We recommend: The best new movies and TV series
Venom: The Last Dance: The third and final chapter of this Sony Spider-Man Universe trilogy sees Tom Hardy return as investigative journalist-turned-symbiote host Eddie Brock, as their media and superhuman worlds continue to collide. Screenwriter Kelly Marcel is back for this one as well, and takes over from Andy Serkis in the director’s chair. Hardy is surrounded by an all-new cast—Chiwetel Ejiofor plays soldier Rex Strickland, who is trying to capture Venom. Juno Temple is in as Dr Teddy Payne, a scientist who hosts a symbiote called Agony and is also chasing Venom.
Reviews are mixed. Hollywood Reporter says “Hardy brings sufficient charm (and witty voice work) to his symbiote-inhabited character’s internal battle between id and superego to make each entry diverting enough, even if they leave little aftertaste”. Empire Magazine is less convinced: “There have been moments of gonzo enjoyment along the way, but like its title character, it is in essence just a dark, globby mess.” Our take: In a cinematic market oversaturated with comic book adaptations, the ‘Venom’ films have never pretended to reinvent the wheel, but this is for the Tom Hardy completionists only. It’s out in theatres now.
Do Patti: Kajol’s cop era is here with ‘Do Patti’, where she plays a no-nonsense cop investigating an attempted murder case, involving twin sisters (played by Kriti Sanon) and their rivalry over the affections of the same man (played by Dhruv Sood). The thriller has been directed by Shashanka Chaturvedi and written by Kanika Dhillon.
The reviews are not that great. Hindustan Times calls it “near perfect” except for the “penultimate 30 minutes which stop this from being a perfect film of it’s genre.” OTHO Indian Express is harsher and says: “There’s enough here for a juicy, substantive drama. But the unpacking turns more into an unravelling, mainly because the writing is shallow, and the characters lack depth.” Our take: This one looks like an intriguing Bollywood romantic thriller, and the top-billed cast has us hooked. You can stream the film on Netflix.
Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Bruce Springsteen fans, here’s a treat for you! This is the behind-the-scenes of the artist and his band’s recent World Tour—which only really performed in the US, the UK, and Europe. The documentary is a celebration of the band that has been performing for 50 years—and of the fans, old and new.
Reviews are good. The Guardian says “crank the volume for the performances” while Variety calls it a “soulful celebration.” Our take: Nothing can beat good music and good concert energy on a weekend. You can stream the film on Disney+ Hotstar.
Before: In a chilling psychological thriller, the legendary Billy Crystal plays a grieving child psychologist Eli who is dealing with the death of his wife while also trying to help a troubled young boy called Noah, who seems to have an eerie and dark connection to Eli’s past. The ten-episode series has been created by Sarah Thorp.
Critics are split on this one too. The Guardian finds Billy Crystal “brilliant” and writes: “Before remains more of a mood piece than a full-on ghost or gory horror story.” OTOH, Hollywood Reporter believes “as a spiritual thriller with supernatural overtones, it’s a lifeless dud.” Our take: This is Billy Crystal like we’ve never seen him before and we can’t wait to watch the creepy thriller. The first two episodes are out now on Apple TV+.
Canary Black: ‘Van Helsing’ star Kate Beckinsale takes on the role of Avery Graves–a CIA operative, who must betray her agency and country to save her husband who has been kidnapped by terrorists. In a race against time, the movie takes us through the betrayals she faces, as she tries to deliver a ransom that could set off a world-ending crisis.
Unfortunately, the reviews aren’t as good as we expected them to be. The Wrap concludes with this analogy: “‘Canary Black’ is a cheeseburger on Amazon Prime’s value menu, but they left out the cheese. And the meat.” Ouch. Decider’s take: “So is it at least fun to watch Avery Graves bravely, gravely putting people in their graves? Almost.” Our take: a true-blue espionage thriller? We’re ready with our popcorn! You can stream the film on Amazon Prime Video.
Music by John Williams: This delightful documentary explores the music, and the life and times of composer John Williams, who is responsible for the iconic scores of ‘Jaws’, ‘Star Wars’ and so many more epic feature films. The docu also features a number of filmmakers and artists, including Steven Spielberg, sharing notes on their collaborations and admiration of Williams, through the years.
The reviews are good! Deadline calls it “a well-deserved tribute”. Though Variety thinks differently: “‘Music for John Williams’” is intended more as a greatest-hits reel—the documentary equivalent of a flattering coffee-table book—than an attempt to better understand the man.” Our take: Much like ‘Angry Young Men’ or ‘The Romantics’ did to revive our love of cinematic legends, this one is bringing that love of cinema to the fore. You can stream it now on Disney+ Hotstar.
Here’s a new chapter…
Hellbound Season 2: Kdrama fans, the wait is over. The horror series—from the ‘Train to Busan’ director Yeon Sang-ho—continues to haunt and destroy society both literally and ideologically. The story is set between 2022 and 2027—in a supernatural world where ‘angels’ suddenly appear and announce when someone is to die, while ‘demons’ drag them out and send them to hell. In this scenario, naturally, the biggest benefactor and villain is a religious cult. The second season focuses on the surprise return of the condemned and the role of police in fighting what is ‘fated’. You can watch the new episodes on Netflix.
Fresh off the big screen…
Zwigato: Set in Bhubaneswar, this satirical comedy-drama stars Kapil Sharma as a food delivery driver named Manas (note how the film’s title combines Zomato and Swiggy). Writer-director Nandita Das—of ‘Firaaq’ and ‘Manto’ fame—takes plenty of jabs at the state of India’s burgeoning quick commerce startups and how gig workers like Manas bear the brunt of an exploitative system. Also starring: Shahana Goswami as Manas’ wife Pratima, who explores an array of opportunities to ease the breadwinning burden on Manas. FYI: this is less of a “fresh off the big screen” and more of a long overdue OTT release—it’s been 19 months since ‘Zwigato’ graced our cinemas. Check it out on Amazon Prime Video.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga: This prequel to George Miller’s critically acclaimed 2015 film ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ tells the story of young Furiosa—played by Anya Taylor-Joy. To help you recollect who this character is, the older version was portrayed by Charlize Therone. This film too takes place in The Wasteland—a post-apocalyptic setting dominated by arid deserts and Australian accents—as it explores how Furiosa went from slave to rebel. Also: Chris Hemsworth is the antagonist Dementus—a narcissistic warlord with ambitions to become the ultimate ruler of The Wasteland. You can watch the film on JioCinema.
