Join us every week for a trip into the weird and wonderful world of trailers. Whether it’s the first teaser for the latest instalment in your favourite franchise, an obscure preview for a strange indie darling, whether it’s good, bad, ugly or just plain weird – your favourite pop culture baristas are there to tell you what they think.
Sam: Chess always made for high drama in the context of the Cold War: From early Bond suspense (From Russia With Love) and TV favourites (Columbo in “The Most Dangerous Match”) to recent thrillers (Pawn Sacrifice, The Coldest Game), there is something incredibly satisfying about seeing Western and Soviet masterminds carrying out the ultimate proxy war on the chessboard (not to forget the real life match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky in 1972!). Netflix’s limited series The Queen’s Gambit chooses a more personable approach, making Beth Harmon (played by hyped newcomer Anya Taylor-Joy) the promising but troubled young chess talent who faces off against a (fictional) Russian master. With all these pawns in place, a checkmate for Netflix is almost certain!
Matt: None of what I’ve watched of Luca Guadagnino’s work since Call Me By Your Name has had quite the same effect on me as that film, but at the same time I will gladly give anything the director does a chance. There’s something to the way Guadagnino uses images that can make them absolutely luminous. We Are Who We Are, an HBO limited series, seems to have that quality. In Europe, they’ll be showing it on BBC in late November, and I’m already looking forward to it.
A Damn Fine Cup of Culture 