Providing a peek into the cramped apartments, grinding routines and urban neuroses of New Yorkers, Ben Sinclair returns as The Guy, a bearded, pot-dealing deliveryman whose growing clientele is keeping him busier than ever.

Introducing new customers and revisiting familiar ones, the second season of “High Maintenance” weaves together a labyrinth of humour, poignant observations and heartfelt moments in stories that explore the lives of intriguing and colourful individuals from all walks of life.

Created by Katja Blichfeld and Ben Sinclair, this new season delves deeper into the contemporary anxieties New Yorkers are experiencing, from political tension to soaring real estate prices, while emphasising the importance of savouring the highs of life in this increasingly volatile world. Pulling back the curtain on The Guy’s personal life, the second season reveals a few more people and details of what happens when he’s not on the clock.

New guest stars this season include Danielle Brooks, John Gallagher, Jr, Jessica Hecht, Luzer Twersky and Kate Lyn Sheil, with Abdullah Saeed and Yael Stone returning.

The brand new drama series comes from Oscar and Emmy winner Ball (“Six Feet Under”, “True Blood”) and stars Tim Robbins and Holly Hunter.

The show is a provocative and darkly comic meditation on the disparate forces polarising present-day American culture, as experienced by the members of a progressive multi-ethnic family – a philosophy professor and his wife (Robbins and Hunter), their adopted children from Vietnam, Liberia and Colombia, and their sole biological child – and a contemporary Muslim family, headed by a psychiatrist who is treating one of their children.

Jerrika Hinton, Daniel Zovatto, Raymond Lee, Sosie Bacon, Andy Bean, Joe Williamson and Peter Macdissi also star.

– FILM –

Best film, drama: “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”

Best film, musical or comedy: “Lady Bird”

Best director:  Guillermo del Toro, “The Shape of Water”

Best actor, drama: Gary Oldman, “Darkest Hour”

Best actress, drama: Frances McDormand, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”

Best actor, musical or comedy: James Franco, “The Disaster Artist”

Best actress, musical or comedy: Saoirse Ronan, “Lady Bird”

Best supporting actor: Sam Rockwell, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”

Best supporting actress: Allison Janney, “I, Tonya”

Best screenplay: Martin McDonagh, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”

Best foreign language film: “In the Fade”

Best animated feature: “Coco”

Best original score: Alexandre Desplat, “The Shape of Water”

Best original song: Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, “This Is Me” from “The Greatest Showman”

– TELEVISION –

Best drama series: “The Handmaid’s Tale”

Best drama actor: Sterling K. Brown, “This is Us”

Best drama actress: Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale”

Best musical or comedy series: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”

Best musical or comedy actor: Aziz Ansari, “Master of None”

Best musical or comedy actress: Rachel Brosnahan, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”

Best limited series or TV movie: “Big Little Lies”

Best limited series or TV movie actor: Ewan McGregor, “Fargo”

Best limited series or TV movie actress: Nicole Kidman, “Big Little Lies”

Best supporting actor in a series, limited series or TV movie: Alexander Skarsgard, “Big Little Lies”

Best supporting actress in a series, limited series or TV movie: Laura Dern, “Big Little Lies”//AFP

“Jumanji,” starring square-jawed Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and funnymen Jack Black and Kevin Hart, was headed for an impressive $36 million for the three-day weekend, bringing its domestic total to $244.4 million in its third week out, said website Exhibitor Relations.

The film, following four teens who find themselves inside the video game world of Jumanji, has grossed more than $500 million worldwide and opens in the huge Chinese market next weekend.

In second place was Universal’s newly released “Insidious: The Last Key,” with an estimated take of $29.3 million. The horror film, the fourth installment in the “Insidious” franchise, stars Lin Shaye and Angus Sampson and follows a parapsychologist investigating a haunting in her childhood home.

The news for third-place “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” was mixed: the latest in the hugely popular series has now taken in $1.2 billion worldwide, but it slowed to below warp speed in North America, totaling $23.6 million in its fourth week and taking in just $28.7 million from its opening in China, below industry predictions.

The space saga stars Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver and two members of the series’ original cast, Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker and the late Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia.

Fourth place went to Fox’s “The Greatest Showman,” a “good old-fashioned cornball PG musical” (so says Variety.com) about larger-than-life circus impresario P.T. Barnum. With the popular Hugh Jackman in the lead role, the film logged $13.8 million in its third week, down only slightly from the previous week.

