The Film Fix: Previews, Reviews of What’s Streaming in August
By JONATHAN W. HICKMAN, Special to The Paper
Below are reviews and capsules of various movies or series streaming this month.
Review rating … A “Fix” is recommended with a rating between 6 and 10. A “No Fix” is not recommended with a rating between 1 to 5.
Streaming Selects
NETFLIX
Dept. Q (now streaming) Fix Rating: 8/10 – This nine-episode crime procedural comes from “The Queen’s Gambit” creator Scott Frank. It’s based on a series of Danish novels by Jussi Adler-Olsen. The show, set in Edinburgh, Scotland, stars Matthew Goode as a brilliant but emotionally unstable investigator named Carl Morck.
After surviving being shot while investigating a gruesome murder, Morck is assigned to a new division that investigates cold cases. He reluctantly assembles a motley crew, including a former Syrian police officer played by Alexej Manvelov.
Things get complicated when they decide to reopen a missing person case involving the disappearance of a controversial former prosecutor. This finely acted and expertly shot corkscrew of a story is more than meets the eye, as they uncover a disturbing conspiracy.
Wednesday (season 2, now streaming) – Jenna Ortega returns as the title character in this Tim Burton-created series spinoff of the “The Addams Family” classic television show. This new season follows up with eight episodes broken into two parts (part 2 premieres on September 3). The trailers tease a story that kicks off with Wednesday getting a scary vision that her roommate, Enid (Emma Myers), will die. Of course, Wednesday decides to save her or “die trying.”
APPLE TV+
Chief of War (now streaming) – In this 18th-century set series, Jason Momoa plays Ka’iana, an ali’i (chief) from Hawaii who is forced to become a warrior. This narrative focuses on the story from the perspective of the indigenous people who battle internal strife and Western colonizers. “Chief of War” is a passion project for Momoa and his co-creator Thomas Pa’a Sibbett.
HBO MAX
Peacemaker (season 2 premiere August 21) – With the success of James Gunn’s “Superman,” “Peacemaker” gets a fresh update with its second season. Note that the character of Peacemaker (played perfectly by John Cena) got a cameo in “Superman” in a funny blink and you’ll miss it moment. Season 2’s eight weekly released episodes will be consistent with Gunn’s DC universe reboot by having Peacemaker butt heads with Rick Flag, Sr. (Frank Grillo), the father of the character killed by Peacemaker in Gunn’s 2021 film “The Suicide Squad.”
PEACOCK
Borderline (now streaming) – This dark comedy thriller stars Samara Weaving and is written by “Cocaine Bear” screenwriter Jimmy Warden, who makes his directorial debut here. The story is set in the 1990s. Weaving plays a pop star named Sofia, whose life changes dramatically when a delusional fan named Paul (Ray Nicholson) breaks into her isolated desert home to convince her to marry him. The absurd story is said to blend satirical elements with suspense as Warden explores the depths and dangers associated with fame and obsession.
HULU
King of the Hill (season 14, now streaming) – After a 15-year hiatus, the Hills return to Arlen, Texas, to discover that things have changed since their time working in Saudi Arabia. Bobby is now 21 years old and a chef who combines German and Japanese food while maturing into a fully formed adult. The principal voice cast returns with creator Mike Judge as Hank, Kathy Najimy as his wife, Peggy, and Pamela Adlon voicing Bobby. Count me in for more “King of the Hill” suburban humor that promises subtle sweetness as Hank and Peggy adjust to Bobby’s independence and their new reality in the Lone Star State.
The Monkey (now streaming) Fix Rating 6/10 – “The Monkey” isn’t one of the best King films. However, the wacky, absurd approach by “Longlegs” director Osgood Perkins has an energy that might infect the cool kids with King nostalgia. The comic gore on display in this film easily fills huge vats with sinewy body parts and buckets of blood. Perkins’ unapologetically violent sequences are masterfully mounted and comedically effective, even if his narrative loses its way by the film’s middle section.
The story follows the misadventures of twins Hal and Bill (played young by Christian Convery and as an adult by Theo James) and their experiences with a wind-up organ-grinding monkey. Please don’t call it a toy, as terrible things happen when the key on the Monkey is turned.
DISNEY+
Eyes of Wakanda (now streaming) and Iron Man and His Awesome Friends (series premiere August 11) – As the MCU moves to a new phase in the wake of the relative success of recently released “The Fantastic Four,” these animated limited series might borrow from the movies but will likely stand alone in the franchise. “Eyes of Wakanda” is a four-part anthology that follows Wakandan warriors who travel to different times to reclaim Vibranium artifacts. The younger-skewing preschool series “Marvel’s Iron Man and His Awesome Friends” concentrates on a younger Tony Stark, “Ironheart’s” Riki Williams, and Iron Hulk Amadeus Cho, who create suits of “iron” to protect their cities.
Jonathan W. Hickman is an entertainment attorney, filmmaker, college professor, and novelist. More about Jonathan can be found by visiting: filmproductionlaw.com.
