Seen on Screen: Larry David’s Return and Christopher Nolan’s Imax Epic

As TV and movies compete for our attention with other forms of storytelling (or scrolling), this month brings not just some blockbuster fare from the American summer but quieter films from Australia and beyond. There are also lots of familiar faces; the Jackass and Supergirl movies are already in cinemas, and a variety of prequels and adaptations vie for a foothold. Among all of that, the cast of FX’s The Bear signs off with one last watch of all episodes (and needle drops).

For Carmy and the gang’s last supper: The Bear

Closing time is here for The Bear, with the drop of the acclaimed drama’s fifth and final season. The previous season ended with Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) announcing he would step away from the titular restaurant in order to save it from bankruptcy, and this season sees the show’s found family banding together to preserve the business even as the building is up for sale. We’ve spent a long time with the characters now, and the show’s total tally of 21 Emmys might just increase after these eight episodes, which have all dropped at once. Built on intimate, emotionally charged exchanges among a stacked ensemble cast – which has yielded several breakout stars – this series has claimed its place in the prestige TV canon. On Disney+ now.

For a quiet yet award-winning story: First Light

Filipino Australian photographer James J Robinson makes his feature film debut with First Light, a quiet story about an aging Filipino nun (played by veteran actress Ruby Ruiz) who may have witnessed foul play in the death of a construction worker. Set in a close-knit rural community, the small yet gorgeous movie won Robinson a Best Australian Director Award at the Melbourne International Film Festival last year, before scoring runner-up status for the audience prize for Best Australian Feature at last month’s Sydney Film Festival. This may not hang around in cinemas for long, so catch it while you can. As a primer, read our interview with Robinson. In cinemas July 9.

For a return to the proper chaos comedy: Little Brother

While big studio comedy has largely become a relic of the past, there are still occasional returns to form in the streaming landscape. This Netflix original movie bears promising resemblances to the likes of I Love You, Man, thanks to its premise of a chaotic character crashing someone else’s ordered life. Here it’s a characteristically over-the-top Eric André playing Marcus, a long-lost childhood acquaintance (not actual sibling) of John Cena’s Rudd, a stiff straight man. When Rudd’s wife (Michelle Monaghan) invites the injured interloper to stay with them for a few days, all hell breaks loose as Marcus ups the stakes faster than anyone can process the fallout. Similarly, we can expect enough outrageous moments to provoke big, compulsive laughs. On Netflix now.

For history lessons from Larry David: Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness

Two years after Curb Your Enthusiasm finished its 12-season run, we have a new show from Larry David. The premise lands somewhere between Curb and Drunk History, with David’s abrasive awkwardness – and distinctly modern language – inserted into key moments across American history. That means a major dose of him in everything from the iconic VJ Day kiss in Times Square to the Wright Brothers’ maiden flight. Made in partnership with the Obamas’ production company, and timed with America’s 250th birthday this month, the sketch comedy series features appearances by Jerry Seinfeld, Isla Fisher, Jon Hamm and a wide range of former Curb regulars. Plus, more costume changes than you can wave a flag at. On HBO Max now.

For a trip to grunge-era Seattle with a pink princess: Elle

Speaking of history: it’s somehow been a quarter-century since Legally Blonde became a surprise hit in 2001. Reese Witherspoon’s breakthrough comedy has since spawned a sequel, a musical and now a prequel series based on a young Elle Woods. Elle is set in 1995, when the future law student’s family relocates from sun-soaked Los Angeles to grey, grunge-era Seattle. That makes pink-clad Elle (a perfectly cast Lexi Minetree) stand out in all the worst ways, despite the support of her parents (June Diane Raphael and Tom Everett Scott). These eight episodes are littered with loving references to the first movie, and the show was renewed for a second season before even premiering. On Prime Video now.

For a single-setting domestic pressure cooker: The Invite

Not unlike The Drama a few months ago, The Invite is an intimate, darkly comic character study from A24 about couples and boundaries. This one is directed by Olivia Wilde (following the bumpy ride of 2022’s Don’t Worry Darling), who also co-stars as one half of the movie’s two couples. Seth Rogen plays her distracted husband, while Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton are the couple next door who’ve come over for dinner with some potentially juicy ulterior motives. Adapted by Will McCormack and actress Rashida Jones from the Spanish film The People Upstairs, the movie earned solid buzz at Sundance in January. An additional sweetener comes in the form of a score by Blood Orange’s Dev Hynes. In cinemas July 9.

For Anya Taylor-Joy’s return to TV: Lucky

After dipping into movie franchises Mario, Mad Max and Dune, Anya Taylor-Joy is returning to television for the first time since her lockdown breakout The Queen’s Gambit. This time she plays con artist Lucky Armstrong, who loses her husband and a million-dollar payout at the same time before going on the run from the FBI. Based on the novel by Marissa Stapley, Lucky was co-created by Reese Witherspoon, who picked the title for her book club in 2021. The seven-episode limited series also stars Drew Starkey as Lucky’s missing husband, Timothy Olyphant as her father and Annette Bening as her vengeful mother-in-law. Veteran character actors Clifton Collins Jr and William Fichtner also promise some welcome texture for this small-screen thriller. On Apple TV from July 15.

For an IMAX-sized retelling of the ancient epic: The Odyssey

The selling points for The Odyssey go on and on: the ancient source material, the stacked cast, the use of IMAX film cameras and, of course, Christopher Nolan coming off his awards-dominating Oppenheimer. This is another historical epic that simply wouldn’t work in the hands of most directors – and certainly not sit poised for box office riches. But this is what Nolan does, and his take on the saga-worthy post-war journey home for Ithacan king Odysseus (Matt Damon) demands to be seen on the big screen for the special effects girding the story’s more fantastic elements and the heated interplay of so many top-tier actors. Shot across seven countries, this nearly three-hour retelling will absolutely take over film culture in the middle of the year. In cinemas July 19.