The Best Things in 2026

 Say Nothing.

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2004-5)

 S 3, 4. If Wishes Were Horses. Writer Simon Booker.

A man is blown up with a car bomb. His current wife Jemma Redgrave and former one Barbara Flynn (with great Irish accent) are somehow involved. Lynley's pregnant wife Helen stupidly is self-involved and she's attacked in her car and loses the baby. Cue lots of Lynley growling at Havers, who's very calm with him, understanding what he's going through. Then she's shot... Not much of a season finale.

Very coincidentally, Abhin Galeya from Say Nothing is in it.

S 4, 1. In Divine Proportion. By Julian Simpson.

A restaurateur is shot in a small Suffolk village. Turns out everyone's involved. Managed to pin the main culprit about halfway through.

With Slyvestra Le Touzel, Jimmy Yuill, Craig Parkinson, Richard Armitage, Burn Gorman.

In an unbeatable ending, Havers is held with others at gunpoint and we think 'Is she turning to jelly?' But then she acts. Starts beating the shit out of the gunman. Then breaks down in Lynley's arms, in one incredible continuous take... I mean, we're so invested in her character, this is emotional stuff. One of the best in the series.

Say Nothing (2024 Creator Joshua Zetumer)

Epic nine part series for FX, based on Patrick Radden Keefe's non-fiction investigation into true events starting in the times of the 1960s Troubles.

Lola Petticrew (who was also the star of the Northern Ireland drama Trespasses) is Dolours, becomes indoctrinated into the IRA, whilst an older version of herself (Maxine Peake) recounts her story to a journalist. She and her sister haven't much of a chance - their dad is always telling revolutionary stories, their mum is burying guns in the garden, their aunt was badly damaged by a bomb.

Whilst the show proclaims that Gerry Adams has always denied any involvement with the IRA he's shown here being a passionate and active member of said organisation. He's played by Josh Finan (The Responder, Waiting for the Out). All acting good. With Anthony Boyle / Tom Vaughan-Lawlor (Adams' No. 2 / older self), Hazel Doupe (sister), Frank Blake (turns informer), Ryan McParland (with spud gun!), Judith Roddy (disappeared mother), Emily Healy and Isaac Heslip (elder children), Martin McCann (new handler, Blue Lights), Abhin Galeya (sympathetic prison doctor).

Some good black humour, e.g. involving newly arrived General Rory Kinnear and Gerry Adams' dog, but the sound quality is poor and mixed with the sometimes thick Irish accents makes it difficult to understand at times. It's effective as it shows the Troubles from the Catholic / IRA perspective and manages to use humour to leaven a tough story.

The key element is a mum who is taken away, for an act of kindness to an injured British soldier. The girls are good at strategy - decide to free an imprisoned IRA member from hospital, dress up as nuns to rob a bank, decide to car bomb London... and then in Brixton start a hunger strike which almost kills the younger one in order to get sent back to Ireland.

Dolours grows up, realises it was all wrong. Then, we were not expecting Stephen Rea to come into the story! (Damien Molony).

Episode 3 is directed by Mary Bing Jamie Alfreda Leonara Quick Kit Nighy, daughter of Bill Nighy and Diana Quick!

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2004)

 S 3, 3. A Cry For Justice.

A murder in Oxford. Is somehow philanthropist / businessman Terence Harvey involved? Is his wife Jenny Agutter? (I thought she probably was up to something the moment I saw her.) What's Daniel Ryan know about it all? Will Al Weaver grow up and join Grantchester?

Mark Partridge lights it all rather beautifully.

Still, at least Havers has been reinstated - hurray!

Hard Truths (2024 Mike Leigh & scr)

Pansy, a fabulous performance from Marianne Jean Baptiste, is a nightmare in the way she interacts with everyone, even people trying to help her (which I found all quite funny). She's also a nightmare with her own family, husband David Webber and very repressed son Tuwaine Barrett. We get some glimpses as to why, from interaction with her much more upbeat sister Chantell, Michele Austin, who has a much more normal relationship with her two daughters Ani Nelson and Sophia Brown.

A graveside scene (with the wonderful touch of a group of bikers passing through the graveyard) and then things build into one of those Mike Leigh crescendos, though quite a muted one for him, at a small family party on Mother's Day.

Mike's skilful control of character and scenes is undiminished.

