Latest news with #TVreviews
Daily Telegraph
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Telegraph
Teresa Palmer: The Family Next Door review dubbed Australian Big Little Lies
Don't miss out on the headlines from TV. Followed categories will be added to My News. For a sneak peek of what's dropping this week, read our latest TV reviews. One show. Two views The Family Next Door, 8.30pm, Sunday, ABC TV Siobhan Duck Motherhood is put under the microscope in this riveting new suburban thriller. Hot on the heels of her performances in The Last Anniversary and Mix Tape, Teresa Palmer stars as Isabella, a new resident in an extremely tight-knit cul-de-sac (think Ramsay Street meets Desperate Housewives' Wisteria Lane). Soon after moving in next door to Ange (Bella Heathcote), her tightly wound landlady, it becomes apparent to Isabella that life on Pleasant Court isn't quite as idyllic as its name suggests. Of course, Isabella isn't exactly perfect herself and there seems to be a secret agenda behind her move. But what (or who) is Isabella looking for? The longer she stays on Pleasant Court, the more Isabella discovers that all its residents are struggling with the pressures of parenting and keeping up the happy-family facade. Adapted from Sally Hepworth's page-turner, it also features a terrific supporting cast that includes Catherine McClements and Jane Harber. Teresa Palmer stars in ABC TV's The Family Next Door. Picture: Getty Images James Wigney Director Emma Freeman (who was behind one of our best dramas of recent years, The Newsreader) is in total control as she drip-feeds the reveals and twists from this six-part adaptation of Sally Hepworth's 2018 bestseller in a fashion that will keep you on the edge of your seat – and in awe of her assembled cast. In her third – and best yet – major series of the year, the versatile and prolific Teresa Palmer is front and centre in the poster. But as compelling as she is as the stranger purporting to be a travel writer who up-ends the life of a dead-end street in a sleepy holiday hamlet, it's the powerhouse ensemble of women surrounding her that really elevates this thriller about secrets, family, grief and suburban life. Scrubalnds' Bella Heathcote and Offspring's Jane Harber nail their parts as a brittle, struggling real estate agent and a gay mum with a troubled past respectively, and former Home And Away star Philippa Northeast is a revelation as the frustrated, vulnerable and sleep-deprived new mother Essie. Quality stuff. Philippa Northeast. Picture: Mark Stewart In case you missed it … Cadillac Records Streaming on Tubi Chuck Berry. Muddy Waters. Etta James. In the 1950s and '60s, Chicago's Chess Records boasted an impressive roster of music legends. It is therefore fitting that this biopic about the famed label also features a star-studded line-up: Beyoncé plays James and Adrien Brody is her chain-smoking boss Leonard Chess. Beyoncé – who first gained acting acclaim playing a character based on another icon (Diana Ross) in the Oscar-winning musical Dreamgirls – is a great fit as the supremely gifted James. She even performs a pitch-perfect rendition of James's best-known ballad 'At Last', which was so memorable that Barack Obama got her to croon it at his inauguration (much to James's chagrin at the time). One of Beyoncé's forgotten Hollywood roles is now screening on Tubi. Picture: Levi's Playing Gracie Darling Streaming from Thursday, Paramount+ Morgana O'Reilly is definitely one to watch. Fresh from her stint as a sunny yet pedantic hotel staffer in the third season of The White Lotus, the talented Kiwi actor is leading this supernatural thriller. O'Reilly plays Joni, a child psychologist haunted by the disappearance of her best friend Gracie (Kristina Bogic) during a seance when they were teenagers. When another of Gracie's relatives vanishes in similar circumstances, Joni returns to her home town in search of answers. While O'Reilly was really only a supporting player in The White Lotus, her capable shoulders very squarely carry this six-part mystery and she brings a believable mix of vulnerability and strength to the role. The Pickup Streaming, Prime Video Saturday Night Live made Eddie Murphy a household name in the 1980s. Four decades later, the show did the same for Pete Davidson (pictured, right, with Murphy). Now, the two comics join forces for this buddy comedy. Murphy is a hardworking and