And in fifth was another musical, “Pitch Perfect 3,” a Universal sequel that took in $10.2 million in its third week. The movie’s cast, led by Anna Kendrick, follows the continuing adventures of glee singers the Bellas.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

“Ferdinand” ($7.7 million)

“Molly’s Game” ($7 million)

“Darkest Hour” ($6.4 million)

“Coco” ($5.5 million)

“All the Money in the World” ($3.6 million)

year, it was a total blackout.

Hollywood’s A-listers on Sunday turned out en masse in black — a sartorial show of force to draw attention to sexual harassment in showbiz and other industries, a culture of abuse revealed in the downfall of Harvey Weinstein and others.

“ON SUNDAY WE WEAR BLACK to stand in solidarity with men and women everywhere who have been silenced by discrimination, harassment and abuse,” said a tweet from the Time’s Up initiative launched by hundreds of prominent women in Tinseltown to shine a light on the issue.

Women and men alike strutted into the Beverly Hilton for the gala event in their finest, the wide majority of them in basic black.

“People are aware now of a power imbalance. It’s led to abuse in our industry. (…) It’s everywhere,” Meryl Streep, who is vying for a Globe for her work in media drama “The Post,” told E! network on the red carpet.

Streep — who has come under fire over her denials that she knew about Weinstein’s misconduct — brought Ai-jen Poo, the head of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, as her plus one.

Indeed, the women behind the Time’s Up initiative have called special attention to their “sisters” in less than glamorous blue-collar jobs.

Streep, a three-time Oscar winner, said Hollywood’s men and women now felt “emboldened to stand together in a thick, black line.”

Indeed, the men of Hollywood took some flack ahead of the gala for saying they too would wear black, with some saying they would have worn tuxedos anyway.

But many donned black shirts as well, and offered their impassioned support for the movement.

“I don’t think this is a silent protest. This is going to make people talk about the issue,” David Thewlis, who starred in last year’s box office smash “Wonder Woman,” told AFP on the red carpet.

“As a father, as a husband, why wouldn’t you be 100 percent in support of this?”

– ‘Awakening’ –

Streep was not the only actress who walked the red carpet with an activist.

Michelle Williams (“All The Money in the World”) arrived with Tarana Burke, the creator of the #MeToo hashtag that exploded in the wake of the revelations about Weinstein as women recounted their experiences online.

Amy Poehler entered with Restaurant Opportunities Center United president Saru Jayaraman.

The protest movement did not preclude Tinseltown’s finest from making fashion statements.

Oscar winner Catherine Zeta-Jones, who starred in last year’s hit TV series “Feud: Bette and Joan,” opted for a daring sheer lingerie-inspired black gown with plenty of artfully placed sequins — and emerald green earrings.

Alicia Vikander’s gown had a rather Victorian buttoned-up bodice with full coverage, sheer sleeves — and a bare back.

The only pops of color were minor — a streak of bright green eyeshadow here, a snippet of white fabric at a neckline there, or an orange sash at the waist.

“Tonight is not a mourning. Tonight is an awakening,” actress-director Amber Tamblyn wrote in an opinion piece for The New York Times.

The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said it had cited Stalwart Films for “failing to protect employees from fall hazards while filming the television show ‘The Walking Dead.'”

“OSHA issued a serious citation and proposed penalties totaling the maximum allowable fine of $12,675,” it said in a statement.

John Bernecker died in hospital in July after falling 22 feet (6.70 meters) from a balcony headfirst onto concrete during filming in Senoia, Georgia.

An assistant director told police Bernecker missed a safety cushion “by inches” and tried to break his fall by grabbing a railing after he slipped, celebrity news website TMZ reported at the time.

Film and TV shows released last year were among the worst in recent history for serious accidents on set — most of which happened during filming in the previous two years.

Stunt pilot Alan Purwin and Venezuelan co-pilot Carlos Berl were killed in 2015 when their plane crashed in Colombia during filming for Tom Cruise’s “American Made.”

Cruise himself broke an ankle during a stunt last year, although that was for a 2018 movie, “Mission Impossible 6.”

Olivia Jackson, a stunt double for “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter,” was severely injured in a motorcycle accident on set in South Africa in 2015, leaving her in a medically-induced coma for two weeks.

Her horrific injuries included brain trauma, a severed artery in her neck, broken ribs, a shattered collar bone and nerves torn out of her spinal cord. Her left arm had to be amputated.

Days later, crew member Ricardo Cornelius was crushed to death by a utility vehicle that slid off a platform he was operating.

In 2016, a construction worker was killed while dismantling one of the sets for “Blade Runner 2049” in Budapest, Hungary.

OSHA Atlanta regional administrator Kurt Petermeyer said the death on the set of “The Walking Dead” should serve as a “wake-up call” for Hollywood.

