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Geek Tyrant
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Wild Trailer for Darren Aronofsky's CAUGHT STEALING Starring Austin Butler and Zoe Kravitz — GeekTyrant
"He was just supposed to watch the cat. Now he's running for his f**king life." Sony Pictures has released the first trailer for director Darren Aronofsky's new crime comedy thriller Caught Stealing , which is set in New York City in the 1990s. It looks like it's going to take audiences on a wild explosively energetic ride. This is unliked anything that we've seen from Aronofsky before. It almost feel like a Guy Ritchie movie. The movie has a strong cast that includes Austin Butler, Regina King, Zoë Kravitz, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, and Vincent D'Onofrio. Adapted from the book by Charlie Huston, 'Burned-out Hank Thompson (Butler), once a hotshot high school baseball prospect, turned unlucky alcoholic, going-nowhere bartender mistakenly gets caught up in a bloody treasure hunt through New York City. 'It turns out that the cat Hank's neighbor left in his care is sitting on a secret. Hidden at the bottom of its cage is an important key wanted by everyone: a sadistic cop, Russian mobsters, a Samoan hit man, and a pair of psycho brothers who dress in leather gear.' Caught Stealing will be released in theaters on August 29th, 2025.
The Guardian
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The Guide #190: From Dope Thief to Families Like Ours, here's what to watch on every streamer
It's time for another instalment of A Show for Every Streamer, where we recommend a TV series to watch on each of the approximately 3,082 streaming services currently vying for your limited recreational time. (You can read our previous attempts here and here). As ever, we've focused on series that haven't been discussed endlessly – so no Adolescence or The White Lotus. Instead, you'll find Danish flooding sagas, football-based gastronomy and Martin Clunes attempting a Welsh accent … Apple TV+ | Dope Thief The 'Apple paradox', where incredibly talented people combine to make shows that no one seems to watch, is alive and well here. Despite having Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura as leads and a pilot episode directed by Ridley Scott, this crime comedy-drama about two childhood friends who pose as drug agents to rob dealers seems to have had next to no cut-through. A shame, as it builds to a tense, dark and funny climax. BBC iPlayer | Families Like Ours The title screams daytime soap, but this is actually something far more intriguing: a climate-change drama from Festen director Thomas Vinterberg. Families Like Ours imagines a Denmark where citizens have to evacuate the country due to flooding. It's a terrifying prospect that Vinterberg handles with Dogme 95 levels of naturalism, finding small personal stories amid the creeping apocalypse. Channel 4 | GBH We've flagged a new C4 release in Take Five (see below) so instead here's a word for its cavernous archive, which contains many of its most groundbreaking dramas over the decades: A Very British Coup, Queer as Folk, This is England and GBH, an ever-timely 1991 drama from Alan Bleasdale about city council corruption, featuring a ferocious performance from Robert Lindsay. Disney+ | Suspect: The Killing of Jean Charles de Menezes The politically charged new series of Andor is Disney's water-cooler show of the moment, but that has received props elsewhere. So instead let's spotlight this four-part drama about the notorious 2005 police shooting from socially conscious TV king Jeff Pope. It's a meticulously researched and utterly damning piece of procedural drama, with a cast that includes Russell Tovey, Conleth Hill and Emily Mortimer. Discovery+ | Adam Richman Eats Football We could flag any number of grubby true-crime dramas here: Discovery churns them out at such a rate that you wonder if they may soon run out of murders to almost solve. But let's sidestep the slaughter and instead flag this cheerful series, which sees Man v Food star Richman piggyback on the 'footy scran' trend and try matchday delicacies across the UK, from pie and mash at West Ham to haggis and whiskey pizza at Celtic. ITVX | Out There 'Martin Clunes plays a vigilante farmer taking aim at county lines drug runners' sounds like the sort of pitch you might get from a malfunctioning TV commissioning chatbot. But no, this revenge thriller is real and, more remarkably, Clunes – Mr Cosy Early-Evening Drama himself – is rather good in an uncharacteristic role, even if his west Walian accent is a bit off. My5 | The Good WifeAs you might expect from a platform with a strand titled Lawless Britain, Channel 5's free streaming service largely trades in the trashy and prurient. But there are gems to be found if you look hard enough, such as all 156 episodes of the excellent Julianna Margulies led legal drama, which is also available to stream on Paramount+ too. Netflix | Turning Point: The Vietnam War It was only a matter of time that, having conquered the rest of TV, Netflix would come for Ken Burns's turf. This five-part documentary from Brian Knappenberger (The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz) relitigates Vietnam, making use of talking heads on both sides of the conflict and sifting through hours of US presidents' Oval Office meetings and