To stave off possible boredom while at home, every week Marhaba delves in to the wonderful world of popular culture to find the best new TV series, movies, books and music.
BINGE WATCH THIS:
Based on Donald Trump’s newly-launched military branch, and featuring Steve Carrell, the long-awaited Space Force comes to Netflix this week. In fact, the US Space Force’s first recruitment commercial was overshadowed by the trailer for the TV show, which was released just hours earlier. Carrell once again collaborates with writer Greg Daniels (King of the Hill, Parks and Recreation) in his first comedy show since the US version of The Office – this time though the workplace isn’t Dunder Mifflin Paper Company but a remote, secret base in Colorado. And Carrell has moved on from mediocre leader Michael Scott to successful four-star General Mark R Naird, who has the dubious task of running the military’s new branch in order to get ‘boots on the moon’ again in the shortest amount of time.
The show follows Naird as he is burdened by direct messages from the POTUS, run-ins with the Chief of the Air Force and dealing with the enduring military stereotypes. Some other big names are also in the cast – Naird’s wife Maggie is played by Lisa Kudrow, Jane Lynch is the foul-mouthed Chief of Naval Operations, and somehow the show managed to recruit John Malkovich as a research scientist, playing a brilliant parody of Dr Strangelove. Avidly followed by the Pentagon and military personnel in the US who have tried to pick holes in the storylines (and failed), you too can begin your binge-watch on 29 May.
GET THE POPCORN FOR THIS:
The latest video-on-demand is a new version of The Invisible Man, a science fiction horror film written and directed by Leigh Whannell (Saw, Insidious).
In this modern incarnation, Cecilia Kass (Elisabeth Moss) drugs her violent, controlling partner Adrian Griffin, aka the Invisible Man, and escapes to hide out with her childhood friend. Adrian apparently commits suicide and leaves Cecilia a fortune in his will. There then follows a series of unexplained experiences including being hospitalised with the same drug she had used on Adrian and which she had dropped on the bathroom floor before fleeing. Abandoned by friends and family, there follows a cat and mouse game between Cecilia and Adrian – but only one can win. Available to buy or rent on iTunes, which includes deleted scenes and an interview with Elisabeth Moss, plus behind-the-scenes footage.
SETTLE IN WITH A CUP OF TEA AND READ THIS:
Can you believe it’s been a long 10 years since bestselling The Hunger Games? In that time we’ve had the book series and the movies, and any number of knock-offs. Suzanne Collins is now back with a prequel to this successful franchise: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. It revolves around villainous Coriolanus Snow, played magnificently in the movies by Donald Sutherland. Here, Coriolanus is an 18 year old mentor, waiting at the reaping of the 10th annual Hunger Games, 64 years before the events in the original series and 10 years after the civil war. During this period of the Dark Days, the Snow family has fallen on hard times, and Coriolanus must succeed to both repair the family fortunes and achieve political power. Having been given the task of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low, it would appear the odds are against him. He must decide whether to follow the rules or follow his heart, while reinventing the Games into the grim and brutal showpiece seen in the earlier books. This is a real treat for all Hunger Games fans and answers a lot of questions regarding Snow’s past and the bloodthirsty transformation of the games.
CRANK UP THE VOLUME FOR THIS:
So many albums have been delayed in recent months; the list is endless. Originally scheduled for release on 10 April, Lady Gaga’s new album finally drops on 29 May. Chromatica is the singer-songwriter’s sixth offering, with a bonkers list of mishaps, leaks and other shenanigans along the way. It began with a tweet from Lady Gaga in March 2019 stating ‘Rumors I’m pregnant? Yeah, I’m pregnant with #LG6’. In October 2019 she announced she was calling the album ADELE in honour of the British artist, followed by the leak of first single Stupid Love in January 2020. This was officially released late February and in early March the album’s title was confirmed as Chromatica. It wasn’t released on 10 April as promised, and amid stories regarding the postponement of Coachella and her Las Vegas residency, Lady Gaga appeared on the TV event One World Together at Home, raising USD35 mn for the WHO. More hacks and leaks occur, until 22 May with the collaboration of Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande on Rain On Me, and finally, at last, the release of Chromatica. Phew. Stay awake, as on 29 May we will (hopefully) get to listen to the 16-track dancefest based on life in Lady Gaga’s abstract perception of the world, something she hopes we will find joy in even if we’re feeling sad or in pain.
Author: Sarah Palmer
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