We recommend: The best new movies and TV series
Dune: Part Two: The much awaited second part of the film ‘Dune’—based on Frank Herbert's influential sci-fi novels—is here. It is directed by Denis Villeneuve and stars Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson and Zendaya who reprise their roles along with new additions Austin Butler and Florence Pugh. The film begins where the last one left off back in 2021: in the desert. The story is a classic white man saviour trope with fantasy and magic thrown in. And giant worms!
The film has gotten good reviews. New York Times puts it plainly: “The art of cinematic spectacle is alive and rocking in ‘Dune: Part Two,’ and it’s a blast.” BBC Culture concludes: “Proudly grave and portentous, the film has so many grand themes, and such a powerfully doom-laden atmosphere, that it more than justifies the price of a cinema ticket.” Our take: Now this is a movie we want to watch on the big screen. ‘Dune: Part Two’ is in theatres now.
The Zone Of Interest: This is the German movie that won the BAFTA not too long ago and is nominated for five Oscars. It is a holocaust film mostly focussing on the household of a real-life Nazi commandant of a concentration camp in Poland—Rudolf Hoss (played by singer and actor Christian Friedel), his wife Hedwig (played by the brilliant Anatomy of a Fall’s Sandra Hüller), and his twin girls. While they have a seemingly perfect life within their compounds, an estimated 1.1 million people—about 960,000 of them Jewish—were killed.
The reviews are overwhelmingly good. The Guardian calls it “masterful and chilling” and is in praise for the actors saying: “Unshowy but impeccable in the two main roles, both Friedel and Hüller excel.” According to Vox: “[U]nderstanding the movie’s formal and thematic genius requires looking at it differently: as a sidelong horror-film adaptation… that goes way beyond that book’s well-worn idea of the ‘banality of evil’.” Our take: We are very intrigued by the movie and will definitely check it out. It released in theatres yesterday.
May December: This one is strictly for Natalie Portman fans. She plays Elizabeth—a famous actress studying a housewife named Gracie (Julianne Moore) and her husband Joe’s (Charles Melton) relationship for her next acting role. The twist: Gracie who was 36 seduced her now husband when he was just 12 and went to jail for it. But that is not the worst part. There is more to Elizabeth’s acting process than she lets on. The film is directed by Todd Haynes—best known for his 2015 film with Cate Blanchett ‘Carol’.
Reviews are mixed for this. The Guardian says: “May December strikes a number of hypnotic, strange, at times funny poses… but never commits to a shape.” OTOH, Entertainment Weekly absolutely loved the film calling it a “masterpiece” and elaborating: “Creepy and campy in equal measure, May December will certainly leave your head spinning.” Our take: If you enjoy psychological horror, you might like this one. The film is running in theatres now.
Laapataa Ladies: After ‘Dhobi Ghat’ in 2010, Kiran Rao dons the director’s hat once again—this time for a more commercial and light story. Set in a 2001 rural backdrop in Madhya Pradesh, ‘Laapataa Ladies’ is about newly married husbands looking for their runaway brides who go missing on the way from their marriage to the in-laws house. There was no smart phone or internet connection at the time. Just an honest man’s police work.
Reviews are very good. Hindustan Times writes highly about the movie: “A stirring and heartwarming rural drama, the film is devoid of any melodramatic twists and turns that would take away from its simplicity.” The Hindu likes the film because: “Without indulging in sloganeering or feminist discourse, a perceptive Kiran peels off the layers of an unjust society and addresses the invisibilisation of women with a light touch.” Our take: We are tired of watching the same old misery and poverty-stricken rural stories and are quite excited to catch this one in the theatres!
Spaceman: Netflix and Adam Sandler are back with another film, this time it is a sci-fi adventure. Jakub (Adam Sandler) is on a solo space mission near the edge of the solar system, away from his wife, family and entire life on Earth. It has been over half a year, and he’s been struggling with loneliness. He discovers an anicent creature—a big spider alien—who has hitched a ride on his spaceship and the film follows the time they spend together exploring Jakub’s anxieties in space.
The reviews find the movie to be disappointing but praise Adam Sandeler’s performance. ABC News says it lacks story, but is still a “pleasant and occasionally mesmerizing ride”. The Guardian isn’t kind and calls it a “lifeless space oddity”. Our take: We like Adam Sandler, and no matter what, we inevitably end up watching all of his Netflix movies and will add this to our list too. The film is available to stream on Netflix.