“The entire industry needs to commit to safety practices for actors and stunt people involved in this type of work,” he added.

Bernecker’s resume included stunt performances in several recent films, including “Get Out,” “Logan” and “The Fate of the Furious.”

Stalwart Films circulated a statement to US media describing Bernecker’s death as “a tragic and terrible accident,” adding that it complies with — and frequently exceeds — industry safety standards.

“We disagree with the issuance of this citation and are considering our response,” it added.

The popular Taiwan Film Festival returns to Bangkok this month with eight Taiwanese films and two Thai films screening from January 17 to 23 at Quartier CineArt, EmQuartier.

Presented by Taiwan’s Culture Ministry and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand, this year’s edition is curated by Kriengsak “Victor” Silakong, director of the World Film Festival of Bangkok.

The festival opens with Laha Mebow’s “Hang in There, Kids!”. The first female Taiwanese aboriginal film director, Mebow won critical acclaim for her drama, which was selected as Taiwan’s entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Award. It tells the story of three ethnic kids who grew up in the mountains and the forest. Optimistic, energetic and playful, they are also troubled by their own family issues. One day, they discover their handicapped teacher’s wonderful voice on a musical audition tape and decided to bring the tape to the capital Taipei, a journey that will change their lives forever.

Also screening is “A Fish out of Water”, the first full-length feature by music video and TV commercial editor Lai Kuo-An.

It’s centred on a squabbling couple, the wife’s ailing father-in-law who cannot help himself, the couple’s only son who insists that mum and dad help find his parents in his past life. The film had its world premiere at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.

“Godspeed” a black comedy heist directed by Chung Mong-Hon and starring Hong Kong actor Michael Hui, Lin Yu-Chih and Thai actor Vithaya Pansringarm tells the story of a jobless punk who often engages in stealing. After deciding to find a stable job, he becomes a drug trafficker quite by accident and while transporting heroin, he and a taxi driver are dragged into conflict between gangsters.

“Missing Johnny” directed by female first-time feature director Huang Xi, who worked with veteran director Hou Hsiao-Hsien before deciding to go solo, tells the humorous story of three individuals: a young woman who raises parrots and is persistently fending off wrong numbers; a young man who struggles with the constant breakdown of his car; and an autistic teenager who tries to free himself from his protective mother. The lives of the three intersect when the young woman’s parrot goes missing.

Documentary “Ode to Time” directed by Hou Chi-Jan (“One Day”, “When a Wolf Falls in Love with a Sheep”) follows a group of veteran musicians as they reunite after four decades. As they reprise the songs they wrote in the’70s, the unpredictability of life, the cruelty of fate and the complicated relations between Taiwan and China are gradually revealed. The film made its debut at the Tokyo International Film Festival.

Chu-Hsien-Che’s “White Ant” focuses on a man with an uncontrollable fetish for women’s underwear. One day, he receives a video recording of himself caught in the act of stealing female lingerie that leads to tragic consequences. The film earned praise for its exploration inside the dark side of the human mind. It was selected for the Busan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taipei International Film Festivals.

“The Laundryman” by rookie feature director Li Zhong stars Chang Hsiao-chuan, best-known for its roles in “Girlfriend Boyfriend” and “Eternal Summer”, Sonia Sui and Wan Qian, is a comedy about a contract killer haunted by the ghosts of his victims. Following a suggestion from his boss that he seek help from a psychic, he is shocked to find that the laundry is hiding secrets.

Also showing is the newly restored 1991 film “A Brighter Summer Day” by Edward Yang. The four-hour film was inspired by the director’s true experience as a youngster and tells the story of Taiwanese teenagers in the early ’60s when crimes rocked the nation.

Victor has also selected two Thai films for the festival. “Phantom of Illumination” is a documentary by Wattanapume Laisuwanchai that depicts the decline of standalone cinemas in Thailand, which causes a film projectionist to lose his job. The film got Special Mention Award at Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival in Denmark and was shown at the Salaya International Documentary Film Festival, Singapore International Film Festival, and Taipei International Film Festival.

Last but not least is the 1984 classic “The Story of Nampu” directed by Euthana Mukdasanit and starring Amphol Lumpoon and Wasamon Watharodom. Nampu is a young man from a broken family searching for meaning in his life but instead becomes a drug addict. The film was selected as the Thai entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 57th Academy Awards.

Coming soon

– The 2018 Taiwan Film Festival in Bangkok will be held from January 17 to 2018 at Quartier CineArt, the EmQuartier, Sukumvit Soi 33.

– Tickets costs Bt160 for all films except the four-hour “A Brighter Summer Day”, for which Bt250 will be charged.

