We recommend: The best new movies and TV series
Kalki 2898 AD: Headlined by Telugu superstar Prabhas, Big B and Deepika Padukone, this is one of the most anticipated releases of the year. The film is set in a dystopian sci-fi world and uses characters from Indian mythology. Deepika is pregnant with Kalki—the last avatar of Vishnu who would be born to save the world, Amitabh Bachchan is Ashwatthama and Prabhas is Bhairava—a bounty hunter. And oh, Kamal Haasan plays the villain.
Reviews are decent. The Hindu says, “Despite these shortcomings, Kalki is a brave new attempt that deserves big cheers.” For Hindustan Times, Amitabh Bachchan steals the show. The paper adds: “It’s gutsy and intriguing enough to be watched on-screen.” Our take: We are excited to find out how the movie will blend Indian mythology with sci-fi. The film was released in theatres on Thursday.
A Quiet Place - Day One: This is a prequel to the famed ‘A Quiet Place’ franchise helmed by John Krasinski and follows day one of the alien invasion. The original cast does not return for this film, and we are introduced to a completely new set of faces instead. Lupita Nyong'o and Joseph Quinn in lead roles who team up to figure out a way to survive.
The film’s got mixed reviews. BBC Culture concludes: “For a supposedly scary movie, it's a little bit sloppy.” While The Guardian says: “It’s an efficient, if familiar, spectacle of suspense.” Our take: The movies are already critically acclaimed so we have high hopes from this prequel. You can catch it in the theatres this weekend.
I Am: Celine Dion: Hearts will go on, and so will Celine Dion. This is the Canadian singer’s latest documentary where she gives us a glimpse into her life as she struggles with stiff person syndrome—a life altering disease. The film features raw and honest behind-the-scenes and frames them as a love letter to her fans.
Reviews are good. TIME Magazine writes: “I Am: Celine Dion is intimate and gently moving, more a portrait of a superstar in her downtime than one of superstardom itself.” IndieWire says the movie lets her “shine through in ways that feel rare for a documentary about an artist.” Our take: We think this heartbreaking documentary may be the truest representation of what it means to be an artist and performer. You can watch it on Amazon Prime.
Land of Women: The OG housewife Eva Longoria is back! The Spanish series is partly inspired by Sandra Barneda’s bestselling novel ‘La tierra de las mujeres’. The dramedy centres around Gala (Longoria)—a mom whose life is turned upside down when she learns her husband is in debt. She quickly grabs her mum and teenage daughter and runs away to her ancestral small town in Spain to start over.
Critics are mixed on this show. Los Angeles Times finds it to be a “lovely and satisfying escape”. OTOH, Variety gives it drab reviews noting: “‘Land of Women’ is pretty to look at, but the story offers nothing we haven’t seen before.” Our take: It’ll be interesting to see Longoria’s first Spanish venture. The six episode series dropped on Apple TV+ yesterday.
Supacell: This is the newest addition to a long line of British supernatural series. A group of unrelated characters in London suddenly get superpowers. The show first explores how they adapt to the powers rather than explaining the origins and its purpose. The newfound abilities give the group an existential crisis and cleverly provides commentary on the Black communities of London and the daily microaggressions they face.
Reviews are great! For Hollywood Reporter, “Supacell resembles every superhero show you’ve ever seen, the way it feels and plays out is completely distinctive.” The Guardian calls it “an absolute riot, strikingly performed and bracingly plotted to a sensational soundtrack with five nuanced characters all battling complex problems.” Our take: We are intrigued by the rave reviews. You can catch it on Netflix.
A Family Affair: This is the newest chick flick in tinsel town and features—wait for it—Zac Efron and Nicole Kidmam romancing each other! The story is from the perspective of a young woman Zara Ford who is an assistant to movie actor Chris Cole (Efron). Things get super messy when Zara learns of her boss’ affair with her mother Brooke (Kidman).
Reviews are not that great—which we expected. Wall Street Journal concludes it goes from “smartly observant to tritely predictable.” Variety writes: “[T]he biggest joke seems to be on ‘A Family Affair’ itself, for wasting Efron’s underrated talents and Kidman’s peerless range so clumsily.” Ouch. Our take: We think this might be perfect to hate-watch with your friends. You can stream it on Netflix.
Fancy Dance: This drama looks at familial connections and grief as a girl of Native American descent bonds with her aunt over the disappearance of her mother. The film is bilingual—with a mix of English and Cayuga—and presents how the two cultures interact. In the film’s darker moments, it is a bitter reflection of how America neglects and mistreats its Native residents. FYI: the lead is Academy Award nominee Lily Gladstone.
Reviews are good. The Conversation declares: “Fancy Dance is a powerful, disquieting film.” The Guardian is impressed with Gladstone and says she “gives strength and substance to a dense, knotty family drama.” Our take: We always look forward to heartfelt Native American stories. The movie is now streaming on Apple TV+.
Sharmajee Ki Beti: This female-led Indian dramedy is a play on the colloquial phrase ‘Sharmajee ka beta’ which basically means the neighbour (Sharmajee’s) son is better than your own kid. The movie turns this idea on its head and follows five cool Sharmajee’s daughters: two married women, one in a serious relationship, and two teenage girls. This is Tahira Kashyap’s debut featuring popular TV actor Sakshi Tanwar, as well as Divya Dutta, Saiyami Kher, Vanshika Taparia, Arista Mehta, Sharib Hashmi and Parvin Dabas.
Reviews are quite good. NDTV calls it “bright and breezy, but never unduly frothy.” Indian Express notes “the film gives us women talking, walking, claiming their space.” Our take: We like the idea of a light and breezy female-led film for the weekend. The movie has dropped on Amazon Prime.
My Lady Jane: Here’s a historical fantasy drama fix for the weekend. The titular character is based on Lady Jane from the Tudor dynasty in 16th century England—who ascended to the throne for a mere nine days after which she was beheaded. In eight episodes, the series explores the life she didn’t have—entertaining us with an alt history. The 16-year-old escapes her marriage and takes on the royal family.
Reviews are decent. Variety gives it a smashing review saying its “outlandishness makes it a standout.” Hollywood Reporter notes that while the series is not as “edgy or uproarious” as it would like to be, it “still serves up plenty of amusement.” Our take: We think a feminist reimagination of a time that was terrifying for women sounds like a cool concept on paper. The series is on Amazon Prime.
Here’s a new chapter…
The Bear Season 3: The Emmy-winning comedy series about the chaos of the fine-dining restaurant business is back! The new season starts right where it left off—with Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) launching his own restaurant—The Bear. His staff includes fan favourite cousin Richie, Head Chef Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), her sous-chef Tina (Liza Colon-Zayas), and aspiring pastry chef Marcus (Lionel Boyce). All ten episodes have dropped on Disney+ Hotstar.
Fresh off the big screen…
Civil War: This movie explores the perilous journey of wartime journalists who need to reach Washington DC amid a civil war boiling across the nation. Directed by Alex Garland, it involves a star-studded cast including the likes of Kirsten Dunst and Cailee Spaeny. The movie captures a vivid picture of a dystopian America shattered by conflict and also subtly points out true events. You can now catch it at home on Amazon Prime.
