Counter Culture UK

Welcome to Culture Vulture for the 4th to the 10th of May 2024. Selections and writing is by Pat Harrington and music is from Tim Bragg.

Ever wondered what it's like to be a spy in the heart of Romania? To navigate a world of secrets and shadows? This week, we dive into the thrilling world of Spy Master, the Romanian espionage drama that's been setting screens alight with its delicate dance of intrigue and betrayal. From the dark alleys of Bucharest to the hushed corridors of power, Spy Master weaves a compelling tale of loyalty, honour and the blurred lines between right and wrong. It's a masterclass in suspense, a riveting journey into the heart of darkness that's sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

But the world of entertainment isn't just about thrills and chills. Sometimes it's about the quiet moments of self-discovery, the journey towards understanding oneself and finding one's place in the world. And that's exactly the kind of journey we embark on with Words on Bathroom Walls, an American coming-of-age romantic drama film that explores the trials and triumphs of adolescence with unflinching honesty and poignant charm.

A story of love, hope and the courage to face one's demons, Words on Bathroom Walls is a heartfelt tribute to the resilience of the human spirit, a gentle reminder of the strength that lies within us all. And finally, we turn our attention to Spacey Unmasked, a two-part documentary that offers a candid look into the life and conduct of Kevin Spacey, once one of the most admired and respected actors in the world. From his meteoric rise to fame to the shocking allegations that rocked Hollywood, Spacey Unmasked is a stark exploration of a man and a myth, a tale of talent, triumph and tragedy.

So there you have it, just some of the highlights in an exciting week in the world of entertainment filled with suspense, emotion and unvarnished truth. But remember, these are just the highlights. The full guide with an even wider range of programs and shows follows.

So stay tuned and immerse yourself in the captivating world of culture vulture. Keep your eyes open, your hearts engaged and your minds curious.

Welcome to Culture Vulture, your guide to the weeks entertainment from an alternative standpoint. Selections and writing are by Pat Harrington and music is by Tim Bragg. Highlights this week include: the eight part Dopesick, about the US Opioid crisis, the 2001 film A.I. Artificial Intelligence and the three parter Miriam: Death Of A Reality Star which proves that reality is really stranger than fiction.

Welcome to Culture Vulture, your guide to the week's entertainment from an alternative standpoint. Music is by Tim Bragg and selections and writing is by Pat Harrington. Highlights this week include “Unlocked: A Jail Experiment”, a Netflix documentary series that takes viewers inside the walls of an Arkansas detention facility to witness a radical social experiment granting incarcerated men more agency, eight episodes of Fallout on Amazon Prime based on the post-apocalyptic video game, and Defiance: Fighting The Far Right, a three part series from Channel 4.

Welcome to Culture Vulture your guide to the week's entertainment from an alternative viewpoint. Highlights this week include the films The Girl With A Bracelet (2019) and Gagarine (2020), and the six-part documentary Lincoln: Divided We Stand. Selections and writing are by Pat Harrington and music is from Tim Bragg.

Welcome to Culture Vulture, your guide to the week's entertainment from an alternative viewpoint. Writing and selections are by Pat Harrington and music is by Tim Bragg. Highlights this week include: Royal Kill List, a landmark Sky HISTORY original series that chronicles King Charles II’s relentless pursuit to avenge his father’s killers, Chopper (2000) the Australian crime drama film based on the autobiographical books by criminal-turned-author Mark “Chopper” Read and Turning Point: The Bomb And The Cold War on Netflix.

Welcome to Culture Vulture, your guide to the week's entertainment from an alternative standpoint. Highlights this week include First Ladies Of Hip-Hop, Nelson In His Own Words and Don't Look Now. Selections and writing is by Pat Harrington and music is by Tim Bragg.

Welcome to Culture Vulture, your guide to the week's entertainment from an alternative standpoint. Highlights this week include the 2019 film Boiling Point, a tense and gripping drama that follows a dedicated sushi chef as he navigates the pressures and challenges of a busy London restaurant on a fateful night; "Ophelia" a film reimagining of Shakespeare's classic "Hamlet" from the perspective of the tragic character Ophelia; and "The Guard", a darkly comedic crime thriller that pairs an unorthodox Irish policeman with an uptight FBI agent to unravel a drug smuggling operation in a small coastal town. Selections and writing are by Pat Harrington and music is by Tim Bragg.

Welcome to Culture Vulture your guide to the week's entertainment from an alternative standpoint. Highlights this week include: The Chosen One, a thought-provoking narrative around Jodie, a 12-year-old boy with Jesus-like powers; "The Godfather" trilogy on Film4; and, The Real Spies Among Friends, a documentary on the Cambridge traitors. Selections and reviews are by Pat Harrington and music is by Tim Bragg. If you like this podcast please like, share and subscribe.

