After a slew of tasty titles in January, good ol’ Bezos is back at it again with another load of content primed to take over your after work (or during) hours with solid series and films. From revisiting older films made available through the streamer, such as dark-comedy thriller ‘A Simple Favour’; Amazon is coming at us with renewed seasons of our favourite shows – and planting the seed for soon-to-be new favourites.

Take your pick at this month’s mixed bag of movies and series, curated by The Beat Asia, including Prime original ‘The Consultant’, led by Academy award-winning Chrisopher Waltz, and season two of Tracy Oliver’s ‘Harlem’.

Films

‘A Simple Favour’

In this 2017 Paul Feig black comedy-thriller, Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick snap deliriously funny one-liners at each other as Emily and Stephanie (respectively); just two mums living in a prosperous suburbia.

Emily (played by Lively) lives an intimidating lifestyle filled with designer clothes, a fabulous job, and a gorgeous husband (played by Henry Golding). Stephanie (played by Kendrick) is her polar opposite, a widowed single mother who gets her dues from running a parenting vlog to a total of a dozen people. When the two mums meet picking up their sons from school, they form a strange friendship that leads to a twisty, turning, sleazy path of murder and mayhem.

When: Feb. 19

‘Somebody I Used to Know’

Re-uniting two cast members from hit show ‘Community’ is Prime Original film by Dave Franco, ‘Somebody I Used to Know’. Allison Brie and Danny Pudi strike up the familiar friendship dynamic that they had on ‘Community’ under entirely new characters.

Ally (played by Brie) and Sean (played by Jay Ellis) are ex-lovers who meet after 10 long years post-break up. When Ally learns of Sean’s engagement to Cassidy (played by Kiersey Clemons), things get complicated. The more Ally gets to know Cassidy, the more she remembers who she once was, deepening her interesting relationship with her ex’s betrothed. Ever the good friend, Benny (played by Danny Pudi) tries his best to keep Ally on the right path.

When: Feb. 10

Series

‘The Consultant’

Academy-Award winning actor Christoph Waltz leads the highly anticipated Prime Original series ‘The Consultant’. Based on Bentley Little’s 2015 novel of the same name, this eight episode series will premiere all episodes at once on the streaming platform.

After a horrible tragedy at CompWare, mysterious consultant Regus Patoff (played by Waltz), takes the helm of the sinking game company to the shock and apprehension of his newly acquired staff. Employees Craig (played by Natt Wolff), Elaine (played by Brittany O’Grady) and Patti (played by Aimee Carrero) experience new demands and challenges that put everything into question – including their lives.

When: Feb. 24

‘Carnival Row (Season Two)’

Season two of neo-noir fantasy series ‘Carnival Row’ is back, after four years since the series’ first aired in 2019. ‘Carnival Row’ takes on an ambitious clash of genres from crime-drama, neo-noir, political drama, steampunk, and urban fantasy; where mythical creatures that live among humans and are treated like second-class citizens.

Reprising his role as the fae-passing human detective and war veteran, Orlando Bloom plays main protag Philo. After the events of Season One, Philo and Vignette (played by Cara Delevigne) reunite at the row, only to be met with the new rule of Jonah (played by Arty Froushan) – who leads a brutal tyranny against the mythicals. With nothing left to lose, a rebellion led by the maltreated citizens of Carnival Row proves a formidable final stand.

When: Feb. 17

‘Harlem (Season Two)’

From creator of ‘Girls Trip’, Tracy Oliver, comes season two of ‘Harlem’ after a hugely successful first season. Our 30-somethings are still (surprise) knee-deep in the throes of trying to navigate their careers and love lives in a gloriously messy affair.

As is true for all of us, life just wouldn’t be the same if not for our friends adding a little more perspective our way. Camille (played by Meagan Good), Quinn (played by Grace Byers), Angie (played by Shoniqua Shandai) and Tye (played by Jerrie Johnson) have a lot on their hands after the rollercoaster ride of season one. Camille has just broken up her ex-beau’s engagement by professing her love for him, as the bride-to-be peers over them, gown in hand. Meanwhile, Quinn takes her hook-up to the next level by scoring a date, Angie’s lead role in ‘Get Out’ the musical gets cancelled, and Tye’s husband refuses to sign the divorce papers as he threatens to go after her money.

When: Feb. 3

‘The Head of Joaquin Murrieta (Season 1)’

In the newly drawn border between Mexico and the US, a lawless no-mans-land runs rampant with greed. The gold rush is at its peak, and people scattering left and right to secure land – with reminders of the xenophobia and brutality that catalysed the war before it. Fuelled by anger, a group of immigrants join forces to create the legend of the Robin Hood of El Dorado: Joaquin Murrieta.

When: Feb. 17