TV review: I was glad to see the closing credits of Mountainhead
I was in two minds about Mountainhead (Sky Atlantic and NOW). Every now and again I wished this movie was a series but mainly I was glad that I didn't have to spend more than 90 minutes with the main characters.
I wanted it to be a series because it's directed by Jesse Armstrong, who was involved with The Thick of It and Succession, two of the best 21st century telly satires. But this one is about four super-rich tech titans, awful men who are happy to set the world on fire as long as their net worth is bigger than the next guy.
In this case, the world is literally in flames as the four former frat-boys gather in a Bond-villain mountain retreat to play poker and rekindle their time in The Brewsters. I think that's a fraternity, we're not told.
The chief villain is Venis – his social-media platform Traam has just released new features which make it too easy to produce deep-fake videos, which are then used to incite hatred and sectarianism across the globe. His goofy friend Jeff has an AI platform that could douse the flames by identifying any false videos, if only he'd make that technology available to Traam.
Overseeing it all is Randall, AKA Papa Bear, which sees Steve Carrell in top Steve Carrell form, playing the original tech God, who likes to name-drop philosophers to justify making money no matter what. The fourth character is the host, Souper, the poorest of the group with a net worth of $550 million.
Fans of Succession will like the look and feel of Mountainhead. You've got your fleets of private jets and expensive 4x4s, whisking middle-aged white people here and there. There are put-upon personal assistants making knowing glances at the camera. Everyone is terribly dressed, expensively.
But there isn't enough fun. Succession and The Thick of It allowed their characters sufficient humanity and awareness to make jokes about themselves and each other. The four tech bros here are too consumed by themselves to get a decent laugh. There is oodles of acting talent here, but it's wasted with long monologues that could have been lifted from Elon Musk's twitter account. We don't need a telly drama to tell us that super-rich white American nerds are a danger to the planet, we can get that from the news.
There are some very funny bits. Souper being parachuted in to head a coup in Argentina is a lovely touch; the bit where Venis tries to bond with his baby boy is gold; the scene around the sauna terrifyingly hilarious.
But I was glad to see the closing credits and the back of The Brewsters.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
15 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Love Island's Kyle Ashman reveals he wants show return as Casa Amor hunk after being axed over machete attack arrest
LOVE Island star Kyle Ashman has revealed he wants to return to the show as a Casa Amor hunk after being axed over a machete attack arrest. The 23-year-old was Advertisement 6 Kyle Ashman said he wants to return to Love Island after being axed Credit: Instagram 6 He was sent home by ITV bosses following over his arrest Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Following his departure from the ITV show, Now in a new video uploaded to Instagram, the aspiring reality star revealed he's still hopeful of having a future on the show. Speaking from inside a house, he said: "I'm not a bad guy, honestly. I'm a normal guy from a normal place. An opportunity arose to find love and I grabbed it with both hands, and it's been taken away from me. "I've seen the support pages and, who knows, maybe I'll get the chance to go on Casa Amor or as a bombshell, go back in and show you who I really am. Show you I'm not a bad guy. We'll see." Advertisement READ MORE ON LOVE ISLAND The Sun has contacted ITV for comment. ITV chiefs' decision to send Ashman home from plunged the show into chaos ahead of . He has since spoken out about being axed saying: 'I fully co-operated with this police investigation and made it very clear that I had no involvement in this incident. 'I am not a violent person and any suggestion otherwise is a mischaracterisation.' Advertisement Most read in Love Island Exclusive Exclusive Sources said the channel was unaware of the incident and he was not flagged as part of contestant checks. The victim, 38, nearly lost his arm. He was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment and kept in for around two weeks. Love Island star sensationally axed from show after revelation he was arrested over machete attack on dad just months ago Another mourner was glassed, one struck with a metal pole, and two people run over by a car during the 15 minutes of terror at a social club in Stafford. Advertisement Ashman, who lives in the town, was one of two men to be nicked on suspicion of affray then bailed. Police confirmed that after the matter had been investigated the pair were released with no further action only last month. A source said: 'This was a horrific attack which could have been even worse. 