We recommend: The best new movies and TV series
Sirens: This is a limited series created by Molly Smith Metzler, based on her play Elemeno Pea. The show stars Meghann Fahy as Devon DeWitt, who reconnects with her estranged sister Simone (Milly Alcock) after their father's diagnosis of early-onset dementia. Devon visits the upscale island estate where Simone now works as a live-in assistant to the glamorous and controlling socialite Michaela Kell (Julianne Moore). As Devon tries to understand her sister’s transformation and the seductive world she’s become part of, the sisters and Michaela become entangled in a weekend of secrets, manipulation, and identity crises.
Reviews are great! Roger Ebert says 'Sirens' is a dark, pulpy drama that “offers viewers an engaging look at class and womanhood,” ultimately revealing how “the lower class is sometimes forced to destroy who they truly are in an attempt to get ahead.” Decider says that the series is a sharp dark comedy where “the controlling Michaela and everyone around her” are so absurd that “what they do can be played for real laughs,” all while Devon “digs into just who Michaela is and what she’s about.” Our take: Come for the biting class satire—now streaming on Netflix.
Bhool Chuk Maaf: After the deadlock over its theatre and OTT release, this fairly anticipated film is set to make it to the theatres. Ranjan is a romantic and his ambition is to secure a government job so he can marry his girlfriend. Except when the wedding ceremonies begin, the couple gets stuck in a time loop. They wake up every day as if it is the day of the mehendi. The film stars Rajkummar Rao as Ranjan and Wamiqa Gabbi as the girlfriend, Titli.
Reviews are not too good. Indian Express says that Bhool Chuk Maaf “may feel like the poor man’s ‘Brahmastra’,” but with “good actors like Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi” delivering strong performances, the film “finds a moral centre” amid its ambitious mix of themes, offering moments that “work on their own” and even “evoke some laughs.” The Hindu OTOH describes the film as a “timely parable” where Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi “light up” a “rollicking social commentary” that uses a “time loop” to highlight how “we don’t learn from our mistakes and allow history to repeat itself.” Our take: The premise sounds promising as does the lead cast. We are going to give it a shot. Watch it in theatres.
Lilo & Stitch: Time for another Disney live adaptation remake… Based pretty much off the animated version. Here is the plot for those who are too old to remember: When a chaotic alien experiment crash-lands in Hawaii, a lonely girl named Lilo adopts him as her “dog”—naming him Stitch—and the two misfits slowly form a bond that helps them both heal from grief. As Stitch’s destructive instincts clash with Lilo’s big emotions and her sister Nani’s struggle to hold their family together, this heartwarming live-action remake weaves sci-fi, slapstick, and sorrow into a vibrant tale of found family, resilience, and love that’s “little and broken, but still good.”
Reviews are mixed. Entertainment Weekly describes the live-action Lilo & Stitch as a “vibrant, whimsical, and earnest” reimagining that’s “also cute and fluffy!,” and one that deepens the story with “a glorious richness.” Indiewire says that despite its “good intentions” and a heart that “remains firmly intact,” the live-action remake proves that “animation is often the better medium.” Our take: Stay for the heart—this live-action do-over still delivers ohana feels and alien-fuelled fun. You can catch it in theatres.
Fountain of Youth: Guy Ritchie is back! The Indiana Jones X National Treasure-esque plot is anchored by John Krasinski and Natalie Portman who play estranged siblings. After a whole year of not talking to each other, they partner on a global heist to find the mythological Fountain of Youth. The quest takes them from Vienna to the pyramids!
Reviews are average. Indiewire says that the film is a “broadly entertaining” yet “occasionally muddled” adventure where John Krasinski and Natalie Portman “rustle up their own ‘Indiana Jones’” with “astonishing action set pieces” and “eye-popping” locations, making it “totally silly and very funny.” Variety describes it as a “brisk, occasionally imaginative adventure” where Krasinski and Portman “bicker their way to immortality” in an “Indiana Jones rip-off” saved by “welcome flashes of unpredictability” from the supporting cast. Our take: We’re always in the mood for Guy Ritchie grandiosity! You can watch the movie on Apple TV+.
Nine Puzzles: If you like dark thrillers, you might wanna check out this K-drama. In the flashback, Yoon Ena discovers her murdered uncle with a piece of a puzzle next to his body. Ten years later, she has become a criminal profiler, and the serial killer is back. Ena and Detective Hansaem—who suspects her involvement with her uncle’s death—team up to find the murderer. The lead actors are Kim Da-mi and Son Suk-ku
There are no reviews for the show. Our take: We love the actors and love a good thriller series. We’re totally binging this show! The first six episodes dropped on JioHotstar on Wednesday.
Here’s a new chapter…
Nine Perfect Strangers Season 2: It's Nicole Kidman’s world and we’re just living in it. She returns as the mysterious guru at the wellness resort called Tranquillum House in the Austrian Alps. This time with another set of perfect strangers. The cast includes Henry Golding, Christine Baranski, Murray Bartlett, Mark Strong and Annie Murphy. The new season has dropped on Amazon Prime.
