Been having a bad brain week so I will probably spend the weekend largely avoiding human contact. But I will probs go see some stuff.
On the table as probable is Mission Impossible: Fallout, other possibilities include: Momma Mia – Here We Go Again, Eighth Grade and Hotel Transylvania 3.
Sorry To Bother You is still in theaters and you should consider seeing it. For reals.
Here are some streaming recs, in case your goal is to sit very still and just let moisture evaporate off yourself, as mine is.
Netflix
There’s a new Iliza Shlesinger special that I’ll probably be watching this weekend. Her comedy is a mixed bag for me. It often makes me feel like I’m taking an anthropology class about straight white people. But she has some of the best timing and rhythm of any stand-up comedian I’ve ever seen.
One of my favorite fucking comedy movies containing romance (definitely doesn’t feel like a romcom qua romcom) is on the netflix right now – Obvious Child. I have forced many, many people to sit through this film, including my mother. I adore it and it is what caused me to begin adoring Jenny Slate.
If you’d rather watch something more serious, check out Finding Neverland (which is a crying movie) or Real Genius (which holds up pretty well, for those of you who haven’t seen it since the 80s.
They also have the atmospheric horror film Under The Skin. It’s a lot more atmospheric than it is horrific, in my opinion. It stars Scarlett Johansson as an alien who eats people’s life force. It’s dark and atmospheric and paints the feelings of alienation well. (CW for sexual assault.)
Hulu
Here we find Embrace of the Serpent, a rich and heavy story of colonialism, independence and nature.
P
For something a bit less intense, Hulu also has the original Planet of the Apes, or the cheesy and delightful pseudo-Bollywood film Bride and Prejudice.
Prime
Amazon has some of my all-time favorite movies including Stripes (an early Bill Murray film), Sneakers (classic hacker/heist flick), the Indiana Jones movies and the Bill & Ted movies.
They also have Snowden the biopic about Edward Snowden, the guy who revealed how pervasively the government had been surveilling us.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt does a tremendous job in the titular role. It’s an important story and well-told, here.
* * *
That’s all I’ve got, kids and kittens. See you next week.
I got to pet a retired guide dog, today. So there’s a firm tick in the plus column.
I hope your day is also delightful.
The thing I am definitely seeing this weekend is Tag.
I may also get to Hotel Artemis, Incredibles 2, Won’t You Be My Neighbor, and/or Hearts Beat Loud. I may also do a second go-round of Ocean’s 8.
Here are a few streaming recommendations, in case you’d rather stay in.
Netflix
Thor: Ragnarok is on Netflix streaming, if you haven’t seen it. Or indeed, if you have. It is a lot of fun. Taika Waititi is a national treasure. Of New Zealand. Not here. Maybe an international treasure. An Earth treasure? We need a phrase for this in times of increasing globalization.
If you want something kid-friendly, the goofy comedy Cats & Dogs may fit the bill. Talking animals. An international secret dog organization. Jeff Goldblum as the dad/scientist. It’s cheesy but fun.
And season 2 of Queer Eye. I will be watching all of it very soon.
Hulu
If you’ve never seen it, you may want to check out the epic Japanese animation film engaging with nuclear fear, Akira. They have both subtitled and English dubbed versions.
If that is not your speed, you may want to check out the crime classic The Untouchables (1987) or the slightly creepy kids movie Nanny McPhee.
Prime
Amazon has Lady Bird, a film that lived up to its substantial hype, as well as the comedic take on the 90s tv series, Baywatch the movie. The former is as good as everyone said it was. The latter was better than it had any earthly right to be.
For something a little different, consider the romance film Hello, My Name is Doris. I have mixed feelings about this movie, but it’s well-done and has an interesting take on the romance genre tropes. And Sally Field is freaking adorable in it.
For something more kid-friendly, there are some classic 80s movies aimed at young people on Amazon right now. There’ The Karate Kid and Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.
* * *
That’s it for this week’s roundup, folks. See you on the flip-side.
The weather has finally gotten warm in the greater Boston area, and so I should spend part of the weekend outside (and may well do so).
I’m also likely to see RBG. I may also see Disobedience, Overboard and, of course, I will be seeing Avengers: Infinity War at least one more time.
It’s supposed to rain here on Sunday. Just in case that’s also true for you, here are my streaming recommendations! I’ve kind of lost track of what I’ve recommended in the past, but I’m going to try not to do repeats.
Netflix
Netflix has 2007’s Nancy Drew. The film does a great job of transplanting an old fashioned character to a modern setting without losing what makes her quintessentially her.