experienced armoured guard who is on the cusp of retiring to start a B&B with his wife (Eva Longoria), while Davidson is the screw-up rookie. When the pair's truck is ambushed by thieves, they must work together and play to their individual strengths to save the day. Cue hilarity. While I've never understood the appeal of Davidson (who seems to be like catnip to the Hollywood ladies), Murphy is excellent as always. Pete Davidson at the premiere of The Pickup. Picture: AFP Shark Week From 7.30pm, Sunday, Foxtel's Discovery Channel & HBO Max It's hard to believe that it's been 50 years since Steven Spielberg made us all terrified to go back in the water with a little film called Jaws. The enduring popularity of the iconic blockbuster proves there is a great white-sized appetite for shark-themed content. Here, the predators of the deep are celebrated with a stream of back-to-back documentaries, including Expedition Unknown: Shark Files (which investigates the real-life inspiration for Jaws), Dancing With Sharks (pictured) and How To Survive A Shark Attack (spoiler: surfer Mick Fanning had the right idea when he resorted to punching one in 2015). Marc Maron: Panicked Streaming, HBO Max Comedian Marc Maron (pictured) offers some hilarious insights into life as a straight-shooting, left-leaning cat owner in Trump's America in this stand-up set. From being made to feel guilty by his fellow liberals for failing to boycott his preferred soy milk to dealing with the bleak realities of living in a country where people are being systematically stripped of their rights, Maron's self-deprecating stories are punctuated with razor-sharp cultural analysis. If you don't laugh, you'll cry, right? Little Fires Everywhere Streaming from Saturday, SBS On Demand This series drew comparisons to Big Little Lies when it first aired in 2020. Also adapted from a bestselling novel and starring Reese Witherspoon, it likewise deals with a mystery that threatens to unravel the fabric of an affluent suburb. Here, it's the arson of Elena's (Witherspoon) home and her tense relationship with tenant Mia. Reese Witherspoon stars in Little Fires Everywhere. Picture: Getty Images If you liked: The Watcher Try: Fear Streaming from Thursday, BritBox Best known for playing detective Steve Arnott in six seasons of Line Of Duty, Martin Compston (pictured) has also had a very engrossing sideline in lesser-known mysteries. In this one, he's an architect named Martyn who moves to Glasgow with his wife Rebecca (Anjli Mohindra) and two children. Welcoming the family to their new digs is their downstairs neighbour Jan (Solly McLeod). While socially awkward, Jan seems harmless – until he forms an unhealthy interest in Rebecca and throws Martyn's fresh start into complete disarray. If you liked: Sam Pang Tonight Try: Shaun Micallef's Eve Of Destruction 7.30pm, Wednesday, ABC TV When this chat show debuted last year, Shaun Micallef (pictured) proudly described himself as Australia's least experienced interviewer. Now, with one season under his belt, Micallef has graduated to seeing himself as a 'barely competent' compere. Sitting down with swimmer Ariarne Titmus and comedian Frank Woodley, Micallef invites his guests to share anecdotes about their two most prized possessions. For Titmus that's her Olympic gold medal, while for Woodley it's a signed picture of the legendary duo Laurel and Hardy. Read the full reviews in today's issue of The Watchlist, via The Sunday Telegraph (NSW), Sunday Herald Sun (Victoria), The Sunday Mail (Queensland) and Sunday Mail (SA). For more from Stellar, click here.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Aussie critics weigh in on Aussie Big Little Lies as forgotten Beyonce role is ‘unearthed'
For a sneak peek of what's dropping this week, read our latest TV reviews. One show. Two views The Family Next Door, 8.30pm, Sunday, ABC TV Siobhan Duck Motherhood is put under the microscope in this riveting new suburban thriller. Hot on the heels of her performances in The Last Anniversary and Mix Tape, Teresa Palmer stars as Isabella, a new resident in an extremely tight-knit cul-de-sac (think Ramsay Street meets Desperate Housewives' Wisteria Lane). Soon after moving in next door to Ange (Bella Heathcote), her tightly wound landlady, it becomes apparent to Isabella that life on Pleasant Court isn't quite as idyllic as its name suggests. Of course, Isabella isn't exactly