'Ashman may have signed up to one of the biggest shows on TV with this hanging over his head.' Advertisement It is not suggested that Ashman, whose job involves laying and repairing water pipes, was involved in the attack. Last night he insisted he was not a violent person. Confirming his show exit, an ITV spokesman said: 'For personal reasons, Kyle will not be entering the Love Island Villa as planned.' The mass brawl broke out at The White Eagle Club on February 28. Advertisement Sources said three balaclava-clad thugs armed with machetes and metal poles stormed the venue and attacked the dad over an alleged £3,000 debt. They attacked him with a blade and left him with a deep gash on his arm — with witnesses wrapping towels over it to stem the bleeding. 6 Ashman described himself as a 'normal guy' Credit: Instagram/@kyleashmantr 6 Kyle has come out to say he is 'not a violent person' Credit: Instagram Advertisement Pals say he has suffered tendon damage and is unable to drive due to his injuries. Witnesses said the mob made off in a white Vauxhall Astra waiting outside. Around 70 mourners, some elderly and some children, had gathered to pay their respects to local Stanley Reid. Our source continued: 'This seemed to be a targeted attack — they knew who they were looking for and where he was. Advertisement "People wrapped a towel around the man's injury while waiting for emergency services. Children were taken into a room and locked in there to keep them away from the violence. 'People were screaming and crying in fear. They had gathered to pay final farewells to a man who was really well-respected within the local community. 6 The mass brawl broke out at The White Eagle Club in Stafford 6 Masked thugs stormed into the wake and attacked a dad-of-two with a blade Advertisement 'They could have killed someone that night. They are nothing but scumbags. They ruined what was a lovely send-off for a good person.' Staffordshire Police said yesterday: 'We were called to a social club on Riverway, Stafford, at 7.40pm on Friday, February 28 following reports that someone had been glassed outside and a fight was taking place. Some of the men involved were wearing masks and were carrying weapons. 'Two men went to hospital after suffering injuries at the scene. Both have since been discharged. 'A man and a woman suffered minor injuries at the scene but did not want any medical treatment. Advertisement 'Officers have reviewed CCTV footage and have been actively carrying out inquiries to find out more about what happened. 'A 22-year-old man, from Stafford, was arrested on suspicion of wounding and affray. Another man, also 22 and from Stafford, was arrested on suspicion of affray. 'Both were questioned in custody and bailed with conditions while our inquiries continue.' A force spokeswoman later confirmed that both suspects had been released with no further action last month. Advertisement Ashman said last night: 'I fully co-operated with this police investigation and made it very clear that I had no involvement in this incident. 'I am not a violent person and any suggestion otherwise is a mischaracterisation.' A show source said: 'ITV were entirely unaware of Kyle's past and, as he was not charged, it was not flagged as part of Love Island's stringent DBS checks. Suspects released 'It's only right he can now return home to the UK to share his side of the story and therefore bosses took the decision that it was best for him not to enter the villa.' Advertisement Contestants typically sign up months in advance of The launch episode of last year's summer series was watched by 3.3 million fans. ITV yesterday officially announced the new line-up and released images of contestants, with Ashman showing off his six-pack. Asked about the type of Love Islander he would like to couple up with, Ashman said: 'Someone who is fun, confident and just themselves.' Advertisement Asked if host Love Island winners - where they are now EVERY year Love Island opens its doors to more sexy Islanders who are hoping for a holiday romance that could turn into more. Here we take you through all of the 2025 - The second series of All Stars saw STATUS: Still together. 2024 - The summer Love Island saw STATUS: Broken up. 2024 - The first ever All stars spin off show was STATUS: Still together. 2023 - STATUS: Broken up. 2023 - The first series of 2023 saw STATUS: Still together. 2022 - STATUS: Broken up. 2021 - STATUS: Still together. 2020 - The first ever winter Love Island saw STATUS: Broken up. 2019 - Series 5 saw STATUS: Broken up. 2018 - It wasn't surprising fan favourites STATUS: Broken up. 2017 - STATUS: Broken up. 2016 - Nathan Massey and Cara De La Hoyde were together from the start of the series, and since they won the show they've had two kids and are married. STATUS: Still together. 2015 - Despite poor STATUS: Broken up.