– All films are screened with English and Thai subtitles.

– Find out more at http://www.MajorCineplex.com.

“The Last Jedi” earned $66.8 million over the four-day holiday weekend in North America, for a $531.5 million domestic total since its opening three weeks ago, said industry watcher Exhibitor Relations.

Disney announced on Sunday that the movie had passed the $1 billion mark worldwide after just three weeks, and the latest figures cement its position as 2017’s most successful film in North America ahead of another Disney property, “Beauty and the Beast” ($504 million).

“The Last Jedi” stars Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver and two members of the series’ original cast, Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker and the late Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia.

Its domestic earnings come on top of an international take estimated at $534.8 million, Disney said in a statement Tuesday.

The entertainment giant — which owns live-action and animation divisions as well as Pixar, Marvel and “Star Wars” producer Lucasfilm — added that its $6.5 billion global total for 2017 had given the company its second biggest year ever and the third largest in history.

It is the second consecutive year Disney has surpassed the $6 billion mark.

“We couldn’t be more grateful to all the movie fans around the world for their support,” said Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn.

“This success is a tribute to the incomparable team at The Walt Disney Studios and The Walt Disney Company and to the amazing filmmakers and talent we’re fortunate to have making these pictures with us.”

While “The Last Jedi” ruled at home, Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” was the number one film globally in 2017, with a worldwide take of $1.3 billion.

Other Disney big-hitters included two Marvel movies — “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” ($863.6 million) and “Thor: Ragnarok” ($848.8 million) — and “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” which brought in $794.8 million.

Holiday viewership provided a boost not just for “Jedi” but for Sony’s family adventure “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” which came in a shade behind on $66.3 million in North America.

In third was “Pitch Perfect 3” from Universal, at $21.7 million for the four days. The cast, led by Anna Kendrick, follows the continuing adventures of glee singers the Bellas.

Next was “The Greatest Showman,” from Fox, at $20.9 million. The musical features Hugh Jackman as legendary circus impresario P.T. Barnum.

In fifth spot was the animated family feature “Ferdinand,” the story of a peaceful Spanish bull forced to take on the world’s most famous bullfighter. The Fox film netted $14.9 million.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

“Coco” ($10.1 million)

“Darkest Hour” ($7 million)

“Downsizing” ($6.25 million)

“All the Money in the World” ($6.19 million)

“Father Figures” ($5 million)

While most Thai movies failed to rake in the profits in 2017, it would be unfair to call it a bad year for the industry. Hope of regaining our position on the regional stage came with the international success of the GDH film “Chalard Games Gong” (“Bad Genius”), which not only wowed our neighbours in Asean but won the hearts of moviegoers in the notoriously tough Chinese market, grossing Bt1.13 billion in box office takings.

A clever caper centred on a group of straight-A students who dream up a scheme to cheat in the international exam by using different time zones, picked up Bt112.5 million at the local box office, making it the highest scorer of the year.

Two other movies also proved successful at home – “Mr Hurt” and “Som Phak Sian” – both of which earned more than Bt100 million. The former gave new hope to indie studio Transformation after a series of flops, leading the company to announce four new movie projects. The first of these, “Premika Paa Rab”, hit cinemas yesterday.

In another first for Thai cinema, Thanwarin Sukhaphisit’s 2010 drama “Insects In the Backyard” finally opened at a mainstream cinema. Banned under the provisions of the 2008 Film Act for its subject matter – two teenagers being raised by their transvestite father – Thanwarin battled in the courts for seven years to get the ban lifted.

It wasn’t a very good year for veteran producer Visute Poolvoralaks, who walked away from GTH to set up his own company T Moment. His debut release, the comedy “Oversize Talai Phung”, failed to stir up much excitement and left the big screen even more quietly than when it arrived. The studios other projects seem to be on hold but movie buffs will be hoping this changes in 2018.

And speaking of 2018, the programme for the year is all set to kick off with the animation “9 Satra” (“The Legend of Muay Thai”), a strange blend of computer game, movie and animation that combines Thai kick boxing with action fantasy. It centres on a lad trained in muay thai who takes the powerful weapon known as 9 Satra to the prince in order to protect their land and take down a monster. Film fans are already speculating whether a local anime can complete with topstandard animations from Hollywood and Japan.

Also coming up next month is “Rak Kham Luad” by veteran TV drama director Marut Sarowat. It’s about a transvestite showgirl who wants a perfect family like other women.

