‘Oppenheimer,’ Tina Turner among new titles
“Ted Lasso” star Hannah Waddingham’s Christmas special and Tuesday’s edition of “Dancing With the Stars” promising celebrities swaying to the music of Taylor Swift are some of the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you.
Also among the offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists is a collection of 55 Tina Turner singles from 19752023, Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” will finally be available to watch in your living room and Adam Sandler voices a 74-year-old lizard in Netflix’s animated “Leo.”
Movies to stream
■ Are you and your home entertainment system prepared? After making nearly $950 million at the box office, Christopher Nolan’s three-hour “Oppenheimer” will finally be available to watch in your living room starting Tuesday. There’s a UHD streaming version available to purchase for $19.99, as well as 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray options with over three hours of extras, with everything overseen by Nolan. AP film writer Jake Coyle wrote in his review, “There are times in Nolan’s latest opus that flames fill the frame and visions of subatomic particles flitter across the screen — montages of Oppenheimer’s own churning visions. But for all the immensity of ‘Oppenheimer,’ this is Nolan’s most human-scaled film — and one of his greatest achievements.”
■ Adam Sandler plays a 74-year-old class lizard named “Leo” in the latest Netflix animation offering, streaming Tuesday. Worried he’s wasted his life in a cage, Leo tries to plot his escape when a kid in the school is assigned to take him home. But some mishaps ensue and he ends up befriending some of the elementary school kids when they learn he can talk. Sandler is joined by a strong comedic voice cast including Bill Burr, Cecily Strong, Jason Alexander, Jo Koy and, of course, Rob Schneider.
■ Good golly, Miss Molly, is Little Richard the uncrowned king of rock ‘n’ roll? The documentary “Little Richard: I Am Everything,” directed by Lisa Cortés and streaming on Max Thursday, makes a solid case. His flamboyant and boundary pushing lyrics, style and music had a direct influence on famous acts to follow, including the Beatles, David Bowie, Elton John, Mick Jagger and even filmmaker John Waters, who calls his own mustache a “twisted tribute” to Little Richard.
In his review, AP critic Mark Kennedy wrote “Cortés’ film is also the story of American rock itself, the way transistor radios allowed teens in the ‘50s to rebel against their parents’ staid music and how Black music was appropriated by white bands.”
Music to stream
■ The music world lost a giant when Tina Turner, the undisputed “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” died in May. She left behind an incredible body of work, songs that only become more deeply felt with the passage of time. To celebrate the prolific artist, Rhino Records will release “Turner, Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll (A Collection of All Her Singles From 1975-2023)” today — a massive collection of 55 tracks across five vinyl records and three CDS. But if physical media isn’t your thing — and this series is called “What to Stream,” after all — the set will be available on streaming platforms, too.
■ Take That, the gargantuan British boy band turned man-pop group that gave the world Robbie Williams, are releasing their ninth studio album. Titled “This Life,” it is their first full-length album in seven years, a rare reunion for a band not on a break. It’s also an exciting listen: There’s a plucky warmth to these songs, like on the acoustic single “Windows” — no doubt the influence of Savannah, Georgia, where the band made most of the record. It’s a lovely album from one of the most successful bands in British chart history – the result of getting the guys back together and finding a new sound with some old friends.
Series to stream
Since “Fargo” began airing on FX as an anthology series, each season has featured an impressive roster of talent including Billy Bob Thornton, Chris Rock and Kirsten Dunst stepping into its quirky world of folksy
Midwesterners mixed up in the law. “Fargo: Year 5” is no different. Juno Temple stars as a woman whose strange behavior catches the attention of local authorities. Jon Hamm, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Richa Moorjani, Joe Keery, Lamorne Morris and Dave Foley also appear.
■ Celebrities competing on season 32 of “Dancing with the Stars” have had to jive, waltz and foxtrot their way through a number of themed episodes including Disney music, music video night and a Whitney Houston tribute, but we’ll find out whether they’re “… Ready for It” on the Tuesday episode, dedicated to Taylor Swift. The show aired a video message from the superstar in which she said she couldn’t wait to watch the celebration of her “Eras.” Who will be the “Fearless” performer of the night and