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Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Searchlight Pictures, Netflix, FX
You would think Searchlight hoped for The Testament of Ann Lee to release widely in theaters with something to celebrate (re: Oscar noms), but that campaign didn’t quite take off. The lack of awards buzz shouldn’t besmirch Amanda Seyfried’s performance here, though, which is great. Plus, if you want to go to the movies this weekend, it’s an incredibly better option than the Chris Pratt AI movie. At home, a new Ryan Murphy show, a fresh talent competition, and another ice romance are also way better options.
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After co-writing The Brutalist with her husband, Brady Corbet, director and writer Mona Fastvold tackles the true story of Ann Lee (played by Amanda Seyfried), the founder of the Shakers. Lewis Pullman joins Seyfried as Ann’s brother, William, and this musical drama follows the two as they journey to America with a group of believers. Tim Blake Nelson, Christopher Abbott, and Thomasin McKenzie also star.
➽ Oh, and if you do want to watch Oscar-nominated movies, we got you.
Another rivalry takes the ice. Dropping ahead of the Winter Olympics, Finding Her Edge adapts Jennifer Lacopelli’s YA novel about a figure skater (Madelyn Keys) training for the world championships. Naturally, she finds herself caught in a love triangle between her former and current skating partners.
The classic talent competition is back for a reboot. The jury’s still out on whether a revived Star Search can turn out talent on the level of Beyoncé and Usher, but Netflix and its new live voting system are certainly trying. This one is judged by Sarah Michelle Gellar, Chrissy Teigen, and Jelly Roll, and hosted by Anthony Anderson. —Eric Vilas-Boas
About six weeks after All’s Fair has wrapped, Ryan Murphy is back at it. This time, he’s in horror mode for a series in which a sexually transmitted virus turns people gorgeous — then seemingly kills them. Maybe Murphy watched The Strain and The Substance and thought, I have an idea. —Roxana Hadadi
Netflix is really swinging hard with its lineup of live events, but this might take the cake — at least in panic-attack-inducing viewing. Rock climber Alex Honnold (of Free Solo) is set to climb the Taipei 101, one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world, on live television. They claim there’s no wires, no ropes, and no safety nets. Absolute sickos.
Streaming live Friday at 8 PM ET.
➽ These four movies may help with the anxiety of watching this thing.
The chillest dating show returns, marooning a handful of conventionally attractive young South Koreans on a glamp-level luxury island where the goal is simple: Pair up and earn an overnight date at an even more lavish hotel. —Nicholas Quah
Nowadays, Queer Eye makes more headlines for what’s happening off-screen than on. Maybe that’s why it’s ending, but if you want to indulge in some light Obama-era optimism, the Fab Five are closing out in Washington, D.C., of course.
Carmy takes on the Boss in Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, actor Jeremy Allen White and director Scott Cooper’s soulful two hours on the melancholy Nebraska period of Bruce Springsteen’s life. Critics overall were mixed on the resulting movie, but our Bilge Ebiri wrote, “At its best, the film gives us a sincere look at the creative process and reveals it to be a sad, scary, at times uncontrollable and destructive thing.” —E.V.B.
➽ Also out: The Smashing Machine, now on HBO Max. And the filmed version of the Tony-winning Broadway hit Merrily We Roll Along is rentable.
Want more? Read our recommendations from the weekend of January 16.
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