Rated PG, this one is fine for kids, yet still fun for adults. Liking the old books may be a bonus, but I don’t think it’s a prerequisite for enjoyment.
If you’re looking for something harder-hitting, Netflix currently has Milk, the biopic about gay rights activist Harvey Milk. If you’re just looking for something less wholesome, it has vampire flick The Lost Boys.
Also, I, personally, will be checking out John Mulaney’s new stand-up special Kid Gorgeous that just recently went up.
Hulu
Hulu has the James Bond movies on streaming, again. If you’re not sure which ones to watch, I’m fond of The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker. The former because it’s good and the latter because it definitely is not.
I also want to put in a good word for the animated Doctor Strange film that is available there. It’s his origin story and while it doesn’t blow the world away in any direction, it’s a much better intro to the character as the comics present him than the live action movie was.
If you’re looking for something scarier, Hulu now has Nightmare on Elm Street 1 through 7 streaming. I have, as yet, only seen the first three. Each has their strengths, though 2 is my least favorite. I think three is the strongest on emotional resonance but one is a classic for the ages.
Prime
Speaking of horror classics, Amazon has the first Friday the 13th movie. This series of slasher flicks established what a lot of folks think of as laws of the horror genre. And while the beginning of the series lacks polish, it definitely has a flair all its own.
For something more fun, check out Leap Of Faith
I believe my love of Steve Martin is well-established. He’s likable even when playing a cynical, exploitative itinerant preacher.
* * *
That is it from me this week, folks. Happy viewing!
Everyone can have some fries. Delicious fries. Or something.
I’ve spent a bunch of recent weeks inundating a friend with random fanfics then texting her to get her reactions like a creepy fanfic stalker.
Also: knitting.
THIS WEEKEND, I’m planning on seeing A Quiet Place and Isle of Dogs, and possibly also Rampage, Love, Simon, Blockers, and/or The Death of Stalin.
I have done four or five movies in a weekend before, but not usually when I have other stuff to do, and I do, but we shall see. I’m betting on two.
If you’re hanging out this weekend, here are some recs for streaming!
Netflix
Flix has Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, a film that attempts to grasp the age of radio scifi. Drenched, as it is, in cinematography reminiscent of film classics from Metropolis to noir detective fiction, it’s a lot more about style than about substance, but I think it’s fun.
Hulu
Hulu has one of my favorite comedies, Steve Martin’s modernization of Cyrano De Bergerac, Roxanne.
I like it partially because the love interest is an astronomer and I am a giant space nerd and partially because of my deep and lengthy love affair with Martin’s work. It has one of the best scenes of someone standing up to a bully of all time and the characters are fun and goofy while still feeling real enough to bring the emotions home.
And, unlike the original play (spoiler!), it has a happy ending.
Prime
Amazon has oscar-winning drama Moonlight, which if you haven’t seen, you really should. It’s fantastic and so well worth watching.
Red
Guess who broke down and subscribed to an additional streaming service? This guy! I mostly did it because I was sick of being exposed to ads when I am on an endless string of watching late night comedians or youtube gamers, but they have other content, too.
One of the things streaming on youtube currently, is Kedi, a critically acclaimed documentary about cats in Istanbul.
I haven’t gotten a chance to really browse their stuff, yet, so perhaps I’ll have more to say about their streaming stuff next week!
Kids
Netflix has The Iron Giant, which is gorgeous and moving.
Hulu has The Emperor’s New Groove – not Disney’s most classic film, but a lot of fun. And, if you’re looking for something shorter (or longer, if you consider the whole show together) you might try Gravity Falls, a cartoon about siblings in a town full of spooky and wacky happenings for the summer.
Prime has animated classic The Last Unicorn, which probably everyone should see or read at least once.
* * *
That’s it from me for this week. Regardless of whether I spend the whole weekend in a dark theater or running around and actually getting life stuff done, I hope you’ll join me again next week!
Hi all, I am caffeinated and gleeful, even though my New England enclave is apparently likely to be subject to more WEATHER in the near future.
This weekend I will be seeing Tomb Raider and possibly also Love, Simon, though I have a busy weekend ahead of me so maybe not.
But you’re really here for the streaming recommendations. I know you. All cozy wrapped in that blanket on your sofa. I get you. I, too would like to hibernate till spring is really here.
Netflix
I started watching season 2 of Jessica Jones last weekend and I think it’s a much easier watch than the first season, but still very good (still not an *easy* watch per se, mind you). I mainlined about half of it and haven’t had the energy to go back for more, but I shall at some point.
