Watching
Every film and series South African radio reviewed, recommended or argued about this month, with what was said and the audio of it.
92 titles · 115 airings · 6 stations · last 30 days
Newest airing first. Clear the chips above for the whole month.
Film · drama · South African
Ross Devenish · 1980
Ross Devenish recalls making Marigolds in August with Athol Fugard on a very small budget, with no lights, costumes or sets beyond what was available. The filmmakers' choices under those limits are discussed.
Film · drama
Danielle Brooks
A drama set in Los Angeles about a 12-year-old boy who idolizes his father after the man returns from prison, exploring black fatherhood, masculinity and generational trauma. The presenter recommends it as a tear-jerker and says it is available to rent on several platforms.
Film · drama · South African
Ross Devenish · 1970
A restored version of the 1970 film adaptation of Athol Fugard's play Boesman and Lena, starring Yvonne Bryceland, is to be screened at the Mask Theatre in Muizenberg. The filmmaker recalls the difficulties of making it under apartheid-era security scrutiny.
Film · drama
Kevin Costner · 1992
A 1992 film that became one of the highest-grossing films in movie history, with a soundtrack by Whitney Houston that became the best-selling movie soundtrack album of all time. The presenter recalls queuing to see it as a teenager and crying at the end.
2 airings · Cape Talk
Film · children's
2022
A listener finally watched Lyle, Lyle Crocodile after two failed attempts and found it a cute movie with a singing crocodile. She tells listeners to watch it.
Film · drama
The host recommends this film as a way to think about how people behave when they are given a little power. He suggests that power may reveal what is already in people rather than change their values.
Film
The host says the film surprised him with a lead performance he found pleasantly unexpected. He calls the actress thoroughly enjoyable as an actor in the series.
Film · science fiction
James Cameron · 1984
Recalled as an anniversary of the 1984 release of The Terminator, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a cyborg assassin sent back from the future. Its famous line "I'll be back" is discussed, including Schwarzenegger's account of how it came about.
2 airings · 702, Power FM
Film · drama
Described as an Oscar-winning film starring Jacob Tremblay and Brie Larson that is devastating and one of the most disturbing films the speaker has seen. The guest says they never got over it.
Film · adventure
Brad Pitt
A new film in which Brad Pitt and his dog Odin struggle through the wilderness to get back to safety, with very little dialogue. The host found it striking and wondered whether dogs in service can suffer PTSD as the dog in the film does.
3 airings · Cape Talk, 702
Film · comedy
Walter Matthau · 1993
The host names Dennis the Menace, starring Walter Matthau as Mr. Wilson, as his number one film from 1993 and one of his all-time favourites.
Film · action
Sylvester Stallone · 1993
The host includes Demolition Man, starring Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes, in his top five films from 1993 and recalls the Sting song from its soundtrack.
Film · drama
John Singleton · 1993
The host includes Poetic Justice in his list of top five films from 1993, starring Tupac and Janet Jackson and directed by John Singleton.
Film · drama
Jason Scott Lee · 1993
The host calls Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story an amazing biopic, with Jason Scott Lee portraying his father Bruce Lee. It ranks fourth on his list of top 1993 films.
Film · romantic comedy
Zoe Kazan
A quirky romantic comedy that turns darker, subverting the manic pixie dream girl trope, written by and starring Zoe Kazan with Paul Dano. The critic gives it a solid seven and says it is well worth watching this weekend.
Film · drama
Charlie Kaufman
A surreal, unsettling road-trip-to-meet-the-parents puzzle about memory and identity, led by Jesse Buckley and Jesse Plemons. The critic calls it uncompromising and gives it a solid seven. It is streaming on Netflix.
Film · romantic comedy
Kyle Allen
A time-loop fantasy romantic comedy in the spirit of Groundhog Day, with chemistry between its two teen leads. The critic gives it a solid seven and says it is sweet-natured and charming. It is available on Prime Video.
Film · horror
A horror film about a B-list actor who injects himself with a substance to stay relevant and then discovers he can reshape his face and body into living clay. It opens in cinemas today.
2 airings · Cape Talk, 702
Film · documentary
The host recommends this documentary on Netflix as a way to understand how AI and social media products are designed. He says it explains how behavioural psychologists in Silicon Valley shape and harvest user behaviour.
Film · drama
1995
The host recalls Whitney Houston's role in the 1995 film Waiting to Exhale and her decision to curate its soundtrack with African-American female singers rather than record the whole album herself. The host praises the album and the duet Count On Me with CeCe Winans.
Film · biography
Michael Fassbender · 2015
A guest uses the film Steve Jobs, with Michael Fassbender in the lead role, as an example of intellectual ability without emotional intelligence. The film shows Jobs struggling with emotional intelligence despite his business success.
2 airings · Cape Talk, 702
Film · documentary · South African
A documentary about the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight, based on Solomon Linda's Mbube, that follows its journey and the injustice of how it earned money. The host recommends listeners watch it when they have time.
Film
A guest says they loved Sinners and found it fantastic filmmaking, though they came to it late. They tell listeners they will enjoy it and be converted, and say watching it in a cinema was incredible.
Film · comedy · South African
Tumi Morake
A sequel to the 2020 Netflix film Seriously Single, following best friends Dineo and Noni as one friend's marriage proposal changes their friendship. The presenter describes it as more emotional and in-depth than the first film, and says it is getting great reviews.
4 airings · 702, Power FM, 947
Film · drama
A film that came out a couple of years ago, with a cast of good actors. The host loved it and is working backwards through the list.
Film · drama
A film about the BlackBerry story, described as very good. It is part of a trend of films about how business ideas got off the ground.
