It’s a real blast from the past this week. From Y2K and 1950s Mexico to a galaxy far, far away and, hell, even a ten-year anniversary of a now Nolan classic, there’s no living in the present. Well, unless you want to check out some present-day holiday assassins in Black Doves and Sabrina Carpenter’s new Christmas special. All good stuff! Here’s everything.
Featured Presentations
Queer
Luca Guadagnino’s second film of the year, alongside writer Justin Kuritzkes, is a stirring surrealist drama adapted from William S. Burroughs’s novella of the same name. Daniel Craig stars as Lee, an older reclusive man living in Mexico City who crosses paths with a young man (Drew Starkey) who reinvigorates him in the best and worst ways.
In theaters now
Y2K
Kyle Mooney put together a fun cast of young stars to live out a time period most of them weren’t even around for. Spoofing the 2000 panic, Y2K reimagines 1999 New Year’s Eve as a bloody tech apocalypse in some of the funniest and stupidest ways possible. Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, Lachlan Watson, Fred Durst, and Mooney star.
In theaters now
Black Doves
Thrillers on Netflix can be hit or miss, but this series easily falls on the pro side of the ledger. Helped along by its very strong cast (Keira Knightley, Sarah Lancashire, and Ben Whishaw), the premise is, roughly, it’s London, it’s the Christmas season, and Knightley and Whishaw are spies who have to do a lot of knife fighting amid tinsel and garland. Put it on while wrapping presents. —Kathryn VanArendonk
Streaming on Netflix
Skeleton Crew
Time for Star Wars’ take on The Goonies. Four kids get lost in space after exploring an old spaceship on their home planet. They eventually cross paths with a Force-wielding older man named Jod Na Nawood (Jude Law) as he makes a deal to get them home. We’re hoping it’s good, but at the very least it’s promising: The show’s directors include the Daniels, David Lowery, Lee Isaac Chung, and more.
Streaming on Disney+
Streaming’s Greetings
A Nonsense Christmas With Sabrina Carpenter
One of the breakout pop girls of the year is getting her own Christmas special. Expect performances from her holiday EP, fruitcake; duets with Shania Twain and Kali Uchis; and a couple of skits, including one in which Quinta Brunson is ghosted by a guy (Nico Hiraga) who promised to take her to Wicked (rude). Oh, and as an extra Christmas treat, Carpenter will have the other breakout pop girl of the year, Chappell Roan, on as well. Netflix, can we get a Bratmas special next year?
Streaming on Netflix starting on December 6 at 9 p.m. ET
➼ Plus, two (!) new holiday episodes of Abbott Elementary. Catch up on Hulu.
Back in Theaters
Interstellar
As Interstellar returns to Imax theaters for its tenth anniversary, critic Bilge Ebiri reexamines the original vitriol of Christopher Nolan’s most touching film and how that “soft and woozy center” is now one of its major strengths. Read more here.
In theaters now
➼ Now, with that said, where does Interstellar land in our Nolan rank?
Reality Bites
Pop Culture Jeopardy
Remember in 2006 and 2007 when VH1 aired two seasons of The World Series of Pop Culture, a game show that allowed teams of three to test their pop-culture knowledge against each other? That series returns with a new name (this version is technically a spinoff of Jeopardy!), a new streaming platform, and a new host in Colin Jost. —Jen Chaney
Streaming on Prime Video
➼ Then there’s Netflix’s unhinged dating experiment, The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On, back for another season. This, unfortunately, isn’t the Queer Love version, but they should get on that.
Animation Station
Creature Commandos
One thing about James Gunn is that he loves a ragtag team. In one of his first official DC Universe projects, Creature Commandos, a group of creatures is sent on missions that even the Suicide Squad can’t touch. Humans, you know. Frank Grillo returns to voice Rick Flagg Sr., with Sean Gunn reprising the Weasel (and a new character). The voice cast also includes David Harbour (as Eric Frankenstein), Indira Varma (as the Bride), Zoë Chao (as Nina Mazursky), and old-faithful Alan Tudyk (as Dr. Phosphorus).
Streaming on Max
Finally Streaming
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
He’s back at his new haunt. After waking up a fairly dead box office this September, Tim Burton’s sequel is ready to stream and it’s, as our critic Alison Willmore wrote, “a return to form” for Burton. Even if this sequel has trouble matching the highs of its predecessor, it’s still silly, weird, creative, and kinda gross enough to be fun. Also, who doesn’t want to see Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara play around together again?
Streaming on Max
➼ There’s also Vera Drew’s The People’s Joker on Mubi and James Watkins’s remake of the Danish horror film Speak No Evil on Peacock.
Want more? Read our recommendations from the week of November 27.
Related
