We recommend: The best new movies and TV series
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IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack: A limited series about the true events of 1999, when five terrorists hijacked an Indian Airlines plane, ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ is director Anubhav Sinha’s retelling of the events in what is sure to be a gripping dramatic thriller. It looks at the incident from all vantage points—from those on the plane, to government officials and media on the ground, all jostling with fear and big questions about whether a return home is on the cards. The star cast is packed with notable actors like Vijay Varma, Dia Mirza and Amrita Puri, along with stalwarts like Naseeruddin Shah, Kumud Mishra, and Manoj Pahwa.
Reviews are excellent, with most publications praising Sinha’s restrained storytelling. Shubhra Gupta in Indian Express says it’s “handsomely produced and directed”, and NDTV said it had an “instantly gripping rhythm”. Our take: While it’s a story we have heard, or know about, we’re excited to sink our teeth into a nuanced retelling, and get a solid refresher of one of the longest hijacks in history. You can watch the show on Netflix.
Adam Sandler: Love You: The prolific comedy actor returns to the stand-up stage for his second comedy special in six years, since ‘100% Fresh’ came out 2018. This one is directed by Josh Safdie, who had previously collaborated with Sandler in ‘Uncut Gems’ in 2019. ‘Love You’ picks up where ‘100% Fresh’ left off as Sandler continues to mix his storytelling with the odd musical number and a cute cameo by one of his dogs.
Reviews are great. New York Times says the comedian “hasn’t lost a step” as the special feels like a throwback to his ‘90s days of sketches and skits. USA Today says: “it's a little jarring, sometimes off-putting but also kind of sweet”. Our take: Sandler’s films can at times be frustratingly lazy cash grabs, so it’s more refreshing when he goes back to his stage roots. You can watch it on Netflix now.
KAOS: This show takes Greek gods outside the pages of mythology and places them in a modern-day setting, where the gods of Olympus and the humans on Earth collide. Zeus is at the centre of it all, as he tries to thwart a plot to take him down, and it’s as much a family drama as it is a darkly comedic look at the ancient mythology. The show has been created by Charlie Covell (of ‘The End of the F***ing World’ fame) and stars Jeff Goldblum as Zeus, and Janet McTeer as Hera, alongside a packed ensemble.
Reviews are a mixed bag. While The Guardian calls it “subtle and intricate, witty, rigorous, hugely intelligent, funny and brutal”, The Hollywood Reporter felt “the show goes from promising to frustrating to disappointing — albeit with tantalizing hints throughout of what could have been”. Our take: Jeff Goldblum in and as anything? Sign us up! You can check out the show on Netflix.
Chastity High: This Japanese YA series is set in an elite school where dating is banned. But who can control teenagers and their raging hormones? As a result, there are those who snitch on couples because of jealousy and there are others who destroy evidence for some easy cash—called Love Keepers. The protagonists fall in the latter category until they both start falling for each other.
There are no reviews for this show. Our take: Though the plot is nothing new, there is always an allure when it comes to forbidden love. We blame Indian parents. Sigh. You can catch the show on Netflix.
Problemista: Tilda Swinton starring in a weird but intriguing indie film feels like an annual occurrence now. This time she shares the screen with Julio Torres for his directorial debut ‘Problemista’. The comedy-drama focuses on Alejandro—a struggling toy designer who takes up a job of assisting an eccentric artist in order to prolong his work visa in the US and pursue his dream career. Alongside Torres and Swinton, RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan and Greta Lee of ‘Past Lives’ fame round out the cast.
Reviews are good. Wall Street Journal says Swinton is “wonderfully wild” while the film finds plenty of surreal and absurd to mine from bureaucratic immigration processes. According to The Hollywood Reporter: “[Torres’ creative choices] are the flourishes of a director with an enviable imagination, a filmmaker who is stubbornly and admirably working on his own terms.” Our take: Regardless of the final outcome, Swinton always picks interesting projects and is worth the price of admission alone. You can stream it on Jio Cinema.
The Killer: Action-thriller stalwart John Woo has another of his staple stylised offerings in this remake of his 1989 Hong Kong hard-boiled hit. This version is set in Paris and stars Nathalie Emmanuel as an assassin who causes a domino effect of chaos in the criminal underworld by refusing to kill her next target. Point to note: Aside from being a remake, it carries the same title as David Fincher’s film from last year—which is on Netflix and stars Michael Fassbender—so don’t get confused when looking it up.
Reviews are decent. Los Angeles Times calls it “beautifully bananas” while New York Times likes how Woo depicts Paris “with a loving, romantic eye”. According to IndieWire: “It eschews the life-or-death weight of Woo’s original in favour of focusing on the unbridled joys of resurrection.” Our take: Say what you will about his post-Mission: Impossible work, but a John Woo film is rarely boring. You can watch it on Jio Cinema.
Here’s a new chapter…
Only Murders in the Building Season 4: Fans of OMITB rejoice! Our fave podcasting/murder mystery solving trio—Charles, Oliver and Mabel—are back at it to look into the murder of Zazz Pataki (Jane Lynch), Charles' Brazzos stunt double, which was set up in the last season. Collider calls it “witty, wonderful, and weird in all the best ways.” The two episodes dropped on Disney+ Hotstar.
The Rings of Power Season 2: The prequel series of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ which is set in the Second Age—thousands of years prior to the events in the beloved fantasy world written by JRR Tolkien. Last season revealed who Sauron is. This season will focus on the rise of evil Sauron who will trick more people to forge more rings of power. Fair warning: The reviews are a mixed bag. The Guardian says it needs more drama. OTOH The Verge feels this season is “more grandiose.” Stream the second season on Amazon Prime.
Fresh off the big screen…
Chilli Chicken: Don’t get fooled by the title. It is a Kannada language film about Northeastern migrants’ struggles in Bangalore. Language is only one barrier—which the protagonists Khaba (Bijou Thaaangjam), Jimpa (Jimpa Sangpo Bhutia), Ajoy (Victor Thoudam), and Jason (Tomthin Thockchom) swiftly conquer. The real challenge is acceptance. The four work at an Indo-Chinese shop Noodle Home for Adarsh (Shrunga BV) and are cramped in a tiny room. They choose the wrong path for making a few extra bucks and land in a bigger trouble than what cultural assimilation poses. The film is streaming on Amazon Prime.
