thriller

The new Netflix show follows five women who set out to rob a bank

Netflix has just dropped a new crime thriller perfect for your weekend binge-watch session.

Cash Queens or Les Lionnes follows five women who take on a daring money heist, led by single mum Rosalie.

When she realises that her family has to live on just €30 a week in order to pay off her incarcerated husband’s debt, Rosalie comes up with a plan.

She sets out to rob €100,000 from the bank where she works as a receptionist. Her best friend Kim soon catches wind of the heist and jumps on board, hoping to use her share to open a massage therapy salon.

Rosalie’s cousin, Alex, also joins in and uses her skills as an architecture student to perfect their plan.

They later recruit Sofia, another desperate single mum in need of cash before social services hunt her down. And their final member is Kim’s client Chloé, who is married to the town’s shady mayor.

The newfound friend group then take on the tricky heist, cleverly disguised as men. However, “it’s not long before politicians, police, and gangsters are on their tails, scarcely imagining that a group of ordinary women are behind this band of mercenaries,” states the synopsis.

Its ensemble cast is led by Rebecca Marder, who plays leading lady Rosalie. She is joined by Zoé Marchal as Kim, Naidra Ayadi as Sofia, Pascale Arbillot in the role of Chloé and Tya Deslauriers as Alex.

While the French drama’s plot seems far-fetched, it is actually inspired by a gang of robbers from the late eighties.

According to Tudum: “The series is inspired by the Gang des Amazones, five women who robbed seven banks in the South of France starting in 1989. “

The women famously disguised themselves as men by wearing wigs and fake moustaches.

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Since the eight-episode series premiered last night (February 5), it hasn’t received many reviews just yet. However, Screen Rant described it as a ‘must watch’.

Entertainment publication Gazettely also shared a thoughtful review, writing: “Cash Queens provides a sharp look at economic desperation. It replaces heist glamour with the frantic reality of survival.”

The review continued, praising the show’s plot device of masculine disguises as “biting commentary on the invisibility of working-class women”.

“This production represents a shift in streaming content toward stories prioritizing character depth over spectacle. It succeeds as a grounded portrait of resistance against a system designed to ignore the poor,” they concluded.

Cash Queens is streaming now on Netflix

Fans have watched the thriller 10 times since its premiere

Film fans waiting for the release of Wuthering Heights can now stream the director’s captivating 2023 thriller for free.

Writer-director Emerald Fennell made a splash just three years ago with the release of Saltburn, which stars Euphoria’s Jacob Elordi.

Now, the Oscar winner is set to return to screens with Wuthering Heights, once again starring Elordi as her leading man, Heathcliff. Adapted from the Emily Brontë classic, the tragic romance drama is set to release on February 13.

Those who are keen to dive into Fennell or Elordi’s filmographies can now head to BBC iPlayer, where Saltburn is streaming for free.

Set at the University of Oxford, the film centres on scholarship student Oliver (Barry Keoghan), who is struggling to fit in with his classmates.

He soon becomes infatuated with aristocratic student Felix (Elordi), who later invites him to spend the summer at his family’s huge country estate, Saltburn.

The summer takes a dark turn as a series of tragedies strike the family. The mystery thriller goes on to explore various important themes such as social class.

It impressively bagged five BAFTA Film Award nominations, including a nod for supporting actress Rosamund Pike and leading man Keoghan.

Elordi was also acknowledged in the Supporting Actor category, while Fennell was named in the Outstanding British Film of the Year list.

Despite its stellar cast, though, Saltburn received mixed reviews. Some viewers complained that its social commentary was too shallow, while others were completely won over.

On Rotten Tomatoes viewer shared: “The more I think about this film – the more it grows on me.

“Saltburn is as captivating as it is stunning with stand out performances by both Barry Keoghan and Rosamund Pike. The direction is beautifully done, with a twist ending oh so well earned.”

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Another reviewer gushed: “Omg!!! I love this film watched it ten times I think it’s brilliant all the cast do an amazing job it’s cringe in places but it’s a brilliant sick thriller”

But a third dissapointed viewer slammed: “This movie is all art and no heart…and very vapid pseudo deep art at that…”

While a fourth defended: “I’ve seen this so many times now. I don’t care what anyone has to say, I love it.”

Saltburn is streaming now on BBC iPlayer

England successfully defended a target of 129 to win by 12 runs against Sri Lanka in an enthralling contest, completing a 3-0 T20 series sweep and entering the World Cup with momentum.

Sam Curran hit a career-best 58 after a top-order collapse as England finished on 128-9, before the tourists’ spinners took nine wickets to pull off an unlikely victory.

Will Jacks took 3-14, while Jacob Bethell secured the last four Sri Lankan wickets, including three in one over, to finish with 4-11 as the hosts were bowled out for 116.

Having chosen to bat, opener Ben Duckett was dismissed lbw for a golden duck, while Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton and Harry Brook were all removed for single figures prior to Curran taking his side to a score that still looked challenging to defend.

Having already lost the series with defeat in the first two games, Sri Lanka bowled superbly, with seamer Dushmantha Chameera taking 5-24, including the wicket of Curran with the penultimate ball of the innings.

