The HBO epic, “Dune: Prophecy,” takes viewers back to an era years before Paul Atreides, exploring the rich worlds of “Dune” through the lens of the Bene Gesserit, cracking the Dune-iverse open even more for viewers. So, yes, no Timothy Chalamet or Zendaya brooding with lush special effects backdrops. Imagine a sci-fi saga full of mysticism, clever plotting, political jockeying and powerful women driving the story—it’s like “Game Of Thrones,” but with a cosmic twist.

Continue reading ‘Dune: Prophecy’ Review: HBO Goes Full-On ‘Game Of Thrones’ With Compelling, Mysterious, & Worthy Spin-Off at The Playlist.

Since its inception, more than anything, Apple TV+ has excelled at genre television, especially in the sci-fi space. The sheer number of science fiction shows that populate the relatively small service is frankly overwhelming. Yet the best of those shows has somewhat flown under the radar. “Silo” premiered last year to acclaim, if not the deafening noise that followed something like “Severance.” Created by the great Graham Yost (“Justified”) and starring Rebecca Ferguson, the show’s mystery-box approach to a future society kept viewers like me compelled over the course of its ten-episode first season.

Continue reading ‘Silo’ Season 2 Review: Apple TV+’s Best Show Returns With A Deeper, If Less Bingeable, New Season at The Playlist.

Five-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón’s AppleTV+ series, “Disclaimer,” just ended this past weekend and really flipped the entire series on its head, forcing audiences to challenge everything they believed. An engrossing psychological thriller miniseries that Cuarón wrote and directed, based on the eponymous 2015 novel by Renée Knight, “Disclaimer,” told in seven chapters, stars Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett as acclaimed journalist Catherine Ravenscroft, who has built her sterling reputation revealing the misdeeds and transgressions of others.

Continue reading Alfonso Cuarón Talks ‘Disclaimer,’ Cate Blanchett, “Truth” Fallacies, Election Narratives & More [Interview] at The Playlist.

Compared to the extensive lineup of films hitting our screens in November, the television offerings seem somewhat slighter. That said, there are plenty of worthwhile new and returning series that will help ease us into the binge-heavy months of the year. Apple TV+ sees the return of two popular series, and HBO has a significant release with its “Dune” spinoff series. 

READ MORE: November 17 Films To See: ‘Blitz,’ ‘Queer,’ ‘Maria,’ ‘Gladiator II’ & More

Elsewhere, there are plenty of series with A-List talent attached, from Michael Fassbender to Colman Domingo.

Continue reading 10 November TV Shows To Watch: ‘Yellowstone,’ ‘Silo,’ ‘Dune: Prophecy,’ ‘The Agency’ & More at The Playlist.

If you have not watched the final two episodes of “Agatha All Along,” we suggest you stop reading this story and rectify that immediately. Spearheaded by creator and executive producer Jac Schaeffer, the nine-episode limited series introduced pivotal new characters to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, featured awards-worthy performances from Kathryn Hahn, Patti LuPone, and Sasheer Zamata, among others, and featured a tonal shift that shouldn’t have worked, but succeeded smashingly.

Continue reading ‘Agatha All Along’: Jac Schaeffer Answers Our Questions On The Final Two Episodes & Why That Big Kiss Was So Important at The Playlist.

In today’s episode of Bingeworthy, our TV and streaming podcast host Mike DeAngelo goes deep undercover while discussing “Lioness.” The Taylor Sheridan-created Paramount+ series follows a CIA operative who leads a top-secret team meant to infiltrate and execute the most dangerous targets around the world. The tense, action-packed series stars Zoe Saldana, Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman, Michael Kelly, Genesis Rodriguez, and more. 

Continue reading ‘Lioness’: Michael Kelly Talks Season 2 Of The CIA Drama, ‘The Penguin’, ‘G.I. Joe’ & More [Bingeworthy Podcast] at The Playlist.

I shouldn’t get into Oscar talk because that’s not really my world, nor do I really pay much attention to the tea leaves of that game, but in a just world, or for my money, anyhow, the Sundance drama “Exhibiting Forgiveness” is at least nominated in every major category, including Best Picture and Best Actor for its star André Holland (“Moonlight,” “The Knick,” etc.).

