August 26, 2024 Courtesy: Peacock The Killer  is the explosive new action thriller directed by the legendary Hong Kong film director John Woo. It is a remake of his classic 1989 film of the same name  starring Nathalie Emmanuel ( The Fast and Furious franchise, Game of Thrones ) as Zee in the lead role as an infamous assassin known in the Parisian underworld as the Queen of the Dead. Distributed by Peacock, The Killer  is produced by Universal Pictures, A Better Tomorrow Films, and Atlas Entertainment, with additional producers Terence Chang, Mark Gordon, Matt Jackson, and Robin Mulcahy Fisichella. The screenplay is from Brian Helgeland, Josh Campbell, and Matt Stuecken. Courtesy: Peacock According to the show's official synopsis, When Zee is given her new assignment from her handler to kill a blind young woman (Jenn) in a Paris nightclub, she refuses. The decision will disintegrate Zee's alliances, attract the attention of a savvy police investigator, and plunge her into a sinister criminal conspiracy that will set her on a collision course with her own past.  The ensemble cast includes Omar Sy (Intouchables, Jurassic World) , Sam Worthington (Terminator Salvation, Avatar franchise) , Diana Silvers (Space Force) , Eric Cantona ( The Fragile Colossus, Elizabeth ), Saϊd Taghmaoui ( Wonder Woman, The Kite Runner ), Tchéky Karyo ( Nikita, A Very Long Engagement ) and Grégory Montel ( Call My Agent!, Thirst for Life ). It also features Angeles Woo ( Silent Night, Manhunt ) and Aurélia Agel ( Halo, Black Widow ). Courtesy: Peacock Very reminiscent of John Woo's previous classics "Face/Off" starring John Travolta and Nicholas Cage and Tom Cruise's "Mission: Impossible 2", Woo once again delivers riveting action sequences and slow motion stylized imagery that evokes feelings of nostalgia from his earlier work. Fans will appreciate the new version of The Killer  in the gender swapped role of Zee replacing Chow Yun-fat in the original film. The relationship between Zee and Jen, as Zee decides to protect her is one of the richer dynamics of the show as Zee develops a moral conscience even at the expense of her own life with Sey, the policeman hot on her trail. With religious symbolism and themes of redemption, The Killer is one of the best action movies of the year. __________________________ ________________________ The Killer is streaming now on Peacock.

August 24, 2024 The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat is the latest drama on Hulu which premiered on August 23. It revolves around the enduring friendship of three best friends, Odette, Clarice, and Barbara Jean, who fondly refer to themselves as "The Supremes." Their decades-long friendship chronicles the power of their bond as they navigate the personal highs and lows of marriage, parenthood, joy, and adversity. Not to be confused with the musical group, the movie, directed by Tina Mabry and written by Mabry, Cee Marcellus, and Gina Prince-Bythewood, is adapted from Edward Kelsey Moore's 2013 novel of the same name. It stars  Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor ,  Sanaa Lathan ,  Uzo Aduba ,  Mekhi Phifer ,  Julian McMahon ,  Vondie Curtis-Hall , and  Russell Hornsby . Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Odette Kyanna Simone as Young Odette Zayana Willow Dukes as Baby Odette Sanaa Lathan as Barbara Jean Tati Gabrielle as Young Barbara Jean Uzo Aduba as Clarice Abigail Achiri as Young Clarice Mekhi Phifer as James Henry Dijon Means as Young James Julian McMahon as Ray Ryan Paynter as Young Ray Vondie Curtis-Hall as Lester Cleveland Berto as Young Lester Russell Hornsby as Richmond Xavier Mills as Young Richmond Donna Biscoe as Minnie Tony Winters as Big Earl Jason Turner as Lil' Earl Courtesy: Searchlight - Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Uzo Aduba and Sanaa Lathan in The Supremes at Earls All-You-Can-Eat. The film focuses on the friendships of these women in their adulthood with flashbacks as teenagers in the late 1960's to 1999, where the film uses the periods to narrate their stories. Flash forward to the present, and Odette (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), with aspirations of becoming a nurse, never saw those dreams fulfilled while dealing with a sudden diagnosis. Clarice (Uzo Aduba), a talented pianist, abandons her opportunities for a promising career for the sake of family and marries a man who is most likely cheating on her. Barbara Jean (Sanaa Lathan) is dealing with the emotional upheaval of loving 2 men with her husband suddenly passing, using alcohol to cope. The film deals with many familiar subjects that many women can personally relate to, making the bond between the women so joyful to watch. The acting by all three women brings exceptional depth to their characters that otherwise would have fallen short in another movie. Ellis-Taylor, a powerhouse in her own right, delivered an amazing performance with a myriad of emotions that is reminiscent of another powerhouse in Viola Davis. The movie more than delivers on the melodrama with a few bouts of comedy, but at its heart is the sincere friendship and love between these three women. The film showcases the bond that they have have nurtured since being nicknamed "The Supremes." With raw emotion, the film will leave you feeling deeply connected to these characters, evoking genuine tears, and laughter. The combined talent of Ellis-Taylor, Lathan and Aduba soars above the script, leaving you emotionally inspired. It's definitely a movie worth watching. ___________________ The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat is currently streaming on Hulu. ____________________ Watch the trailer below: “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” is Produced by Temple Hill Entertainment and distributed by Searchlight Pictures, the film is produced by Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, and Isaac Klausner.