Netflix seems to have put a number of 80s and 90s classics up again recently, including the original Ghostbusters, the 1989 Batman, Dead Poets Society, Strictly Ballroom, Bridget Jones’ Diary and Bring it On.
If you’re looking for something more serious or out-of-the-way, consider Whale Rider.
A story of a Māori girl struggling for understanding and acceptance from her traditionally-minded grandfather, based on a novel by New Zealand novelist Witi Ihimaera.
Hulu
One of your options on Hulu is The Punk Singer, a documentary about Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill and Le Tigre.
Though the documentary is specifically about Hanna, it also gives you a slice of the riot grrrl movement in general.
If documentaries aren’t your bag, they also have An Ideal Husband (1999) – starring Rupert Everett and Julianne Moore from the Oscar Wilde play.
Prime
Amazon has a classic comedy, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. I heard this is getting a female-led remake and I am PSYCHED. Steve Martin and Michael Caine star as con artists. This is one of the most underrated Steve Martin movies ever, in my opinion.
Kids
Prime has classic The Last Unicorn. Netflix has Dreamworks’ Kung-Fu Panda. Hulu has’ Don Bluth’s The Secret of Nimh.
* * *
That’s it for this week, kids and kittens. Have a good weekend and hold on. Spring *is* coming. I swear it.
Hey hey hey! Happy Friday, folks. We’re getting some relatively nice days after a run of Weather(tm). And there is a lot to look forward to media-wise, this weekend.
The new season of Jessica Jones is out on Netflix. I am planning on seeing A Wrinkle In Time in theaters. (I read that book roughly one hundred billion times as a kid, along with any of Madeline L’Engle’s I could get my grubby kid-hands on.) In general we’re creeping up on a bunch of shows starting up again and the oscar nominees are finally loosening their grip on theaters — making way for some big, explosion-based fun.
Here’s some fun stuff that’s streaming this week:
Netflix
Our old flix friend has Moon. A polished idea scifi film that I was impressed by. Sam Rockwell does a fabulous job playing the lone technician working for corporations on the moon. The film addresses some traditional scifi questions as well as digging into potential endgames for a mechanized future.
Having come out in 2009, I feel as though it was at the forefront of the wave of big-budget high-concept scifi which we (well, definitely I) have been enjoying for the past several years.
A warning – certified horrible human Kevin Spacey voices an AI in the film. Which is a fucking shame. Because it’s a really good movie.
Amazon has Thanks For Sharing — a film I have thrust upon many friends through the years since I’ve seen it. Brought to you by part of the creative team behind acclaimed indie film The Kids Are Alright, Sharing stars Mark Ruffalo as an addict in a twelve-step program. The story is a complex, but sympathetic look at twelve-step programs, how they work for folks and their limitations.
Kids
Netflix has made-for-tv movie High School Musical and its sequel, which are cute and upbeat.
Prime has 2005 scifi adventure Zathura.
Hulu has last year’s live-action Power Rangers, which was a pretty fun (and diversely-casted) kid-aimed action film.
* * *
That’s all for this week! I wish you peace and pizza.
It is a soggy, drenched evening here on the East coast of the U.S. It’s the kind of night that makes me bitter that “it was a dark and stormy night” is the go-to example of triteness in writing, because if you’ve been out on a dark and stormy night, you know it’s spooky and sometimes also miserable. To be barely able to see and have wind and rain whipping around your head and making creepy noises – you can see why people go there to evoke mood.
This weekend, films I may see in the theater include Red Sparrow, Phantom Thread, and Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story.
Here are some streaming recs for those who are (wisely, if you’re anywhere near here) staying in, tonight:
Netflix
New streaming on netflix is Wind River, a mystery thriller starring Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen. I haven’t seen this one – it was on my list and got away from me, as movies sometimes do, but the critics liked it quite a bit. I may watch it myself, this weekend.
It also has one of my cheesetastic favorites, the 2001 Tomb Raider starring Angelina Jolie.
This is not a good movie, per se, but I like it a lot. And Jolie does a bunch of her own stunts, which is impressive. Just…don’t look at the plot too much. Or at all, if you can help it.
Hulu
First let me say that I finally got around to watching the first season of Hulu’s Runaways, and it was pretty good. It might actually be more enjoyable if you’ve never read the comics and don’t know which cards are being left out of the deck, but I’ve read them and still enjoyed it.
