Top streams for the week
Rachel Weisz plays the double role of Elliot and Beverly Mantle, twin gynecologists who spiral into a destructive codependence, in "Dead Ringers" (2023, TV-MA), a limited series that reimagines David Cronenberg's 1988 thriller. They're opposites in almost every way— Beverly is sensitive and quiet, Elliot hedonistic and ambitious—except in their commitment to women's health and reproductive care. They even regularly swap identities, which creates complications as they both fall for the same woman (Britne Oldford).
Showrunner Alice Birch ("Normal People") updates the setting and shifts the perspective while preserving Cronenberg's madness and horror. All episodes streaming. (Prime Video)
A nun (Betty Gilpin) and her former boyfriend (Jake McDorman) go on a globe-trotting odyssey to stop an all-powerful artificial intelligence that has taken over the world in "Mrs. Davis: Season 1" (TV-MA), a surreal science fiction thriller from "Lost" mastermind Damon Lindelof and showrunner Tara Hernandez. The wild mix of genres and tones sends it veering from apocalyptic fantasy to religious thriller to cartoonish comedy. Margo Martindale, David Arquette and Chris Diamantopoulos costar. (Peacock)
The fifth and final season of the Emmy-winning "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" (TV-MA), starring Rachel Brosnahan as a trailblazing stand-up comedian in the male-dominated arena of the early 1960s, is underway. Four episodes available, new episodes on Fridays. (Prime Video)
The fourth and final season of the dark comedy "Barry" (TV-MA) opens with the emotionally troubled hitman (played by Emmy-winner Bill Hader) in prison and confronting his legacy. Two episodes available, new episodes on Sundays. (HBO Max)
A regular guy (Chris Evans) falls for an enigmatic woman (Ana de Armas) who turns out to be a secret agent and gets swept up in an international adventure in "Ghosted" (2023, PG-13), a rom-com with a spy movie twist. It's from the writers of the "Deadpool" movies and the director of "Rocketman." (Apple TV+)
International pick: Jafar Panahi's "No Bears" (Iran, 2022, not rated, with subtitles) tackles the responsibility of a filmmaker to those impacted while covertly making an illegal film. It won the Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. (Criterion Channel)
Classic pick: Stanley Kubrick took on the heist thriller in "The Killing" (1956), a race-track caper with Sterling Hayden and a cast of B-movie lowlifes working like a well-oiled machine. (Paramount+)
Pay-Per-View / Video on Demand
Liam Neeson plays Raymond Chandler's iconic private detective in "Marlowe" (2023, R), a mystery set in the culture of 1930s Hollywood. Also on DVD.
"The Quiet Girl" (Ireland, 2022, PG-13, with subtitles), a delicate, intimate drama about a young girl who bonds with an older couple over the course of a summer, was nominated for an Academy Award.
Netflix
The newly-appointed US ambassador (Keri Russell) to England is immediately plunged into an international crisis in the political thriller "The Diplomat: Season 1" (TV-MA). Rufus Sewell and Rory Kinnear costar.
The sixth and final season of "Better Call Saul" (TV-MA), the "Breaking Bad" prequel starring Bob Odenkirk, comes to Netflix.
The romantic comedy "A Tourist's Guide to Love" (2023, TV-PG) stars Rachael Leigh Cook, Scott Ly, and Missi Pyle.
Matthias Schoenaerts is a violent convict who bonds with a wild horse in "The Mustang" (France, 2019, R), costarring Bruce Dern and Connie Britton.
True stories: the limited series documentary "Chimp Empire" (TV-PG) explores the largest chimpanzee society ever discovered.
Kid stuff: "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always" (2023, TV-Y7) reunites the original actors of the kids adventure series for one more mission.
Hulu
"Quasi" (2023, R) is a comedy riff on "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" from the Broken Lizard comedy troupe.
International passport: a geologist races to save his family from an earthquake in Oslo in the disaster thriller "The Quake" (2018, Norway, PG-13, with subtitles).
Streaming TV: The hit sitcom "New Girl: Complete Series" (TV-14) with Zooey Deschanel and Jake Johnson finds a streaming home on both Hulu and Peacock.
HBO Max
A graphic designer (voiced by Owen Wilson) is forced to reinvent himself while stuck on a one-way mission to Mars in the animated comedy "Fired on Mars: Season 1" (TV-MA).
Stoner humor meets scientific discovery in "Funny or Die's High Science: Season 1" (TV-G) with Matt Klinman. Zack Poitras, and Paul Bettany as a talking bong.
Amazon Prime Video
True stories: "Judy Blume Forever" (2023, 16+) profiles the life and career of the beloved author who helped generations of girls with her stories of growing up.
Paramount +
The animated revival "Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-Head" (TV-14) returns for a second season.
Peacock
Jessica Chastain, Diane Kruger, Penélope Cruz, Lupita Nyong'o, and Fan Bingbing star in "The 355" (2022, PG-13), an all-woman spy squad spectacle directed by Simon Kinberg.
Apple TV+
The estranged daughter (Fleur Geffrier) of a wine expert competes with her father's protégé (Tomohisa Yamashita) in "Drops of God: Season 1" (France, TV-MA, with subtitles).
Tom Hiddleston narrates the natural history series "Big Beasts: Season 1" (2023, TV-PG).
Other streams
Sixteen features and dozens of short comedies "Starring Harold Lloyd" get the spotlight, from iconic silent movie classics "Safety Last!" (1923) and "The Freshman" (1925) to his sound features including "The Milky Way" (1936). The collection includes Lloyd's personal favorite "The Kid Brother" (1927) and Kevin Brownlow's documentary "Harold Lloyd: The Third Genius" (1989), which is included as a supplement. (Criterion Channel)
"Silver Linings: Films by Joan Micklin Silver" collects three features, including the American indie landmarks "Hester Street" (1975), featuring an Oscar-nominated performance by Carol Kane, and "Between the Lines" (1977) with John Heard and Jeff Goldblum. (MUBI)
"The Real Thing: Complete Miniseries" (Japan, 2019, not rated, with subtitles) reimagines the romantic comedy as an epic odyssey with fantastical plot twists. (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
