We recommend: The best new movies and TV series
3 Body Problem: Based on the popular sci-fi trilogy of the same name by Liu Cixin, this is an eight episode series set in China about a threat to humanity. The scientific community around the world are seeing mysterious suicides taking place, and aliens seem to be vying Earth.
The reviews have some praise for the show. The Verge says that Netflix “channels the book’s spirit but not its brilliance”. The Guardian found the show to be enjoyable but notes that this won’t be “Netflix’s answer to Game of Thrones.” Our take: We are excited to watch how the creators of ‘Game of Thrones’ are going to adapt one of the most intricate sci-fi series on screen. Catch the series on Netflix.
Ae Watan Mere Watan: This film starring Sarah Ali Khan is a biopic set in 1942 during the Quit India Movement. It follows Usha Mehta, who set up the secret Congress Radio and used the medium to build a rebellion against the British during our freedom struggle. It is directed by Kannan Iyer—who got critical acclaim for ‘Ek Thi Daayan’.
The reviews absolutely dislike the movie. The Hindu calls this a “fancy dress show” and The Indian Express says the dialogue, writing, plots etc. is “a banal blur”. Our take: We are nostalgic about the era of radio and curious about why the reviewers hate the move so much. The movie is out on Prime Video.
Lootere: Filmmaker Hansal Mehta—who recently delivered the journalist thriller ‘Scoop’—has teamed up with his son Jai Mehta on a series on a pirate hijack of an Indian ship. The eight-episode series follows Captain AK Singh (Rajat Kapoor) whose ship and crew get into trouble with Somalian pirates. The majority of the story unfolds in the different corners of the ship and the rest of it follows a greedy and corrupt businessman Vikrant Gandhi (Vivek Gomber) who is at a risk of losing his dhandhaa.
Reviews are decent. Both Film Companion and NDTV loved it and called it “gripping” and commended the cast. However Scroll wasn’t impressed and said: “There’s ultimately little to distinguish Lootere from the average over-cooked and deep-fried crime thriller.” Our take: We really enjoy Hansal Mehta’s directions as well as Rajat Kapoor as an actor. We will definitely put this on our watch list! You can stream it on Disney+ Hotstar.
Shirley: This is a docu-drama of Shirley Chisholm—the first Black person and woman who ran her own presidential campaign in 1972. She is being portrayed by the Academy Award winner Regina King. The film is helmed by John Ridley—who won an Academy Award for his ‘12 Years a Slave’ screenplay—and chronicles Shirley’s ambition and achievements in American politics, paving the path for more representation in the Congress.
Reviews are good. Variety called it “a sharp and lively inside-political docudrama.” Screen Rant writes: “In spite of some of the movie's flaws with its social commentary and supporting character development, ‘Shirley’ ultimately shines due to Ridley's pitch-perfect casting choices.” Our take: The Americans know how to take good biographies and underdog political stories. We are excited to catch this one on Netflix this weekend.
Palm Royale: Missing ‘White Lotus’? Fret not, Palm Royale—though set in the summer of ‘69—may be the solution to filling that void. The overall tone of the show is humorous. It is an underdog story following Maxine Simmons (Kristen Wiig) who literally breaks into Palm Beach high society. The story is loosely based on the novel ‘Mr. and Mrs. American Pie’ by Juliet McDaniel.
Reviews are a bit mixed but mostly good. The Guardian was happy with Kristen Wiig—“finally with a proper outlet for her talents, which extend beyond comedy,” and overall reviews: “Great cast, great performances, but they are in a series whose episodes somehow feel both overstuffed and overlong at the same time.” Hollywood Reporter too feels: “[T]he eye-popping style is as good as the show gets; the fun ends where the surface does.” Our take: We love watching rich people and their insufferable high society dramas. The first three episodes of the show are available to stream on Apple TV+.
Davey & Jonesie’s Locker: Wondering what ‘Rick and Morty’ would like as a live action with a gender swap? Look no further than ‘Davey & Jonesie’s Locker’! This Canadian teen comedy series is placed almost entirely in the highschool of two best friends Davey and Jonesie who are curious and get into a lot of harmless trouble. One day, they follow one of their teachers into a locker and find out about the weird multiverse that exists alongside their universe.
Oddly there aren’t many reviews. Decider verdicts ‘stream it’ and notes that the show “certainly leans towards goofy” and concludes: “Davey & Jonesie’s Locker is a funny show with two charming leads, but it also knows that, even in the multiverse, characters come before gags, which is always better.” Our take: This concept is very intriguing. We are excited to see a teen drama without the heavy focus on boys, popularity and prom parties! You can catch the series on Disney+ Hotstar.
Fresh off the big screen…
Fighter: This is the Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor-starrer movie on the Indian Air Force. The story is set in the backdrop of the 2019 Pulwama Attack in Kashmir with a Tom Cruise Top Gun-esque treatment. Fair warming: the film was a flop—you can see why in this Indian Express review. But it might just be a good and engaging watch on the small screen. It's streaming on Netflix.
Anatomy Of A Fall: Yup the Oscar winner in the best foreign film category is now available to watch at home! The French-English bilingual film is partly a courtroom drama where an author Sandra Voyter (played by German actress Sandra Hüller) is on trial over her husband’s Samuel’s (played by Samuel Theis) suspicious fatal fall from their secluded house in the hill. The other half of the film is a careful reconstruction of the fall itself. You can watch it on Disney+ Hotstar.