August 23, 2024 Courtesy: Apple TV+ The highly anticipated second season of Pachinko  debuts on Friday, August 23, on Apple TV+ . With new episodes premiering every Friday through the finale on October 11, 2024, the eight one-hour episodes promise to be an emotional continuation of the multi-generational saga of a Korean immigrant family. Created by Soo Hugh and adapted from  the New York Times  bestseller 2017 novel  by Min Jin Lee, Pachinko  is directed by Kogonada and Justin Chon. The first season, hailed for its stellar acting, cinematography, production values, and designs, was released on Apple TV+ on March 25, 2022. It tells the multi-generational story of a Korean family with interconnecting timelines and characters who immigrated to Japan and encountered discrimination in their quest for a better future from 1915 through 1989. The ensemble cast includes Soji Arai, Jin Ha, Jun-woo Han, In-ji Jeong, Eun-chae Jung, Min-ha Kim, Lee Min-ho, Kaho Minami, Steve Sang-Hyun Noh, Anna Sawai, Jimmi Simpson, Yuh-jung Youn, Jeon Yu-na, and Sungkyu Kim. Courtesy: Apple TV+ The first season chronicles the life story of Kim Sunja (Minha Kim), a journey that begins with her childhood, first love, and heartbreak in two different timelines. From her relationship with Hansu (Lee Minho) to an unexpected pregnancy that led to marriage with Isak (Steve Sanghyun Noh), the series takes us through her survival during World War II in Japan and her life in 1989 Japan as an older Sunja (Academy Award winner Yuh-jung Youn). In season 2 (with fantastic opening credits with the cast dancing to 1969 "Wait a Million Years"), seven years have passed since season 1, when we last saw Sunja in 1938, selling kimchi with supplies and food in short supply. We get older versions of Sunja's two sons as her storyline continues with the ramifications of the war and shows her struggle to provide for her family. Courtesy: Apple TV+ At its heart, Pachinko  is a love letter to the human spirit and a testament to its strength. The series is a masterpiece, with its emotional beats and nuances escalating to deeply moving storytelling that leaves viewers feeling hopeful even through despair. Pachinko  deserves all the accolades it has previously received and hopefully will continue to receive. _____________________ Watch the trailer below: _______________ Pachinko is currently streaming on AppleTV+

August 22, 2024 (Spoilers Ahead) The brand new season of Reasonable Doubt returns on August 22 for its sophomore season premiere on Hulu , promising more romance, drama, and suspense with Morris Chestnut (The Best Man, Rosewood)  added to the cast. Starring Emayatzy Corinealdi (Middle of Nowhere, Ballers)  as Jacqueline "Jax" Stewart, a Los Angeles corporate defense attorney navigating challenging, high-profile cases, the legal drama premieres with two episodes and   premiers on   Disney+ with new episodes premiering weekly on Thursdays . Reasonable Doubt  is  Onyx Collective's  first scripted television series. It premiered on September 27, 2022, in its first season debut with nine episodes. The legal drama series was created by Raamla Mohamed for Hulu and with production companies Good Home Training, Simpson Street, Wilmore Films, and ABC Signature. The executive producers are Kerry Washington, Pilar Savone, Larry Wilmore, and Shawn Holley. Courtesy: Hulu Rounding out the ensemble cast are McKinley Freeman, Tim Jo, Angela Grovey, Thaddeus J. Mixson, and Aderinsola Olabode. In the first season, we meet the beautiful and complicated Jax Stewart, dealing with past traumas and a failing marriage while balancing motherhood and a murder case demanding all of her attention. Jax's life epitomizes a soap opera with many twists and turns rivaling any episode from Shonda Rhimes' "Scandal." Jax is estranged from her husband, Lewis (McKinley Freeman), while having an explosive affair with a former client, Damon Cooke (Michael Ealy), with whom she has always shared a connection. However, unwilling to sever ties completely with Lewis, they both decided to re-evaluate their marriage and commitment. Jax decides to end her affair with Damon, who becomes obsessed with her, eventually kidnapping her and taking his own life. Taking on the very prominent