Continue reading André Holland Talks ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness,’ Fathers & Sons & Says Duke Johnson ‘The Actor’ Should Be Coming Soon [Interview] at The Playlist.

Before we bore you with how mind-numbing “Venom: The Last Dance” is, let’s recall how we got here, circling this pitiful drain. Following false starts with two underperforming ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ films, Sony Pictures turned to Marvel for a hand and a mutually beneficial play: Marvel producing “Spider-Man” movies and taking a financial cut in exchange for allowing the webslinger play in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Continue reading ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ Review: A Painfully Forgettable Tango To The Bottom Of The Dust Heap at The Playlist.

There is always a shortlist of actors deserving of an Academy Award. Ralph Fiennes is one of them. He earned a Supporting Actor nomination in 1994 for “Schindler’s List,” but lost out to Martin Landeau for “Ed Wood.” He landed a Best Actor nod in 1997 for “The English Patient,” but Geoffrey Rush had that one in the bag for “Shine.” And in the almost three decades since, he’s been overlooked for incredible work in films such as “The End of the Affair,” “The Constant Gardner,” “Coriolanus,” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” That may change with his celebrated performance as Cardinal Thomas Lawrence in Edward Berger’s adaptation of Robert Harris‘ novel, “Conclave.”

READ MORE: For his contemporary “Conclave,” Edward Berger embraces the discourse [Interview]

The fact Fiennes is not synonymous with the Oscars is sort of head-scratching.

Continue reading Ralph Fiennes Isn’t Distracted By Oscar Buzz For ‘Conclave,’ Just Doing “Good Work” at The Playlist.

In this week’s episode of ⁠Bingeworthy⁠, our TV and streaming podcast host, Mike DeAngelo, ignores all training and ethics when discussing “Shrinking.” The Apple TV+ series follows a grieving therapist who decides to “Jimmy” his way into his patients’ lives. The hilarious and heartfelt series stars Jason Segel, Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams, Michael Urie, Luke Tennie, Ted McGinley, Christa Miller, and more. 

READ MORE: ‘The Old Man’: Jeff Bridges & Amy Brenneman Discuss Their Spy Drama, ‘Tron: Ares’, ‘Heat’ & More [Bingeworthy Podcast]

Joining Bingeworthy to discuss season 2 of the hit comedy series are two of the show’s co-creators and producers, Jason Segel (“How I Met Your Mother,” “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” “Winning Time”) and Bill Lawrence (“Ted Lasso,” “Scrubs,” “Bad Monkey”).

Continue reading ‘Shrinking’: Jason Segel & Bill Lawrence Discuss Their Heartfelt Season 2 Comedy, Working with Harrison Ford, ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 4 & More [Bingeworthy Podcast] at The Playlist.

In this week’s additional episode of Bingeworthy, our TV and streaming podcast host Mike DeAngelo makes sure not to step over “the line” while discussing “Teacup.” The Peacock series follows a group of neighbors who must put aside their differences and unite in the face of a mysterious and deadly threat. The horrific mystery series stars Yvonne Strahovski, Scott Speedman, Rob Morgan, Chaske Spencer, Boris McGiver, and more. 

Continue reading ‘Teacup’: Yvonne Strahovski Discusses Producing Her New Horror Series, ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Final Season, ‘The Tomorrow War 2’ & More [Bingeworthy Podcast] at The Playlist.

We’ve caught Mikey Madison before the roller coaster truly begins. Over the past five months, the “veteran” 25-year-old actress has witnessed her film “Anora” win the Palme d’Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and experienced rapturous screenings at the Telluride, Toronto, and the New York Film Festivals. There is so much more to come, though. A long list of awards show invitations await, including a ticket to the Dolby Theater in March.

Continue reading Mikey Madison Is Enjoying Her Breakout ‘Anora’ Ride at The Playlist.

Among the most versatile filmmakers working today, Oscar-winning writer-director Steve McQueen doesn’t repeat himself. A distinctive filmography that spans across everything mainstream and indie—from American slavery and Dutch Nazi occupation to the rhythms of London’s West Indian communities and a women-led crime extravaganza—stands tall as proof. With the elegant historical fiction “Blitz,” his largest-scaled movie to date, McQueen, this time, turns his lens onto London’s blitzkrieg that started in September 1940, when Germans systemically bombed the city for months on end.