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
TV review: I was glad to see the closing credits of Mountainhead
I was in two minds about Mountainhead (Sky Atlantic and NOW). Every now and again I wished this movie was a series but mainly I was glad that I didn't have to spend more than 90 minutes with the main characters. I wanted it to be a series because it's directed by Jesse Armstrong, who was involved with The Thick of It and Succession, two of the best 21st century telly satires. But this one is about four super-rich tech titans, awful men who are happy to set the world on fire as long as their net worth is bigger than the next guy. In this case, the world is literally in flames as the four former frat-boys gather in a Bond-villain mountain retreat to play poker and rekindle their time in The Brewsters. I think that's a fraternity, we're not told. The chief villain is Venis – his social-media platform Traam has just released new features which make it too easy to produce deep-fake videos, which are then used to incite hatred and sectarianism across the globe. His goofy friend Jeff has an AI platform that could douse the flames by identifying any false videos, if only he'd make that technology available to Traam. Overseeing it all is Randall, AKA Papa Bear, which sees Steve Carrell in top Steve Carrell form, playing the original tech God, who likes to name-drop philosophers to justify making money no matter what. The fourth character is the host, Souper, the poorest of the group with a net worth of $550 million. Fans of Succession will like the look and feel of Mountainhead. You've got your fleets of private jets and expensive 4x4s, whisking middle-aged white people here and there. There are put-upon personal assistants making knowing glances at the camera. Everyone is terribly dressed, expensively. But there isn't enough fun. Succession and The Thick of It allowed their characters sufficient humanity and awareness to make jokes about themselves and each other. The four tech bros here are too consumed by themselves to get a decent laugh. There is oodles of acting talent here, but it's wasted with long monologues that could have been lifted from Elon Musk's twitter account. We don't need a telly drama to tell us that super-rich white American nerds are a danger to the planet, we can get that from the news. There are some very funny bits. Souper being parachuted in to head a coup in Argentina is a lovely touch; the bit where Venis tries to bond with his baby boy is gold; the scene around the sauna terrifyingly hilarious. But I was glad to see the closing credits and the back of The Brewsters.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Secret network of spy tunnels to open as London's newest tourist attraction
The capital is set to gain a new visitor attraction hidden in plain sight 40 metres below High Holborn, as the tunnels will now become open to the public after being kept in relative secrecy for nearly 70 years under the Official Secrets Act. The London Tunnels, the company that looks after this underground labyrinth, has recently announced a collaboration with the Museum of Military Intelligence (MMI) on the project, two years after the plans were first announced. The below street-level network is known as the Kinsway Exchange Tunnels and was constructed during the Blitz as a deep-level air raid shelter under the London Underground. The mile-long series of tunnels was shortly after occupied by the Special Operations Executive, a clandestine organisation established in July 1940 under the orders of then Prime Minister Winston Churchill, during the later stages of World War II. It was during this time that Bond author Ian Fleming was working as a liaison officer within the wartime administration, and it is thought that the tunnels inspired the research and development Q Branch in his novels. After a few other uses for the network, the tunnels were used for a secure hotline that connected the White House to the Kremlin during the Cold War, before it was taken over by BT. Now, the tunnels will have a new life as a major tourist attraction that hopes to welcome up to three million visitors per year. The tunnels will have a permanent exhibition showcasing the history of military intelligence and its use of the tunnel complex, including a special exhibition centred around the Special Operations Executive. The displays will spotlight original artefacts, equipment, weapons, documents and images through a 'modern high-tech experience' that promises to bring to life the history and techniques used by military intelligence. The exhibition will feature stories from the Battle of Britain and D-Day, the espionage operations of the Cold War and the Falklands War. It will also display more recent military operations, including peace-keeping missions and the response to terrorism threats that have occurred within the 21st century. Visitors will also be able to delve into how the British military works today and what operations they carry out. Angus Murray, CEO of The London Tunnels, said: 'We are delighted to become the home of the public exhibition of the Museum of Military Intelligence. This new location will provide convenient central London access to an important and unique collection which has until now been largely hidden. 'The tunnels, built and designed to protect Londoners during the Blitz, are the ideal backdrop to tell the remarkable, and untold, stories of the men and women who played a vital role in protecting Britain then, and the role of the armed services protecting Britain today.' In its 2023 consultation documents, London Tunnels said the new museum would increase local spending up to £80m (€95m) per year, create 40 onsite jobs and offer free trips for local schools. The London Tunnels said work is scheduled to begin in 2027, with completion in 2028.
