What to Stream: Gucci Mane, ‘Loot,’ Danielle Deadwyler, Pokémon and ‘The Diplomat’
A new Pokémon game and Danielle Deadwyler starring in the apocalyptic thriller “40 Acres” are some of the new TV, movies, music and games coming to a device near you.
Also among the streaming offerings worth checking out this week, selected by Associated Press entertainment reporters: rapper Gucci Mane returns with a new feature called “Episodes,” an animated adaptation of Roald Dahl, and Keri Russell’s political drama “The Diplomat” launches its third season.
— An animated adaptation of Roald Dahl’s “The Twits” arrives on Netflix on Friday, October 17. The villainous, hateful couple are played by Johnny Vegas and Margo Martindale, in this film about their rise to power in the town and the group of kids who team up to fight for good. Animation veteran Phil Johnson (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “Zootopia”) directed and co-wrote the film, which features an all-star cast including Natalie Portman, Emilia Clarke and Jason Mantzoukas. David Byrne also contributed new songs, along with Paramore’s Hayley Williams.
— Danielle Deadwyler stars in the apocalyptic thriller “40 Acres” about a family, the Freemans, surviving on a farm while the rest of society has collapsed in the wake of epidemics and war. But their existence as a survivor is jeopardized when his eldest son meets a woman outside their property. It will be on Hulu starting Friday, October 17.
— Two notable Sundance documentaries are also worth watching. “The Alabama Solution,” about the horrific conditions in Alabama’s prison system, is already streaming on HBO Max. The Associated Press has written extensively about problems in the state’s prison system, including high rates of violence, low staffing levels, a plummeting parole rate and the use of pandemic funds to build an oversized new prison. Also available Friday, October 17 on Netflix, Geeta Gandbhir’s “The Perfect Neighbor” uses police body camera footage to recreate a Florida neighborhood dispute that turns murderous. This is a fascinating look at real life and the principle of “respect for the fundamental laws” of the state.
—Lindsey Bahr, AP writer
— Rapper Gucci Mane returns with a new album, “Episodes”, two months after the release of his Gangsta Grillz mixtape “Greatest of All Trappers”. What more would you expect from one of the most prolific trap stars of the last few decades?
— The influence of Australian psychedelic musician Kevin Parker, aka Tame Impala, is hard to underestimate. There’s a reason some of the biggest names in the business have flocked to work with him, a list that recently includes Dua Lipa for her album “Radical Optimism.” On Friday, he will release his fifth album, “Deadbeat,” his first album in five years. It’s still so dreamy.
— In IRL and URL indie music circles, the shoegaze subgenre (marked by distortion, feedback, and noisy guitar pedal effects popularized by the Jesus and Mary Chain) has seen a revival. In the modern era, these sounds familiar to some are intertwined with other styles of indie rock. No band has been as influential and underappreciated for this impact as Philadelphia’s They Are Gutting A Body of Water. That could change Friday with the release of their next album, “LOTTO,” their first for ATO Records and their best yet. For those who like their bands fuzzy, weird and forward-looking.
— Maria Sherman, AP music editor
— Alex Murdaugh, the disbarred South Carolina attorney convicted of murdering his wife and son as well as committing financial crimes, is serving a life sentence. The story is told in a new crime dramatization for Hulu called “Murdaugh: Death in the Family,” premiering Wednesday. It stars Jason Clarke as Alex and Patricia Arquette as his wife, Maggie. The series is based on the reporting of South Carolina journalist and podcaster Mandy Matney, whose investigative work played a crucial role in covering Murdaugh. Matney is also an executive producer and Brittany Snow plays her on the series.
— If you need a palette cleanser, the delightful comedy “Loot” returns Wednesday to Apple TV+ for its third season. Maya Rudolph plays a billionaire who finds her purpose in philanthropy after divorcing her techie husband. It also stars Nat Faxon, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Joel Kim Booster and Ron Funches.
— Keri Russell’s political drama “The Diplomat” premieres its third season Thursday on Netflix. Allison Janney also returns as a series regular alongside… wait for it… her old pal from “The West Wing,” Bradley Whitford. He plays her husband.
— Another one for true crime fans: A new limited series on Peacock is about serial killer John Wayne Gacy. “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy,” comes out Thursday and dramatizes the period in 1978 when police began to suspect Gacy of the murder of a young man in Des Plaines, Illinois. As they conduct 24/7 surveillance, Gacy initially seems to enjoy the attention but his behavior becomes increasingly erratic over time and leads to his arrest.
— Pokémon Legends: ZA brings a major change to Nintendo’s 30-year-old franchise: for the first time, creatures face off in real-time battles rather than turn-based battles. This means you need to focus more on timing and reflexes, although this will also give your monster the ability to dodge enemy attacks. The story takes place in Lumiose City, a Paris-like metropolis that transforms into a combat zone when the sun sets. Many old favorites like Pikachu and Charizard are on the list, and if your Pokémon lands enough hits, it can undergo a “Mega-Evolution” to become truly formidable. You can start trying to catch them all Thursday on Switch.
— Keeper is another bizarre concoction from Double Fine Productions, the studio that gave us the trippy Psychonauts. This time, you are a long-dormant beacon breaking free from its foundations and gaining four legs. Joined by a curious seabird, you wander inland, passing surreal, sparsely populated villages while heading toward a looming mountain peak. There are no words, just a series of riddles that seem to have been imagined by Salvador Dalí. The ride begins Friday, October 17 on Xbox X/S and PC.
