What to watch: Viva 'Emilia'!
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You haven't lived until you've seen "Emilia Pérez."
Netflix's newest Oscar best-picture hopeful is a (deep breath) Spanish-language comedic noir crime thriller telenovela musical, with a bunch of stellar performances – especially from its prized newcomer, trans actress Karla Sofía Gascón. That's definitely worth a stream this week, as is a new literary hero in Prime Video's growing library: Aldis Hodge plays James Patterson's popular book detective Alex Cross in the mystery series "Cross." And speaking of TV you need to be watching ... "Yellowstone" is BACK, y'all. Saddle up because we're going to be talking about that Western soap opera, too.
Now on to the good stuff:
See Karla Sofía Gascón's star-making turn in 'Emilia Pérez'
The Academy doesn't hand me a ballot, sadly, but of the best actress Oscar contenders I've seen this year, Gascón would be my pick – and it's not particularly close, either. She's fantastic as the title character of "Emilia Pérez," a notorious Mexican drug cartel boss whose decision to transition affects a young attorney (Zoe Saldaña) and the crime lord's wife (Selena Gomez). (Peep my ★★★½ review.) It's one of several new movies you'll want to stream this holiday season.
My colleague Patrick Ryan talked with Gascón about her breakthrough role, her own transition six years ago, roles she wants to play and the fact that Madonna is a big "Emilia" fan. “She hugged me, and she cried and cried and cried,” Gascón says. "I said, ‘Madonna, stop! It’s only a movie! Don’t worry, be happy!’ ”
Stream 'Cross' with Aldis Hodge as James Patterson's literary detective
As a "Reacher" aficionado, I am all about Amazon's "Avengers" lineup of book-based do-gooders, and in that vein, "Cross" doesn't disappoint. Hodge embodies D.C. detective Alex Cross with steely swagger, vulnerability and a strong sense of honesty in the series, which sports some neat "Luke Cage" vibes as Cross investigates a sinister serial killer with creepy aspirations. In an interview, Hodge told me that when he read an early scene in the script with the character (where Cross interrogates a racist murder suspect), the first thought was, "This dude is cool as hell," the actor recalls. "He is equal parts intellectual and raw and real and true to who and what he is without compromising who he is.”
TV critic Kelly Lawler was a little less effusive in her ★★ review. While Hodge plays the cop with "pure smoldering glory," she writes that not much else works. "It leaves you with the sense that what you've watched is an Alex Cross cover band, not the real thing."
Hop on your horse for a new season of 'Yellowstone'
Guys. GUYS. Who saw that wild premiere of the second half of "Yellowstone" Season 5, which did not mess around sealing Kevin Costner's fate as embattled cowboy Montana governor John Dutton? The Paramount Network series is definitely back and promises all sorts of cattle-fed drama in its final round of episodes. (If you want to catch up, prior seasons are streaming on Peacock.)
Really, though, "Yellowstone" is all about two characters: Dutton's firecracker daughter Beth (Kelly Reilly) and no-nonsense ranch hand Rip (Cole Hauser), Beth's husband and by far the best character on the show. Our resident "Yellowstone" reporter Bryan Alexander talked with the two actors about how their power couple is a successor to daddy Dutton's legacy, plus Rip and Beth's growing fan base. "They're not perfect; that's what people have fallen in love with, their deep flaws," Hauser says.
Even more goodness to check out!
- Breaking news! Conan O'Brien is going to host the Oscars next year. That, my friends, is a strong pick.
- "Red One" is here and it is not a holiday classic, fam. (Seriously, The Rock peed in a bottle for this?)
- Are you ready for ... "Hot Frosty"? You, too, might fall in love with a snowman.
- Did you see the trailer for the new Netflix biblical thriller "Mary"? I'm kinda psyched.
- Wendi McLendon-Covey is loving the hospital humor of her new NBC sitcom "St. Denis Medical."
- Denzel Washington's going to be in "Black Panther 3"?! I AM SO IN.
Got thoughts, questions, ideas, concerns, compliments or maybe even some recs for me? Email btruitt@usatoday.com and follow me on the socials: I'm @briantruitt on Bluesky, Instagram and Threads.