Photographed again by Dick Pope (oddly is a widescreen ratio) and edited by Tania Reddin, with a typically mournful score from Gary Yershon. Many memorable scenes, especially the ray of light when a girl in Piccadilly starts talking to Barrett (in long shot), but the ending is curiously enigmatic. Also, the way she wakes up is really bizarre, and funny, and.. what trauma has she experienced for this to happen?

Ferris Buller's Day Off (1986 John Hughes & scr)

Triggered by this interesting film by Danny Boyd on CinemaStix about how the film was recut after negative previews. It simply amounted to a bit of cutting - the restaurant dining scene was filmed but removed - and then the structure changed. Realising the street musical scene was the strongest they moved that to towards the end, and also changed the music in the art museum scene from Spanish acoustic to The Dream Academy. Not the first time that Paul Hirsch would alter a John Hughes film, see here.

Alan Ruck is apparently emulating Gene Saks when he's on the phone to the Principal - I thought he was doing Eddie Mayehoff from How To Murder Your Wife.

It has a great reputation but frankly it's not the best film in the world, but quite enjoyable. A good showcase for Chicago.

With Mia Sara, Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer Grey, Cindy Pickett, Lyman Ward, Charlie Sheen, Edie McGlurg, Del Close ('Anybody?')

Photographed by Tak Fujimoto.

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2003-4)

 S 2, 4. Deception on His Mind. Written by Valerie Windsor.

A racist murder has taken place on the Essex coast. Havers' neighbour Tanveer Ghani and her child go there for 'personal reasons' and Havers also goes along to look up her former boss Emily Joyce (lots of TV including Cracker).

Meanwhile a young Pakistani girl is pregnant - Anjali Jay - her fiance has been killed. Father Saeed Jaffrey. Brother is the truly vile Tarek Ramini who it turns out is involved in people trafficking (and much worse) . And it also turns out there's a reason for Joyce's hostility to him. Terence Hillyer is funny as a slightly sinister B&B owner.

Lynley turns up, of course. In an exciting boat chase finale, Lynley jumps in to save the girl but Joyce won't stop the boat to save them so Havers has to shoot her with a flare gun.

What a lovely smile!

In its treatment of racism and sexual hypocrisy and the vile brother character (who likes shagging white women though he claims he detests them) and the Ahab-like police DS, it's one of the strongest of the series.

S 3, 1. In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner. Written by Ann-Marie di Mambro.

Lynley has longer hair; Havers has been demoted for the flare gun incident - what was she supposed to have done??

A couple camping have been bludgeoned - she's the daughter of ex police chief Timothy West, wife Sorcha Cusack. Lynley manages to get Havers up there to help - strictly to do research through old files. Naturally she's soon off doing her own thing. Despite being repeatedly told she's off the case, she cracks it - this very amusing. But - she doesn't receive recognition for it. We love her character. Also has to deal with sexist local police (Jack Deam). Simon Williams is an alky and there's a very young Tom Burke involved.

S 3, 2. A Traitor to Memory. Adapted by Kevin Clarke.

A woman's been involved in a hit and run, somehow connected to a violinist who cracks in performance. The police constable and Lynley's former boss are both hiding something. It all goes back to a child murder twenty years ago.

Havers has threatened to resign. And - Helen is pregnant. We're not sure Lynley is very happy about it.

David Calder, John McGlynn, Michael Culkin, Richard McCabe, Anthony Higgins.

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2003)

 S2, 1. Playing for the Ashes. Written by Kate Wood. Ruth Gemmell, Phyllios Logan.

A cricketer is found dead. Who done him? Are animal rights activists involved?

Now moved into her new flat, Havers befriends a little girl who's a neighbour (Anjalee Patel). (Well, actually, the girl doesn't give her much option.)

Photographed by Chris Seager.

S2, 2. In the Presence of the Enemy Written by Francesca Brill.

I was just thinking, 'time to put one of her prime characters in danger' and lo and behold someone listened. A newspaper editor's daughter is kidnapped, then found dead. She was the unknown illegitimate daughter of he (James Hazeldine) and politician Sophie Okonedo. Havers befriends a copper who's working on the case, Robert Whitelock, who's rather too close to his mum Kika Markham. (Love their meeting - she overpowers him. But we think - it's about time she found some romance.)  Then the editor's son is also kidnapped...

