STACK Mar #137

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his prequel spin-off series focuses on the outbreak
f the zombie apocalypse that sent Rick Grimes
d his Atlanta group on the hard road to survival.
begins innocuously in a church in Los Angeles,
here drug-addicted teenager Nick (Frank Dillane)
akens to discover his girlfriend has developed a
ste for human flesh. A short season of six episodes
troduces us to a new bunch of characters, most of
hom aren't particularly likeable, with the focus on
a dysfunctional family. Moreover, the zombie factor
is downplayed in favour of the military's involvement in enforcing
martial law. Fear the Walking Dead has a ways to go before it hits
the heights of its sibling series, but watching the end of the world
as we know it still holds an irresistible appeal. SH
When civilisation ends, it ends fast.
FEAR THE WALKING DEAD: SEASON 1
Imagine being able to do or have
anything you desire. It’s a well-worn
set-up, but Monty Python alumnus
Terry Jones has oodles of fun
with it in Absolutely Anything, as
does Simon Pegg. A collective of
space snobs calling themselves the
‘Intergalactic Council of Superior
Beings’ (as complete a Python
reunion as is possible, even if in
voice only) are cruising for planets
to destroy. Earth’s next, but they
have to give targets a chance to
prove that they’ll use granted
omnipotent powers for good. Neil
Clarke (Pegg) is our guy, who’s
helped by his dog Dennis (voiced
with glee by Robin Williams).
Absolutely Anything is charming,
offbeat, and delightfully British. AF
ABSOLUTELY
ANYTHING
Release Date:
23/03/16
Format:
Back in 1996, a novel called Infinite
Jest, set in a dystopic USA, was
released and soon became an ‘it’
title. Sceptical of all the fanatical
buzz surrounding the book, Rolling
Stone writer David Lipsky (Jesse
Eisenberg) decided to actually
read it – and he became a believer.
After successfully pitching a
feature article to his editor, Lipsky
set off for a marathon five-day
interview with the author, David
Foster Wallace (Jason Segel). Told
in flashback following Lipsky’s
learning of Wallace’s suicide in
2008, this thoughtful, charming
and wordy-yet-captivating drama
is the story of those five days of
bonding, fallings out and deep
discussion. AF
THE END OF
THE TOUR
Release Date:
24/03/16
Format:
Release Date: 02/03/16 Format:
Throughout TV history, the line between good and
bad in cop shows has usually been absolute – the
constabulary are the goodies, the baddies are the,
well, baddies, and the only time they’ll meet is when
the latter are being nicked. Luther creator Neil Cross
seems to revel in playing with this rigid trope, helped
immeasurably by Idris Elba in the titular role. One
minute he seems in control, the next you’re convinced
that he’s about to go totally off tap. As a viewer it
keeps you on your toes, and draws you into a deep
web of intrigue, darkness and moral ambiguity. This fourth series – if
you can actually call two episodes a series – sees Luther’s leave of
absence curtailed upon hearing some shocking news. Then there’s
the grisly matter of cannibal erotica killings (!) to be sorted. AF
Cop on the edge.
LUTHER: SERIES 4
Cyclist Lance Armstrong was a
hero to millions. As if winning
the Tour de France seven times
in a row wasn’t enough, he did it
after beating cancer. He seemed
invincible – and of course now we
all know why, as he was hoovering
performance-enhancing drugs.
Before this revelation shocked the
world, Irish sports journo David
Walsh (Chris O’Dowd) thought that
something was rotten in Denmark
(or indeed wherever Armstrong,
played with conviction here by
Ben Foster, competed), and set
out to uncover what he believed
to be the truth. While we know
the basic story, director Stephen
Frears brings tension and drama to
his telling of this cheat’s tale. AF
THE PROGRAM
Release Date:
24/03/16
Format:
Jack Dwyer (Owen Wilson,
hanging up his laughing gear to
exercise his inner action hero) has
precious little to grumble about.
He has a loving wife (Lake Bell),
two sweet kids and a decent job.
But when the chance to head up
his company’s new Southeast
Asia plant arises, he jumps at
it. Soon after arriving, however,
things don’t seem quite right.
They’ve actually lobbed in the
midst of a violent coup, whereby
armed rebels are hunting down
foreigners then playing judge, jury
and executioner. With the help of
a mysterious Brit (Pierce Brosnan),
Jack must get his family to the US
Embassy while they’re alive, rather
than in body bags. AF
NO ESCAPE
Release Date:
16/03/16
Format:
Release Date: 02/03/16 Format:
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