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11 of the best films and TV series to rewatch this winter, according to experts

Photo credit: Justin Lubin
Photo credit: Justin Lubin

From Good Housekeeping

It's been a difficult year for TV and film lovers, as production on movies and series has been halted, postponed and - in some cases - cancelled altogether due to the coronavirus pandemic.

For many, that means their favourite TV programme won't be returning for a new series as soon as they thought, or the film they've been excited to see at the cinema keeps having its release date pushed back.

Frustrating though that is, if you look on the positive side, now's an opportunity to catch up on older releases you might have previously missed.

"The months leading up to March were some of the most competitive in the history of television, not just within the UK, but also around the world," explained Scott Bryan, TV critic and broadcaster.

"We had Disney+ launch earlier this year, we had Apple TV launch – there’s new streaming services appearing all the time. And I think [for viewers], that it's been quite overwhelming, and people don't really know where to start. People have been relying on friends or the internet to have that guidance of what to see.

"I have found that I've been getting into shows that I just didn't have time to get into earlier in the year. For the time being, I’m pleasantly surprised that there are still shows to get around to," Scott added.

The same can be said for film. Although the industry's been badly affected not just by limitations on productions but cinema closures, there is a positive that can be focused on, according to film critic Kaleem Aftab.

"Obviously, 2020 has been one of the worst years for cinema for a long time," said Kaleem. "Probably [the worst] since the ‘80s, with the end of the New Hollywood cinema, before Blockbusters took over.

"Right now, at least the independent cinemas are open. That means that over winter, we’re not going to see the Blockbuster films, but maybe we’re going to see what might be called a 'film festival' movie. Sometimes, you’ll be surprised at how good they are. I see it more as an opportunity to expand our taste, away from Hollywood fare.

"[Having time to catch up on older films] has been one of the great things of lockdown. I recently discovered old films, old cinema styles and superstars from the ‘50s and ‘60s who I’d never heard of. There’s a lot of opportunity to look back at what’s happened in the past and then your chance of hitting a great movie is much higher," Kaleem added.

With that said, Scott, Kaleem and entertainment journalist Emma Kelly have chosen their top rewatching recommendations to see you through the winter months...


Parks and Recreation

Photo credit: Justin Lubin
Photo credit: Justin Lubin

"It's an old classic a lot of people will love, and you can watch it at the moment on NOW TV." Scott said.

"It’s starring Amy Poehler and Rashida Jones and set within a federal government office. I’ve watched this show a lot, not just because it's incredibly funny but also because it's incredibly uplifting. At its heart, it's about people who are going out of their way to help others, to solve their problems, and to keep them motivated. Amy Poehler’s character, Leslie Knope, is always so eternally hopeful, it becomes a bit silly, but you admire her eternal optimism. I was finding in the lockdown that I was re-watching seasons I’d already seen many times before and heading into winter I think I’m going to go down that way again."

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New Girl

"I loved New Girl back when it began in 2011, but after about four series, other shows caught my eye and I fell out of interest," Emma said. "So earlier this year, during the beginnings of lockdown, I rewatched it from the start and finally made it to the end - and trust me, it's worth the commitment.

"I had remembered it as a very of its time 'manic-pixie-dream-girl' sitcom, but I was wrong. New Girl is actually way funnier than I gave it credit for, and contrary to what I thought, there is no dip in quality, with the final season actually being a pretty perfect and fitting ending to the show. For the uninitiated, it's about a quirky teacher Jess (Zooey Deschanel) who moves in with three guys after a break-up, and comedy ensues. If you watch it for anything, it's the will they/won't they romance between Jess and Nick (Jake Johnson) - forget Ross and Rachel, these are the ones we should put our faith in."

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The Sweet Smell of Success

"This is one of my favourite films ever. It’s Tony Curtis and Burt Lancaster and it’s one of those old fashioned character portraits," said Kaleem.

"It’s about a press agent who’s trying to convince an editor to run a story, also entwined with a love story involving his sister. It’s about the patriarchy which I think very much fits in with today’s time. That’s definitely one to watch. It’s got some of the best one lines and dialogue in cinema history."

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The West Wing

Photo credit: Sky
Photo credit: Sky

"Having been nine years old when The West Wing first came out, I never actually watched it the whole way through, instead watching bits and pieces, knowing the main plot twists and character arcs but not the entire story. As lockdown trundled on, I decided to watch it all the way through, from the very beginning," Emma said.

"The West Wing is all about the presidency of Martin Sheen's character Jed Bartlet, his trusted team and the day to day of the White House. It's the perfect show to get you through the long winter evenings in lieu of new gripping dramas; there's a lot of it (156 episodes!), the acting is fantastic, you will get a crush on somebody (for me, it's Josh Lyman) and yes, it's one of the best shows ever made. It's one of those series that you really should have on your bucket list. And with the current state of politics in the US, it's a little slice of moral utopia."