phone calls, to argue that the war paved the way for a more cynical, distrustful America. NOW | The Righteous Gemstones Pour one out for Danny McBride's comedy about a family of loathsome televangelists, which has just finished the fourth and final season of an impressively consistent run. In its latest outing, the show grows loopier and more ambitious, including a stand-alone episode set in the American civil war, and Bradley Cooper guest starring. As ever, it's Walton Goggins – man of the hour due to The White Lotus – who steals the show. Paramount+ | Mobland A Guy Ritchie crime drama starring Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren? Frankly, we didn't know Paramount+ had that level of clout, but here we are. Written and created by Ronan Bennett (with assistance from Jez Butterworth) this London gangster series, which sees Hardy's fixer tasked with keeping the lid on a potentially devastating mob war, does very little that's radical but manages the familiar with an engaging slickness. PlutoTV | 21 Jump Street Cheerful and cheaper than cheap, this streamer seems to be mostly made up of half-remembered crime dramas from the 80s and 90s. Given that it's free, we probably shouldn't complain about a service that includes Prisoner Cell Block H, The Dick Van Dyke Show and the original TV version of 21 Jump Street, featuring a pre-everything Johnny Depp. It's got a surprisingly tolerable film library too. Prime Video | Bosch: Legacy While Amazon ploughs cash into costly clunkers like its Citadel universe of shows or its notorious golden handcuffs deal with Phoebe Waller-Bridge, its Bosch franchise trundles efficiently on. A fast-paced modern detective procedural, it's marked out by Titus Welliver's gruff anguished turn as its titular LAPD gumshoe. A spin-off from the original Bosch series, Legacy has just dropped its final season on Prime, and it sees Harry Bosch juggling a missing family investigation and a probe into his own conduct. U | Silence is Golden Another Prime series we could have flagged is Last One Laughing UK, its hugely successful comedy gameshow where stand-ups staying together in a Big Brother-style house try to not laugh in each other's company. But as you've almost certainly seen that, how about a similarly premised show on UKTV's streaming service to keep you diverted while you wait for series two? In Silence is Golden, it's the studio audience who have to avoid tittering in the presence of comics. Do so, and they'll collectively win a cool £250,000. Each week we run down the five essential pieces of pop culture we're watching, reading and listening to Sign up to The Guide Get our weekly pop culture email, free in your inbox every Friday after newsletter promotion ALBUM – Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke: Tall Tales The second name in this duo you will recognise; the first may be less familiar. But Mark Pritchard has been an important and slightly Zelig-ish figure in the history of British dance music, rocking up as a producer in every scene and subculture from jungle to ambient to grime. He and Thom Yorke first collaborated in 2016, but Covid allowed them to work together more extensively (if remotely). The result is Tall Tales, a jagged collection of forward-thinking dance music, not wildly dissimilar to the more electronic end of Radiohead's output, though more playful: Gangsters imagines Yorke fronting Kraftwerk, while Happy Days somehow sounds like a techno take on a Soviet battle hymn. Rod Liddle said in the Spectator that the album made him 'cry with boredom', in case you wanted any further recommendation. Out more? The great, funny Welsh noise-rock band Mclusky are back with their first album in two decades: The World Is Still Here and So Are We. For the rest of our music reviews, click here. PODCAST – The RewatchablesThis long-running movie podcast, which entertainingly recaps films deemed rewatchable, has somehow never tackled Star Wars. That's despite doing episodes on the distinctly un-rewatchable likes of snuff movie horror 8mm. This week they finally rectify that oversight, with a mammoth two-parter considering the film's massive influence, for good or ill, on movie culture, and wondering whether Chewbacca was actually good at his more? To tie in with VE Day, Today in Focus has released a fascinating episode about Frederick Voigt, the Guardian's Berlin correspondent who observed – and warned about – Hitler's rise. Plus, here's what to listen to this week. FILM – The SurferWe're in Nic Cage season, that post-Oscar, pre-summer-blockbuster silly season where the great man does his finest, strangest work. The Surfer (pictured above) is classic Cage: a preposterous B-movie revenge thriller about a middle-aged schlub who returns with his son to the Australian bay of his birth to ride the waves, only to be thwarted by a group of local toughs who don't take kindly to outsiders. Let Cage surf, dammit! Out now – and if you want some more Cage, check out the Guardian's reader interview with him, where he discusses Terry Wogan and eating rats, more? New documentary Riefenstahl looks at how the German film-maker hid her Nazi complicity from the world. Also out now. Plus, here are seven more films to watch at home. TV – The Handmaid's TaleIt's been a strange old journey for this TV adaptation of Margaret Atwood's landmark dystopian novel. Its arrival, just as Trump