Media In The Mirror.
3 Episodes. Starring: Anthony Mackie, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Pom Klementieff, Ludi Lin, Andrew Scott, Damson Idris, Topher Grace, Angourie Rice, Madison Davenport & Miley Cyrus. Creator: Charlie Brooker.
Put your phones down now! I'm serious! Stop scrolling. Nobody gives a s###. Stop liking. Why did we all of a sudden rate and revere that more than love? Smart move. O.K. I know the stupid irony. What do I think you're reading this on one as we speak...or tweet?! I'm a hypocrite who does this all the time. My work would be nothing without this platform. But like Charlie Brooker's 'Black Mirror' now in its fifth formidable season of change, like a reflecting smartphone screen we may aswell use this medium to take down this medium in exposing all of its flaws like it does us. On reflection over the years and seasons we've had Star Trek's, Prime Minister's and bays of pigs, 'Mad Men' blocking us and even daughters of 'Happy Days', 'Jurassic World' actress asking to be rated and liked in every day interactions like getting a cup of coffee that is becoming so much more social media than it is actually social. Not to mention the "you spin me round," nostalgic 80's party joy of what life was like before social media. There's even been an interactive 'Bandersnatch' movie for the Netflix streaming service like all those old figure out the ending flip books you used to problem solve read as a kid. But this time in a holy trinity of a big-three heaven sent episodes? So much more. Like the 'Striking Vipers' of our first contestants. Marvel Falcon and new Captain America, Anthony Mackie duking it out with best friend and 'Aquaman' Black Manta villain Yahya Abdul-Mateen II on a VR video game, fighting and a hell of a lot more in avatar form with 'Guardians Of The Galaxy' Mantis Pom Klementieff and Aquaman Murk warrior and Black 'Power Ranger' Ludi Lin in this first round K.O.
FIGHT! One that truly hits in a whole new reality. The video game scenes starring French actress Pom and Chinese/Canadian Lin are inspired. And hopefully will at least influence their own mobile 8bit game like GIF. But there's more behind this VR experience. As it's a whole new shared universe of love and life for the oldest friends who have known each other since back in the day. These vipers strike and take on everything from toxic masculinity and wives losing their husbands to video games. All the way to the silicon valley of a new sexuality, but at the root of it. No matter how much time has passed and how they have changed. There is a beautiful friendship between two brothers, bonded by so much more. Mackie is marvellous, but he isn't complete without Yahya for the multi-verse superhero crossover we never knew we were waiting for. Things get a little more real and grounded in the outskirts of London in 'Smithereens' where 'Sherlock' Moriarty villain Andrew Scott takes a social media employee (a definitive Damson Idris of Jordan Peele's 'The Twilight Zone') hostage whilst posing as a Hitcher (think an Uber Lyft) driver outside the firm's Big Smoke headquarters. In the middle of a countryside standoff that is anything but a peaceful getaway from it all he demands to speak to the companies California CEO. Who is on an offline retreat, mediating the old fashioned way (without an app) and looks strangely what it would look like if Topher Grace played Jesus after visiting the tanning salon. Share that!
Sniper gun blasts in windshield glass that look like the iconic smile of the 'Black Mirror' I.D. logo pierce the tension of this terrifyingly taught tale, with a we won't spoilt twisting climax. One that guts you as much as it goes ignorantly avoided by those still scrolling (HELLO! Can you hear me?). Grace is full of the Los Angeles synthetically genuine version of that beneath all that fake tan and disingenuous "living the best life" lifestyle choices that are really for status show. But it's Idris who is able and the great Scott who is an emotional tour de force in the 'Collateral' car claustrophobic confides. And just wait until the real reason he and everyone else is right there in this spiralling situation trending through the timelines. But don't worry, 'She Is Coming' too. In the same week as pop powerhouse Miley Cyrus releases her new epic EP and 1-800 hotline for fans to call she stars in the third, final and best part concerning another bubblegum pop idol on the teen scene since her early years. Growing up into a whole new idol world of pop manufacture that we sorely, sorrowfully see today subtley. Just like all the satirical social sides this 'Mirror' shows in reflection like a hologram. Yet it all leads to a funny and fun finale, racing against time with Miley, Angourie Rice, Madison Davenport and Miley too. Or should we say Ashley too (or two). As Miley Cyrus' 'Black Mirror' alter ego Ashley O with Prince purple, neon futuristic, iconic trademark hair has her own AI doll for fans emulating their idol in wigs. Beat that Barbie girl in a Barbie world! But through the filters of making young kids think they need make up. Or artists to be painted a certain way that has nothing to do with their own brushstrokes. This doll reveals the dark side behind artificial intelligence and the dumb f###s behind the scenes in music who really think they matter as they try and milk their artists for all their worth and work (knowing they'd be nothing without them as they try to convince them that's the other way round) without considering how much that means in all schemes. But with her own new alter ego idol like Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus sings "don't f### with my freedom." As the 'Mothers Daughter' and 'Nothing Breaks Like A Heart' singer like going 'Younger Now' country for her last album or singing 'Silent Night' so poignantly on Netflix's own 'A Murray Christmas' special with a good old, 'Lost In Translation' Bill (not to mention her SNL cover of John Lennon's 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)' with son Sean tis season), shows a whole other side to her amazing acting acclaim. And this purple reign is what makes 'Black's' signature swan song to this series such a deep bow. Mixing themes of identity, individuality, social media, peer, fandom and critical pressure. This is a cooker that stirs everything into one big pot like we all do trying to manage our work, life and love. All in vain whilst we race out of breath and finger pointing pain to keep up with those who aren't even family or friends truly in our lives...let alone hearts. And there's something to be said about that. Like all of this. 'Black Mirror' is the sharpest social (media) commentary there is. We're taking the soul out of everything and putting it on a damn screen. These digital age Aesop Fables before bed were that electric night light just won't let you sleep. Or maybe something to be done. And that's to put down that phone. Turn off that screen that you think illuminates so much, but really just glares at you. And take a good, long look at that person staring back at you from that black, blank screen and figure out what really means the world to you and everything it's going to take to get there. It starts with you and not with everyone else you're looking at. It's time to disconnect and really switch on. Mirror that as everything else fades to black. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Black Mirror: Bandersnatch', 'Phillip K. Dick's Electric Dreams', 'The Twilight Zone'.
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