perfect herself and there seems to be a secret agenda behind her move. But what (or who) is Isabella looking for? The longer she stays on Pleasant Court, the more Isabella discovers that all its residents are struggling with the pressures of parenting and keeping up the happy-family facade. Adapted from Sally Hepworth's page-turner, it also features a terrific supporting cast that includes Catherine McClements and Jane Harber. James Wigney Director Emma Freeman (who was behind one of our best dramas of recent years, The Newsreader) is in total control as she drip-feeds the reveals and twists from this six-part adaptation of Sally Hepworth's 2018 bestseller in a fashion that will keep you on the edge of your seat – and in awe of her assembled cast. In her third – and best yet – major series of the year, the versatile and prolific Teresa Palmer is front and centre in the poster. But as compelling as she is as the stranger purporting to be a travel writer who up-ends the life of a dead-end street in a sleepy holiday hamlet, it's the powerhouse ensemble of women surrounding her that really elevates this thriller about secrets, family, grief and suburban life. Scrubalnds' Bella Heathcote and Offspring's Jane Harber nail their parts as a brittle, struggling real estate agent and a gay mum with a troubled past respectively, and former Home And Away star Philippa Northeast is a revelation as the frustrated, vulnerable and sleep-deprived new mother Essie. Quality stuff. In case you missed it … Cadillac Records Streaming on Tubi Chuck Berry. Muddy Waters. Etta James. In the 1950s and '60s, Chicago's Chess Records boasted an impressive roster of music legends. It is therefore fitting that this biopic about the famed label also features a star-studded line-up: Beyoncé plays James and Adrien Brody is her chain-smoking boss Leonard Chess. Beyoncé – who first gained acting acclaim playing a character based on another icon (Diana Ross) in the Oscar-winning musical Dreamgirls – is a great fit as the supremely gifted James. She even performs a pitch-perfect rendition of James's best-known ballad 'At Last', which was so memorable that Barack Obama got her to croon it at his inauguration (much to James's chagrin at the time). Playing Gracie Darling Streaming from Thursday, Paramount+ Morgana O'Reilly is definitely one to watch. Fresh from her stint as a sunny yet pedantic hotel staffer in the third season of The White Lotus, the talented Kiwi actor is leading this supernatural thriller. O'Reilly plays Joni, a child psychologist haunted by the disappearance of her best friend Gracie (Kristina Bogic) during a seance when they were teenagers. When another of Gracie's relatives vanishes in similar circumstances, Joni returns to her home town in search of answers. While O'Reilly was really only a supporting player in The White Lotus, her capable shoulders very squarely carry this six-part mystery and she brings a believable mix of vulnerability and strength to the role. The Pickup Streaming, Prime Video Saturday Night Live made Eddie Murphy a household name in the 1980s. Four decades later, the show did the same for Pete Davidson (pictured, right, with Murphy). Now, the two comics join forces for this buddy comedy. Murphy is a hardworking and experienced armoured guard who is on the cusp of retiring to start a B&B with his wife (Eva Longoria), while Davidson is the screw-up rookie. When the pair's truck is ambushed by thieves, they must work together and play to their individual strengths to save the day. Cue hilarity. While I've never understood the appeal of Davidson (who seems to be like catnip to the Hollywood ladies), Murphy is excellent as always. Shark Week From 7.30pm, Sunday, Foxtel's Discovery Channel & HBO Max It's hard to believe that it's been 50 years since Steven Spielberg made us all terrified to go back in the water with a little film called Jaws. The enduring popularity of the iconic blockbuster proves there is a great white-sized appetite for shark-themed content. Here, the predators of the deep are celebrated with a stream of back-to-back documentaries, including Expedition Unknown: Shark Files (which investigates the real-life inspiration for Jaws), Dancing With Sharks (pictured) and How To Survive A Shark Attack (spoiler: surfer Mick Fanning had the right idea when he resorted to punching one in 2015). Marc Maron: Panicked Streaming, HBO Max Comedian Marc