So you wanna watch something…

Bullet Train: Brad Pitt—a down-on-his-luck assassin named, umm, Ladybug—is assigned what is supposed to be an easy gig by his handler (Sandra Bullock). The mission: steal a briefcase full of money on a bullet train going from Tokyo to Kyoto. The catch: the train is filled with assassins—all vying for the same suitcase. This action-comedy is full of non-stop theatrics and over-the-top wacky characters.

From what we can gather from reviews, the decision to skip or not depends mainly on how much you love the quirky, goofball version of Pitt. The Guardian rails against “this weirdly exhausting and overwhelmingly unfunny gonzo-violent action comedy.” But The Independent and Star Tribune think Pitt is funny and charming—enough to carry an otherwise flawed movie. The movie drops in theatres today.

Darlings: Distraught wife Badrunissa (Alia Bhatt) files a police report when her husband Hamza (Vijay Varma) goes missing. But all is not as it seems. In reality, Badru and her mother Shamshu (Shefali Shah)—tired of Hamza’s love for the bottle and domestic violence—are keeping him under lock and key in his own house. ‘Darlings’ follows the mother-daughter duo as they try to keep their stories straight and the kidnapping secret.

There are no reviews yet, but we think ‘Darlings’ will make a fun weekend watch. Drops today on Netflix.

The Sandman: After many failed adaptations, Neil Gaiman’s ‘The Sandman’ is finally here. Morpheus (AKA The Sandman) is the Lord of Dreams—who is captured by a ritual intended for Death. He finally escapes—nearly a century later—and finds himself in the midst of a universe in chaos. Humanity has been split into two, some have fallen into perpetual sleep while others cannot sleep, no matter how hard they try. The first season adapts Volume One of Gaiman’s seven-year-long DC comics run—spanning Morpheus’ escape from imprisonment through to his attempts to rebuild his kingdom. 

There are no reviews yet, but you can check out this guide from The Ringer or this Guardian interview with Gaiman. We can’t wait to check this one out. Premieres today on Netflix.

Wedding Season: Set in an Indian community in New Jersey, ‘Wedding Season’ follows two 30-somethings in a classic Hollywood take on the great Indian arranged marriage. Asha (Pallavi Sharda) is an investment banker torn between a life of partying and her parents’ traditional values—while Ravi (Suraj Sharma) is the ‘ideal’ Indian son and an MIT grad to boot. Ravi is interested in Asha; she predictably is not. But with 14 weddings on the horizon, the pair agrees to ‘date’ to keep gossipy aunties at bay—and Asha’s parents off her back. Predictable romcom hijinks—set in exotic Indian backdrop—ensues.

Ok, now for the reviews. Variety offers a sentimental American view,rhapsodising over the age-old conflict between traditional desi parents and their brave, independent American-born children: “‘Wedding Season’ might just leave you with a tear in your eye as you watch the world inch ahead with grace.” Honestly, that line made us gag just a little bit. Then again, The Guardian offers a more balanced take: “Its plot is a blend of cliches, its set design somewhere between serviceable and cheap, its acting either solidly watchable or borderline parody”—and yet makes for a fun, easy watch. This one is really about how offended you are by these things. ‘Wedding Season’ is out now on Netflix.

PS: Sima Aunty and ‘Indian Matchmaking’ are coming back for season 2 next week. Though all her clients appear to be Indian Americans and the show is set entirely in the US… hmm. 

A list of good reads

• Cnet has an interesting read on the science behind beauty sleep—nope, it isn’t a myth.
• Film Companion looks at whether male nudity in Indian cinema is aesthetic or exploitative.
• Indian Express looks at the queer politics of Meena Kumari—whose ‘Pakeezah’ is one of the enduring emblems of gay culture.
• CNN explains why you should bring back the old-fashioned alarm clock.
• Scroll has a fascinating read on the convergence of psychiatry and faith healing to find cures for mental illness.
• Gizmodo offers a nuanced take on the outrage over Taylor Swift’s private jet trips—and whether any one individual can affect climate change. 
• Another good read from Gizmodo: Why celebrities need to stop voice-acting animated flicks. 
• Just for fun: CNN looks at bridal wear trends at India Couture Week. The pics are excellent eye candy.
• The Guardian looks at whether AI can really help us talk to animals?
• Vulture looks at the long arc of Bruce Willis’ career from a fast-talking romantic lead to a near-silent action hero—mostly because of the disease that took away his ability to talk.
• Here’s something for design nerds in Eye On Design: Why can’t fonts have more serifs?
• Al Jazeera has an interesting ground report on a 700-year old tradition of a ‘groom bazaar’ in Madhubani, Bihar.
• Did you know there is a cool video game that’s all about cats? No? Let Mint Lounge tell you all about it.