Poor Issues, Aquaman 2, Netflix’s Spaceman, and each new film to look at

February is coming to a detailed, and with it, extra awards contenders are heading to streaming providers with the Oscars across the nook.

Poor Issues, Yorgos Lanthimos’ newest oddball darkish comedy, is now out to lease or buy digitally (with a Hulu launch across the nook on March 7). Ridley Scott’s epic Napoleon makes its strategy to Apple TV Plus Saturday (however solely the theatrical lower — sorry to my fellow nerds who hoped for the four-and-a-half-hour director’s lower).

Nevertheless it’s not all awards contenders. Aquaman and the Misplaced Kingdom splashes its method onto Max, and Netflix has a pair of thrilling new sci-fi releases within the Adam Sandler drama Spaceman and Code 8 Half II, the sequel to the cult hit film from 2019. And two extra to regulate within the VOD division: Darkish comedy Lisa Frankenstein and Hirokazu Kore-eda’s masterful thriller Monster additionally make their debuts this week. I can’t advocate the latter extra extremely (I haven’t seen the previous, however have heard good issues).

Right here’s every little thing new to look at this weekend!

New on Netflix

Spaceman

The place to look at: Out there to stream on Netflix

Style: Science fictionRun time: 1h 47mDirector: Johan RenckCast: Adam Sandler, Carey Mulligan, Paul Dano

You’ve seen Dramatic Adam Sandler, however what about Dramatic Adam Sandler… in area?

Tailored from Jaroslav Kalfař’s novel, the film follows an astronaut on a lonely mission who strikes up an uncommon relationship with an alien spider (voiced by Paul Dano).

We talked to the Sandman about his work within the film, together with the brand new ability he picked up in his most severe function but.

Code 8 Half II

The place to look at: Out there to stream on Netflix

Style: Sci-fiRun time: 1h 40mDirector: Jeff ChanCast: Robbie Amell, Stephen Amell, Sirena Gulamgaus

The primary Code 8 was a shock hit when it dropped on Netflix in 2020, so don’t be shocked if the sequel finally ends up being some of the widespread films on Netflix this week. Starring real-life cousins Robbie and Stephen Amell, this film sees them assist a teenage lady hoping to avenge her lifeless brother, who was killed by cops.

New on Max

Aquaman and the Misplaced Kingdom

The place to look at: Out there to stream on Max

Style: SuperheroRun time: 2h 4mDirector: James WanCast: Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

Put in your swim gear and strap in your flippers, as a result of we’re going again to Atlantis. The film underwent severe reshoots and usually acquired considerably worse opinions than the surprisingly good first entry, and is the ultimate film of the DCEU earlier than James Gunn’s reboot of the DC Universe.

From our evaluation:

The sequel to Aquaman is a complete bummer for these of us who loved Aquaman. Wan has confirmed himself on each scale, however in attempting to carve out one other journey on this universe, he feels a bit caught. This could be the predicament of an ongoing Aquaman franchise, if DC ever tries once more: When your sequel is caught within the ocean, the one strategy to go is down.

New on Apple TV Plus

Napoleon

The place to look at: Out there to stream on Apple TV Plus

Style: Historic epicRun time: 2h 37mDirector: Ridley ScottCast: Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, Tahar Rahim

Ridley Scott and Joaquin Phoenix reunite with one other historic epic, this time telling the story of Napoleon Bonaparte. Scott’s unique imaginative and prescient of the film was over 4 hours lengthy, so the theatrical model now streaming is considerably pared again at about two and a half hours. The film was nominated for 3 Oscars: Finest Manufacturing Design, Finest Costume Design, and Finest Visible Results.

From our evaluation:

However Napoleon doesn’t spend a lot time belaboring its topic’s energy. Despite the broad 32-year scope, Scott and Scarpa preserve the movie’s focus slim, its energy performs dispassionate. Treating Bonaparte’s stature in historical past as settled, the movie provides Phoenix room to color a portrait of the person in dialog with friends, rivals, and his spouse, between visually hanging and meticulously rendered battles. These battles are nice: Few filmmakers are afforded the assets to function at this scale, and fewer are so efficient at superbly rendering the violence of males at warfare. However in Napoleon, the fight sequences are additionally romantic overtures, a violent manifestation of the tortured letters Bonaparte writes to Joséphine.

New on AMC Plus

The Disappearance of Shere Hite

The place to look at: Out there to stream on Apple TV Plus

Style: DocumentaryRun time: 1h 58mDirector: Nicole Newnham

This documentary tells the story of famed intercourse educator and feminist Shere Hite, and is narrated by Madame Net star Dakota Johnson (her internet actually does join all of them). It was nominated for documentary awards at quite a few festivals in 2023, together with Sundance.

New to lease/purchase

Poor Issues

The place to look at: Out there to lease on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu

Style: Darkish comedyRun time: 2h 22mDirector: Yorgos LanthimosCast: Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, Mark Ruffalo

Emma Stone stars as a younger girl delivered to life from a mind transplant on this twist on the Frankenstein method, tailored by Greek darkish comedy filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos from Alasdair Grey’s novel. It’s been an awards darling to this point, profitable 5 BAFTAs and two Golden Globes, and was nominated for 11 Oscars, together with Finest Image.

Monster

The place to look at: Out there to lease on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu

Style: MysteryRun time: 2h 5mDirector: Hirokazu Kore-edaCast: Sakura Andō, Eita Nagayama, Sōya Kurokawa

I cannot communicate extra extremely of Hirokazu Kore-eda’s (Shoplifters) Monster. It’s a beguiling thriller a couple of mom attempting to determine what’s going on along with her son, who has been appearing up just lately and acquired right into a battle at college along with his instructor. Kore-eda is an extremely deliberate filmmaker, with each element deeply thought-about, and makes use of the movie’s sophisticated narrative to unspool among the best mysteries in years. It’s an absolute gem.

Lisa Frankenstein

The place to look at: Out there to lease on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu

Style: Horror comedyRun time: 1h 41mDirector: Zelda WilliamsCast: Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, Carla Gugino

Love tales about reanimated corpses are all the fad this week. This time, it’s a teenage goth lady (Kathryn Newton) who falls in love with a Nineteenth-century man (Cole Sprouse) who comes again to life after a lightning strike. The film is directed by Zelda Williams, Robin’s daughter, and written by Diablo Cody, who has mentioned the film takes place in the identical universe as her earlier teen horror traditional Jennifer’s Physique.

From our evaluation:

Despite the fact that this film is typically haphazardly stitched collectively, like a dismembered hand added onto a corpse, Lisa Frankenstein is shocked again to life by magnetic visuals, partaking chemistry, and deliciously escalating motives.