Maron (pictured) offers some hilarious insights into life as a straight-shooting, left-leaning cat owner in Trump's America in this stand-up set. From being made to feel guilty by his fellow liberals for failing to boycott his preferred soy milk to dealing with the bleak realities of living in a country where people are being systematically stripped of their rights, Maron's self-deprecating stories are punctuated with razor-sharp cultural analysis. If you don't laugh, you'll cry, right? Little Fires Everywhere Streaming from Saturday, SBS On Demand This series drew comparisons to Big Little Lies when it first aired in 2020. Also adapted from a bestselling novel and starring Reese Witherspoon, it likewise deals with a mystery that threatens to unravel the fabric of an affluent suburb. Here, it's the arson of Elena's (Witherspoon) home and her tense relationship with tenant Mia. If you liked: The Watcher Try: Fear Streaming from Thursday, BritBox Best known for playing detective Steve Arnott in six seasons of Line Of Duty, Martin Compston (pictured) has also had a very engrossing sideline in lesser-known mysteries. In this one, he's an architect named Martyn who moves to Glasgow with his wife Rebecca (Anjli Mohindra) and two children. Welcoming the family to their new digs is their downstairs neighbour Jan (Solly McLeod). While socially awkward, Jan seems harmless – until he forms an unhealthy interest in Rebecca and throws Martyn's fresh start into complete disarray. If you liked: Sam Pang Tonight Try: Shaun Micallef's Eve Of Destruction 7.30pm, Wednesday, ABC TV When this chat show debuted last year, Shaun Micallef (pictured) proudly described himself as Australia's least experienced interviewer. Now, with one season under his belt, Micallef has graduated to seeing himself as a 'barely competent' compere. Sitting down with swimmer Ariarne Titmus and comedian Frank Woodley, Micallef invites his guests to share anecdotes about their two most prized possessions. For Titmus that's her Olympic gold medal, while for Woodley it's a signed picture of the legendary duo Laurel and Hardy.
CNET
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
After 20 Years of Reviewing TVs, I Actually Found One with Good Sound
CNET's key takeaways The Roku Pro Series (2025) features some of the best sound quality I have heard in years of testing AV equipment. Based on preliminary tests, the TV appears to perform better than the existing Pro series for audio and picture quality. While it sounds good for a TV, a soundbar with a wireless subwoofer will sound even better. As a 20-year veteran of TV and soundbar reviews, I can say, with certainty, that you can't expect good sound from a television. Sound quality may be a priority for you and me, but today's TVs typically perform on a spectrum somewhere between muddy and indistinct. The reason for this is that a flat-screen TV is inherently compromised, and onboard sound is usually one of the last considerations. As a result of this, if you want to buy a TV, you almost definitely need some sort of external speaker. Then again, there are rare exceptions like the newest Roku Pro Series TV, which goes on sale Tuesday and starts at $899 for the 55-inch model. The 2025 Roku Pro Series continues the thoughtful touches of previous models -- tool-less stands, an on-TV remote finder -- and adds even better sound to the mix. Other companies, such as Loewe and Panasonic, have even tried making soundbars a part of the TV, though with varying degrees of success. I've heard those TVs, and they're typically expensive flagships, but the Roku is simply trying to do what any TV should: Make dialogue understandable and not require a separate purchase. Also read: Best TVs of 2025 The designer of the TV's sound system, Roku's Kasper Andersen, told me he came up with the idea for its unique sound drivers during the pandemic, when he was left to his own devices in an empty audio lab. Andersen's "compression loaded" system appears to work like a horn speaker in that it pipes sound through a tapered opening, which helps reduce the muddying reflections that usually occur in TV speakers. To help achieve this, this speaker system is side-mounted, while most TVs point their speakers down, or even back, resulting in muffled or even 'ghostly' sound. The Roku Pro TV is not perfect. For instance, there was noticeable audio compression during loud sequences. But this