Okonedo's husband Clint Dyer is rather shouty and should have been reined in but this is a good thrilling episode directed by Brian Stirner.

S2, 3. A Suitable Vengeance. Written by Valerie Windsor.

I was also thinking 'Are we ever going to meet Lynley's family'? He is engaged to marry Helen (Lesley Vickeridge) and brings Havers along to the family pile to meet everyone. She's the fish out of water here, lovely playing by Sharon Small. (Lynley: "Can you call me Tommy this weekend." Havers: "No.") Lynley clearly has a very troubled relationship with his mother Gabrielle Drake (you know, from UFO!) and doctor Peter Egan, also has drug-addicted brother Matthew Goode (one of his very first roles). It turns out to be a story involving drugs, both experimental and traditional.

Lynley should have informed the officer on the case the information he picks up but despite Vickers' urging he chooses not to. Wonder how all this will impact a. his career and b. his supposed marriage.

The cinematography here is mostly good: Graham Frake.

Perhaps too top lit?

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2002)

 S1,3. For the Sake of Elena. Written by Valerie Windsor.

There are even more horrible male characters in this, particularly a don who strips off in front of Havers and Lynley and should be charged with indecent exposure - Richard Lintern. But he's not the murderer of girls jogging near the Cambridge river - the Cam, in fact.

I actually predicted the correct killer, for once. With Tim Pigott-Smith, Cherie Lunghi, James Hillier, June Watson. Photographed by David Higgs.

Abelard and Heloise, famous 12th Century Paris love affair chronicled in a series of letters between the two.

S1, 4. Missing Joseph. Writer Lizzie Mickery.

A vicar is poisoned in a remote rural location. This one is not so east to guess, and is in fact a little far fetched. With Pippa Heywood, Charlotte Salt, Adam Godley, Joanna Dunn. Lynley rekindles his romance with Helen (now played by Lesly Vickeridge) and helps Havers by having her mum's house redecorated so she can sell it - she's furious, somewhat predictably. Jason Merrells is another vile male character.

2002 sounds like not that long ago but as Q points out, it's a quarter of a century.

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2001 - 2007)

Elizabeth George is an American writer who in 2025 completed her 22nd Inspector Lynley novel. We thought we'd check out the original BBC incarnation, starring Nathaniel Parker and Sharon Small.

Sorry to be lazily copying Wikipedia here but 'The first episode (pilot), A Great Deliverance, was broadcast on 12 and 13 March 2001, the only two-part episode throughout the series run. It was also based on the first Inspector Lynley novel. The first full series began broadcasting on 8 April 2002, with the first episode based on and named after the third novel, Well-Schooled in Murder. The first eleven episodes were based on and named after the eleven Inspector Lynley novels published from 1988 to 2001, but not all in the published sequence.' There were 24 episodes in all.

So we watched the pilot, which together runs about 2 hours 20. It's quite a complicated tale - adapted by Lizzie Mickery - with lots of characters, set in Yorkshire, where it appears Lynley had previously been stationed - and run up against the corrupt and incompetent Inspector Nies (Colum Convey). A man is found murdered with only his traumatised daughter at the scene. With Anthony Calf, Amanda Ryan (actually the love of Lynley's life), Emma Fielding, Brendan Coyle, Pooky Quesnel. It turns out to be a case of intra-familial torture and the death of a new-born baby - heady stuff. 

The Lynley / Havers dynamic is a bit more spiky than in the reboot.

Jonathan Bloom gives it a tough look - whether like 28 Days  it was shot on some digital video system or on film I couldn't tell you. Kristina Heatherington edited. There's some weird sound design going on - we keep hearing people clumping around in rooms above - and you think this is going to fit into the story somehow - but it doesn't. It's just distracting.

I thought a locked bookcase was a clue - turns out it wasn't

Series 1, Episode 1 in 2002 is Well Schooled in Murder (written by Simon Block) and it's a rather good investigation into a murder at a boy's public school, with Bill Nighy, John Sessions and Martin Jarvis. The oiks include Henry Cavill (Head Boy), William Mannering (coke dealing bastard prefect) and Samuel Barnett.