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Borgen

"It's a Danish thriller which was out in the early 2010s, on BBC Four. Netflix has recently got the rights to the first three series and also announced a fourth, so now is the perfect time to re-watch it," said Scott.

"It's a fictional political drama, looking at a fictional first Danish woman Prime Minister and her political career. You might be thinking: 'What do I know about the Danish political system? Why would that interest me?' But it’s just great. It’s that balance between a well-written political thriller whilst also managing to be quite quirky, really well acted and surprisingly, in depth. I think it's quite fascinating... you learn a lot about a country's perspective beyond the UK. It manages to be quite soapy at times, and those elements really keep you hooked.

"There's the option to watch it with or without dubbing. I always recommend watching in the original language with the subtitles on just because you end up getting into it a bit more. A good consequence is you don't keep looking at your phone throughout it, so it keeps you off your phone for an hour. I think at this time, that’s a good thing."

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Stath Lets Flats

"Stath Lets Flats is finally getting the recognition it deserves, thanks to its three BAFTA wins earlier this year, and with a third series confirmed, it's time to jump on the bandwagon and pretend you were there before it was cool. The ridiculous offbeat comedy follows Stath (Jamie Demetriou), a hapless lettings agent in London who is only employed because his dad runs the business. 'Lettings agency' may not seem like the most obvious of comedic settings, but each half hour episode has left me wheezing - a scene in which Stath gets scared by his sister and keeps throwing his 'energy drinkeh' in the air is, for me, a perfect piece of comedy," Emma said.

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Michael Palin's travel documentaries

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

"You can’t go wrong with a good Michael Palin travel documentary. BBC Two, at the moment, is doing an overview of each of his different series that he's done for the BBC, which includes him travelling tens of thousands of miles around the world," said Scott.

"All of of his box sets for many of the series are available on both BBC iPlayer and Britbox. That includes his series from the mid-1980s when he travels around the world in 80 days without using a plane; when he travelled from the north pole to the South Pole; and when he travelled the whole of what you refer to as the full circle, which is basically all of the islands around the Pacific Ocean. It might seem a bit contradictory because, of course, we can't travel easily around the world. But it’s that normality of him discovering new cultures and meeting lots of people, that made me feel like maybe life is going to return back to normal. Also, you learn so much about the world, even if most of it was filmed three decades ago. It’s fascinating how much of the world you never see on TV that he manages to show. Also, it’s Michael Palin, you can’t go wrong with Michael Palin."

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Schitt's Creek

"I know, I know, everybody says you should watch Schitt's Creek, but seriously, why haven't you already? It's the story of a rich family who are forced to relocate to a town they bought as a joke after losing all their money," Emma explained. "It began back in 2015, but only became a sensation when it landed on Netflix, and its sixth and final season swept the board at the Emmys - and rightly so. You will fall in love with its cast like they're your own family, and I have teared up as much as I have belly laughed while bingeing it. Schitt's Creek is touching, hysterical and the TV equivalent of a hot water bottle, and if anything is going to make you giggle during this winter, it's Moira Rose's pronunciation of 'baby'. Plus, those 22 minute episodes are ideal for a binge.

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La Haine

"It’s just had a really successful season in the cinemas and a new Blu Ray version is coming out this Christmas. It’s a classic French film and it picks up on all the themes of rebellion we’ve seen with the Black Lives Matter movement this year. It shows themes of poverty and how we can overcome it; police brutality, which has been on everyone’s mind unfortunately. It’s a film which is very very entertaining and funny… but it also has a hard hitting social message that I think will really sit well with people today," said Kaleem.

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Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown

"Obviously he passed away sadly, a few years ago. In this series, he goes to many different places around the world and gets involved, mostly, in the country’s food. It’s a really interesting as at the end of the day, he’s a real foodie. It’s just this obsession of trying to get the most authentic food from each of these places, and also trying to get away from the stereotypes that you might associate with those places and getting to the heart of what those countries are really like for the people who live there," Scott explained.

"I think he’s a fantastic documentary maker. There are 70 or 80 episodes on Netflix. It’s a really interesting place to find out about food. I don’t think there’s anybody else like him."

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Love Life

Photo credit: Lions Gate Television Inc
Photo credit: Lions Gate Television Inc

"Love Life went under the radar for those this side of the pond after it dropped on HBO Max back in June, so I was surprised to see a series, helmed by Oscar nominee Anna Kendrick, that I had never heard of pop up on the top of iPlayer. And I'm so glad it did, because it is a wonderful slice of romantic comedy that doesn't sugarcoat what real-life dating is like in your 20s and 30s," said Emma.

"Anna plays Darby, whose life we follow over a number of years as she dates a string of men in New York City. This isn't Sex And The City, though - Darby lives with many housemates because she has to, dream romances aren't all they're cracked up to be and it will all feel very real for those of us who resent swiping on Tinder. It's just one series, but a second has already been commissioned - so get on board."

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