Continue reading ‘Blitz’ Review: Steven McQueen’s WWII London Bombing Drama Is Dazzling [NYFF] at The Playlist.

As we enter October, there’s an onslaught of new films to anticipate. Following the busy September festival schedule, October offers plenty of festival favorites and potential award contenders. Some of these festival favorites, such as “The Outrun,” premiered at the 2024 Sundance. Others, such as “Anora,” have made their way through multiple screenings from Cannes to the Toronto International Film Festival. 

Alongside these buzzy films are independent science-fiction features, streaming releases, and movies perfect for the Halloween season.

Continue reading 15+ October Films To Watch: ‘Joker: Folie à Deux,’ ‘We Live In Time,’ ‘Anora’ & More at The Playlist.

October welcomes a slew of high-profile series and highly anticipated returns. A-list talent, including Cate Blanchett and Gael Garcia-Bernal, is returning to television for new projects. Meanwhile, long-running favorites such as “Heartstopper,” “Abbott Elementary,” and “What We Do in the Shadows” are all making their welcome return. 

READ MORE: Fall 2024 TV Preview: 40 Must-See Series To Watch

For those looking for a series that scratches the Halloween-season itch, there isn’t much besides the horror series “Teacup.” However, “Sweetpea” looks to play into creepier aesthetics with a killer plot line at its core.

Continue reading 11 October TV Shows To Watch: ‘Disclaimer,’ ‘Heartstopper,’ ‘La Máquina’ & More at The Playlist.

The fourth major film festival of the fall season, following Telluride, Venice, and the Toronto International Film Festival, the New York Film Festival is, in many ways, a greatest-hits collection of all these films and titles from Cannes and even Sundance. But that’s not a pejorative. NYFF is arguably one of the best-curated festivals out there, carefully choosing films so that its line-up looks like an artful body of work.

This year, there are no major world premieres, but that said, the festival does boast the North American premiere of Steven McQueen’s highly anticipated WWII London bombing movie “Blitz” starring Saoirse Ronan, Harris Dickinson, and more.

Continue reading 2024 New York Film Festival Preview: 15 Films To Watch at The Playlist.

As the 1960s drew to a close, director Roman Polanski‘s theatrical adaptation of Ira Levin’s novel “Rosemary’s Baby” would find immediate success from both the box office and critics alike, eventually finding its way onto many a list of genre-defining horror and inclusion within the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. This now-classic, revolving around the spouse of an NYC-based actor who believes she may very well be carrying the unborn child of Satan after a string of horrific events and the meddling of her bizarre neighbors, served as a launchpad for the career of Mia Farrow as she deftly commanded the title role and would go on to spawn its own offspring in the form of a 1976 sequel and 2014 remake, both made for television.

Continue reading ‘Apartment 7A’ Review: Julia Garner Delivers A Career-Defining Performance In An Otherwise Routine Horror Prequel [Fantastic Fest] at The Playlist.

The witches brew for Marvel Television’s new “Agatha All Along” is what you might expect: a little bit playful, with a dash of comical amusement, some slightly creep witchcrafty macabre notes, a pinch of musical singalong moments, and easygoing mystery as a topper. A spin-off of the “WandaVision” series centering on that antagonist witch Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn), the limited series is a lightweight effort; lighthearted, light on its feet, light on depth, and a bit mid in flavor.

Continue reading ‘Agatha All Along’ Review: Kathryn Hahn Leads Marvel’s Playful, Campy, Musical Wicked Witches Tale at The Playlist.

Family is blood and biology on the surface, but found families—those who are there for us no matter what kinship exists— have taken a central position in our culture in recent years. Those notions, identity, who we are, and the limits of family and fatherhood all come into play in the compelling second season of FX’s “The Old Man” starring Jeff Bridges. Growing beyond just a thrilling spy thriller about an aging ex-CIA agent on the run, Dan Chase(Bridges), and the former ally set to chase him down FBI Assistant Director Harold Harper (John Lithgow), “The Old Man” deeply evolves in season two, arguably different enough that it could turn off viewers more inclined to the thriller action elements of its inaugural season.