February will see the homecoming of two Thai movies that have been earning rave reviews and accolades from international festivals. First up is Pen-ek Ratanaruang’s long-awaited opus “Samui Song”, which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival. Being released here as “Mai Me Samui Samrab Ther”, it tells the story of Viyada (Chermarn Boonyasak), a famous actress who is married to Jerome (Stephane Sednaoui), a devout disciple of a strange cult led by “The Holy One” (Vithaya Pansringarm). When Viyada decides she can no longer stay in her marriage, she hires Guy (David Asavanond), a mysterious man with a sick mother to kill him. From there the story takes several strange turns, but the thrust, according to Pen-ek, is an examination of the identity of women in Thai society.

Also opening in February is “Malila” (“The Farewell Flower”), Anucha Boonyawatana’s award-winning film that won her Best Director at the Singapore International Film Festival and Best Film at the Busan International and Golden Horse festivals.

The film, which opens on February 15, has Sukollawat Kanaros and Anuchyd Sapanphong in the roles of Shane and the terminally ill Pitch, two men reunited after years apart. The second part of the film focuses on Shane’s spiritual redemption through Buddhism.

Another Thai filmmaker flying high on international circuit is cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, who is winning media attention for his work on the hit gay drama “Call Me By Your Name”. Already nominated for best cinematography at the Independent Spirit Awards and likely to earn more nods as awards season marches on, Sayombhu worked with Apichatphong Weerasethakhul on several of his full-length features including his debut “Dokfah Nai Mue Man” (“Mysterious Object at Noon”) and “Uncle Boonme Who Can Recall His Past Life”, which won the Palme d’Or from the Cannes Film Festival. He was also behind the camera for Kongdej Jaturanrasame’s “Cherm” (“Midnight My Love”).

Known for his refusal to shoot movies in digital format, he has moved on to international productions including the Portuguese-French outing “Arabian Nights”.

Next year he will return to work on the Thai film “Nakhee 2”, a sequel to the hit TV drama of the same name. Phongpat Wachirabanjong, who directed the TV series and who worked with Sayombhu on “Me Myself” and “Happy Birthday”, is back at the helm for “Nakhee 2”.

The movie version replaces the TV protagonists Nattaporn Temeeruka and Phupoom “Ken” Phongpanu with Nadech Kugimiya and Urassaya “Yaya” Sperbund – a couple in real life too – but fans of the drama are casting doubt whether the pair can pull it off.

“Nakhee 2” won’t be the only challenge TV actress Yaya is facing in 2018. She is also slated to star in the GDH romantic comedy with the working title of “Brother & Sister”. Vithaya Thongyooyong directs and Sunny Suwanmethanont and Nichkhun Horvejkun of Korean boy band 2PM also star.

GDH apparently has another two movie projects in hand though no announcement has yet been made and Sahamongkol Film Company is likewise keeping mum, though it is almost certain that the sequel to the action fantasy “Khun Phan”, currently being filmed, will be in cinemas sometime in the next few months.

Poj Anon, one of Thailand’s most productive directors, put a brake on his projects after his latest film “Kad Krachak Grean” (“Zombie Fighters”) drew little interest.

In 2018, his first release will be “Luang Pee Jazz 5G”, a sequel to the successful 2016 outing “Luang Pee Jazz 4G”. But the film appears to have problems before it even comes out. The music video complete with clips from the movie were recently released and annoyed many people by showing footage of a mother and son whose bad behaviour after being stopped for a traffic violation went viral and annoyed everyone who saw it. The two are appearing in the film and this time will be seen haranguing a monk. Their inclusion has led to several people deciding to boycott the film and urging others to do the same.

The eighth installment of the blockbuster space saga topped the charts in North America for a second week, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations, pulling in $99 million from Friday through Monday to rack up total earnings of $395.6 million since it opened last weekend.

Christmas week is traditionally a time when studios flood the screens with new releases, and the Star Wars epic was trailed by three new films.

In second place was the Dwayne Johnson family adventure “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” which made $55.4 million for Sony over the same four-day period.

“Pitch Perfect 3,” which follows the continuing adventures of glee singers the Bellas, led by Anna Kendrick, was in third, earning $26.5 million for Universal.

That was followed by “The Greatest Showman,” a musical in which Hugh Jackman plays the legendary circus impresario PT Barnum. That earned $14 million.

Animated feature “Ferdinand,” the story of a pacifist bull forced to face down the greatest bullfighter in the world, was fifth. It netted four-day receipts of $9.6 million in the United States and Canada in its second week.

Rounding out the top ten were:

“Coco” ($8.1 million)

“Downsizing” ($7.6 million)

“Darkest Hour” ($5.5 million)

“Father Figures” ($5.4 million)

“The Shape of Water” ($4.3 million)