was entering the White House for his first term, seemed eerily well timed, and its first series rode a resistance wave to Emmy and ratings glory. But some of its audience soon checked out to its overbearing mood of gloom, not to mention the slightly sketchy plotting to which the show resorted, having run out of source material. Now it enters its final season with Trump back in the White House and more unrestrained than ever: hopefully June's ending will be happier. New episodes available Saturday, Channel 4. Want more? Hurrah! Poker Face, Natasha Lyonne's stoner take on Columbo, is back for series two. Its first three eps are available now on Now. Watch out for more shows to stream this week. BOOK – Gunk by Saba SamsSams's debut, the short-story collection Send Nudes, was deservedly a big hit. In her next project, a novel called Gunk, her style continues to feel fresh: tender sentences, vivid imagery, deep empathy for difficult characters. Following a nightclub manager, the novel explores different forms of love and family. 'At the heart of Gunk is a profound message about the insufficiency of the nuclear family, and a suggestion of possible alternatives. It's a radical thought, one that Sams is well placed to articulate,' writes Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett in a Guardian review. Want more? In The Illegals, Guardian central and eastern Europe correspondent Shaun Walker takes on Russia's espionage programme, looking at the lives of the spies sent on deep-cover missions abroad. Steven Poole reviews the book here. For more of the Guardian's books coverage, click here. Stuart Heritage looks at the strange world of TV merch tie-ins, from The Last of Us mushroom coffee (ugh, no thanks) to Doc Martin clotted cream fudge (go on, then). As part of its centenary celebrations, the New Yorker offers a tasteful glimpse into the living rooms of notable NYC citizens (Martin Scorsese's is quite the gaff). A single school in Copenhagen seems to be producing every new left-field pop star on the planet. For the Guardian, Sam Davies visits the Rhythmic Music Conservatory to find out why its hit rate is so high. Is pop culture getting worse? A host of cultural critics reckon so. The Atlantic's Spencer Kornhaber meets these new cultural doomsayers. To quote Chief Wiggum, 'they only come out at night or, in this case, in the daytime': last week we asked for the scariest scenes in film, TV or literature that take place in broad daylight. Here's what gave you nightmares in the daytime: 'What's round the back of Winkie's? Something absolutely awful. In Mullholland Drive, David Lynch created such a sense of sweaty-palmed, I-can't-bear-to-look dread I've never forgotten it, over 20 years later. A packed cinema silently cringing at what the camera might reveal, round the back of the cheery diner in sunny LA. Nobody did atmosphere like Lynch. I miss him being alive.' – Suzanne Stockton 'In the modern masterpiece It Follows, the malevolent entity is a shapeshifting, slow-walking, sinister stalker, so you find yourself scouring the background of every scene, paranoid that it's there in a new form. About halfway through the film, the camera pans agonisingly around in two full turns as the protagonist walks through a high school. You could easily miss it, but there's a long-haired girl walking straight towards the camera, head down, reminiscent of Ringu. It's not one of the headline horrific or jumpy scenes in the film, but the patient direction, eerie music, and obliviousness of the characters adds up to something terrifying, even while the plot advances in the foreground. Writing this out gives me the shivers.' – Theo Boardman-Pretty 'Jaws. When 'he' jumps up right next to boat. Then later when 'he' starts tearing boat apart!' – CG This week I want to hear your favourite song to kickstart summer, the track that signals its time to lounge around in the park, or attempt a barbecue every weekend for the next few months (even when it's raining. For me, it's Arab Strap's magnificent ode to getting on it, The First Big Weekend. Let me know yours by replying to this email or contacting me on
Digital Trends
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Poker Face season 2 review: Quirkier, sillier, funnier
Poker Face season 2 review: Quirkier, sillier, funnier Score Details 'The stakes are raised in Poker Face season 2 with an even more incredible guest cast list, quirkier scenarios, and creative storytelling, all led by Natasha Lyonne's magnetic energy.' Pros Quirky and light in tone An incredible guest cast list Natasha Lyonne shines as Charlie Fun skewering of tropes and stereotypes Cons Episodes aren't as good in the latter half The silly quotient is dialled up too high at times The formulaic nature can get repetitive Table of Contents Table of Contents Charlie's cases are even more ridiculous this season Season 2 is even better than season 1 The exploration of Charlie Natasha Lyonne is back for the second season of the Peacock series Poker Face. The inverted detective stories, delivered in the same manner popularized by Columbo, continue with the same formulaic, case-of-the-week style for season 2. Lyonne's Charlie is on the run from a mafia boss intrigued by her special talent as a human lie detector. Excited to live like a nomad while evading the mob, Charlie roams across America, lands odd jobs, meets peculiar