Genre:

Comedy

Release Date:

2023

Director:

Kristoffer Borgli

Cast:

Lily Bird, Nicolas Cage, Julianne Nicholson

Plot Summary:

A hapless family man finds his life turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams. When his nighttime appearances take a nightmarish turn, Paul is forced to navigate his newfound stardom.

Heartstopper was one of those shows that comes out of nowhere and instantly becomes a sensation. Last summer we were introduced to this heartwarming and sweet show from Netflix, and now we finally have its second season. The wait was only a little over a year since its freshman season, but the wait still felt like an age. But the teen drama is back, this time with a more mature and settled storyline.

The show created by Alice Oseman and also based on her graphic novel, follows Nick and Charlie on a journey of self-discovery and romance at an all-boys school. Kit Connor, Joe Locke, William Gao, Yasmin Finney, and Tobie Donovan all return this season. Season 2 picks up right where season 1 left off with Nick and Charlie finally getting together. Season 1 was quite simply a delight, and going into season 2 many were concerned that season 2 will not be able to reach the standards set by the first one, but season 2 will prove the doubters wrong.

Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring were finally together after so many ups and downs, but there were still a lot of problems left to deal with. Charlie has problems at home while Nick is still figuring out who he is and figuring out how and when he wants to come out to other people, as their relationship is still a secret apart from charlie’s close friend group, who have supported them all along.

The story tackles more mature themes this time around and dives into more serious teenage issues. The pacing is good as always and the tone stays consistent throughout. The direction is a notch above the first season with some very smart shots in key scenes. Kit Connor and Joe Locke are as amazing as always and their storyline keeps on finding interesting routes to go to and keeps the viewer rooting for them.

William Gao as Tao is a standout and steals the first half of the season. His development as a character is very clear and he grows a lot as a person this season. Tobie Donovan stays in the shadows for most of the season but packs a solid punch in the end. Olivia Colman has a small yet impactful role and it is always a delight when she’s on screen. Fisayo Akinade as Mr Ajayi also has a bigger role this time and Nima Taleghani as Mr Farouk was another standout for me.

Heartstopper Season 2 is a blissful return for the wonderfully radiant show that somehow finds a way to consistently put a smile on your face and get you invested in the enchanting storyline. It is filled with so many likable characters and adorable romances. The performances are incredibly charming and you’ll never get tired of watching them. Fans of the first season will be anything but disappointed and I personally believe that it is an improvement from its first season.

Heartstopper season 2 will stream on Netflix from August 3. 

Written and directed by Dan Clark, this fairly star studded independent film follows a young couple who are stuck in a financial situation, and decide to kidnap a sleazy conservative politician in order to receive a ransom, that will allow them to escape their static lives.

Patrick Baladi (The Office) plays Hardy our creepy politician, Kelly Wenham (Double Date) plays Maggie, a complex woman who seemingly is always drawn to the “bad boy”, Jack Parry-Jones (The Crown) plays Brian our voice of reason within all of this, or is he?

A Kind of Kidnapping [2023]

The character development is well written and allows the space for character arcs, unlike a lot of small films, where there isn’t that room in the script. The three main leads feel very grounded and familiar, everyone knows someone like this in their life or perhaps public figures in the media.

The performances of the main three lead actors are great, if it wasn’t for them, I don’t think this film would work as well. Alongside the strong performances, the editing of the film helped to navigate this non-linear plot and allowed the film to peel aways the layers of backstory which all helped to create a stronger character driven piece.

A Kind of Kidnapping [2023]

As the film was nearing the final act,  it felt as though it was dragging a little. Dan Clark mentioned in the Q&A after the screening how this was a short film before and I can definitely see how it could work in a confined setting really well. Maybe there was a bit of padding in second to third act to reach that feautre length requirement that didn’t aid certain character moments.

If you want to hear my full thoughts, the best thing to do is check out my review over on YouTube and let me know your thoughts in the comments. 

When independent film is fighting for its life, A Kind of Kidnapping is the light in the dark. This is one of the better British produced indie films I’ve seen in a long time. 

A Kind of Kidnapping is out on digital on 24th July on iTunes, Amazon, Google and Sky.

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the [series/movie/etc] being covered here wouldn’t exist.