What to stream: Tyler, the Creator, 'The Substance,' Olivia Rodrigo
concert film and 'The Diplomat'
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[October 28, 2024]
The body horror film “The Substance” and an album by Tyler, the Creator
are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a
device near you.
Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The
Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: “Despicable Me 4” arrives
on Peacock, the political series “The Diplomat” starring Keri Russell
and Rupert Sewell, drops its second season on Thursday and the concert
film “Olivia Rodrigo: GUTS World Tour” on Tuesday.
NEW MOVIES TO STREAM OCT. 28-Nov. 3
— Coralie Fargeat’s provocative body horror “The Substance” is streaming
on MUBI on Halloween. The film stars Demi Moore as Elisabeth Sparkle, a
faded Hollywood star who is fired from her aerobic television show on
her 50th birthday. In a moment of distress she decides to take a black
market injectable called The Substance which promises to take her back
to her younger self (Margaret Qualley). In her AP review, Krysta Fauria
wrote that “what begins as a dread-inducing but still relatively
palatable sci-fi flick spirals deeper into absurdism and violence,
eventually erupting — quite literally — into a full-blown monster
movie.”
— Two new documentaries focused on familiar names are coming soon. First
up, Netflix has the Martha Stewart film “Martha” streaming on Wednesday,
Oct. 30. The film from R.J. Cutler promises to recontextualize the life
of the teen model turned lifestyle mogul. Then, on Friday, Nov. 1,
Disney+ premieres “Music by John Williams,” about the life of the
composer behind so many iconic film scores. It seems everyone in
Hollywood turned out to speak about the five-time Oscar winner, now 92,
including Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.
— Playwright Annie Baker makes her directorial debut with the quiet and
finely observed “Janet Planet,” coming to MAX on Friday, Nov. 1. The
film follows a mother (Julianne Nicholson) and her 11-year-old daughter
(Zoe Ziegler) one languid summer in rural Western Massachusetts in 1991.
It’s the kind of film that transports you back to the wonder, boredom
and agita of an endless summer break, before smart phones and social
media.
— And for the kids looking for some Minion madness, “Despicable Me 4”
finds its way to Peacock on Oct. 31. AP Film Writer Jake Coyle wrote
that it’s “a silly and breezy installment from Illumination
Entertainment that passes by with about as much to remember it as a
Saturday morning cartoon.”
— AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr
NEW MUSIC TO STREAM OCT. 28-Nov. 3
— On Friday, Willie Nelson will release “Last Leaf On the Tree.” It’s
his first album produced by his son Micah, but the firsts stop there:
This marks his 76th solo studio album and 153rd album overall, according
to Texas Monthly’s in-depth taxonomy of his work. The release includes
covers of Tom Waits’ “Last Leaf,” Nina Simone’s “Come Ye,” Neil Young's
“Are You Ready For The Country,” Beck’s “Lost Cause,” the Flaming Lips’
“Do You Realize??” and more. One element of Nelson’s magic musicianship
has always been his ability to completely transform a cover song, making
it his own and simultaneously, everyone’s. The wizardry continues here,
his second full-length album this year.
— Few contemporary artists have managed to create the kind of mythology
that surrounds Tyler, the Creator – a multihyphenate talent that has
maintained an air of unpredictability, danger and prescience since his
debut studio album, 2011’s “Goblin,” rewired the creative brains of a
few musical generations. On Monday, he releases his seventh album, “Chromakopia.”
Little is known about the release — but expectations of transgressive
hip-hop are in the right place, as made clear in the claustrophobic
“NOID” and its inventive sample of a 1977 track by the Zambian rock band
Ngozi Family.
— On Halloween, Amazon Prime Video will release “Megan Thee Stallion: In
Her Words,” a documentary film on the fiery MC with the unmistakable
flows and larger-than-life Hot Girl Summer purveyor. Across her career,
Megan Thee Stallion’s pop persona has been one of empowerment and
self-belief — appearing impenetrable in an unforgiving and unkind
industry. Of course, it is never so simple — and who could forget the
onslaught of criticism she received during Tory Lanez’s assault trial,
what experts described as a clear example of misogynoir, a specific type
of misogyny experienced by Black women. In this doc, Megan Thee Stallion
tells her story – and reminds her audience of Megan Pete, the woman
behind the career.
