We recommend: The best new movies and TV series
Prime Target: Prime Target dives into the world of mathematics and espionage with a thrilling twist. Leo Woodall stars as Edward Brooks, a brilliant but introverted mathematician at Cambridge, who stumbles upon a potentially world-altering mathematical formula. This discovery throws him into the crosshairs of powerful organizations, including the NSA, and he finds an unexpected ally in Quintessa Swindell as Taylah, a rebellious agent. Their unlikely partnership flips Edward's quiet academic life upside down as they embark on a high-stakes, globe-trotting adventure—exploring whether this dangerous knowledge is a key to security or a devastating weapon.
Reviews are mixed. The Guardian labels it as “utterly preposterous and brilliant fun—'prime ridiculous entertainment’—serving up gloriously confident escapism with Leo Woodall as a math genius. The LA Times OTOH describes Prime Target as "an engine to set two attractive young people on the run through a number of set pieces." Our take: For a thrilling blend of high-stakes espionage and a touch of ‘what if?’, this series offers a smart and stylish escape. Catch it on Apple TV.
The Seed of the Sacred Fig: Germany’s entry to the Oscars is an entirely faarsi affair, made by stalwarts of Iran’s film industry who are now living in exile after facing state persecution back home. The plot is appropriately topical—an investigating judge in Tehran’s Revolutionary Court grows increasingly paranoid when his gun is misplaced amid nationwide political protests against the persecution of a young woman. Sounds familiar, right? It even intersperses the narrative with snippets from the real-life protests in Iran against the ‘moral policing’ regime’s murder of Mahsa Amini.
Reviews are stellar. IndieWire praises director Mohammad Rasoulof for crafting “an extraordinarily gripping allegory about the corrupting costs of power and the suppression of women under a religious patriarchy that crushes the very people it claims to protect.” Collider concurs: “It's a remarkable, revolutionary work of art…a rallying cry for the irreplaceable value of artistic expression in a world that will repress it at all costs.” Our take: Such bold films are a rare breed and simply unmissable. Watch it in cinemas now!
Flight Risk: No January is complete without an action film starring Mark Wahlberg. This time, Boston’s finest teams up with former Hollywood pariah Mel Gibson—who has directing duties now—in this aviation thriller about a US marshal who is tasked with transferring a federal witness. But, but, but: sh*t goes down once the flight crosses over Alaska. Michelle Dockery and Topher Grace, of ‘Downton Abbey’ and ‘That ‘70s Show’ fame respectively, complete the cast.
Reviews are not the best. Vulture highlights Mark Wahlberg’s performance as the standout, calling it "the best part of the whole misbegotten production," and notes that while the movie struggles with its script, it still delivers moments of gnarliness and intensity. OTOH, Indiewire praises Flight Risk as "some of the finest stupidity Hollywood has gifted us in a long time," highlighting its character-driven drama, and the restrained direction from Mel Gibson—which allows the film's "brilliance" to shine through. Our take: It’s Republic Day weekend, it’s Marky Mark, it’s potential snakes on a plane. Turn off your brain and have fun at the cinema hall.
Hisaab Barabar: R Madhavan stars in this political satire as a train ticket checker who uncovers a deep network of corruption and fraud involving a big banker, after noticing an unexplained discrepancy in his account. Neil Nitin Mukesh and Kirti Kulhari co-star as the dodgy banker and the investigating officer, respectively. Comedy serial veteran Ashwni Dhir helms this one.
Reviews are average. The Hindu describes Hisaab Barabar as a "modest" comedy that effectively highlights themes like the struggles of the Indian middle class and the opacity of the banking sector. Indian Express acknowledges that the movie has a promising premise with an "honest-to-a-fault, maths-whizz ticket collector" and a budding romance with an engaging lead performance from Madhavan. Our take: We’re mainly interested in the cast and the depiction of Delhi railway corruption. You can catch the film on ZEE5.
Sweet Dreams: Directed by Victor Mukherjee and starring Mithila Palkar and Amol Parashar, Sweet Dreams is a romantic film about two strangers, Kenny and Dia, who begin experiencing shared dreams. These dreams lead them on a quest to find each other in the real world. The film explores the complexities of contemporary relationships and the lengths people will go to in pursuit of their desires, questioning the line between fantasy and reality.
Reviews are good. India Today sees the film as one that beautifully captures the essence of dreaming big, though it "fails to make it look as dreamy as it could have been," leaving audiences intrigued by the story's potential. Filmfare praises Sweet Dreams for its "thought-provoking premise" and strong performances by the leads. Our take: If you're looking for a light-hearted romance with a unique premise, give it a watch. Out on Disney+ Hotstar.
