the highlights from Glastonbury ‘25 in case you missed it - enjoy!
If you enjoyed Short People, please spread the word!