NEW TO STREAM
Rundown of what’s arriving on entertainment platforms
MOVIES Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon” is finally making its
debut on Apple TV+ today. The historical epic starring Joaquin Phoenix as the French leader and Vanessa Kirby as wife Joséphine divided critics upon its release, for its unexpected tone and humor. As Associated Press writer Jake Coyle said in his review: “Don’t mistake ‘Napoleon’ for your average historical epic. … Here is a sweeping historical tapestry with a damning, almost satirical portrait at its center. That mix — Scott’s spectacle and Phoenix’s the-emperor-has-no-clothes performance — makes ‘Napoleon’ a rivetingly off-kilter experience.”
Adam Sandler is Jakob Procházka, an astronaut
on a solo mission to the edge of the solar system, in the sci-fi drama “Spaceman,” debuting on Netflix today. Isabella Rossellini is his commanding officer, while Carey Mulligan plays the wife he left behind on Earth. And Paul Dano voices an extraterrestrial spider named Hanuš. From director Johan Renck (who helmed all five episodes of HBO’s chilling “Chernobyl” series), the film is based on a 2017 novel “Spaceman of Bohemia.”
For families looking for something new,
Peacock Kids has a DreamWorks sequel in “Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate,” now streaming with Keith Ferguson replacing Will Ferrell as the voice of the reformed villain.
The Criterion Channel has an amusing new series
devoted to Razzie Award recipients, including “Heaven’s Gate,” “Ishtar,” “Cocktail,” “Showgirls” and “Gigli,” some of which have turned into beloved classics — and some that haven’t. But that’s up to the viewer to decide if, in
the case of Elaine May’s “Ishtar,” they’re still with Roger Ebert, who called it “a truly dreadful film, a lifeless, massive, lumbering exercise in failed comedy” or if they’re on the side of fans like Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino.
— Lindsey Bahr, Associated Press
MUSIC Paula Cole releases “Lo” today, her first
collection of entirely original songs in nearly a decade. The Grammy winner has released three singles from the 11-track set, including “Invisible Armor,” a very personal ballad in which she sings “I am lonely at the center of my life.” Other singles are the funky “The Replacements & Dinosaur Jr.” and the haunting “Green Eyes Crying.” “The autobiographical snapshots touch on identity, social justice and historical narratives,” the singer says in a statement.
The use of rap lyrics as evidence in criminal
trials is common but controversial. The new Paramount+ documentary “As We Speak: Rap Music on Trial” reveals how law enforcement has quietly used artistic creation against defendants for decades. Directed by J.M. Harper and featuring rapper Kemba, the movie doesn’t ask whether someone is innocent or guilty; it asks whether lyrics can be used for conviction. The documentary played the Sundance Film Festival and is now streaming.
Celebrate the sound of Manchester by
checking out the teaming up of Oasis singer Liam Gallagher and guitarist John Squire from the Stone Roses. Two singles — “Just Another Rainbow” and “Mars to Liverpool” — mix rock
’n’ roll, indie sludge and ’60s psychedelia. Their self-titled album, now out, features Greg Kurstin,
who produced and played bass, with drums by Joey Waronker (Beck, R.E.M., Atoms For Peace). Gallagher and Squire, long-term friends, sparked the idea of a collaboration when Squire joined Gallagher onstage at his recent shows at Knebworth, the site of Oasis’s iconic two-night stand in 1996. Pop the champagne for these two supernovas.
— Mark Kennedy, Associated Press
TELEVISION FX’s newest series is the Japanese
historical drama “Shōgun,” based on a novel published in 1975 by James Clavell. Some may also remember a 1980 miniseries, also based on the book, that starred Richard Chamberlain and was a huge hit at the time. This 10-episode version is described as a more faithful adaptation to the scope of the novel, as Clavell’s daughter, Michaela, is an executive
producer. The epic tale is set hundreds of years ago in Japan under the rule of military dictators known as Shōgun. “Shōgun” is now airing Tuesdays on FX and streaming on Hulu.
A new Disney+ animated series called “Iwájú”
isa coming-of-age story set in the future in Lagos, Nigeria. Presented in a comic bookstyle, the story follows Tola and Kole, two best friends with a strong bond despite coming from different class systems. Their friendship is tested by a tech guru who uses his expertise to distract from a secret criminal underworld. All six episodes of “Iwájú” are now available to stream on Disney+.
There were many great recurring characters
on “The Good Wife” and “The Good Fight,” but one of the best was Carrie Preston’s Elsbeth Tascioni as a scatter-brained, sweet, whipsmart lawyer who is often underestimated. In the new CBS drama “Elsbeth,” Tascioni is the star of her own story, starting over in New York with a new job working as an investigator for the NYPD. Episodes also stream on Paramount+.
Jamie Dornan is back as “The Tourist” and
you can find him on Netflix. The series originally aired on BBC, where it drew strong ratings, and Season 1 streamed on Max. Now, Netflix has acquired both of the show’s two seasons. Season 1 is already streaming, and Season 2 debuted Thursday. The series begins with Dornan known as The Man after a car crash in the Australian Outback wiped his memory. He has no idea who he is or why he’s there, and any clues point to a dark past. Season 2 takes Dornan’s Man and his girlfriend to Ireland as the mystery continues.
VIDEO GAMES Final Fantasy VII is unquestionably a landmark
in video-game history, so publisher Square
Enix went all out when it decided to remake it, turning the 1997 blockbuster into an epic trilogy. Part one, 2020’s Final Fantasy VII Remake, won over new fans without tarnishing the memories of old-timers, so here comes part two, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Our hero, Cloud, and his friends are still fighting a power company that’s sucking the world’s resources dry, while the villainous Sephiroth is plotting a different kind of global destruction. There’s a doozy of a plot twist about two-thirds of the way into the original; whether Square decides to re-create that moment is still a mystery. We can all find out now on PlayStation 5.