Luke Wood and Liam Dawson took early wickets on a worn pitch, before Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake fell to consecutive deliveries from Adil Rashid and Jacks.

Sri Lanka were still favourites and reached 90-4 before Jacks struck again, removing Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage in consecutive overs.

Part-time spinner Jacob Bethell then took control, dismissing Dunith Wellalage, Chameera and Dasun Shanaka in the 18th over.

Having been handed the final over, he wrapped up the match with the dismissal of Maheesh Theekshana, helping England set a record for the lowest total they have ever successfully defended in T20s.

England start their World Cup campaign against Nepal on Sunday, 8 February (09:30 GMT).

Manchester United produce stunning winner to beat Fulham 3-2 in Premier League thriller at Old Trafford.

Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick extended his perfect start as Benjamin Sesko’s stoppage-time strike sealed a pulsating 3-2 win over Fulham on Sunday.

United took the lead through Casemiro’s first-half header and looked in command when Matheus Cunha netted after the interval at Old Trafford.

In an incredible finale, Raul Jimenez’s penalty with five minutes left gave Fulham hope before Kevin’s wonder-goal hauled the visitors level in stoppage time.

To United’s immense credit, they hit straight back as the much-maligned Sesko’s fourth goal in his last four games sealed Carrick’s third successive victory.

After new manager Carrick masterminded surprise wins over Manchester City and Premier League leaders Arsenal, this remarkable encounter suggested the former United midfielder might have the Midas touch.

Unbeaten in their last seven league matches, United moved up to fourth place as their bid to qualify for next season’s Champions League gathers pace.

Reaching the Champions League would be a significant statement for Carrick, who was sacked by second-tier Middlesbrough last year.

Only once in former manager Ruben Amorim’s turbulent 14-month reign did United win three games in a row. And Carrick has matched that run within weeks of his appointment until the end of the season.

United’s hierarchy may have to consider hiring Carrick on a permanent basis if he can continue his impressive run.

Whether that is enough to appease the 1958 Manchester United fans group is another matter after they staged a protest against the owners outside Old Trafford before kickoff.

Hundreds of fans, some wearing clown masks, gathered to express their frustration with United’s decline under the Glazer family and the lack of improvement since co-owner Jim Ratcliffe took charge of football operations.

The group claimed United are “being dragged through chaos by clown ownership” and are “run like a circus”.

Fans chanted against the owners and held aloft banners as flares filled the air on Sir Matt Busby Way.

When the smoke cleared, Carrick’s intuition paid off as he brought Cunha into the starting lineup to replace the injured Patrick Dorgu after the Brazilian scored the winner at Arsenal last weekend.

Only Arsenal had taken more points than in-form Fulham over the previous eight games, but United found the formula to end that strong spell.

United thought they had won a penalty for Jorge Cuenca’s foul on Cunha.

But a VAR check showed the offence took place just outside the area.

It was only a temporary reprieve for Fulham as United took the lead from the resulting free kick in the 19th minute.

Bruno Fernandes swung his delivery to the far post, and Casemiro rose highest to thump a towering header past Bernd Leno.

United struck again in the 56th minute with Cunha’s sixth goal this season.

It was a goal made in Brazil as Casemiro’s clever no-look pass found Cunha inside the Fulham area, and he smashed a fine finish past Leno from an acute angle.

Fulham were controversially denied a lifeline when VAR disallowed Cuenca’s 65th-minute goal.

Samuel Chukwueze was ruled offside by the narrowest of margins when he prodded Jimenez’s free kick to Cuenca.

But United were wobbling and Jimenez converted an 85th-minute penalty after the Mexican was fouled by Harry Maguire.

United looked to have collapsed in stoppage time when Kevin cut in from the right wing and curled a sublime strike into the far corner from the edge of the area.

Two minutes after Kevin’s leveller, United showed their spirit as Sesko took Fernandes’s pass and drilled high into the net from 12 yards to spark wild celebrations.

In “Vanished,” premiering Friday on MGM+, Kaley Cuoco plays Alice, an archaeologist, a fact she repeats whenever she’s asked about herself, without particularly seeming like one, apart from passing mentions of Byzantine caves and “one of the earliest examples of Christian worship” to make her sound professional. Sam Claflin plays Tom, who works for a charity organization dealing with Syrian refugees in Jordan; in a flashback we get to see them meet cute on a dusty Jordanian road, where he has a flat tire and no spare. Alice gives him a lift to camp; they banter and flirt after a fashion. He does something heroic within her sight.

They have been long-distance dating for four years, meeting up, as Alice describes it, “in hotels all over the world” where they “actually want to have sex with each other all the time.” Currently they are in Paris (in a $500-a-night joint — I looked it up). But Alice, now working in Albania, has been offered a job as an assistant professor of archaeology at Princeton, which would allow her to settle down with Tom in a school-provided apartment and “build a life that’s mine, not just uncovering other people’s.” After an uncomfortable moment, he signs on, saying, “I love you, Alice Monroe.”