Maamla Legal Hai: Tired of ‘Suits’? Why not try an Indian legal comedy instead! This show is based on the quick witted ‘jugaadu’ lawyers of Patparganj District Court who get the most bizarre cases to represent. It stars Ravi Kishan in the most prominent role—an actor and an MP who has previously dabbled in Bhojpuri, Hindi and Telugu cinema and appeared in reality TV shows such as ‘Bigg Boss’ and ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa’. Joining him is Harvard LLM alum Ananya Shroff (Naila Grrewal).
Reviews praise the cast. Indian Express writes: “Not all the episodes work; a couple are lax, and in a few of places the jokey tone is either at odds with the seriousness of the case, or doesn't land. But the series and its solid ensemble cast wins you over.” Times of India concludes that it “offers a delightful blend of humour and drama, leaving viewers entertained and satisfied with its quirky courtroom antics.” Our take: Hardly any Indian web series on lawyers has had a lighter take. We have high hopes for this one. All eight episodes of the series dropped on Netflix yesterday.
Shogun: This is an epic drama set in 1600s feudal Japan and is an adaptation of James Clavell’s classic 1975 samurai novel. The story follows John Blackthorne, an English officer whose ship lands on the shores of Japan. Him and other members of the crew have arrived at a tense moment in Japan. The country’s ruler recently died, and his heir is too young to rule. There is conflict brewing between regional lords, and Blackthrone attracts the interest of Lord Toranaga, one of the most powerful people in the country. What follows is a saga involving war, betrayals, strategy, diplomacy and politics.
The reviews are great. The Guardian calls this a “mesmerising epic” that “rewards your full attention”. The New York Times considers it to be a “sumptuously produced, mostly well acted and not excessively sentimental or sensational”. Our take: We love period dramas and this one promises to be a cinematic experience. You can catch this series on Disney+ Hotstar.
ManSuang: The Thai film is a period drama set in the 19th-century during the reign of King Rama III. The story follows a traditional dancer named Khem who is recruited to spy at an elite club called Man Suang to sniff out conspiracy against the King. There he meets a kindred spirit in the club’s taphon (a traditional Thai drum) player Chatra and both decide to join to stop the underground rebellion.
There are no reviews for the movie. Our take: We really liked the trailer and really want to give this movie a chance. You can watch it on Netflix.
Here’s a new chapter…
Code 8 Part II: This is the sequel to the 2019 sci-fi, almost dystopian, drama set in a world where superhumans live in poverty. In season one, Connor Reed (Robbie Amell)
joins a lucrative criminal world led by Garrett (Stephen Amell)—who works for a drug lord (Greg Bryk). The second season picks up right after and Connor finds himself in the middle of a criminal and a corrupt policeman and is forced to play the game and save those around him. The series is available on Netflix.
Sunflower Season 2: We can never turn down a whodunit story. In the second season, another murder takes place in the same middle-class society building—Sunflower in Mumbai—and again protagonist Sunil Grover is brought in for questioning by police officers Digendra (Ranvir Shorey) and Chetan Tambe (Girish Kulkarni). This time, the new resident and suspect is Rosie Mehta. From the looks of the trailer, this season seems to be funnier and more unhinged. You can stream it on Zee5.
Fresh off the big screen…
Poor Things: One of the top contenders for Oscars has finally made its way to our home theatres—that too a week before the global event. The film is helmed by the Greek director who had previously stunned the film critics with ‘The Favourite’. He has collaborated again with the lovely Emma Stone in this fantastical comedy where she plays Bella Baxter—a young woman brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist (Willem Dafoe) who runs away with Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo)—hungry for knowledge, liberation and the shackles of society. Watch it on Disney+ Hotstar.
Napoleon: Another film with a great cast is this thrilling biopic that follows the rise and fall of the iconic French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte—played by Oscar-winner Joaquin Phoenix. The movie focuses on Napoleon’s relentless pursuit of power—while being head-over-heels in love with Josephine—played by Vanessa Kirby. You can catch it on Apple TV+.
Anyone But You: This movie has been a sleeper hit among the recent rom-com genre. Based on the Shakespeare adaptation of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ and directed by Will Gluck—who is known for cult fave movies like ‘Friends with Benefits’ and ‘Easy A’—the Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney-starrer is a mix of classic love at first sight and enemies to lovers trope that you cannot miss. Grab your popcorn tub and enjoy it on Amazon Prime.
