By John Seager
The ongoing series from The Philadelphia Globe gives a peak ahead at the next week of television and new movie releases. The Globe will also spotlight beloved classics and cult films.
Rebecca (Netflix)
It is hard to recreate a classic, but Rebecca has already been remade a handful of times since Alfred Hitchcock’s 1940 Best Picture winner. Daphne du Marier’s novel is becoming a story with generational updates. Starring Armie Hammer and Lily James, the movie offers a new take on the old tale.
The two leads star as newlyweds whose recent betrothal is haunted by how the husband’s first marriage ended. Kristen Scott Thomas lurks around them as Mrs. Danvers. Will the movie be as good as Hitchock’s classic? Unlikely. Will it offer a chance to revel in a timeless tale and appreciate du Marier’s story once again? 100%. Rebecca is a must-see for fans of programs like Masterpiece Theater and Downton Abbey.
Saturday Night Live (NBC)
The longtime variety program returned with a whimper this season. Even with the star power of Jim Carrey, Alec Baldwin, and Maya Rudolph portraying political candidates on the ballot in 2020, SNL has yet to gain much traction so far. The current cast might be running its course, but the show will hope for a shot in the arm from Adele this weekend. The hosting gig will be the singer’s first appearance on SNL since 2015. This week’s musical gust is H.E.R.
The Undoing (HBO)
Launching just one week after Lovecraft Country wrapped, HBO’s newest series to check out is The Undoing. The show stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant as a couple who encounter a death and a disappearance that burst their bubble as New York City elites. Kidman appears set to be the primary character in a series that teams her with producer David E. Kelley again. The pair previously realized success in the HBO series Big Little Lies. This series has a chance to be the best new HBO drama of 2020.
On The Rocks
Just about everyone loves Bill Murray and Rashida Jones, right? A movie starring the two and directed by Sofia Coppola is a recipe for a good story with memorable character interplay. The pair star as a father and daughter with a strained relationship. Murray, who is cast perfectly as a wealthy playboy, mentors his daughter on questions of her own relationship and midlife crisis. The film is being shown on limited screens and is currently available on Apple+.
World Series (FOX)
The sports calendar has never seen a year like 2020. In addition to the bubble tournaments and the shortened MLB season, the pandemic effected the 2021 sports calendar just as much. The NBA and NHL are pushing their seasons back and college basketball is facing the most challenging scheduling scenario in its history.
There is a chance that the 2020 World Series is the last legitimate non-football games until January. The Los Angeles Dodgers will try to clinch their first World Series since 1988. Tampa Bay is competing for the first crown in franchise history. It is the first Fall Classic appearance by the Rays since losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008.
Tom Petty Birthday Bash
Tom Petty’s estate recently released Wildflowers & All The Rest, an album packed with stunning demos from the classic album. An online celebration will mark the singer’s 70th birthday on Friday night. Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench will join artists like Stevie Nicks, Lukas Nelson, Dawes, Jakob Dylan, and Philadelphia’s Amos Lee in the streaming event.
The Candidate (1972)
When people associate Robert Redford with political films, All The President’s Men is the first one to come to mind. The 1976 Best Picture nominee is a bona fide classic made in the wake of the Watergate scandal that brought Richard Nixon’s administration. It also buries The Candidate, an evergreen effort by Redford that looks at politicians and promises lobbed on a campaign trail.
Released in 1972, the comedy-drama stars Redford as the son of a politician who is thrust into a high stakes race as a candidate because of his last name. The idealistic youngster is projected to lose to an established politician. His perceived long odds free Redford’s character to say whatever is on his mind, something that allows the film to gain sneaky relevance as a look at how politicians can be amorphous and lose their personal identity in a campaign. Philadelphia native Peter Boyle also stars in the movie.
The Candidate is currently available on HBO Max and for rental on Amazon Prime, Fandango Now, and YouTube.
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