They also have the movie Mermaids (1990). Cher and Winona Ryder star (along with an itty bitty baby Christina Ricci) in a film about mothers, daughters and romantic relationships. It has a bit of funny and a bit of moving and all in all is kind of sweet.
Prime
Prime has what I can only describe as a cancer comedy: 50/50.
It’s a buddy comedy based on the real life experiences of writer Will Reiser. It runs the gamut of emotions and feels very real and visceral in places while still being overall pretty funny.
Kids
Not movies, but Hulu has the first three seasons of Steven Universe, now, which I adore. And they also have the classic Pinky and the Brain and the series off of which it spun, Animaniacs.
Netflix has the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in its current kid movie selection.
Hey all! I’ve been out of commission for a while because of family visit, depression, depression, work crunch time, depression and most recently a wicked cold that had me out of work for a few days and still has me sleeping almost as soon as I get home from anywhere.
More on all that later, though. This is our typical Friday post.
THIS WEEKEND, I will be seeing Black Panther (for the third time), and, if my cold allows me time and energy, also Annihilation and possibly also Phantom Thread, Game Night, some of the Oscar-nominated short films, and/or one of the classic films in the Sidney Poitier repertory series going on at my local theater (though most of that is double features and honestly ???? I might fall asleep. Because of the cold, not the content, obviously).
Some streaming recommendations for y’all:
Netflix
Netflix is pounding harder and harder on its original shows, and I do see why, but I came to you for movies, netflix! Please don’t forget!
Epic BBC miniseries North & South is back in rotation. If you’re a fan of costume drama or Richard Armitage looking all brooding and sexy, this is a great watch. It also has some hot takes on the industrialization of Britain and the ways inequality interacts with that in the circle of capitalism’s cause and effect. Based on the novel by Elizabeth Gaskell.
For a bit more fun and a bit less realness, both Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 and Ocean’s Eleven (2001) are up right now.
Hulu
I haven’t seen it in a while, but I do remember being *ahem* strongly encouraged to watch romance The Cutting Edge by a college girlfriend and enjoying it a lot more than I expected to.
Hulu also has Frank an indie about the intersection of mental illness, exploitation and art which has a surreality that turns on a knife edge from whimsy to something a lot more difficult. It’s very well done and a fascinating watch, but not an easy one. It stars young Magneto, General Hux, and Maggie Gyllenhaal as bitter, artistic-purist queen of my fucking heart.
Prime
Amazon has one of my favorite films of last year, Logan Lucky. It’s a heist film and a justice film and a romp and emotional and I have been known to refer to it as a lost episode of Leverage.
They also have the musical film of Little Shop Of Horrors (1986), which had spot-on delightful casting and was generally well done if you can ignore the mangling of the Broadway show’s ending to something more sappy-Hollywood. It’s funny, creepy and catchy as hell.
* * *
There we go. I’m not gonna pick out any kid-specific recs tonight because I’m honestly kind of amazed that I’m still awake.
So I’m in the middle of a freaking depressive episode. Started sometime yesterday. Spent last night laying in the dark in my bed trying to convince myself that eating was a thing that should happen (I did eventually succeed). Spending this morning listening to the entire Panic! At The Disco catalog on spotify in chronological order.
I know what started the train down, but it doesn’t really matter after a certain point. Avoiding triggers may help one avoid these things, but demystifying them does fuck-all.
This too shall pass, and I do have plans to go see some stuff this weekend. Tops on my list are Proud Mary and The Post. Other possibilities include Coco and Phantom Thread, though honestly, I am probably more likely to go see The Shape of Water or Call Me By Your Name again.
It is a three-day weekend for me (yay working in academia) so I hold out hope.
I don’t actually feel like hunting up what’s streaming where, today, that I’ve seen already. I thought I’d highlight some of the things that are streaming that are on my list (and in some cases have been for ages) that I still haven’t watched.
Less Than Zero
A young Robert Downey, jr. plays an out-of-control drug addict. This will be a hard watch but I suspect a good one. It’s on netflix.
Teeth
This film made waves when it came out almost a decade ago. I wasn’t nearly as big a horror buff then as I am now, though, and even though I was pretty delighted by the concept of the vagina dentata making its way into modern pop culture, I haven’t watched it yet, even though netflix has made it super easy.
Mulan
Being involved in pop culture spaces means I already know half the freaking songs from this movie. Just never got around to watching it. Also on netflix.
Camp
I have heard the legend of this movie from a lot of Theater Kids of a Certain Age (aka younger than I am). I have only seen snippets of the incredible music performances in it. It’s streaming on hulu.