The Sand Castle: This Arabic survival film focuses on a family of four grappling with past secrets and scavenging for sustenance, as they’re left stranded on a deserted island. First-timer Matty Brown is in the director’s chair, while the main cast are seasoned members of the Lebanese and Palestinian film industries.
Reviews are great but sparse. Roger Ebert describes The Sand Castle as a "visually captivating" film that uses its "deliberate lack of exposition" to create an "allegorical exploration" of survival and the power of imagination. Our take: We’re excited about the cinematography given the movie’s island setting. Watch it on Netflix.
The Girl with the Needle: Now for some hatke horror—courtesy Denmark’s entry to the Oscars. Set in Copenhagen in 1919 and loosely based on a real-life serial killer from that era, the film stars Vic Carmen Sonne as a newly hired nurse at a khoofiya adoption agency run by a questionable character, played by Trine Dyrholm. Best known for his work in Swedish cinema, Magnus von Horn is behind the camera for this one.
Reviews are excellent and poignant. Variety calls the film a "sombre, commercially uncompromising work" that powerfully explores the impact of a "patriarchy that doesn’t even care to watch" women "drop" into despair. Screen Rant describes The Girl With the Needle as a "rich" and "layered" film that explores the "desperation, pain, and heartache" of its female characters, with powerful performances and a dark, emotional story. Our take: Dedicated to its period piece aesthetics and appropriately creepy, this is a perfect substitute if you missed seeing ‘Nosferatu’ in theatres. The film is available to stream on Mubi.
The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call: This eight-episode genre-bending hospital K-drama is based on a webtoon of the name ‘Trauma Center: Golden Hour’ by Hansanleega. Actor Ju Ji-hoon—who plays the crown prince in the zombie period drama ‘Kingdom’—leads the hospital team like a superhero team, out to rescue as many lives as possible.
Reviews are great. South China Morning Post praises the show as a "thoroughly entertaining" medical action drama that "amps up" the genre with its "slick, high-octane" style, and where Ju Ji-hoon’s charisma drives the plot forward. Kwavesandbeyond follows suit, describing The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call as a "riveting combination of action and drama well worth watching." Our take: We loved Ju Ji-hoon in ‘Kingdom’ and cannot wait to see his comeback! Watch it on Netlix.
Dìdi: The movie offers a heartfelt and humorous look at the messy business of growing up in the late 2000s. This coming-of-age film follows Chris Wang, a 13-year-old Taiwanese-American boy whose world is turned upside down by the challenges of adolescence: evolving friendships, first crushes, and a widening cultural gap with his immigrant mother. Set against a backdrop of AIM chats, Facebook walls, and pop-punk music, "Didi" explores whether these formative experiences ultimately shape or define who we become, asking the question: does adolescence save or destroy.
Reviews are good. The New York Times praises it as a "funny, heartfelt movie" that explores the protagonist’s journey to "learning to see people for who they really are," particularly through his evolving understanding of his mother. The Guardian acknowledges Dìdi for capturing the "experience of growing up online" with remarkable authenticity, noting its "tender blend of emotions" and calling it one of the "best, most seamless films" in portraying adolescence. Our take: Watch this film for its humorous look at adolescence in the late 2000s, complete with nostalgic details and heartfelt moments. Catch it on Jio Cinema.
Sivarapalli: This is the Telugu remake of the cult classic web series ‘Panchayat’. True to its origin, the show follows an engineering graduate from Hyderabad named Shyam who accepts a job as the Panchayat Secretary in a remote village in Telangana. The series is headlined by Rag Mayur.
Reviews are mixed. The Hindu's review of Sivarapalli highlights it as "an easy watch" with strong performances, noting that it could have reached even greater heights with more ambition and a fresh perspective. Times Now praises it for its "strong adaptation" and "impressive performances" but notes that the pacing might "test some viewers" despite its engaging characters and setting. Our take: We are intrigued by this regional exploration by the series. You can stream it on Amazon Prime.
Here’s a new chapter…
The Night Agent Season 2: The most streamed Netflix series of 2023 is back. The spy-thriller focuses on FBI agent Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso) looking for a mole in the White House while offering protection to a former tech CEO Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan). The second season takes place 10 months later, where Peter is assigned a case in Bangkok—which goes awry and he finds himself cut off from the US government. How will he clear his name and find the mole? The new episodes dropped on Netflix yesterday.
Fresh off the big screen…
Venom: The Last Dance: The third and final chapter of this 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. The plot: 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. You can see how the action unfolds on Netflix.
