We recommend: The best new movies and TV series
Wolfs: A highly anticipated release that even got folks at the Venice Film Festival on their feet, ‘Wolfs’ is a good-ol’ Hollywood slick actioner, which is equal parts buddy cop, and equal parts odd couple thrown together. Brad Pitt and George Clooney star as two rival fixers who find themselves on the same job, and end up having to work together through a night that spirals out of control.
Reviews are mostly positive. Associated Press felt the film’s appeal “is mostly in their easy charm and chemistry” and Peter Travers for ABC News agrees, writing that “the jokes grow repetitive and action gives way to the formula playbook” but “Their kind of cool is ageless”. Our take: We’d be more than happy to kick back with a few laughs and the evergreen chemistry of the two leads. You can stream the film on Apple TV+.
Devara Part 1: Highly highly anticipated NTR Jr’s ‘Devara Part 1’—his newest release since the blockbuster ‘RRR’—is finally here. The story is set in a fictional world but during the 1980s and 1990s and follows a fearless fighter Devara—who is the protector of his people. But a conspiracy against him throws him off and sets him on a revenge journey. Oh and Janhvi Kapoor plays his love interest and Saif Ali Khan is the villain. Lol!
Reviews are so-so. The Hindu writes: “‘Devara: Part 1’ is part-engaging and part-tiresome.” NDTV calls it a mixed bag and says: “The parts that work, few and far between as they are, might serve to whet the appetite of fans of big-canvas action and melodrama.” Our take: With a theatre full of NTR Jr fans and whistle-podu crowd, we expect Devara to be a hooting watch! Head to the theatres for this one.
Love, Sitara: This family-centric romantic drama is about a young woman, finally ready to get married, but seeing the pitfalls of the process and the relationship itself, when she takes her groom-to-be back to her Kerala home. There are themes of loyalty, infidelity, and what it truly means to love yourself and live life on your own terms. The film stars Sobhita Dhulipala and Rajeev Siddhartha as the lead pair, with Sonali Kulkarni, and others in the supporting cast.
Reviews are not too great for this one too. Indian Express was a little disappointed and says the movie “comes off as a film which could have been more, with the nice touches having to be found between uneven patches.” For Hindustan Times, “the entire cast does a fine job… But the spark’s missing in this relationship.” Our take: It looks like a prettily put-together and breezy watch for the weekend, so it gets our nod, for sure. You can stream the film on ZEE5.
Grotesquerie: Co-created by Ryan Murphy of ‘American Horror Story’ and ‘American Crime Story’ fame, this horror drama marks the acting debut of NFL player—and Taylor Swift’s boyfriend—Travis Kelce. He stars as an as-yet undisclosed character alongside veterans of the TV acting industry like Niecy Nash and Micaela Diamond, as the series focuses on a detective and a nun teaming up to investigate violent crimes taking place in their community.
Reviews are decent. The Guardian finds it an “intriguing” slow burn that “strives to find a balance between genuine provocation and being shocking”. The Hollywood Reporter praises Nash’s performance and says: “It’s like a version of True Detective willing to accept its place as more pulp than prestige”. Our take: Murphy’s track record with true crime is poor, but horror is bread and butter. You can watch the show on Hotstar.
Nobody Wants This: Starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody alongside HBO alumni Justin Lupe (‘Succession’) and Timothy Simons (‘Veep’), this new romantic sitcom focuses on a relationship between a podcaster and a rabbi. Given their disparate religious backgrounds and worldviews, awkward shenanigans ensue—with enough cute will-they-won’t-they vibes and cringe comedy for good measure.
Reviews are great—”everyone wants this”, The Guardian insists with a perfect score. A.V. Club says Bell and Brody are a “match made in millennial heaven” in show that is “sufficiently wholesome and sexy”. According to Time: “Lupe makes an excellent foil for Bell, their fractious bond deepened by decades of sibling rivalry”. Our take: The premise is breezy and the cast is too good to pass up. You can binge it on Netflix.
Will & Harper: A unique road trip documentary, ‘Will & Harper’ sees ‘SNL’ workmates Will Ferrell and Harper Steele travelling together from New York to California, making stops along the way. The kicker: Steele, who has been Ferrell’s friend of 30 years and counting, came out to him as trans, leading Ferrell to want to address many questions about the process, and spend more time with his friend as she steps into her new identity.
The film has received rave reviews from critics, with Washington Post calling it “tender and heartfelt” saying that it does best when it “ditches the gimmicks”. Samantha Allen of them calls it “a revelatory and daringly honest look at the evolving relationship”. Our take: From the premise to the people, this docu has had our attention from the trailer itself, and we can’t wait to watch the whole thing. You can watch the film on Netflix.
Mr. McMahon: Directed by genre stalwart Chris Smith, this six-part docuseries focuses on the rise and fall of the larger than life co-founder and longtime CEO of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) franchise—Vince McMahon. A regular on-camera participant in all of WWE’s signature ‘kayfabe’ drama, McMahon took a step back from his duties in 2022 to make sporadic appearances—before retiring earlier this year—in light of historic sex trafficking and rape allegations that have prompted a federal investigation.
Reviews are good. The Daily Beast notes Smith’s “thorough recap” of McMahon’s life and career, through which he “finds various parallels between the genuine and the phony”. According to Wall Street Journal: “As a study of business and marketing in the modern era, the series is consistently enlightening, if depressing.” Our take: This is an important subject presented in an accessible and sensitive manner, regardless of whether you grew up watching WWE or not. Catch the series on Netflix.
Here’s a new chapter…
Taaza Khabar Season 2: After a rather successful breakout season produced by and starring Bhuvan Bam aka content creator BB Ki Vines, ‘Taaza Khabar’ returns with a new season of troubles for Vasant Gawde, who has a unique boon of knowing the major headlines before they break. But the boon has dried up, his luck is running out, and the new season focuses on those baying for his blood, and how, if at all, can he make his way out of poverty and into prosperity again. All done with a generous dose of dialogue-baazi, of course. You can watch the new season on Disney+ Hotstar.
Gyeongseong Creature Season 2: The zombie-apocalypse cum survival drama is back! Last season was set in 1945—when Korea was under Japanese colonial rule—but this season is set in the present year! Fans of the first season are bound to find easter eggs and references in the second season. And of course, lead actors Park Seo-jun and Han So-hee return for the sequel. The new episodes dropped on Netflix yesterday.
Fresh off the big screen…
Inside Out 2: A sequel to Pixar’s unique idea to show how the mind works, in an adorable animated format, ‘Inside Out 2’ takes us into teen Riley’s head where she’s not only dealing with new changes among her friends and family, but also has new emotions entering her head, like Ennui, Embarrassment, and Anxiety. The sequel is all about whether Joy and crew can find the harmony to keep their ‘perfect girl’ Riley A-okay through puberty and beyond. The film is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.
