Elite social circles and the halls of a drab corporate office serve as two settings for the war between truth and lies in February on streaming platforms, while Black History Month offers a selection of great international stories.
HereB次元官网网址檚 a look at some winning streaming film and TV picks set to debut this month:
B次元官网网址淚nventing AnnaB次元官网网址�
Anna Delvey B次元官网网址� Instagram influencer, charming socialite and stealth con artist. There were many layers to the sweetheart of New YorkB次元官网网址檚 glitterati before she landed behind bars for pocketing her friendsB次元官网网址� fortunes. B次元官网网址淚nventing AnnaB次元官网网址� retraces DelveyB次元官网网址檚 downwards spiral with verve as B次元官网网址淥zarkB次元官网网址� star Julia Garner dons the duplicitous lead role and B次元官网网址淰eepB次元官网网址� alum Anna Chlumsky plays a pregnant magazine writer determined to break the story before her due date. Laced with humour, colourful characters and a bewitching performance by Garner, the 10-episode series is bound to be a talker. Loosely based on the New York Magazine article B次元官网网址淗ow Anna Delvey Tricked New YorkB次元官网网址檚 Party PeopleB次元官网网址� by Jessica Pressler. (Netflix, Feb. 11)
B次元官网网址沦别惫别谤补苍肠别B次元官网网址�
Awakening under the glaring lights of a mysterious conference room, a woman lifts herself from the top of the oversized table and responds to a mysterious voice coming over a loudspeaker. She doesnB次元官网网址檛 remember who she is or how she got there. And sheB次元官网网址檚 not alone. The man on the other end of the line is Mark, one of the officeB次元官网网址檚 employees whoB次元官网网址檚 made a life-altering decision to sign away his memories and surgically divide his mind between work life and personal life. When he exits the office, his mind blanks as if nothing happened. But truth always rises to the surface and when the employees start talking, they realize a far more sinister plan may be just beyond their mindB次元官网网址檚 eye. Britt Lower of B次元官网网址淗igh MaintenanceB次元官网网址� and Adam Scott of B次元官网网址淧arks and RecreationB次元官网网址� star, and Ben Stiller directs the first three of nine episodes in this dark comic mystery. (Apple TV Plus, Feb. 18, episodes weekly)
B次元官网网址淭he PorterB次元官网网址�
After years of Canadian television falling short on putting stories of Black Canadian history in the hands of Black creators, CBC is launching a historical TV drama that ranks among their most ambitious series. Inspired by the lives of 1920s railway workers, whose trials and tribulations led some to band together and form North AmericaB次元官网网址檚 first Black union, B次元官网网址淭he PorterB次元官网网址� explores their professional and personal lives as they look towards a better day. After a freak accident on the job leaves one porter dead, two colleagues and friends B次元官网网址� Junior Massey, played by Aml Ameen from B次元官网网址淚 May Destroy You,B次元官网网址� and Zeke Garrett, played by Ronnie Rowe Jr. of B次元官网网址淏lack CopB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� find their lives on very different trajectories of success and wealth. The eight episodes unfold weekly on CBC Gem starting Feb. 21.
Black History Month
Other streaming companies are taking a more global approach to Black stories this month. On Crave, B次元官网网址淭he PanthersB次元官网网址� recounts the formation of the Polynesian Panthers, a New Zealand revolutionary group inspired by the U.S. Black Panther movement. The six-part drama unfolds on Feb. 4. Influential late U.S. choreographer Alvin Ailey is the subject of the full-length documentary B次元官网网址淎iley,B次元官网网址� which pays tribute to his career and explores his private life as a closeted gay man in the 1980s. It debuts Feb. 21 on Crave. And a multifaceted selection of Black stories takes shape at the Criterion Channel on Feb. 1. The classic and arthouse film hub is launching numerous collections focused on significant Black arts and culture, including a selection of films starring Harry Belafonte, a handful of works by late director Melvin Van Peebles and B次元官网网址淩oots & Revolution,B次元官网网址� 11 movies that put reggae music at the forefront, including B次元官网网址淭he Harder They ComeB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淩ockers.B次元官网网址�
Also this month:
B次元官网网址淧am & TommyB次元官网网址� - The salacious true story of how Pamela Anderson and Tommy LeeB次元官网网址檚 sex tape leaked to the world is retold with Lily James and Sebastian Stan in the titular roles. Seth Rogen plays the electrician who stole the footage. (Disney Plus/Star, Feb. 2, episodes weekly)
B次元官网网址淒evsB次元官网网址� - A young computer engineer suspects the disappearance of her boyfriend is linked to a secretive technology company she works in on the outskirts of Silicon Valley. Released in 2020, this limited series from B次元官网网址淓x MachinaB次元官网网址� director Alex Garland was tied up in Canadian cable TV rights. (Disney Plus/Star, Feb. 2)
B次元官网网址淢urdervilleB次元官网网址� - Will Arnett wrangles a cast of celebrity guest stars to play along in an improvisational crime comedy where heB次元官网网址檚 the lead detective. Sharon Stone, Kumail Nanjiani and B次元官网网址淪chittB次元官网网址檚 CreekB次元官网网址� star Annie Murphy appear. (Netflix, Feb. 3)
B次元官网网址淩eacherB次元官网网址� - Murder and mayhem follow Jack Reacher, played by B次元官网网址淪mallvilleB次元官网网址� actor Alan Ritchson, when he arrives in a rural town and immediately becomes part of a police investigation. The eight-episode series is based on Lee ChildB次元官网网址檚 novels, previously brought to the big screen with Tom Cruise. (Amazon Prime B次元官网网址, Feb. 4)
B次元官网网址淢alignantB次元官网网址� - Horror fans were divided over B次元官网网址淪awB次元官网网址� director James WanB次元官网网址檚 tale of a woman who suffers waking dreams, but itB次元官网网址檚 easily a contender for one of the weirdest films in recent memory. (Crave, Feb. 11)
B次元官网网址淟OL: Last One Laughing CanadaB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� A cast of Canadian comics vie for the crown as they race against the clock to make each other laugh while locked in a studio. The six-episode competition features Tom Green, Andrew Phung and Caroline Rhea. (Amazon Prime B次元官网网址, Feb. 18, episodes weekly)
RETURNING SERIES: Hearts will be aflutter as Netflix doubles down on its B次元官网网址淟ove is BlindB次元官网网址� franchise ahead of ValentineB次元官网网址檚 Day. A new edition set in Japan rolls out weekly episodes starting Feb. 8 while a second season of the U.S. version begins Feb. 11. The streaming giant is also home to Steve CarellB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淪pace ForceB次元官网网址� which resumes Feb. 18 while South Carolina-set B次元官网网址淪weet MagnoliasB次元官网网址� is back Feb. 4. Meanwhile, Emmy-winning comedy B次元官网网址淭he Marvelous Mrs. MaiselB次元官网网址� embarks on its fourth season with weekly episodes beginning Feb. 18 on Amazon Prime B次元官网网址.
David Friend, The Canadian Press
