Apple TV+ | S1, E1-2 | TV-MA
Written, directed, produced by and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt ("500 Days of Summer,” “Inception,” “Don Jon”), "Mr. Corman" follows the days and nights of Josh Corman, an artist at heart but not by trade. Things haven’t been going his way lately – his lifelong dream of a career in music didn't pan out and he finds himself teaching fifth grade at a school in the San Fernando Valley, his ex-fiancé Megan (Juno Temple, continuing in her quest to make TV+ the Juno Temple acting masterclass) has moved out and his high school buddy (the fantastic Arturo Castro) has moved in. Aware that he still has a lot to be thankful for, Josh struggles nevertheless through universal feelings of anxiety, loneliness and self-doubt.
The series is a little tough to get into at first - particularly the first episode - but slowly evolves into an engaging story about failure, anxieties and trying to overcome them to see the good in the world and yourself. There's lots of interesting stylistic choices here (see the camera loop round Josh and a girl as they chat in a beer garden or the wonderfully original animated scenes) and a really great score from Nathan Johnson (cousin of film director Rian) plus strong performances from the entire cast. It's definitely worth pushing through the first couple of episodes to find some really original storytelling.
Apple TV+ | S2, E3 | TV-14
In 'Do the Right-est Thing', Rebecca has a special visitor shadow her at work. A player's return is not welcomed by the team.
Apple TV+ | S1, E5 | TV-14
In 'Tribulations' new romances hit roadblocks as Melissa meets someone unexpected and Emma reveals a secret. Mildred seizes a chance to increase her power. (Look out for an amazing Kristen Chenoweth solo!)
Apple TV+ | S1, E10 | TV-MA
In 'Let's Get Together', with election day looming, Sheila entertains an intriguing proposition. Bunny's finances and Tyler's health come to a head. Season Finale.
Apple TV+ | S2, E8 | TV-PG
In 'The Biggest Life', tragedy strikes the Lisko family. Hilde loses her paper. Izzy takes a stand.
HBO Max and in Theatres | R
Jonathan - "A bit of an obvious recommendation this week but this is mainly aimed at viewers who are maybe going to dismiss this film after having to sit through the last Suicide Squad hack job. The previous film ('Suicide Squad', without the 'The'), has a notorious history and even director David Ayer won't stand by the final cut, which was reportedly taken out of his hands to finish. Ironically, the films they seem to have been trying to get it like were The Guardians of the Galaxy, directed by this films director James Gunn.
Gunn has a very kinetic, fun and funny style of directing (and writing) and he's certainly a man on the loose with this DC property. Pulling from a murderers row of characters and endlessly watchable actors, this film is Gunn's playground for him to kill people with abandon. That goes for extras and characters alike as characters are frequently and regularly killed of with no warning and in increasingly silly and gruesome ways.
While some characters from the first film are carried over to this one, this film bares no resemblance to that boring mess. James Gunn knows how to have fun, knows how craft engaging characters and stories and even corrects our gaze on Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn from hot pants wearing figurine to an actual character (who wears a dress as opposed to a revealing outfit). It had a very low bar to clear from the previous film, but as with these characters and their mission, James Gunn clears it in a big, over the top way, with a lot of poop and dick jokes."
TV App | TV-PG
James - "This week has been one of those rare weeks where I’ve not watched anything new at all and I’ve not watched any movies either. There are some weeks when you’re just in the mood for nothing but easy, comforting, good for the soul tv that you can have on in the background and that show for me is pretty much always Frasier. Theres even a whole subreddit community dedicated to finding the best episodes of the show to fall asleep to! There’s something about this show that relaxes me like no other. Frazier’s dulcet radio tones, the rainy Seattle setting and the amazing supporting cast of David Hyde Pierce, John Mahoney, Jane Leeves and Peri Gilpin make for a perfect combination. Not to mention Eddie, played by Moose the dog! There are so many classic episodes that have endless rewatch value and the show does farce and hysterical misunderstandings as well as it tugs at the heartstrings. Even now, 17 years after the final episode aired, it remains for me, the gold standard of television sitcoms."