The Week’s best film, TV, book and live show on this weekend, with excerpts from the top reviews.
TELEVISION: Sports Personality of the Year 2019
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“An odd-numbered year means no Olympics or major men’s football tournament to provide a ready flow of sporting heroes, but 2019 had its moments. This year’s glitzy round-up, hosted in Aberdeen by Gary Lineker, Gabby Logan and Clare Balding, has the usual variety of trophies – including a team award for which England’s women footballers must be strong contenders – leading up to the main individual prize.”
On BBC One at 7pm on Sunday 15 December
MOVIE: The Kingmaker
Peter Debruge at Variety
“‘Perception is real, and the truth is not,’ announces Imelda Marcos in The Kingmaker, a jaw-dropping documentary in which director Lauren Greenfield exposes just how effective the wounded peacock has been in reshaping her status. Once world-famous for her shoe collection, Imelda benefited enormously from husband Ferdinand’s two-decade dictatorship over the of the Philippines, until being forced to flee to Hawaii in 1986.”
In cinemas from Friday 13 December
BOOK: Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens (paperback)
Francesca Steele in The Times
“Delia Owens’s debut novel opens in 1952 when six-year-old Kya’s beloved Ma leaves their marshland shack in faux alligator heels without so much as a wave goodbye. Fast-forward 17 years and the body of the local heart-throb Chase Andrews is found buried in the swamp near the little town of Barkley Cove on the North Carolina coast… A Hollywood adaptation seems inevitable. Yet it will be hard to match on screen the delicacy of Owens’s exploration of the natural world. Kya and her magical little world are a rare achievement.”
Out in paperback on Thursday 12 December
STAGE: Nativity! The Musical
Lorelei Reddin at the Bournemouth Daily Echo
“It delivered the promised ‘sparkle and shine’ in spades. But, more than that, Nativity! the Musical was a show with a real heart. Based on the famous film franchise, this upbeat and exuberant production follows plans for a festive show in a run of the mill primary school… Funny, feel good and full of joy.”
Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London, from 11 to 29 December, following a UK tour
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August 15 editorial cartoonsCartoons Friday’s political cartoons include Jeffrey Epstein files distractions, a Nobel Appeasement prize for Trump, and revisionist history in Washington DC
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'Actual poop': the messy ending of 'And Just Like That...'Talking Point Reviewers slam 'unfunny and hateful' finale to 'Sex and the City' reboot
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'Animal Farm' at 80: Orwell's parable remains 'horribly' relevantTalking Point George Orwell's warnings about authoritarianism and manipulation have been weaponised across the political spectrum
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Friendship: 'bromance' comedy starring Paul Rudd and Tim RobinsonThe Week Recommends 'Lampooning and embracing' middle-aged male loneliness, this film is 'enjoyable and funny'
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The Count of Monte Cristo review: 'indecently spectacular' adaptationThe Week Recommends Dumas's classic 19th-century novel is once again given new life in this 'fast-moving' film
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Death of England: Closing Time review – 'bold, brash reflection on racism'The Week Recommends The final part of this trilogy deftly explores rising political tensions across the country
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Sing Sing review: prison drama bursts with 'charm, energy and optimism'The Week Recommends Colman Domingo plays a real-life prisoner in a performance likely to be an Oscars shoo-in
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Kaos review: comic retelling of Greek mythology starring Jeff GoldblumThe Week Recommends The new series captures audiences as it 'never takes itself too seriously'
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Blink Twice review: a 'stylish and savage' black comedy thrillerThe Week Recommends Channing Tatum and Naomi Ackie stun in this film on the hedonistic rich directed by Zoë Kravitz
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Shifters review: 'beautiful' new romantic comedy offers 'bittersweet tenderness'The Week Recommends The 'inventive, emotionally astute writing' leaves audiences gripped throughout
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How to do F1: British Grand Prix 2025The Week Recommends One of the biggest events of the motorsports calendar is back and better than ever
