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Here’s a collection, curated by the entertainment journalists at The Associated Press, of what’s going to hit TV, streaming services, and music platforms this week.
FILMS
– Denis Villeneuve’s gloomy, majestic adaptation of Frank Herbert’s cult science fiction novel “Dune” from 1965 with its grandiose architecture and thundering blasts would surely be best seen on the big screen. But “Dune” will be streaming simultaneously on HBO Max starting Friday, giving audiences a choice of how and where to watch one of the most anticipated spectacles of the year. Timothée Chalamet plays “Dune” as the heir to the House of Atreides, who took on the mining of a precious resource on the desert planet Arrakis. Little is going according to plan on Arrakis, where the locals are rebelling against the industrial occupiers and other challenges are mounting. The star cast includes Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Zendaya and Javier Bardem. But perhaps the greatest attraction of “Dune” is the expansive sand and great science fiction cinematography.
– In “Four Hours at the Capitol”, filmmaker Jamie Roberts walks minute by minute through the siege of the US Capitol on January 6th by supporters of President Donald Trump who are trying to overturn the election results. The 92-minute film, which debuts Wednesday on HBO and HBO Max, features firsthand accounts of the day from lawmakers, police officers, protesters and rioters. More than 630 people were charged in the uprising.
—AP film writer Jake Coyle
MUSIC
– Elton John may have a mask on his album cover, but he’s ready to unleash his voice and a range of popular performers on his new offering, The Lockdown Sessions. It’s a joint album for the multiple Grammy winner who has recorded most of the songs in the past 18 months after putting his live tour on hold due to the pandemic. The 16-track album is led by the single “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)” with Dua Lipa. The album features a diverse selection of collaborations including Stevie Wonder, Lil Nas X, Stevie Nicks, Brandi Carlile, Eddie Vedder, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj and Young Thug. John said that some of the recording sessions were held remotely via Zoom, which he has never done in his career. He said recording “lockdown sessions” took him out of his “comfort zone” and into completely new territory.
– Rapper Nas will join an intimate conversation at the Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles during a week of other events. Hip-hop legend and producer Hit-Boy will speak on Tuesday about the recording process behind the rapper’s critically acclaimed King’s Disease, which earned him his first Grammy. Other Grammy Museum events include a special Monday program discussing the legendary and tumultuous friendship between George Harrison and Eric Clapton that shaped their careers and rock music in the early 1970s. On Friday, Debbie Gibson will speak about her successful music and acting career along with her new album “The Body Remembers”. Gibson expects an achievement.
– AP Entertainment writer Jonathan Landrum Jr.
TV
– “Invasion” has the potential to be a geography lesson and a travelogue with aliens. As aliens attempt a global land grab, the ten-part Apple TV + drama follows the consequences for individuals on every continent. Among those whose stories are told include a rural American sheriff (Sam Neill), a Middle Eastern US soldier (Shamier Anderson), and a Japanese aerospace engineer (Shioli Kutsuna). The makers include Simon Kinberg (“X-Men” and “Deadpool” films) and David Weil (“Hunters”). Three episodes will be released on Friday, with new episodes appearing every week.
– Issa Rae’s groundbreaking comedy “Insecure” begins its fifth and final season on HBO on Sunday (10pm EDT). The series is based in part on her life and on her web series “The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl” and follows Rae’s fictional counterpart Issa Dee and her best friend Molly (Yvonne Orji) through the ups and downs of love and career. Rae’s own star has skyrocketed with movies (“The Photograph”, “The Lovebirds”), a record label, and more. In a 2017 interview, Rae said it was worthwhile that “Insecure” was proven wrong, that the naysayers who claimed its authentic stories about colored characters would not find an audience.
– AP television writer Lynn Elber
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Find out more about AP’s entertainment coverage here: https://apnews.com/apf-entertainment.
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