Drake, Fair Game, Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Friedkin’s Latest Film to Stream | Functions

— In the corporate thriller Fair Game, Phoebe Dynevor (Bridgerton) and Alden Ehrenreich (Solo) play two hedge fund analysts in a secret relationship. The workplace environment—sexist and cutthroat—is not exactly conducive to romance. In Chloe Domont’s film, this becomes especially true after Emily (Dynevor) gets the promotion Luke (Ehrenreich) expected for himself. “Fair Game,” which begins streaming Friday on Netflix, was a hit at the Sundance Film Festival thanks to its action-packed scenes and complex gender dynamics.

— William Friedkin died in August, but the legendary director of The French Connection and The Exorcist left behind one film. “The Caine Mutiny Court Martial,” which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in early September, is Friedkin’s latest film. The film, streaming Friday on Showtime and Paramount+, adapts Herman Wouk’s oft-revived 1950s play, a courtroom drama about mismanagement and mutiny aboard a U.S. Navy destroyer. Friedkin, whose extensive filmography is dotted with stage adaptations (including Tracy Letts’ “Bug” and “Killer Joe”), takes the story from World War II to post-9/11 America. Starring Keifer Sutherland, Jason Clarke and the late Lance Reddick.

— October is approaching on the calendar, and a long line of horror films is obediently hitting the screens. The Haunted Mansion occupies the spookier (not the scariest) end of the spectrum. The film, based on the Walt Disney theme park attraction, is directed by Justin Simien (Dear White People) and stars LaKeith Stanfield as an inspector called to investigate a haunted house. The ensemble cast includes Rosario Dawson, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Tiffany Haddish and Jamie Lee Curtis. In her review, AP Film writer Lindsey Bahr praised their performances, but noted that the film lacked consistency: “By no means is it a terrible movie or even an unpleasant viewing experience, it just lacks the magic that makes a trip to the theater (or Disneyland) world) is worth it.”

— Drake is no stranger to inventive twists, with the OVO rapper favoring surprise releases (last year’s “Honesty, Nevermind” was proof enough of that). But this year he gave fans a little warning about his highly anticipated album For all the Dogs. On certain dates on stage for his wildly popular It’s All A Blur tour, Drake teased collaborations with Nicki Minaj and Bad Bunny. The latest marks the duo’s first collaboration since 2018’s “MÍA,” where Drake’s Spanish-language singing was heard “all over the world.”

— By the time ’90s country reached its zenith, Reba McEntire was already a giant of the genre thanks to her countless perennial chart-toppers, including her famous cover of Bobbi Gentry’s feminist anthem “Fancy.” She’s now gearing up to release a collection of acoustic covers of her greatest hits, cleverly titled Not So Fancy. The songs transform in this format, especially thanks to the richness of McEntire’s voice. Standout Achievement: Dolly Parton took Linda Davis’ place in “Do He Love You.”

“The fun thing about being in a boy band is becoming a man, defining yourself outside of the group you spent your entire youth and young adulthood in, and figuring out what comes next.” For Louis Tomlinson, the brash and abrasive member of the British (and one-fifth Irish) boy band One Direction, the road hasn’t been easy. In his documentary All These Voices, which premieres Wednesday on Paramount+, Tomlinson handles extreme circumstances with charismatic ordinariness. Grief, parenthood, identity and creativity are explored with such care and realism that you’ll almost forget that this 31-year-old performer was once in the biggest band on the planet.

— “Jane the Virgin” scene stealer Jaime Camil is hosting a new game show on CBS called “Lotería Loca.” It has been described as the Mexican version of Bingo. The show is high-energy, easy to follow, and features Sheila E. as the leader of the house group. Each episode has a chance to win $1 million. “Loteria Loca” debuts Monday on CBS and will also stream on Paramount+.

— The second season of Quantum Leap premieres Wednesday on NBC. Set 30 years after Scott Bakula’s original version, it stars Raymond Lee as Ben, a physicist studying a time travel project called Quantum Leap. When Ben travels through time, he cannot return, but jumps into the past, inhabiting different bodies. The series also shows Raymond’s colleagues working to bring him back to the present. Episodes also stream on Peacock the following day.

— Paramount+ is tapping into the appeal of Korean-produced TV shows with “The Bargain.” The series, based on an award-winning short film, begins in a remote motel where men go to meet prostitutes. It is then revealed that the men were tricked into looking for the motel as a trap to sell human organs on the black market, and these are the ones that are put up for auction. Sounds stressful, right? It’s getting worse. An earthquake occurs, which begins a struggle for survival among a group of people who do not trust each other. All six episodes will be released on Thursday. Jeon Jeong-seo from Money Heist: Korea is one of the stars.

— Omar Sy resumes his role as France’s favorite glamorous professional thief in the seven-episode third installment of Netflix’s Lupine. Sai plays Assan, a man with a gift for disguise and deception who targets those he believes deserve it. Ahsan modeled himself on the protagonist of the short story book Arsene Lupine, Gentleman Robber. The series began with Assan plotting revenge for the wrongful conviction and death of his late father. In season three, which debuts Thursday, Assana’s mother needs his help.

— Basim Ibn Ishaq, the protagonist of Assassin’s Creed Mirage, will have to use stealth and cunning to survive the mean streets of 9th century Baghdad. It’s a far cry from the rampaging, murderous Viking that spearheaded the latest installment in Ubisoft’s venerable franchise. For players who like to get the job done without drawing too much attention – you know, like a killer – Mirage could be a return to form for a series that may have become too ambitious. Ubisoft describes the new chapter as a “heartfelt homage” to the 2007 original, which is more focused on one bustling city rather than one scattered across the globe. Knives will be released on Thursday on PlayStation 5/4 and Xbox.

— Let’s travel back in time to the 1930s, the golden age of pulp, when all sorts of dastardly villains were plotting world domination. The last resistance to tyranny is the League of Lamplighters, a bunch of “losers and scoundrels” with a special set of skills needed to stop the villains. This bold adventure comes from Harebrained Schemes, the studio behind the beloved cult series Shadowrun. Like those games, there’s turn-based team combat, but there are also real-time infiltration sequences that allow you to pounce on the bad guys before they even see you. If you like stealth and strategy mixed with a wry sense of humor, you can join the League on Tuesday, October 3rd on Xbox.