case of Bayden Miller has been one of the defining moments of Season 1 where, in addition to trying to prove Miller's innocence, it has also brought up haunting memories of her childhood related to her stepfather. Miller is the affluent businessman accused of murdering his mistress, Kaleesha Moore, the Vice President of his company, in a high-profile case. The case of trying to prove Miller's innocence was masterfully done with superb acting from Corinealdi as she really shone in the role of Jax when she learned that Miller was, in fact, guilty, displaying all the layers prevalent in a heroine - vulnerability, compassion, anger, determination, and ferociousness. When Jax gets a call from her best friend Shanelle Tucker (Shannon Kane) that her husband, ex-NFL player Jamarion "JT" Tucker (Christopher Mychael Watson), is dead, and she's being accused of the crime, Jax is once again thrust into a case that needs her expertise to uncover the truth while being caught between her own personal and moral ambiguity. Courtesy: Hulu Season 2 picks up right where Season 1 left off, with Jax trying to move forward through therapy. With this case too close to home, Jax enlists the help of Corey Cash (the name says it all), a charming, media-savvy defense attorney whose tactics leave them butting heads with enough tension to leave us wondering if all of that explosive tension will undoubtedly lead to something more.  When asked of Corinealdi about what's coming up for season 2, she excitedly stated, "You can't miss a moment! All the details count, so you have to really be invested and tuned to the whole story as it's unfolding because that's what makes the story great," she said. You really can't miss anything." _____________________ Watch the trailer for Season 2 below:

August 21, 2024 Courtesy: HBO "Industry" is easily the best show you're not watching. Episode 2 picks up with everyone predictably freaking out over the power outage in London as everyone is in chaotic panic mode to secure Lumi's stock and calm investor's nerves when Lumi starts trading lower than Pierpoint anticipated in "Smoke and Mirrors." Having watched the entire season, this show is breathtaking in its chaos, twists, and turns. There's so much to unpack, but we are committed to not spoiling future episodes. Episode 2 beautifully sets the pace for the rest of the season. Who knew urine kink held so much power? Rishi (Sagar Radia) is having a complete meltdown and screaming at everyone. When Eric (Ken Leung) of all people, gives a look and says you can't threaten violence on the floor while holding a baseball bat, you know it's bad. Rishi then screams that he is violence! Was anyone expecting Rishi to turn into the Incredible Hulk at any moment? Courtesy: HBO What "Industry" is absolutely good at are intense monologues and gripping scenes, especially on the trading floor. When they go into epic meltdowns or conversate about the evils of capitalism with unexpected comedy, it's even better. Eric and Harper (My'hala) need to share scenes again because the dynamics of that relationship are the show's best. Petra (Sarah Goldberg) tells Harper that Eric called FutureDawn nine times (nine!) to dissuade them from hiring her. "Either he can't stand you or doesn't want anyone else to have you" she tells Harper astutely. Seriously, that line is everything, so when Harper calls Eric and, after a beat, hangs up after repeated hellos on his end, it heightens the anticipation for the next time they see each other, especially when Eric suspects it was her calling. Robert (Harry Lawtey) is still reeling from the fact that Nicole is dead, and he is doing everything he can not to have the CEO of Lumi, Sir Henry Muck (Kit Harington), give interviews - including writing paper notes! - which Henry dismissively ignores. Of course, providing an impromptu video interview when your company is in a free fall is a bad idea. This leads to an intense argument between them about greed, failures, motivations, power, and capitalism, and neither side is wrong. A physical fight ensues, and I don't know if the writers were going for comedy, but it elicits a giggle. Seeing two grown men fight in a playroom, with one being smothered by an overstuffed plush doll is comic