Film · comedy
An animated Cat in the Hat film is due on the first day of the December school holidays. The host is hopeful because it keeps the look of the Dr. Seuss books, unlike the earlier live-action version, which he thought was awful.
Film
The host recalls the opening titles of the film, with its John Williams score and lovely graphics. He praises the titles as beautifully and tastefully done.
Film · drama
Matt Damon
Listeners discuss Good Will Hunting as an all-time favourite that they feel cannot be topped. It is praised as excellent and brilliant, with Robin Williams's performance singled out as marvelous.
Film · thriller
Ben Affleck
A thriller in which Ben Affleck plays a mayoral candidate in LA with a troubled family past. The reviewer finds it perfectly watchable and gripping, though some plot threads are left unresolved.
Film · comedy
Eddie Murphy · 1984
The host names Beverly Hills Cop at number two on his top five films of 1984.
Film · horror
1984
The host ranks Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter at number three on his list of 1984 films, recalling that it scared him as a child.
Film · action
Harrison Ford · 1984
The host counts Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom as number five on his top five films of 1984 and recommends listeners check it out as a childhood favourite.
Film · comedy
Steve Guttenberg · 1984
The host places Police Academy at number four on his top five films of 1984, calling it a classic and recalling its popular characters.
Film · documentary
A caller named Milton says this 1970s film about dirt biking, featuring Malcolm Smith and Steve McQueen, inspired him. He raced for five years and still rides at 74.
Film · drama
The host recalls Hotel Rwanda as a fantastic movie seen a couple of years ago, linking it to the country's turbulent political history.
Film · comedy · South African
Katleho Ramakela · 2020
An actress discusses the South African romantic comedy Seriously Single and its sequel, which were first planned for cinemas and then licensed to Netflix. She says the stories reach audiences overseas and that South African stories relate to everyone.
3 airings · Power FM, 702
Film · drama · South African
Sarah Blecher
An actress recalls Ayanda as her first feature film, a role that encouraged her to take emotional risks. She describes the film set's close framing and the cast and crew promotion that followed.
Film · sci-fi
1985
The host recalls watching the 1985 Hollywood film and says it promised flying cars, a promise he feels is now close to being realised. The film is raised as a nostalgic reference point.
Film · drama
A guest chooses Ennio Morricone's music from The Mission and praises the film's powerful narrative about colonial Europe's impact on indigenous communities. The guest says the film's emotional force is what draws them to the piece.
Film · horror
Zach Krager
A grounded survival-horror reboot of the franchise follows a courier caught in a snowy zombie outbreak, led by Austin Abrams. The reviewer praises its inventive set pieces and creature designs and gives it an excellent eight.
2 airings · Cape Talk, 702
Film · drama
A columnist who wrote a piece for the Maverick says the film left them filled with anger and disappointment. They highly recommend it to listeners.
Film · drama
2010
The 2010 film told the story of the founding of Facebook. It is named as the earlier film that the new follow-up builds on.
Film · thriller
A guest recalls a film about young people who induce near-death experiences and find the visions become increasingly disturbing. The guest says it is not for the faint-hearted, while remembering seeing it in the 80s.
Film · drama · South African
Speakers discuss Invictus, in which Morgan Freeman plays Nelson Mandela. The guest feels Freeman's portrayal was almost too perfect, a facsimile built from over-detailed study of Mandela's walk and talk, and lacked Mandela's inner controlled passion.
Film · documentary
A Netflix documentary about boxer Mike Tyson, released the day before. The host expects it to offer a fuller, more interesting look at his life beyond boxing, including his turbulent personal life and public scandals.
Film · action
The host is excited about the new Street Fighter movie, which has cast members including Andrew Schultz, 50 Cent and Jason Momoa. The film is due out on 16 October, and the host has already seen the trailer.
Film · science fiction
Tom Cruise
The host recalls a film with Tom Cruise about a surveillance state that arrests people before they commit crimes. He uses it to question whether a state that punishes bad thoughts is one we would want.
Film · drama
Iñárritu
A layered, intelligent film full of lies and deceptions that leaves viewers with questions to debate afterwards. Its box office was poor, but the reviewer urges listeners to see it, ideally in IMAX.
Film · animation
Tat Wolfen watched Toy Story 5 on a flight and found it an absolute joy. Listeners are told to watch it rather than spend hours on films they will not remember.
Film · animation
An animated film about children wondering what happens to their dogs when they die, with the message that all good dogs go to heaven. The host calls it a cute movie and notes a sad moment where a girl talks with a dog about going to heaven.
Film · drama
A new film from the team behind The Social Network, starring Mikey Madison and Jeremy Strong. It follows a young Facebook engineer who works with a Wall Street Journal reporter to expose the company's guarded secrets. The host says it is a movie listeners need to see.
Film · action
Guy Ritchie
A rowdy World War II action comic book about a squad of rogues led by Henry Cavill fighting Axis forces. The critic says it lacks real peril but is raucous popcorn fun, tilting a solid seven.
Film · drama
Olivia Rodrigo has named this film as one that shaped her and inspired her songwriting. The host relays that she calls it a perfect watch for anyone feeling confused or stuck, praising its lead actress.
locl transcribes six South African radio stations as they air. Every hour a model reads the stretches that name a book, film or series and records each titled work that was discussed, reviewed or recommended, with the verdict and who gave it. Quiz clues, name-drops and the stations’ own programmes are left out. Titles and names are as the transcript heard them, so a spelling can be off. Opinions belong to the speakers. Press play to hear the opening window of the conversation; the transcript link has the rest. Only conversations whose audio is still held are listed, so a title leaves the page with its audio.
Updated Wednesday, 28 October at 12:52 SAST. Showing 30 days.