Payment in Blood is about the murder of a playwright . This one I actually got halfway to figuring out, but was caught out by the denouement. Lynley and Havers are getting on a  bit better by this time - at one point he helps her take her boots off. Familiar faces here include Ronald Pickup, James McAvoy, Idris Elba and Julian Wadham, with Jonathan Firth and Camilla Power. Lizzie Mickery again adapted.

Well, that's another six hours gone.

Lynley (2025 Steve Thompson)

A reboot of characters based on novels by Elizabeth George, previously dramatised in a series running 2001-2007 with Nathaniel Parker and Sharon Small.

Leo Suter is the posh, Jenssen Interceptor driving DI and Sofia Barclay his somewhat strange-accented DS. And DCI Daniel Mays has something over the new DI.

A Place of Hiding. An art collector on a remote island, who styles himself Augustus Caesar, is found murdered. Funnily enough when I saw a terminally ill woman in bed, I thought 'She did it' as a joke - turns out it was her.

Bollocks of 2026

It's sadly early to start this list (5 January) but unfortunately we have a contender already, Hunting Wives, some crap about a woman who finds herself in the gun packing heart of Texas Republicanism. The title indicates how crap it will be.

Changeling (2008 Clint Eastwood)

 Background info here.

"Did you kill my son?"

The way Clint directs the kids is absolutely brilliant.

So we started the day watching a film that purported to be a true story, but wasn't, The Salt Path, then we watched a film of pure and massive fiction, Random Harvest, and ended up on a film that purported to tell a true story, and did, in the most outstanding way.

Random Harvest (1942 Mervyn LeRoy)

This was released after Mrs Miniver. Based on James Hilton's novel, and screenwritten by Claudine West, George Froeschel and Arthur Wimperis, it's something of a romantic tall tale, in which amnesiac Ronald Coleman (particularly good) falls for helpful Greer Garson (also good). They marry, but then he is injured and regains his memory - but also loses the last few years. The massive plot twist - that when his secretary is revealed it's Garson, and he has no idea who she is - is fabulous, but it's exceedingly unlikely... though of huge delight to the audience. It was of course a massive hit for MGM. we loved it - hadn't see it in years.

We were enjoying the way Harold Kress dissolves from one scene to another. (He's the Man Who Made Margaret Booth Cry. See here.) It's very splendidly photographed by Joseph Ruttenberg. Also thought the cottage set very sweet, designed by Cedric Gibbons:

You can almost hear the gasps of the 1940s audience

With Philip Dorn (doctor), Susan Peters, Henry Travers, Reginald Owen (boxer publican), Bramwell Fletcher, Rhys Williams, Una O'Connor, Aubrey Mather.

Here's what she looks like in colour:

She was of Scottish descent which I guess explains her Scottish number in music hall scene.

Loved the use of sound when he revisits the village from the opening and we hear the music that was playing then.

The Salt Path (2024 Marianne Elliott)

Written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz from Raynor Winn's memoir. Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs play the unhomed couple who walk around the Cornish coast, whilst his terminal illness seems to recede. This article in The Observer reports that the wife was a scammer, the house was lost because they had stolen money, they actually owned a house in France at the time, and that it is highly questionable that the husband had the 'terminal' illness CBD. So whilst they did do the walking, or at least some of it, the rest of their story is highly questionable.

If you look at it purely as a film, it's only OK.

Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs are the couple. With Hermione Norris.

It was filmed by Hélène Louvart and edited by Gareth Scales and Lucia Zucchetti. Chris Roe was the composer.

But. The couple are in their tent one morning and a dog walker passes and whacks their tent with a stick and says very rudely "You can't camp here" and I wanted to kill him. If it's on someone's land then fair enough you need permission, but surely much of that walk is common land?

I didn't notice that for some odd reason the film starts out in 1.85:1 then switches to widescreen 2.4:1.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989 Steven Spielberg)

I was mainly drawn to it by Douglas Slocombe's cinematography - it was his last film - he was 76 (lived till 103!) He is still capable of giving it a lovely tone.

The special effects for the time were award-worthy but they look quite dated now. The set inside the cavern when the floor starts breaking up looks really fake.

It was filmed all over the place, must have cost an absolute fortune - even just Venice establishing shot must have been so difficult to organise in every way (period background, permission from authorities, etc.)

Great to see so much not-CGI stunt work, e.g. opening fight on speeding train with River Phoenix playing the young Indie. Horse work, stunt driving, explosions, tanks, an airship.. amazing.