Continue reading ‘The Old Man’ Review: Jeff Bridges & John Lithgow Grapple With Fatherhood Pain & Identity In Searingly Emotional Season 2 at The Playlist.

In the grand tradition of “The Godfather” and “Scarface,” similarly modernistic versions influenced by the same works like James Gray’s early New York crime films and augmented by the dilapidated layer of grimy bleakness derived from “The Batman” franchise, Matt Reeves’ “The Penguin,” is a bruising dramatic crime tragedy about the myth of the American dream and its modern decay.

Continue reading ‘The Penguin’ Review: Colin Farrell Leads A Dark, Tragic Tale About The Decay Of The American Dream at The Playlist.

In a ceremony full of upsets, there was none bigger than “Hacks” winning Comedy Series. We’re still not recovered from it. Then again, there were also a lot of expected winners. Netflix had a lot to celebrate as “Baby Reindeer” won six Emmy Awards including Limited or Anthology Series. But you know who really had a lot to celebrate? FX “Shōgun” won both the coveted Drama Series Emmys and a ton of other awards for “The Bear.”

READ MORE: Creative Arts Emmys Night Two: ‘Shōgun’ dominates as Jamie Lee Curtis, Sandra Oh and Pasek And Paul earn historic wins

Before the Primetime Emmy Awards began FX’s “Shōgun” had already made history winning 14 statues for the Creative Arts Emmy ceremonies That’s the most wins for a Drama Series in one year and, more incredibly, a single program in one year.

Continue reading ‘Shōgun,’ ‘Hacks’ & ‘Baby Reindeer’ Triumph At 2024 Emmy Awards at The Playlist.

If you think the Creative Arts Emmy Ceremonies don’t matter when it comes to the Primetime Emmy Awards, think again. FX’s “Shōgun” made history over two nights this past weekend. Not only did the now ongoing series make history with the most wins by any Drama Series in one year, but it’s already won more Emmy statues in one year for any series, ever. And on Sunday night it could potentially win six more including the coveted Drama Series Emmy itself.

Continue reading Emmys 2024 Final Predictions: ‘Shōgun,’ ‘Shōgun,’ & More ‘Shōgun’ at The Playlist.

Hugh Grant proclaims near the beginning of A24’s “Heretic” that there is only one true religion, and it isn’t Islam, Christianity, or Judaism. By the end, he does reveal his pick, though your mileage may vary. Some viewers might have an epiphany; some will shrug with indifference. Whatever the response, the journey to that point is compelling—a miracle because “Heretic,” despite its marketing, is primarily a drama of ideas—at least in intent.

Continue reading ‘Heretic’ Review: Hugh Grant’s Charming Creepiness Anchors A24’s Heady & Chatty Horror-Thriller [TIFF] at The Playlist.

“Nightbitch,” adapted from Rachel Yoder’s eponymous novel, is a film of many parts, some more successful than the others, and each clashes in a tonal mish-mash. Marielle Heller directs, with an inherent understanding of the subject matter—the curbed spirit and artistry of women doomed to stay-at-home motherhood—yet struggles to make a cogent point by the end. Amy Adams stars in the lead role and is unsparing, setting aside all vanity, but is constrained by a film that is ultimately more square than intended.

Continue reading ‘Nightbitch’ Review: Amy Adams Gives A Committted Performance In Marielle Heller’s Cathartic Look At Motherhood [TIFF] at The Playlist.

Stephen King might have more individual works adapted for the screen than any other writer in history, besting Shakespeare, Dickens, and Christie. With “The Life Of Chuck,” horror impresario Mike Flanagan brings yet another King tale to the big screen, his third straight after “Doctor Sleep” and “Gerald’s Game.” Despite containing the expected horror and sci-fi elements, “The Life Of Chuck” is a bit of a departure for both King and Flanagan as it is a straight drama for much of its runtime—veering closer in tone to “The Shawshank Redemption” and “The Green Mile” than, say, “The Shining.

Continue reading ‘The Life Of Chuck’ Review: Tom Hiddleston, Spectacular Dancing & Performances Power Elevated Stephen King Adaptation [TIFF] at The Playlist.