gold. Courtesy: HBO Stating the obvious that Robert is going through it is an understatement. He loses his girlfriend's necklace that she gifted him and knows he has to retrieve it by breaking into Nicole's home. He finds it (rather quickly), but the writers decide to pile on the drama when he's seen by Nicole's daughter Pip (Edie Lambden), and she immediately and aggressively starts coming on to him because she wants to be "touched." Oh, and she's 15 years old. Yikes! The VP of the episode is "nepo baby" Yasmin (Marisa Abela), who quite literally saves the day when she finds out from the annoying Sweetpea (who turned out to be quite useful) that Henry has a urine kink and the wheels start turning on how she can use that to her advantage. She and Robert try to salvage Lumi and find him on the floor, locked in the bathroom of a gentleman's club. She uses his kink to her advantage and, coupled with her own sexual deviance, gets him to regain his confidence to have an important meeting with Otto Mostyn and British Electric's Gregory Clark since the shareholders were threatening to replace him earlier in the episode. Yasmin ups her game and contacts the paparazzi to capture the perfect photo op moment since she knows perception is everything to boost Henry's reputation by saving Lumi's stock. This show does exceptionally well at using sex for gratification, punishment, and aphrodisiac, so of course, Henry is expecting to thank Yasmin by "seducing" her when he invites her to dinner. His first order of impression is to let her know that his uncle owns several newspapers, so he was able to make the notorious article about her party with her father disappear. Strangely enough, Yasmin cries, and we can't decipher her emotions. Still, she nods for him to follow her to the bathroom, and it seems like his seduction tactics worked. But then she pointedly tells him to look in the mirror first at her, then him, and tells him, "This is why it's never going to happen," then uses the stall and pees while he listens with smug satisfaction. This show continues to up the ante with weird, pervasive pleasure, but we're here for it. He gifts her with an extremely rare bottle of wine that the waiter refuses to serve because it's so rare (Really? That's grounds for termination) and ends up drinking it straight from the bottle on the bus where she's instantly photographed and it's a surprise to no one. Courtesy: HBO We finally find out some more about what happened to Yasmin and Charles on the boat, and while it's not rape, the encounter is still so very mentally and psychologically unsettling. Just as unsettling is Harper, who we've seen is not above lying or manipulating and wants to prove her worth. Petra is still trying to figure Harper out, so when she wants to hedge FutureDawn's exposure on the Lumi IPO, Harper suggests she bets against Yasmin's IPO and reveals Pierpoint's system to secure lower prices using Anraj (Irfan Shamji) who's a junor level trader. Yasmin takes the bait, and when Anna (Elena Saurel) receives new trade confirmation, she's furious and calls it a betrayal. Anna needed to be told harsh truths by Petra because while they are friends (and the term is used loosely), Petra is right. Anna keeps pushing for friendship when Petra musters only civility, so the outrage Anna displays is over the top. Courtesy: HBO Petra is impressed with Harper's skill but balks at her willingness to deceive easily, telling Harper that they're smart enough people not to have to cheat and wants her to check her gleeful grievances against her former colleagues. Given her earlier tussle with Anna, her rebuke about not wanting to cheat sounds a bit hollow, but let's take her word for it. By the same token, Eric tells Yasmin she doesn't have to degrade herself to be an asset using market manipulation. While the advice is sound, Eric is not above using tactics of his own or making impulsive decisions that are less than honorable, especially with Bill Adler joining the team, who has unintentionally raised questions about Eric's ability to manage when in crisis. Let's see how those events play out in upcoming episodes. ____________________ Watch the trailer for season 3 below: Industry airs Sundays on HBO and streams on Max.