Would you trust him? Despite the script’s insistence otherwise, Cuoco and Claflin have no more chemistry than figures on facing pages in a clothing catalog. Fortunately for the viewer, Tom disappears early from the action — ergo “Vanished.” The couple are traveling by train down to Arles, where another hotel awaits them, when Tom leaves the car to take a call and never returns; nor can he be found anywhere on the train.

This happily makes room for the more interesting Helene (multiple César Award winner Karin Viard), a helpful Frenchwoman who steps in as a translator when Alice attempts to get an officious conductor to open a door to a room he insists is for employees only, and rules are rules. (Is he just being, you know, French, or is something up?)

They meet again when Alice gets off the train not in Arles but Marseilles; after she has no more luck with police inspector Drax (Simon Abkarian), who insists a person isn’t missing until 48 hours have elapsed, than with the conductor, she’ll turn to Helene again, who has the advantage of being an investigative reporter. (She’s also been made diabetic, which has no effect on the action other than halting it now and again so she can give herself, rather dramatically, a quick shot of insulin. Like Drax begging off because he’s late meeting his wife for an Alain Delon double feature, it’s a tacked on bit of business meant to suggest character.) Together they’ll ferret out and follow clues, as Alice comes to realize that it takes more than the occasional gauzy romantic getaway to really know a person, and Helene gets closer to nailing a big story.

Directed by Barnaby Thompson, whose credits are mostly in producing (“Wayne’s World,” “Spice World”), and written by his son, Preston — together they made the 2020 film “Pixie” — the series begins with a flash forward in which Alice flees for her life out an upper-story window, signifying action ahead. And indeed, there will be, leading to a climactic scene I don’t suppose was meant to make me laugh, but did, magnifying as it does one of the confrontational cliches of modern cinema. Many of the series’ notions and plot points (though not that particular one) may be found in the works of Alfred Hitchcock — who, you may remember, made a film called “The Lady Vanishes,” from a train yet — though they have been given new clothes to wear. But where Hitchcock never waited long to show you when a character wasn’t what they seemed, that information is held on here nearly to the end, with some added twists along the way to keep you confused.

Cuoco (unusually brunet here), has been good in many things, most notably her funny, winning turn as Penny across 12 seasons of “The Big Bang Theory” and more recently as the hallucinating alcoholic heroine of the “The Flight Attendant,” but she feels out of joint here. She’s not well served by the pedestrian direction and dialogue, but comes across as a person playing a person, rather than as the person she’s playing. Perhaps by virtue of their accents, the French actors feel more real; France, as usual, looks great.

Netflix has announced a new drama series that’s shaping up to be a must-watch for fans of Killing Eve and Big Little Lies

Netflix has unveiled a gripping new drama series that promises to captivate fans of Killing Eve and Big Little Lies.

Focusing on two former best friends, the eight-episode drama from creator Lauren Iungerich (On My Block, Awkward) delves into toxic female friendships in unprecedented depth.

Billed as a “sexy, emotional thriller”, Poser will feature Geek Girl’s Daisy Jelley and Schitt’s Creek star Annie Murphy.

They’ll be joined by Sadie Stanley, recognised from Karate Kids: Legends, who was confirmed as part of the cast last week.

The storyline reveals that one friend will finally experience the life she’s always yearned for, before becoming embroiled in a psychological game beyond her wildest nightmares, reports the Express.

A synopsis for the series states: “Poser centres around two estranged former best friends.

“When one of them is given a chance to live the life she’s long coveted, and maybe get answers as to why they fell out years ago, she finds herself in a psychological game of revenge, betrayal, and heartbreak- ultimately altering their lives, and those around them, forever.”

The series comes after creator Iungerich secured a multi-year agreement with Netflix back in 2020.

She will take on roles as showrunner, writer, and executive producer, with Jamie Dooner also signed on as executive producer for Crazy Cat Lady Entertainment.

Get Netflix free with Sky for Bridgerton Season 4

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‘Dearest gentle reader’, as the fourth season of Bridgerton follows second son Benedict love story, there’s a way to watch this fairytale-like season for less.

Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan. This lets customers watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes the new season of Bridgerton.

Details about Poser remain scarce beyond the initial premise at this stage, including its anticipated Netflix release date. However, it’s been confirmed that the series will comprise eight hour-long episodes, perfect for a weekend binge-watch.

Taking a closer look at the cast, newcomer Stanley is an actress and singer who first graced our screens in the title role of Disney Channel’s Kim Possible film in 2019.

She has also featured in the popular sitcom The Goldbergs, as well as films such as The Sleepover and Let Us In.

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Meanwhile, her co-star Jelley is recognised for her main cast role as Poppy Hepple-Cartwright in Geek Girl and also shared the screen with Netflix’s Seven Dials star Mia McKenna-Bruce in the independent coming-of-age film How to Have Sex.

Lastly, Murphy is globally known for her starring role as Alexis Rose in the hit sitcom Schitt’s Creek.

She has also garnered praise for her performances in Black Mirror, Russian Doll and Kevin Can F*** Himself.

Poser does not yet have a release date.