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— First, there was Taylor Swift’s
blockbuster concert film “The Eras Tour.” Then there was Beyoncé’s
concert film, “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé.” And on Tuesday,
there will be “Olivia Rodrigo: GUTS World Tour,” the concert film,
available to stream on Netflix. Bring the arena home, scream along
to big-throated pop-punk kiss-offs and open-hearted piano ballads,
and never forget the message of Rodrigo’s pop: that there are few
forces more potent than a young creative woman’s dissatisfaction.
— Lanny’s “BLISS!! BLISS! BLISS” is the debut solo
project of Lan McArdle, best known for the exuberant indie-pop band
Joanna Gruesome and the fuzzed-out power punk group Ex-Vöid. Their
undeniable penchant for hooky guitar pop exists throughout Lanny’s
work, too – now delivered in new forms: digital, electronic
soundscapes, off-kilter and asymmetrical layering, an articulation
of chaos through subtle tools like flute organs and washy
percussion. Fans of McArdle would be wise to start with the single,
“ur an angel im evil.” There is a reason all of their distinctive
projects continue to connect.
— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman
NEW SHOWS TO STREAM OCT. 28-Nov. 3
— Just in time for Halloween, the long-awaited “Wizards of Waverly
Place” sequel debuts its first two episodes Tuesday on Disney
Channel. The first eight episodes will also begin streaming on
Wednesday on Disney+. “Wizards of Waverly Place” was Selena Gomez’s
breakout role as Alex Russo, a teen in a family of witches, herself
included. “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place,” centers on Alex’s older
brother Justin (played again by David Henrie), who strives to live a
magic-free life until Alex brings him a young wizard in need of
training. Gomez will guest star on the series.
— The political series “The Diplomat” starring Keri Russell and
Rupert Sewell, drops its second season on Thursday on Netflix —
picking right up where the first season ended. Russell plays Kate, a
new U.S. diplomat to Britain and Sewell is her husband, Hal, who is
also a diplomat but who is now without a post. Their marriage is
rocky but in the new season, Kate begins to believe Hal is the only
person she can trust. Allison Janney joins the cast as the Vice
President.
— Ten men compete in a reality competition show for a leading role
in a Hallmark holiday movie in “Finding Mr. Christmas” for
Hallmark+. “Mean Girls” actor Jonathan Bennett is both the show’s
host and a co-judge alongside Melissa Peterman. There are also a
number of guest judges throughout. The contestants take part in
challenges like pulling Santa’s sleigh and an ugly Christmas sweater
fashion show. The winner will star opposite Jessica Lowndes
(“90210”) in the new original “Happy Howlidays” premiering in
December on Hallmark Channel. The competition begins Thursday on the
streamer.
— A new Spanish-language series for HBO adapts the novel “Like Water
for Chocolate.” It follows a forbidden love story between Tita de la
Garza (Azul Guaita) and Pedro Múzquiz (Andrés Baida) against the
backdrop of the Mexican Revolution. Tita and Pedro long to be
together but cannot because of a family custom that forbids Tita
from marrying. Salma Hayek Pinault is an executive producer. It
premieres Sunday, Nov. 3, on Max.
— Alicia Rancilio
NEW VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY
— BioWare built its reputation on enormous, immersive role-playing
games like Baldur’s Gate and Mass Effect. It’s been way too long
since we got a new RPG from the studio, but Dragon Age: The
Veilguard is here at last. A couple of cranky Elven gods are raising
hell across the mythical land of Thedas, and it’s up to you to put
the old geezers back in their place. That means assembling a team of
fighters, rogues and mages to battle the monsters that have been
unleashed. BioWare promises dozens of hours of the character-based
storytelling its fans love — and maybe a few cameos from the heroes
of earlier Dragon Age chapters. Take up arms Thursday, Oct. 31, on
PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.
— Lou Kesten
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