(via Shutterstock)
Isn’t it weird to be a little relieved that things a tad quiet on the movie and streaming front atm?
Clearly not whisper quiet since this post has five trailers, among many currently out there in the world, but quieter than the usual end-of-year-get-this-thing-eligible-for-the-Oscars frantic which is fun and adrenalising but also a little exhausting too.
So, I’m enjoying the fact that things are a little slower, that I can catch up on some of the shows and movies I missed last year and see some of the new ones and do them at a pace that allows me to savour them and really sink into them.
It’s a joy and honestly, this year I hope I can stick to quality over quantity and enjoy the good stuff, like these five movies and shows (well, they look good from the trailers anyway) which will definitely find their way onto my viewing list at some point.
(courtesy IMP Awards)
SNAPSHOT
Six months into a solitary research mission to the edge of the solar system, an astronaut, Jakub (Adam Sandler), realizes that the marriage he left behind might not be waiting for him when he returns to Earth. Desperate to fix things with his wife, Lenka (Carey Mulligan), he is helped by a mysterious creature from the beginning of time he finds hiding in the bowels of his ship. Hanuš (voiced by Paul Dano) works with Jakub to make sense of what went wrong before it is too late. Spaceman is directed by Swedish writer / filmmaker Johan Renck, director of the film Downloading Nancy, as well as directing on the TV series Chernobyl, Breaking Bad, plus one episode each of The Walking Dead, Halt & Catch Fire, and Bates Motel. The screenplay is from Colby Day, based on the book Spaceman of Bohemia written by Jaroslav Kalfar. Produced by Lia Buman, Reid Carolin, Tim Headington, Peter Kiernan, Michael Parets, Max Silva, & Channing Tatum. (courtesy First Showing)
Spaceman premieres on Netflix on 1 March.
(courtesy IMP Awards)
SNAPSHOT
Dog lives in Manhattan and he’s tired of being alone. One day after seeing a commercial on television, he decides to build himself a robot, a companion. Their friendship blossoms, until they become inseparable, to the rhythm of 80’s NYC. One summer night, Dog, with great sadness, is forced to abandon Robot at the beach. Will they ever meet again? Robot Dreams is written and directed by acclaimed Spanish filmmaker Pablo Berger, also director of the films Die Torremolinos Homevideos, Blancanieves, and Abracadabra previously. Adapted from Sara Varon’s graphic novel of the same name. It’s produced by Ibon Cormenzana, Ángel Durández, Ignasi Estapé, Sandra Tapia, Jérôme Vidal, and Pablo Berger. (courtesy First Showing)
Robot Dreams premiered at 2023 Cannes Film festival and opens in US early 2024 and Australia on 11 April.
(courtesy IMP Awards)
SNAPSHOT
Constellation stars Noomi Rapace as Jo — an astronaut who returns to Earth after a disaster in space — only to discover that key pieces of her life seem to be missing. The space adventure is an exploration of the dark edges of human psychology, and one woman’s desperate quest to expose the truth about the hidden history of space travel and recover all that she has lost. Constellation is a new sci-fi series created by writer Peter Harness, from the series Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Wallander, Doctor Who, McMafia, The War of the Worlds previously. Produced by Turbine Studios & Haut et Court TV. Executive produced by Harness, David Tanner, Tracey Scoffield, Caroline Benjo, Simon Arnal, Carole Scotta, Justin Thomson. Michelle MacLaren directs the first two episodes and executive produces the series with Rebecca Hobbs and co-executive producer Jahan Lopes for MacLaren Entertainment. Also directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel and Joseph Cedar. (courtesy First Showing)
Constellation premieres its first three episodes on 21 February 2024.
(courtesy IMP Awards)
SNAPSHOT
Tom Ripley (Andrew Scott), a grifter scraping by in early 1960s New York, is hired by a wealthy man to travel to Italy to try to convince his vagabond son to return home. Tom’s acceptance of the job is the first step into a complex life of deceit, fraud and murder. A series based on Patricia Highsmith’s bestselling Tom Ripley novels. Ripley is a series created by acclaimed writer Steven Zaillian (director of Searching for Bobby Fischer, A Civil Action, All the King’s Men, The Night Of series; writer of Searching for Bobby Fischer, Schindler’s List, A Civil Action, American Gangster, Moneyball, The Irishman). All 8 episodes are written and directed by Zaillian. Ripley is co-produced by Showtime and Endemol Shine North America in association with Entertainment 360 and Filmrights. Executive produced by Steven Zaillian, Garrett Basch, Clayton Townsend, Guymon Casady, Ben Forkner, Sharon Levy and Philipp Keel of Diogenes. Produced by Andrew Scott. (courtesy First Showing)
Ripley premieres on Netflix on 4 April 2024.
ALEXANDER: THE MAKING OF A GOD
(courtesy Netflix)
SNAPSHOT
The six-part docuseries explores the extraordinary path of the young, exiled man determined to find his place in the world following his father assassination, quickly uniting his country in a campaign for dominance. Alexander pursued an unrelenting obsession with defeating the Persian King Darius, and his ambition led to his claim of largest Western empire in history, from Greece to part of India, in just under six years. In addition to expert academic insight and the revelations from Limneos-Papkosta’s groundbreaking archaeology. Alexander: The Making of a God reenacts dramatic details of Alexander’s mythic life during his rise — actor Buck Braithwaite stars as Alexander, and Mido Hamada is King Darius. The series also speculates on intimate details of Alexander’s private life, including his time with childhood friend and purported lover Hephaestion (Will Stevens). Alexander: The Making of a God comes from Tailfeather Productions in partnership with Lion TV, with executive producers Lucy van Beek and Nick Catliff. (courtesy Netflix)
Alexander: The Making of a God premieres on 31 January on Netflix.