Top Talkies of the Week (#1)

Since we’re taking a break from our Margot Robbie filmography watch through after our Birds of Prey review, I thought it would be a good time to try something different. We’ll take a look back at my top 3 watches of the week in something I’m calling Top Talkies of the Week.

#3

Coming in at number three for my Top Talkies of the Week is 2009’s The Damned United. This was my pick for “A film featuring soccer” in the T&BA scavenger hunt. I went into this one knowing absolutely nothing about it. Yes, it plays out like your run-of-the-mill sports drama. However, Michael Sheen turns in arguably my favorite performance from him as Brian Clough. Because of his performance, you find yourself emotionally invested in Clough’s story.

At the time, The Damned United was streaming on Tubi. Now though, it appears it is only streaming for free on the Roku channel. It is also available to rent for $3.99 through most major platforms.

#2

The runner-up for my Top Talkies of the Week goes to Mission: Impossible III. This was also a selection from the T&BA scavenger hunt, this time for “A film featuring Philip Seymour Hoffman”. Tom Cruise knows the formula for a good old-fashioned summer blockbuster, and it rarely lets him down. This was fast and loud while being entertaining and engaging.

Philip Seymour Hoffman was incredible here as Owen Davian. Cold and terrifying without ever really losing his temper. Whenever Davian spoke, you were hanging on his every word. Easily rivals that of Sandy Lyle for favorite PSH performances.

As for the movie itself, a return to form for the franchise after the second installment. While not streaming for free at the moment, Mission: Impossible III is available to rent on all major platforms for $3.99 and is definitely worth a watch if you have not seen it before.

#1

Taking the top spot in the inaugural Top Talkies of the Week is The Banshees of Inisherin. This one was not a pick for any scavenger hunt, it just has been on my radar for months. I loved Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson together in In Bruges, so, when I saw that they were going to reunite in this, and that Martin McDonagh would be writing and directing again, I was sold. And the trio did not disappoint.

McDonagh’s writing, Carter Burwell’s score, and stellar performances from Keoghan, Condon, Gleeson, and Farrell make The Banshees of Inisherin one of the most beautifully bleak films.

Currently in theaters, this is worth every penny of admission and is the runaway favorite this week for me.

So, there we have it. Top Talkies of the Week (#1) is in the books. What were your Top Talkies of the Week? Let me know in the comments below or by reaching out on social media!

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Next week’s post will be coming out after Thanksgiving, so it’ll be my Top 10 Holiday Movies!