"Extrapolations" (TV-MA) tackles the issue of climate change with stories set in the near and not-so-near future as humankind responds to rising temperatures and rising sea levels. The limited series is from creator/writer Scott Z. Burns, who so accurately anticipated the COVID crisis, and it speculates on a variety of issues and conflicts with an anthology format that spans decades. Sienna Miller, Kit Harington, and Daveed Diggs star with an impressive guest cast that includes such stars as Edward Norton, Matthew Rhys, Marion Cotillard, Forest Whitaker, and Meryl Streep. Three episodes available, new episodes on Fridays. (Apple TV+)
"Swarm: Season 1" (2023, TV-MA, with subtitles), from "Atlanta" creators Janine Nabers and Donald Glover, is a darkly comic thriller that follows the wild journey of obsessed fan (Dominique Fishback) who stalks the world's biggest pop star on an unexpected cross-country journey and leaves a trail of bodies behind. Malia Obama is part of the writing team and Glover directs the debut episode. All episodes streaming. (Prime Video)
Brendan Fraser won the Academy Award for his portrayal of man who becomes cripplingly obese in his grief in "The Whale" (2022, R), which follows a week in his life as he attempts to reconnect with his angry, estranged daughter (Sadie Sink). Darren Aronofsky directs and costar Hong Chau earned an Oscar nomination. (VOD and DVD)
"Boston Strangler" (2023, R) follows reporters Loretta McLaughlin (Keira Knightley), who broke the story to the public, and Jean Cole (Carrie Coon) as they battle the sexism of 1960s journalism to report on the notorious serial killer. Alessandro Nivola and Chris Cooper costar. (Hulu)
The animated adventure comedy "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" (2022, PG) sends the swashbuckling feline (voiced by Antonio Banderas), down to the last of his nine lives, through forest filled with fairy tale characters gone bad. (Peacock)
"The Magician's Elephant" (2023, PG), which streams a week after a limited theatrical release, is an animated adventure fantasy about an orphaned boy (voice of Noah Jupe) who goes on an impossible quest to free a magical elephant. Adapted from the children's book by Kate DiCamillo. (Netflix)
The limited series "A Spy Among Friends" (TV-MA) dramatizes the true story (with some dramatic license) of British intelligence agent Nicholas Elliott (Damian Lewis) and his long friendship with Kim Philby (Guy Pearce), the most notorious Russian double agent in British history. All episodes streaming. (MGM+)
Pay-Per-View / Video on Demand
Tom Hanks is "A Man Called Otto" (2023, PG-13), a curmudgeon of a widower who slowly warms to his neighbors, in this American remake of the Swedish comedy "A Man Called Ove."
The thriller "Alice, Darling" (2023, R) stars Anna Kendrick as woman who has to fight to leave an abusive relationship.
Netflix
"Dragged Across Concrete" (2018, R) is a gritty crime thriller starring Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughan as brutal cops who rob a drug dealer after they are suspended from the force.
Streaming TV: the adult animated comedy "Agent Elvis: Season 1" (TV-MA) reimagines the rock superstar as secret agent.
True stories: "Money Shot: The Pornhub Story" (TV-MA) explores the controversies and scandals around the largest porn website in the world.
International passport: a workaholic man starts jumping ahead through time without any control in the romantic comedy "Still Time" (Italy, 2023, TV-MA, with subtitles).
International TV: "Sky High: The Series: Season 1" (Spain, TV-MA, with subtitles), a sequel to the 2021 film, follows a widow as she turns herself into a crime boss. Also new:
- "Informa: Season 1" (Japan, TV-MA, with subtitles), a thriller about a journalist and a former yakuza informant who team up to investigate a series of shocking murders;
- "Ikebukuro West Gate Park: Season 1" (Japan, 2000, TV-MA, with subtitles), a classic Japanese youth drama set in an area known for youth delinquency and gangs;
- the offbeat crime comedy "Tiger and Dragon: Season 1" (Japan, 2005, TV-MA, with subtitles).
Stand-up: "Bert Kreischer: Razzle Dazzle" (TV-14)
Hulu
You can now stream this year's "Oscars" (TV-14) broadcast hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.
Penelope Cruz stars a filmmaker who has to sooth the egos of two male stars (Oscar Martínez and Antonio Banderas) who hate each other in the comedy "Official Competition" (Spain, 2021, R, with subtitles).
Disney+
A teenage Asian American student challenges the high school basketball star in "Chang Can Dunk" (2023, PG).
"Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming, with Dave Letterman" (TV-14) follows the rock legends on a journey back to the Dublin home.
Neil Patrick Harris became a child star in the sitcom "Doogie Howser, M.D.: Complete Series" (1989-1993, TV-PG).
Amazon Prime Video
A reunion at an all-girls high school becomes a survival odyssey when a tidal wave hits in the comedy "Class of '07: Season 1" (2023, TV-MA) starring Emily Browning and Megan Smart.
"Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris" (2022, PG) stars Lesley Manville as a plucky cleaning lady in 1950s London who travels to France to buy a Dior dress.
"Jackass Forever" (2022, R) reunites the legendary troupe for one last blast of ill-advised stunts and absurd, often dangerous slapstick antics as they enter middle age.
International TV: an eccentric team transports the deceased to their homeland and their loved ones in the drama "Angel Flight: Season 1" (Japan, TV-MA, with subtitles). Also new: "La Guzman" (Mexico, 2019, not rated, with subtitles), a limited series inspired by the life of iconic Mexican singer Alejandra Guzmán.
Apple TV+
The wait is over: the third season of the two-time Emmy winning comedy "Ted Lasso" (TV-MA) begins this week.
The documentary series "Monster Factory: Season 1" (TV-MA) follows a group of misfit dreamers training to be profession wrestlers in a gritty New Jersey factory town.
Other streams
Danish screen icon Trine Dyreholm stars in "Margrete: Queen of the North" (Denmark, not rated, with subtitles) as the 15th century monarch who unites Sweden, Norway, and Denmark under the rule of her adopted son, only to face a conspiracy threatening her new union. (Viaplay)
Claire Denis' "The Intruder" (France, 2005, with subtitles) is a fever dream of a thriller starrings Michel Sibor as a grizzled loner who emerges from self-imposed exile to undertake a globetrotting odyssey. It's been newly restored and revived. (Criterion Channel)
"Pre-Code Paramount" gathers 13 sexy, provocative, and sometimes daring features from the early 1930s, including five from director Ernst Lubitsch, who practically invented the sophisticated sex comedy, plus Dorothy Arzner's "Merrily We Go to Hell" (1932), a drama of alcoholism in high society, Josef von Sternberg's exotic "Shanghai Express" (1932) with Marlene Dietrich and Anna May Wong, and the sassy "She Done Him Wrong" (1933) from writer and star Mae West. (Criterion Channel)
"The Lives of Others" (Germany, 2006, R, with subtitles), a devastating drama of life under the surveillance state of Communist East Germany, won the Oscar for best international film. (MUBI)
Sean Axmaker is a Seattle film critic and writer. His reviews of streaming movies and TV can be found at https://streamondemandathome.com.
Copyright © 2023 by Sean Axmaker
