Minions & Monsters, written, directed by and starring Pierre Coffin, follows the mischievous yellow troublemakers, the minions, as they set out to recruit terrifying creatures for their very own monster movie.
I certainly didn’t see that synopsis coming. Nor did I expect another Minions movie. How silly of me.
At this point, it’s clear, if it wasn’t already, that the Minions aren’t going anywhere. Such is the unstoppable commercial power of cuteness and the right shade of yellow.
As a former Minions obsessive (now considerably less so), I’ll still be watching. It turns out that adding monsters to the mix is just intriguing enough to pull me back in.
Given the option, I’d never have guessed I’d choose to watch a film or series in black and white over colour. That is, until I saw the trailer for Spider-Noir, the upcoming eight-part action/adventure/fantasy/mystery starring Nicolas Cage, Li Jun Li, Lamorne Morris and Karen Rodriguez.
The stark contrast of true black against blown-out whites, and every smoky grey in between, is so striking that it’s inspiring a detour to the nearest gallery, one where I could lose myself in a black-and-white photography exhibition. There isn’t an exhibition that fits the bill right now, so I’ll wait for May 2026 to watch creator Oren Uziel’s 8-part Spider-Noir series. An action/adventure/fantasy about an ageing private investigator and former superhero who’s down on his luck.
Below are my favourite shots from the promising trailer.
Spider-Noir (2026), Nicolas Cage, Prime Video
He’s not looking directly at me, so this can hang on my wall at home. No problem.
Spider Noir (2026), Karen Rodriguez, Prime Video
The lighting. The asymmetry. The expression. Yes!
Spider-Noir (2026), Lamorne Morris, Prime Video
Two words: texture and shadow. Good day.
Spider-Noir (2026), Prime Video
Lines. Light. Movement. I need this humongous.
Spider-Noir (2026), Li Jun Li, Nicolas Cage, Prime Video
Yes to the intriguing perspectives. Thank you.
Spider-Noir (2026), Nicolas Cage, Prime Video
Lines and shadows for the light lover’s glee. Merci beaucoup.
When I think of brilliantly lit black-and-white films or shows, Roma (2018), directed by Alfonso Cuaron, comes to mind first. Based on how this looks, I may have another to add.
Thank you, film, you perfect amalgamation of all the arts.
Scarpetta, a new eight-part crime thriller, stars Nicole Kidman as Kay Scarpetta, a formidable forensic pathologist drawn into the hunt for a serial killer.
Created by Elizabeth Sarnoff, the series also features Jamie Lee Curtis, Ariana DeBose, Simon Baker and Bobby Cannavale.
As is often the case with serial-killer films and series released after 1995, Scarpetta will inevitably be compared (admittedly by me) to Se7en, David Fincher’s delightfully grim benchmark for the serial killer genre.
Unlike the key protagonists in Se7en, Kidman isn’t playing a detective, at least not in the traditional sense of the word, and the story appears to operate in a different lane altogether.
Ideally, I’ll forget about Se7en once the series begins. That shouldn’t be difficult, provided the storytelling is compelling enough to hold my attention. Fingers, toes and everything crossed for a good result.
Are you curious about Scarpetta?
Simon Baker, Deja Dee, Tyler Merritt, Chiketa Madu, Nahzah Blair, Stanley Aughtry, Janet Montgomery, Mount, Alejandro Barrios, Alanna Giuliani, Paul Bishop and Ashley Shelton also star.
Directed by Anthony Maras, Pressure is a new drama/history/thriller set during the tense 72 hours before D-Day, history’s largest seaborne invasion, marking the start of Western Europe’s liberation from Nazi control.
Brendan Fraser, Kerry Condon, Andrew Scott, Damian Lewis and Chris Messina are among the key cast.
When you don’t want to watch a war movie, but the acting power involved is so strong, you may just have to. That’s where I am right now.
Admittedly, part of what’s swaying me to see this is how much I loved Andrew Scott’s small role but mighty performance in Sam Mendes’s 1917 (2019). His part in Pressure is far from small, and that’s what’s so exciting about it; he has more screen time to delight and move us with his performance.
What is your appetite like for this particular war movie?
Henry Ashton, Con O’Neill, Tamsin Topolski, Daniel Quinn Toye, Wil Coban, Michael Benz, Harrison Osterfield, Richard Clothier, Joshua Hill, Charles Camrose and Patrick Flannery also star.
