New releases on OTT platforms this week: Adam Sandler ventures into space, ‘Elsbeth’ investigates, and ‘Shogun’ showcases Japan’s talent.
Adam Sandler will star as an astronaut embarking on a solo mission to the outer reaches of the solar system in the sci-fi drama “Spaceman,” while Disney’s animated coming-of-age tale “Iwájú” is set in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria. These are just a few of the new entertainment options making their way to screens soon.
Also among the streaming offerings selected by Associated Press entertainment reporters: the video game Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, a Paramount documentary revealing how law enforcement has quietly used rap lyrics against defendants for decades, and Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon,” starring Joaquin. Phoenix takes Apple TV by storm.
NEW MOVIES SUPPLIED
— Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon” finally makes its debut on Apple TV on Friday, March 1. The historical epic, starring Joaquin Phoenix as the leader of France and Vanessa Kirby as his wife Joséphine, divided critics upon its release due to its unexpected tone and humor. As AP film writer Jake Coyle wrote in his review, “Don’t think of ‘Napoleon’ as your average historical epic… Here’s a sweeping historical tapestry centered on a damning, almost satirical portrait. This mix—Scott’s spectacle and Phoenix’s Emperor Has No Clothes makes Napoleon an exhilaratingly odd 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,” which debuts on Netflix on Friday, March 1. 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. Directed by Johan Renck (who helmed all five episodes of HBO’s chilling “Chernobyl” series), the film is based on the 2017 novel “Spaceman of Bohemia.”
– For families looking for something new, Peacock Kids has the DreamWorks sequel, “Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate,” airing Friday, March 1, with Keith Ferguson replacing Will Ferrell as the voice of the revamped villain.
– The Criterion Channel also has a fun new series (Friday, March 1) dedicated to Razzie winners, including “Heaven’s Gate,” “Ishtar,” “Cocktail,” “Showgirls” and “Gigli,” some have become beloved classics, and some have not. But it’s up to the viewer whether Elaine May’s “Ishtar” is still with Roger Ebert, who called it “a truly awful movie, a lifeless, massive, dead-end in a failed comedy,” or if they side with fans of the likes of Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino.
— AP film writer Lindsey Bahr
PERFORMING NEW MUSIC
– This week, Paula Cole releases “Lo,” her first collection of all-original songs in nearly a decade. The Grammy winner has released three singles from the 11-track set, including “Invisible Armor,” a deeply personal ballad in which she sings “I am Lonely at the center of life.” Other singles include the funky “The Replacements & Dinosaur Jr.” and the haunting “Green Eyes Crying.” “The autobiographical takes 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 the artistic creation against the accused for decades. J.M. Directed by Harper and featuring rapper Kemba, the film does not ask whether someone is innocent or guilty; it asks whether lyrics can be used for conviction. The documentary played at the Sundance Film Festival and hits the streaming platform on Tuesday.
— Celebrate the sound of Manchester by watching The Stone Roses team up with Oasis singer Liam Gallagher and guitarist John Squire. Two singles – “Just Another Rainbow” and “Mars To Liverpool” – mix rock ‘n’ roll, indie sludge and 60s psychedelia. Their self-titled album, out Friday, March 1st, features Greg Kurstin, who produced and played bass. and Joey Waronker (Beck, R.E.M., Atoms For Peace) on drums. Long-time friends Gallagher and Squire got the idea for the collaboration when Squire joined Gallagher on stage at his recent gigs at Knebworth, venue of Oasis’ iconic two-night stand. stand in 1996. Pop champagne for these two supernovas.
— AP Entertainment writer Mark Kennedy
NEW SHOWS to stream
— FX’s newest series is the Japanese historical drama “Shogun,” based on the 1975 novel by James Clavell. Some may also remember the 1980 miniseries, also based on the book, starring Richard Chamberlain, which was a huge hit at the time. This 10-episode version is described as a more faithful adaptation of the scope of the novel, as Clavell’s daughter Michaela is executive producing. The epic story takes place hundreds of years ago in Japan under the rule of military dictators known as Shoguns. The first two episodes of “Shogun” premiere Tuesday on FX and Hulu.
– The new Disney animated series called “Iwajú” is a coming-of-age story set in the future in Lagos, Nigeria. Presented in a cartoon style, the story follows Tola and Kole, two best friends who have a strong bond despite coming from different class systems. Their friendship is tested by a tech guru who uses his expertise to divert attention from a secret criminal underworld. All six episodes of Iwajú will be streamed on Wednesday on Disney.
– “The Good Wife” and “The Good Fight” had many great recurring characters, but one of the best was Carrie Preston’s Elsbeth Tascioni as the disheveled, sweet, whip-smart lawyer who was often underrated. In the new drama “Elsbeth,” premiering Thursday on CBS, Tascioni is the star of his own story, starting over in New York with a new job as an NYPD investigator. Episodes also air on Paramount.
– Jamie Dornan is back as “The Tourist” and you can find him on Netflix. The series originally aired on the BBC, where it received strong ratings, and the first season was streamed on Max. Now Netflix has bought both two seasons of the series. The first season is already streaming and the second season will be available on Thursday. The series opens with Dornan known as The Man after a car accident in the Australian outback wipes his memory. He has no idea who he is or why he’s there, and all clues point to a dark past. The second season takes Dornan’s Man and his girlfriend to Ireland as the mystery continues.
– Alicia Rancilio,
NEW VIDEO GAMES ARE PLAYING
— Final Fantasy VII is undeniably a landmark in video game history, so publisher Square Enix pulled out all the stops when it decided to remake it, turning the 1997 hit series into an epic trilogy. The first part, the 2020 Final Fantasy VII Remake, won new fans without spoiling the memories of the old ones, so here comes the second part, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Our hero Cloud and his friends continue to fight against a power corporation that is draining the world of natural resources, while the evil Sephiroth plans another kind of global destruction. There’s a plot twist about two-thirds of the way through the original; whether Square decides to recreate that moment remains a mystery. We’ll all find out on Thursday on PlayStation 5.
