Album by Kelly Clarkson and Portugal. The Man, as well as the new season of “And Just Like That,” are among the new television, movies, music and games for a device near you.
Among the offerings chosen for your time by Associated Press entertainment journalists are “The Bear” back for a second helping, Gabrielle Union leading “The Perfect Find” and Criterion channeling into the gay best friend cliché.
new movies to stream
– In “The Perfect Find”, Gabrielle Union works as a 40-year-old fashion editor who hits it off with a young man (Keith Powers), only to later learn that he is her new boss’s son , a media mogul played by Gina Torres. The film, which premieres Friday on Netflix, is directed by Numa Perrier and based on Tia Williams’ novel of the same name.
The past year saw several excellent memory-filled autobiographical dramas, such as Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans” and Richard Linklater’s “Apollo 10 1/2.” The best of the bunch, however, may be James Gray’s “Armageddon Time,” an intensely observed tale of 1980s Queens, New York. Rather than a starkly nostalgic film, Gray’s film interrogates its past through politics and social currents of privilege. Jeremy Strong and Anne Hathaway star as the parents of 11-year-old Paul (Banks Ripeta), whose schooling experience is vastly different from that of his black friend (Jalyn Webb). Anthony Hopkins also co-stars brightly as her grandfather. In her review, AP film writer Lindsay Behar called the film “essential”. It will stream on Prime Video from Tuesday.
– The gay best friend has been dismissed many times as a familiar Hollywood trope. But a new film series on the Criterion Channel finds much to appreciate and lament in a bizarre film legacy that only existed on the margins of the 20th century. “Queersited: The Gay Best Friend” pulls together seven decades of American films, from 1937’s “Easy Living” to 1996’s “Irma Wepp” to trace the evolution of a stereotype that follows curator and writer Mark Harris Let’s discuss in conversation. , offered both relief and disappointment to gay moviegoers.
– AP Film Writer Jake Coyle
new music to stream
Kim Petras completed a remarkable few months on Friday, June 23 with the release of her debut album, “Feed the Beast.” She topped the Billboard Hot 100 with “Unholy” with Sam Smith, performed at the Grammys and “Saturday Night Live,” attended the Met Gala, and made the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. The new 15-track The album includes the buzzy single “Alone” featuring Nicki Minaj, the body-positive “Coconuts” and the beat-heavy single “Brr.” “Feed the Beast” also featured a collaboration with alt-pop star Banks.
Portland-based Portugal. The Man returns with an album called Damage. “Chris Black Changed My Life,” Friday June 23, is dedicated to Portugal. The Man’s late friend and honorary band member, Chris Black, who died in May 2019. The single includes the dance-floor ready “Dummy” and the mid-tempo wistful groove “Plastic Island” with the lyrics “Is this the end, my friend / Or is it coming around again /? Collaborators include Paul Williams, Sean Leone, Asa Taccone, Black Thought, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Jeff Bhaskar and Natalia Lafourcade.
—Loss also informs “Chemistry,” Kelly Clarkson’s post-breakup album. “You can take my money drag my name ’round town / I don’t care if I changed it anyway,” she sings in the kiss-off single “Red Flag Collector”. Clarkson previously released “Favorite Kind of High” and “I Hate Love,” both on “Chemistry,” an album where she gets a little help from comedian and banjoist Steve Martin. “This album takes you down every road chemistry can take you down,” he wrote on Instagram.
– Summer and Big Freedia were made to be together and she’s offering us the 16-track “Central City” for backyard parties. The New Orleans-raised queen of bounce music has brought along some friends — collaborators include Lil Wayne, Faith Evans, Ciara and Kelly Price — and promises a new sound. “My new album is something I call Bigga Bounce. Welcome to Central City, y’all, where I pay tribute to my city, my roots, hip-hop, and the art of creating a new sound. Singles include the airy “$100 Bill” and the aggressive “Bigfoot”.
– AP Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy
new series to stream
– Max has already made two big reveals for season two of “And Just Like That”: John Corbett returning as Aidan Shaw and Kim Cattrall filming a scene as Samantha Jones. Although details about each are scarce, we do know that Cattrall refused to engage in a third “sex”. And the City” movie and was reportedly not included in plans for a spinoff series. Fans won’t care how they see Samantha as long as she shows up. See how “And Just New episodes of “Like That” begin Thursday.
– Robert Downey Jr. combines two of his passions, classic cars and fighting climate change, in the new Max documentary “Downey’s Dream Cars.” Viewers go along for the ride as experts help the actor make his vintage car collection not only functional, but also eco-friendly. The show will premiere on Thursday with two episodes.
Actor-comedian Anthony Anderson is a proud mama’s boy and loves doting on his mother, Doris. The cameras rolled as the “black-ish” star took her mother on a six-week dream vacation to Europe, visiting England, France and Italy. “It’s the best and worst decision I’ve ever made,” Anderson said in the trailer. “Trippin'” with Anthony Anderson and Mama Doris debuts Thursday on E!
– The critically acclaimed series “The Bear,” which debuted last summer and was an immediate word-of-mouth hit, is back for a second helping. The show stars Jeremy Allen White as a classically trained chef named Carmy, who returns to Chicago to run his family’s sandwich spot called The Beef. In season two, debuting Thursday on FX on Hulu, Carmi and his staff are tasked with leveling up The Beef to make way for a fine dining establishment named The Bear. Personnel changes will require adjustments for all characters. What is a central theme for season two of When You Get What You Want, says creator Christopher Storer?
– Alicia Rancilio
new video games to play
– FINAL FANTASY XVI, the new chapter in the groundbreaking role-playing series, takes place in a land filled with magic crystals whose light is beginning to fade. Publisher Square Enix is hoping it can prevent such a fate from befalling its marquee franchise, whose previous installment in 2016 was met with a mixed critical response (though it’s still sold millions of copies). The most significant change to the formula is in the combat: protagonist Clive Rosefield fights mostly on his own instead of assembling the usual party of warriors and sorcerers, and the turn-based skirmishes that once characterized Final Fantasy X by Zippier Sword fighting is changed. The trailers promise a darker story — the producers have acknowledged “Game of Thrones” influences — but fans can still expect dazzling visuals and epic sweeps. Your latest chance to save the world starts Thursday on PlayStation 5.
Lou Keston
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