Harrison Ford is joined by Sean Connery enjoying playing his dad. With Denholm Elliott, Alison Doody, John Rhys-Davies. Alex Hyde-White as 'young Henry' whoever he is is Wilfred's son. Q noticed a blink-and-you'll-miss-him Alexei Sayle.

The screenplay is by Jeffrey Boam from a story by George Lucas and Menno Mayjes. It has quite a jokey tone with little nods to previous films in the series, as well as a frequent disregard for logic and credibility. Michael Kahn edited, John Williams composed, Elliot Scott is the production designer.

The Ballad of Wallis Island (2025 James Griffiths)

Written by stars Tim Key (the host) and Tom Basden (the singer) first as a short film, with Carey Mulligan added in to the extended version. It took me a while to click what was going on, which is a quite unlikely but sweet premise. Key's endless schtick is a bit of an acquired taste.

It apparently took only 18 days to film, Carey being there for only eleven of them. Filmed by G Magni Agustsson.

Ruby in Paradise (1993 Victor Nunez & scr, ed)

Drawn here from Ulee's Gold. This is a now very rare film to find and only available in a crop of its original 16:9 ratio.

Ashley Judd is delightful as the lost young woman who takes a job in a gift shop in Northern Florida and recounts her reactions with various people. (Loved the way she follows her neighbour - who she has never spoken to - out on the pier where he's fishing, but still never manages to connect with him. And the warmth of the two women she meets in the laundry.)

Todd Field is the slightly weird boyfriend, Bentley Mitchum the abusive one (he's Chris Mitchum's son). Allison Dean her colleague / friend, Dorothy Lyman her employer, Betsy Douds.

The book he lends her opening on Catherine Morland is 'Northanger Abbey' and the film is allegedly loosely based on Jane Austen's novel. (Bit if a stretch I would have thought.) Out of season desolate Florida well caught.

Won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.

Charles Engstrom wrote the music. Alex Vlacos photographed. 

I liked it. It's very female-centric. Judd is the whole show - she carries the film well. Has been working steadily but didn't really hit the big time... though she is in Heat, which I've still not seen.

Deconstructing Harry (1997 Woody Allen & scr)

Some useful insight here, but this is actually quite a complex work, with flashbacks and fictional versions of flashbacks intertwining. Is the conversation between Allen and Billy Crystal in hell a sort of homage to Heaven Can Wait? But very funny - Crystal telling him 'You couldn't kidnap anyone' cut to Demi Moore 'Kidnapper! He's kidnapped my son!'

It's one of his most distinct, different, experimental and funny films. I was amazed to find it's quite highly rated on IMDB as 7.3, but as usual, many audiences get it wrong - they think this is Woody Allen, when it couldn't be further from his actual personality.

Crossing Delancey (1988 Joan Micklin Silver)

Where is Delancey, first of all? It's an important cross route cutting between the East Village in the north and Chinatown in the south. It was something of a centre to the Jewish and Italian populations, though it's now more upmarket and diverse. It connects to the Williamsburgh Bridge at the eastern end, which is probably what we're seeing here:

Susan Sandler wrote a great screenplay - based on her play - about a slightly lost woman, her relationships with men and her old school Jewish grandmother. That's it, but it's a very realistic-feeling and pleasing concoction with much local flavour.

The actors are Amy Irving, Peter Riegert, Reizl Bozyk (who's great as the grandmother), Jeroen Krabbé, George Martin and David Hyde Pierce.

Kosher wine? It's been prepared according to strict Kosher tradition making it usable for religious services. (Jews can drink non-Kosher wine too.)

And the poem quoted about the ripe plums, which may or may not be Confucious, is 'Anxiety of a Young Lady To Get Married' (apparently).

Memorable scene: singer comes in to diner and starts performing song about holding on to love 'Some Enchanted Evening'

Silver's first success was the very low budget Hester Street in 1975. She cites Shadow of a Doubt, Presenting Lily Mars (1943 Judy Garland musical comedy) and Song of the Islands (1942 Betty Grable musical comedy) as early influences, and has an affinity with Truffaut and Satyajit Ray. I think I've also seen Between the Lines (1977) about an independent newspaper and its staff, with a young Jeff Goldblum.