Chris Rock, and life after the slap

Police procedurals take center stage with the new film installment of Luther; while Chris Rock’s Selective Outrage is exactly as its title suggests.
Luther: The Fallen Sun (Netflix UK) - On the heels of a successful crime mystery series that had Idris Elba taking on the role of John Luther, unconventional DCI in London’s police force; we now get a standalone movie that has Luther taking on a serial killer who wants to stamp his name as the most diabolical and ruthless in the annals of British crime history. Unfortunately, the only really diabolical, stand-alone aspect of this killer is his impervious helmet hairstyle. David Robey (Andy Serkis) is the coiffed serial killer, with the hair that will withstand tsunamis, earthquakes, and gale force winds.
Cynthia Erivo takes on the role of DCI Odette Raine, and it’s interesting to note how both main protagonists from the police force are African-British thespians, as the film  tries to stamp its claim for inclusivity. As for the film itself, it’s a serviceable procedural but despite its long running time, seems more preoccupied on rage and a brooding Luther. Several holes in the narrative strain credulity, and more often than not, we’re left with just suspending disbelief to allow the exposition to make minimum sense. DCI Raine’s character is interesting but underdeveloped. The cat and mouse game operates at multiple levels, which in itself should have held promise for plot development; but isn’t fully exploited either.
Chris Rock: Selective Outrage (Netflix USA) - Filmed in Baltimore, here’s Chris Rock taking his show on the road, and proving that after the resounding slap heard around the world during last year’s Academy Awards, there’s vibrant life beyond the slap. The running theme of his current stand up act is pointing out the hypocrisy of selective outrage, as seen time and again in different arenas and situations. It’s social commentary of a high order, and you’d do well to catch this more serious, yet still hilarious, side of Rock’s angst and tirade against society in general, and what the world has come to in the name of being woke, among other things. One sterling example of selective outrage is how Rock comments on Michael Jackson and R Kelly, essentially saying that it’s the same crime, but while MJ remains relatively unscathed, R Kelly has been thrown on the trash heap of woke outrage. Rock reserves his last part of the show on Will Smith and Jada, producing a hilarious spiel that’s tinged with anger over the hypocrisy of that infamous slap. There’s a bunch of truly spot on commentary - listen to how he describes the four steps for being famous on social media, and how it’s all manipulative, but we’re all so ready to subscribe to and support this callous disregard to objectivity. It’s a routine that elevates Rock’s comedy to a level different from what we normally associated with him.