Pick of the week
Fleishman Is in Trouble
Toby Fleishman (Jesse Eisenberg) is a neurotic New York doctor dealing with the physical pathologies of American capitalism. When his wife Rachel (Claire Danes) leaves him, the emotional dysfunctions of the era begin to overwhelm him. This adaptation of Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s novel is like a flipbook of modern, middle-aged, middle-class horror: the toxic but inescapable relationships, the status anxiety, the dating apps, the treadmill of networking. But why is the tale being told by our acerbic narrator – and how does her relationship affect the story? It’s a forensically acute character study; these people feel more like laboratory specimens than real humans – but maybe that’s the point?
Disney+, from Wednesday 22 February
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Con Girl
When a young woman was found distressed and almost mute in Dublin in 2013, Irish police launched an investigation. But leads regarding her identity proved elusive. It was the first of many perplexing situations faced by police forces from Canada to Australia as, over the next few years, a woman called Samantha Azzopardi arrived in various locations, often seemingly traumatised but always enigmatic. This true-crime series tells her story. Convictions for fraud ensued but mental health considerations were an ever-present factor, too.
Paramount+, from Wednesday 22 February
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The Reluctant Traveler
An odd little series that casts the marvellous Eugene Levy as a sort of A-list Karl Pilkington – a man for whom even the most lavish adventures have always seemed less enticing than the comforts of home. So why not send him on a variety of enjoyable but challenging trips (Tokyo, Utah, Costa Rica and South Africa) and watch his gloriously expressive eyebrows react to adversity? It’s slight but undeniably entertaining, largely because Levy is excellent company and, despite his lugubrious protestations, game for almost anything.
Apple TV+, from Friday 24 February
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The Consultant
“He’s firing Iain. He doesn’t like the way he smells.” There are bosses from hell, and then there is Regus Patoff. Welcome to CompWare, an LA app development business. The company’s reclusive genius founder has been murdered and, arriving in the dead of night, there’s a new guy in town. Patoff (a brilliantly creepy Christoph Waltz) doesn’t know what the company does but he does come touting outrageous demands and bewildering management ploys. A smart satire on the deregulated knowledge economy and a fine, twisty crime mystery, too.
Prime Video, from Friday 24 February
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Liaison
The undisputed queen of the furious WhatsApp message Eva Green stars in this decent espionage thriller. After the Thames Barrier is compromised and London is inundated, Alison Rowdy (Green) is the agent tasked with investigating the security breach. Her inquiries lead her to Gabriel Delage (the moody, enigmatic Vincent Cassel), now a mercenary but previously a French secret-service operative. And, to put it mildly, the pair have history. A game of cat and mouse ensues, and with no guarantees that the cyber-attack is even over, time is tight.
Apple TV+, from Friday 24 February
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Drive to Survive
More fly-on-the-wall sports documentary action, this time returning to the petrolhead paradise of the Formula One pit lane. This series is into its fifth lap now, its release perfectly calibrated to act as an appetiser for the new F1 season. With the usual excellent access to the teams and drivers, this is the story of 2022 – a year in which Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes took a back seat as Max Verstappen and Red Bull dominated. In truth, it was something of a procession by the end but expect the inside track on that controversial, rain-soaked final race.
Netflix, from Friday 24 February
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Party Down
“Are we having fun yet?” This sardonic sitcom about an oddball catering team makes a surprising but welcome return after a 13-year hiatus that was beginning to look terminal. As we rejoin the gang of lovable losers, their relatable mixture of big dreams and self-sabotaging dysfunction has dragged them back into the realm of service industry jobs. So it’s back to the LA party grind with Adam Scott (as bartender and permanently “resting” actor Henry Pollard) heading a fine cast that also includes Jane Lynch, Martin Starr and Jennifer Garner.
Lionsgate+, from Friday 24 February