August 18, 2024 Courtesy: 20th Century Studios Millions of fans were eager to see the new saga in the Aliens franchise, the latest science fiction horror film, as Alien: Romulus dethroned Marvel's Deadpool and Wolverine  to debut at number 1, with 41 million domestically and 108 million worldwide in its opening weekend. Deadpool and Wolverine  still held on to its bragging rights of being the highest-grossing R-rated movie, adding another 29 million over the weekend, bringing its massive haul to 1.14 billion in just 4 weeks. Disney has much to be happy about as Romulus, distributed by 20th Century Studios, is owned by Walt Disney Studios. This continues Disney's string of successes, starting with Pixar's Inside 2,  which also grossed over a billion dollars. Courtesy: 20th Century Studios With a budget of $80 million, Fede Alvarez ( Evil Dead, Don't Breathe ) directed and co-wrote the screenplay for Romulus with Rodo Sayagues Mendez. The film, produced by Scott Free Productions, Ridley Scott, Michael A. Pruss, and Walter Hill, has received critical acclaim. It boasts the highest Rotten Tomatoes score in the franchise since "Aliens" (1986), with 83% with critics praising its impressive cinematography, direction, and set designs. The film's domestic opening of 41 million marks the second-highest start of its Alien counterpart, behind "Prometheus" at 51 million. Alien: Romulus is the seventh installment in the 45-year franchise that began with Ridley Scott's 1979 monster hit "Alien." It follows a group of young space colonizers set between the period of  Alien  (1979) and  Aliens  (1986) who decide to board a derelict space station 20 years after Officer Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and her spacecraft crew were first invaded by the terrifying creatures. The crew soon comes face to face with the hostile creatures while scavenging the space station. Courtesy: 20th Century Studios The film stars: Cailee Spaeny (Civil War , Priscilla ) David Jonsson (Industry, Rye Lane) Archie Renaux (The Last of US)  Isabela Merced (Instant Family,   Sicario: Day of the Soldado) ,  Spike Fearn, ( Tell Me Everything) Aileen Wu (Skin, Closing Doors) Romulus  is easily the best installment of the franchise and stays true to the genre with a healthy dose of gore, terror, suspense, horror, and action sequences that stays true to the franchise with a touch of nostalgia heartening back to  Aliens . The fantastic performance by Spaeny and a standout performance by Jonsson, whose tender relationship sold the urgency and terror of encountering aliens and fighting for survival is what blockbusters are made of. Fans will appreciate the digitally recreated Ian Holm, who played a synthetic in the original film. The final acts of the movie (which will not be spoiled) delivers a pulse-racing, satisfying conclusion (starting with Jonsson's character) and easily sets the direction for the next installment. Romulus  is definitely worth the price of admission, and it is a fantastic addition to the franchise. ____________________ Watch the trailer below: ____________________ Romulus is currently playing now in theaters.

August 17, 2024 Courtesy: Lifetime Terry McMillian's Tempted by Love  is the newest romantic drama on Lifetime that premiered on August 17, starring and executive produced by Garcelle Beauvais (White House Down, Spiderman: Homecoming)  who stars as Ava, a world-class renowned chef living in Europe, who rushes home to care for her elderly aunt in South Carolina after she suffers from a fall. Luke (Vaughn W. Hebron, whose credits include Tyler Perry's  The Oval ) is the handsome driver who picks her up from her long flight home, and the two feel an unexpected yet passionate connection. There's only one problem: Luke is 20 years her junior. Courtesy Lifetime: Garcelle Beauvais and Vaughn W. Hebron With a mutual interest in food, family, and fun, Ava and Luke are the perfect recipe for love however Ava expresses hesitancy to pursue their relationship due to his age, even though Luke does not share her sentiments. Despite her obvious feelings and attraction for him, Ava soon realizes that Luke still has so much to experience in life, and she must decide what is best for her own career and relationships. Rounding out the ensemble cast are Donna Biscoe, Lela Rochon, and Loretta Devine, which reunites Rochon and Devine, who previously starred in Terry McMillan's feature film  Waiting to Exhale . Written by Tamara T. Gregory and directed by Taliah Breon, Tempted by Love is executive produced by D'Angela Proctor for Undaunted Content in association with GroupM Motion Entertainment. Terry McMillan and Garcelle Beauvais serve as executive producers with Richard Foster and Chet Fenster for GroupM Motion Entertainment. McMillan is best known for her novels, which have been turned into hit films, including  How Stella Got Her Groove Back. These films predominantly focus on the love and lives of African American women and her literature have been a staple in African American culture. Courtesy: Lifetime When discussing the film, Beauvais emphasized the importance of keeping the story as authentic as possible. "We wanted to make sure the story stayed real. It wasn't about, 'Oh, a good-looking older woman meets a younger guy.' We talk about the real stuff — we talk about arthritis; she's going through menopause,' Beauvais said. '[Lou] didn't care about any of those things. The Lou character didn't care. And I think that's the beauty of it. Sometimes, we're ashamed because we've been taught to be ashamed, but there's nothing to be ashamed of because the alternative is that you're not around at all to have any of these things." Will Ava follow her heart and choose Luke? Find out by tuning in to the premiere of Terry McMillian's Tempted by Love on August 17 at 8PM EST. ____________________ Watch the trailer below: