Uh, isn't Nicole Kidman in this? [Always Be Streaming 28 July 2023]

Screen time for Nicole Kidman is, politely, limited in the new Taylor Sheridan show.

When the best show on offer this week is the US military spy drama Special Ops: Lioness, you know it is not a great weekend. Which isn’t to say that show is bad. It just isn’t anything all that special either.

It is from Taylor Sheridan, creator and writer of Yellowstone and 436 other shows on the air right now. The work of his it is most similar to is Sicario, which he wrote the screenplay for. Unfortunately, this doesn’t have anyone as masterful as Denis Villeneuve directing. Instead it is Sheridan directing as well. He’s certainly competent behind the lens - he just isn’t Denis Villeneuve.

I will caution you - despite Nicole Kidman and Morgan Freeman appearing in all the marketing material, this TV show is very much a Zoe Saldana led production (which is just fine - Saldana always welcome on my screen). I’m a few episodes in and haven’t seen Freeman on screen at all. Nicole Kidman is in it for less time than it will take you to read this newsletter today.

On the film front, things are more promising.

My pal Melanie Tait wrote a play a few years back The Appleton Ladies Potato Race. The play was adapted into a film and that debuted this week. I haven’t yet seen it (I reckon tonight’s the night), but Mel is a smart and witty delight of a lovely human and I am pretty sure some of that will make its way to the screen. I’ve been eager to see this for a while. You can find that streaming in Australia on Paramount+. I’m assuming it’ll be on P+ internationally as well.

African Netflix original film Big Nunu’s Little Heist also has my attention. If only for having a great title.