From Primate to Tyler Ballgame: The Week's Top Culture Picks

This week's cultural landscape offers a diverse array of entertainment, from thrilling television series to thought-provoking films and captivating albums. Based on the Guardian's best-rated reviews, here are the standout picks across various mediums.

Television Highlights

If you only watch one, make it Wonder Man on Disney+. This Marvel Cinematic Universe show breaks the mould with its clever and tender narrative. It follows a secretly super-powered actor navigating the world of superhero movies, earning praise for its genuine quality. Reviewer Lucy Mangan describes it as "a rather clever, tender and altogether wonder-ful thing."

Other notable TV picks include:

Take That on Netflix: A nostalgic documentary packed with interviews and archive footage, directed by David Soutar. Sarah Dempster calls it "hugely enjoyable stuff."
Clive Myrie’s African Adventure on BBC iPlayer: A joyful travelogue through South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, and Morocco, praised by Hannah J Davies for being educational and moving.
Poison Water on BBC iPlayer: A powerful documentary about north Cornwall residents' struggle with toxic water, noted for its discomfiting relevance.

Film Selections

If you only watch one, make it Primate in cinemas now. Directed by Johannes Roberts, this concise chimp-gone-wild shocker is a brutal and slick creature feature. At 89 minutes, it serves as a grim reminder of why chimps shouldn't be kept as pets. Benjamin Lee sums it up as "a stern, grisly reminder."

Additional film recommendations:

Nouvelle Vague in cinemas now: Richard Linklater's homage to Jean-Luc Godard, recreating the making of Breathless. Peter Bradshaw notes its good-natured intelligence.
Is This Thing On? in cinemas now: Bradley Cooper directs Will Arnett in a drama about divorce and comedy, inspired by John Bishop's life.
Strongroom in cinemas now: A suspenseful 1962 British thriller about bank robbers, praised for its brisk pacing and plausible performances.
The Wrecking Crew on Prime Video: An action-comedy with Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa, described by Leslie Felperin as an easily digested guilty pleasure.

Book Reviews

If you only read one, make it Glyph by Ali Smith. This brave and playful tale addresses sisterhood, conflict, and mortality against the backdrop of the war in Gaza. Keiran Goddard highlights Smith's skill in dealing with bureaucratic absurdity.

Other noteworthy books:

Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash: A comic debut about a dysfunctional American family in the conspiracy theory era, praised for its virtuosic wit.
A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar: A thriller set in near-future Kolkata, focusing on moral stakes rather than suspense.
David Bowie and the Search for Life, Death and God by Peter Ormerod: A religious reading of Bowie's work, from Space Oddity to Blackstar.
Death of an Ordinary Man by Sarah Perry: A moving portrait of the end of life, winner of the Nero prize for nonfiction.

Album Releases

If you only listen to one, make it Leonkoro Quartet: Out of Vienna. This album features fiercely alert accounts of Berg, Webern, and Schulhoff, capturing Vienna's prewar musical fault lines. Clive Paget describes the playing as "unflinching and seethes with imaginative detail."

Additional album picks:

Tyler Ballgame: For the First Time, Again: The debut from the LA singer, compared to Tim Buckley and Elvis, with a beautiful and emotive voice.
Julie Campiche: Unspoken: An intimate harp album inspired by women, blending magical soundscapes with political urgency.
Yumi Zouma: No Love Lost to Kindness: The New Zealand dream-poppers experiment with louder guitars and bolder intentions.
Lucinda Williams on tour: At 73, she continues to write with urgency, her voice described as newly burnished post-stroke.

This week's culture roundup showcases a rich mix of entertainment, ensuring there's something for every taste. From superhero antics to musical explorations, these picks promise to engage and inspire audiences across the UK.