Culture Vulture (12-18 August 2023)

Welcome to Culture Vulture your guide to the week's entertainment from an alternative standpoint. Highlights this week include: The Chosen One, a thought-provoking narrative around Jodie, a 12-year-old boy with Jesus-like powers; "The Godfather" trilogy on Film4; and, The Real Spies Among Friends, a documentary on the Cambridge traitors. Selections and reviews are by Pat Harrington and music is by Tim Bragg. If you like this podcast please like, share and subscribe.

Culture Vulture (5th to 11th of August 2023)

Welcome to Culture Vulture. Highlights this week include: the 2011 film Contagion, George Alagiah: Mixed Britannia and Ruthless: Monopoly's Secret History. Selections and writing are by Pat Harrington and music is by Tim Bragg.

Welcome to Culture Vulture, your guide to the week's entertainment from an alternative viewpoint. Highlights this week include Baal with David Bowie, the film Detroit and Superpowered: The DC Story. Selections are by Pat Harrington and music is by Tim Bragg.

Welcome to Culture Vulture, your guide to the week's entertainment from an alternative viewpoint. Highlights this week include: the documentary "Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda" which offers a glimpse into his life and creative journey, George Carlin's American Dream, a compelling documentary that explores the comedic genius and unfiltered social commentary of the legendary comedian and A Spy Among Friends, a captivating and intense thriller TV series that unravels the intriguing world of espionage, friendship, and betrayal, based on a true story and book by Ben Macintyre. Selections are by Pat Harrington and music is by Tim Bragg.

Welcome to Culture Vulture your guide to the weeks entertainment from an alternative standpoint. Highlights this week include: Inside High Noon on PBS, the 2018 film Kursk: The Last Mission, and Panorama: The Antidepressant Story. Selections are by Pat Harrington and music is by Tim Bragg.

Welcome to Cuture Vulture your guide to the week's entertainment from an alternative viewpoint. Highlights this week include "Rebellion" - A gripping drama chronicling the birth of modern Ireland through the perspectives of fictional characters living through the 1916 Easter Rising; "Pawn Sacrifice" (2014 film) - Directed by Edward Zwick, this captivating movie provides a unique perspective on the world of chess, delving into the fascinating life of chess prodigy Bobby Fischer during the intense Cold War era; and "Eye in the Sky" (a 2015 film) - Directed by Gavin Hood, this morally-charged drama forces viewers to confront the difficult decisions made in modern warfare as international military personnel and politicians grapple with the complexities of a high-stakes operation targeting terrorists. Selections are by Pat Harrington and music is by Tim Bragg.

Welcome to Culture Vulture your guide to the week's entertainment. Selections are by Patrick Harrington. Music is by Tim Bragg. Please consider subscribing via you favourite podcast app or on YouTube.

Highlights this week include the classic 1947 film Brighton Rock, Hendrix and the Spook and the 2010 film The Whistleblower. Selections by Pat Harrington, music is by Tim Bragg.

Welcome to Culture Vulture which gives an alternative view on the week's entertainment. Highlights this week include: Breaking Mississippi on BBC Radio 4 about the struggle for civil rights in that State, the politically charged film Official Secrets and the BBC documentary Inside Taiwan Selections are from Henry Falconer and Pat Harrington. Music is by Tim Bragg.

The novel follows Annie as she is moved from the family home to the large, prison like institution of Mandelstones, a place that becomes her world for much of the next quarter of a century. As she grows from a child to a woman, we see Annie experience adventure, abuse, friendship, love, rejection and finally, in her final years, acceptance and belonging back within the by now much changed working class community of Liverpool.

Reviewed by Henry Falconer.

Selections are by Henry Falconer and Pat Harrington. Music is by Tim Bragg. Highlights this week include: the 2019 film, Mr Jones, the BBC radio programme Breaking Mississippi about James Meredith and The Holy Land and Us: Our Untold Stories.

Selections by Henry Falconer and Pat Harrington. Music is by Tim Bragg. Highlights this week include: 

"Finding Fame" is a 2019 documentary film that chronicles the early years of English singer-songwriter David Bowie, from his birth in 1947 to the release of his breakthrough album "Space Oddity" in 1969. Directed by Francis Whately, the film features rare archival footage, interviews with Bowie's friends, family, and collaborators, and explores the evolution of Bowie's artistic vision and musical style.

Selections by Pat Harrington. Music by Tim Bragg.

Highlights this week include The Stasi: Secrets, Lies and British Spies, Emily Atack: Asking For It? and The Ku Klux Klan: An American Story.