people, and coincidentally gets caught up in a murder every time. Recommended Videos A crime comedy-drama procedural with a twist and an incredible list of guest stars (even more so than in season 1), Poker Face is a delightful watch. Created by Rian Johnson, best known for the Knives Out movies, the look and tone are reminiscent of his other work. Lyonne puts her signature stamp on the series, creating a special murder mystery sauce that flat-out works. Charlie's cases are even more ridiculous this season Charlie isn't a detective, but she keeps finding a way to insert herself into the middle of family drama, co-worker rivalries, and school bullies. With any other lead character, it might be impossible to believe that this person would befriend people everywhere she goes (we'll give a pass to the whole repeated murder thing). But Charlie has a unique personality. She's a serial optimist who approaches every person and every situation with a smile. Her ego-free attitude and genuine interest in knowing more about her surroundings instinctively draw people toward her. It happens again and again. Charlie also has no trouble finding work as a parking lot attendant, a haunted house mummy, an apple picker, a zoo employee, and a ball girl for the local baseball team. Every situation starts off positively, with Charlie getting into her groove. Like clockwork, someone within her orbit is murdered. She could easily duck away and stay out of the drama. But her uncontrollable ability to call people out on their bullshit results in Charlie's conscience not allowing her to morally ignore facts that don't add up or someone who is clearly hiding something. Charlie is a model amateur detective with a strong moral compass and a deep desire to do the right thing. Season 2 is even better than season 1 Poker Face season 2 is like season 1 in its formulaic style. The first third of every episode presents the case and the killer, and the final two-thirds show how Charlie plays into the story and eventually identifies the killer. But season 2 is sillier and more lighthearted. Some episodes poke fun at stereotypes, common movie tropes, and even popular internet memes. The puzzles Charlie pieces together in this season are varied, involving people, animals, and, yes, even kids. The methods of murder are unlike anything you've seen in season one, even more far-fetched and downright ridiculous. While every episode has a dead body, the situations aren't as cut and dry as in season 1. The characters continue to be over-the-top, cartoonish, and absurd. Think Kumail Nanjiani plays an energy drink-addicted Florida detective with a blonde mullet and a pet alligator. Rhea Perlman is a menacing mafia boss, and Cliff 'Method Man' Smith depicts a meathead gym owner. Cynthia Erivo even plays multiple characters in one episode, showing she really can do it all. Poker Face Season 2 | Official Trailer | Peacock Original Lyonne is admittedly not everyone's cup of tea. She has a certain style — a tough Bronx girl persona — that she turns on and off. But there's something magnetic about her on-screen energy. You can understand why people are drawn to the character and want to be her friend. Even when Charlie is talking to no one in particular and muttering words under her breath, you can't help but chuckle at her quick wit and sarcasm. I laughed out loud on several occasions throughout the season — episode six, where she runs into a 'demon child,' is a highlight. This season, Charlie takes more of a backseat to the many guest stars in hilarious roles. Along with those mentioned, Poker Face season 2 features Alia Shawkat, Awkwafina, Carol Kane, David Alan Grier, Gaby Hoffman, Giancarlo Esposito, Jason Ritter, John Cho, John Mulaney, Katie Holmes, Margo Martindale, Melanie Lynskey, Richard Kind, Sam Richardson, Simon Helberg, Taylor Schilling, and more. The guest cast list is like reading the call sheet for a big Hollywood event, and each actor's unique flavor melds beautifully opposite Lyonne's. The exploration of Charlie The latter half of the episodes (up to episode 10) are arguably weaker than the first half, but they drive the narrative forward when it comes to Charlie's personal growth. In each place, she learns something new about herself and explores avenues she didn't in season 1, including having her first on-screen romantic encounter. Coming into her own, Charlie is learning to live with her gift, even if it gets in the way from time to time. OK, a lot of the time. But we finally get to see a bit more of who Charlie is, not just what she can do. Still, Charlie remains the same raspy-voiced, bitingly funny, charming young woman who isn't afraid to stick her nose where it doesn't belong, try anything once, and use her gift of being able to sniff out lies for good. She's roaming the U.S., going nowhere and everywhere fast. You'll love going along for the ride and getting to know the eclectic mix of people she meets along the way. Even though there's satisfying closure at the end of every episode of the feel-good show, you'll be excited to keep going and see what Charlie's next adventure will be. Who will die, how, and why? Where will Charlie end up next? The first three episodes of Poker Face season 2 premiere Thursday, May 8, on Peacock, followed by new episodes weekly. Digital Trends was given early access to the first 10 episodes of the 12-episode season.