is acceptable for a TV speaker and something I've even experienced with some soundbars. At the same price as the model it replaces, the Roku Pro Series TV is well put-together, sounds great and, based on initial tests, has picture quality that is better than before. If it performs as well as I anticipate, the new Roku Pro Series could be the TV to beat for the price. My experience with the Roku Pro Series Listening to Nick Cave on the new Roku Pro Series. Ty Pendlebury/CNET I tested the new Roku Pro's sound against its predecessor, also called the Roku Pro, as well as a high-end 2025 LCD, the Hisense U8Q. I tested each one using a mix of movies and music to see how the TVs performed when playing dynamic material. I started my evaluations with one of my soundbar benchmarks," a scene from Avatar that combines surround effects, quiet dialogue and dynamic explosions: the Thanator chase. Of the three TVs, the new Roku Pro was able to convey the deep rumble of the Hammerhead Titanotheres as well as the high-end energy of buzzing insects. It was also best able to convey a stereo image. At the start of the scene, Jake (Sam Worthington) leaves Grace (Sigourney Weaver) behind in a clearing, and the new Roku's audio system followed her position as it moved across the screen. However, not surprisingly, I found that the TV didn't deal with big dynamic swings as well as a full audio system might. I could hear the audio peaks compress when the Thanator chased Jake under a tree, and as he fired rounds at the creature. Yet, this is no sin; I've heard great soundbars like the Zvox SB500 do the same thing. The TV is essentially throttling the sound to prevent distortion or, worse, damage. I then switched to the Hisense and found that this TV was not at all convincing with this scene. While Grace's voice sounded front and center on both Roku TVs, she sounded like she was in another room on the Hisense. Her voice was muffled and indistinct. While the older Roku Pro still sounds pretty good, I found it could not reproduce bass at all. While listening to Peter Gabriel's track, Olive Tree, on both Roku TVs, I heard a thick bed of bass on the new Pro, where there was nothing but a flatulent pop on the older TV. You know when someone drives past listening to bass-heavy music and the subwoofer is so loud it sounds like the car is going to fall apart? That's what Nick Cave's Red Right Hand sounded like on the Hisense U8K. I even held the mount and the back of the TV, and the rattle was coming from inside the TV. One of my few complaints about the Roku Pro Series is that, while you can add Roku speakers, you can't add a standalone subwoofer. Granting this ability may reduce the dynamic compression artifacts I heard, as the sub can then take the hit and leave the TV's speakers to produce dialogue. I did perform a brief picture quality comparison, though only the older Roku had had its picture evaluated with a Konica Minolta CS2000 spectroradiometer. The other TVs were simply set in Filmmaker mode. Using a test scene from the war movie 1917, I found the new Roku had more solidity and better contrast than the other TVs. The Roku also had finer shadow detail than the Hisense, which was surprising given the Hisense is around 2.5 times the price. While I'm going to leave my thoughts for a full review, I can at least say that the black levels of the new Roku have improved over the previous generation's. The specs Sizes: 55-inch ($899), 65-inch ($1,199), 75-inch ($1,699) Resolution: 4K Technology: Mini-LED LCD with QLED Refresh rate: 120Hz, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM HDR support: HDR10 Plus, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 6 HDMI: 4, including eARC CNET's buying advice The No. 1 reason to buy a TV has been, and should always be, how good its picture quality is. Yet this shouldn't mean that sound quality can't be No. 2 on the list, especially when your budget is tight. While I'm still in the process of evaluating the Roku Pro's display, I can say that this is one of the better TVs I've heard, and at any price. It's worth mentioning that the existing model is currently being sold at a 30% discount to make way for the new TVs, and while its black levels don't appear to be as good, this is still a relatively accurate TV. It's also great at playing video games, and may be a decent deal if you're looking for a secondary TV for a playroom or bedroom.
