“Bear. S2” (Disney+). Probably the most anticipated game of the summer. This is the second season of The Bear, which will air on August 16 on Disney+, a series signed by Christopher Storer (Rami) and produced by FX, a division of Disney. In the fall of 2022, the first 8 episodes of The Bear captivated American and European audiences with an original story about the world of celebrity and street food, typical American eateries. A story spiced with dishes that are now in demand, now traditional and at the same time mixed with character biographies, between dreams and unresolved. Specifically, it’s the story of brilliant chef Carmi Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), who leaves star restaurants to take care of his brother’s sandwich shop in Chicago, who commits suicide. If in the first season the core of the story is Carmi, between internal torment and trials in the kitchen, including (re)building trusting relationships with restaurant workers, then in the second the story expands, becomes a choral one. Each episode (10 in total) tells not only about Carmi’s trajectory, but also about the evolution of the crew members: chef Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), sous chef Tina (Lisa Colon-Zayas), pastry chef Marcus (Lionel Boyce) and floor manager Richie (Ebon Moss-Bahrak). “The Bear” proves all its qualities, compelling in terms of writing, staging and interpretation: it is a furious and passionate snapshot of the world of catering, between ambition, indecision and a desperate desire for redemption. Guests include Oscar winners Jamie Lee Curtis and Olivia Colman. “Bear” is a series for “chosen” gourmets who are able to appreciate the combination of sweet and sour, tenderness and brutality. Difficult, problematic, for discussion.
Heart of Stone (Netflix) Move around the terrain of the spy thriller there is not only Ethan Hunt, the protagonist of the Mission: Impossible saga that Tom Cruise has been staunchly shaping for almost thirty years. In the summer of 2023 on Netflix, we will see “Heart of Stone” starring Gal Gadot, already the heroine of the DC cycle as Wonder Woman. The film (also produced by Skydance) will be directed by Tom Harper (his 2019 The Aeronauts, the 2015 War and Peace miniseries and some episodes of the cult series Peaky Blinders). Partially filmed in Italy, in Val Senales in Trentino Alto Adige, the film follows the vicissitudes of Special Agent Rachel Stone, who goes undercover with the British MI6 agency, but in fact belongs to the International Security Charters organization. In short, we’re right next to Mission: Impossible, as well as the Citadel (Prime Video) series, not forgetting Night Agent, too, from Netflix. “Heart of Stone” is a spy thriller seasoned with intrigue and breathtaking scenes; the cast also includes Jamie Dornan, Sophie Okonedo, Paul Ready. A film with intriguing construction and slight involvement, but overall the structure is quite predictable and not very original. Difficult, problematic, disputes.