Fences
As a former theater kid, myself, I feel like I SHOULD HAVE FOR SURE seen this movie. Not to mention it’s rated pretty highly by plenty of critics and my mom (a retired literature teacher) liked it. It’s also on hulu.
Allied
This was just one of those movies I wanted to see when it came out and never got around to. It’s streaming on amazon.
Landline
From the director and writer of one of my favorite comedies, Obvious Child, this film also stars Jenny Slate, who is fantastic. I wanted to see it when it came out and didn’t get to. It’s on amazon.
* * *
Honestly, I probably will just keep watching episodes of The Addams Family and stupid youtube videos, instead.
I hope y’all have a great weekend! And next week, may my brain be less annoying.
So, it’s 2018 (which still sounds fake to me) and it’s colder than a warlock’s willy up in my adopted New England hometown. When I woke up this morning it was 1. One degree Fahrenheit. Which is about -17 in Celsius. And it felt colder with wind chill.
I hope I don’t come across as too much of a delicate flower when I say FUCK THAT NOISE.
I actually turned the heat up at home when I got back from my Location of New Year Carousing. The only time my feet have felt warm enough, today, was when someone was sitting on them.
BUT ENOUGH WHINING. Let’s talk about something FUN. Here are some of the movies I’m looking forward to in 2018:
The Post
Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks and good journalists doing what good journalists do. I love me a journalist-as-hero film and this looks like it’s gonna be a pretty strong one.
Proud Mary
Taraji P. Henson (Of Hidden Figures fame) as badass action hero. I have been yearning for this ever since I heard about it and it’s coming out in just about two weeks! wheheheeeeeeeeee.
Black Panther
Every time I see the trailer for this I fucking get chills. This is gonna be the first serious superhero movie led by a black actor since the Blade movies and it is long fucking overdue. And I am just in urgent need of the glorious design of this movie. Give me some Afro-futurism and some solarpunk! I NEED IT! And badass warrior women! I NEED THAT TOO. I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS MOVIE. GO SEE IT. I’M GONNA SEE IT AT LEAST THREE TIMES.
Annihilation
I am adoring the buttered and sugared fuck out of all the new woman-led action films that have been coming out. This one isn’t just action, it’s also scifi-horror, which is one of my main wheelhouses and I am beyond here for it. Natalie Portman, Gina Rodriguez and Tessa Thompson venture into a scary portal thing for the sake of scientific discovery and to rescue Oscar Isaac (who plays Portman’s character’s husband) who is in a coma as a result of going through the same portal.
Men in peril? Women of science? Delicate waifs with machine guns? Fuck. Yes.
A Wrinkle In Time
A book I adored growing up gets a modern makeover, some diversity, and apparently some truly awesome design. It looks like it’s going to be fantastic and I am psyched for it.
Tomb Raider
I am not gonna lie. I loved the Tomb Raider movie from 2001. Angelina Jolie with an English accent….Daniel Craig with an American accent (and a shower scene), that guy who played Rimmer in Red Dwarf as a butler with calm determination (and occasionally a shotgun). It was cheesy and fun and Angelina Jolie did a bunch of her own stunts after training with R.A.F. fellows and I loved it and always will.
The new one stars Alicia Vikander (who I know best as Gabby Teller from Guy Ritchie’s Man From U.N.C.L.E., but who was also in Ex Machina, The Danish Girl and one of the Bourne movies). It looks like it’s going to be fun and full of action and somewhat gritter than the 2001 film, but I think the character will bear that. I’m interested to see how it’ll play out.
Pacific Rim: Uprising
I wasn’t that big a fan of Pacific Rim. It was okay and I had been hoping it would be fanfuckingtastic. I know there are plenty of folks who thought it was (I am on tumblr where the fandom kids hang out and talk about these things).
This sequel looks promising to me. Not just because of John Boyega, but also because of getting to see some of the fun characters from the first film in the light of a different creative team. I am cautiously optimistic.
A Quiet Place
This looks like an amazing premise for a horror film and I’m looking forward to seeing the execution.
Rampage
I love a good creature-feature (as you might already be aware) but I full-on laughed my ass off when the title of this film came up at the end of its trailer. Movies have been made from some very thin premises, certainly, but I haven’t been so blown away by the wedging in of narrative on the thinnest of frameworks since the film Battleship came out.
For those who don’t know, Rampage was an arcade game (later ported to the NES) where you and a friend smash a city for points. Literally that is it. Once you smash the hell out of one city, they send you to another one. That’s it. That’s the game.
But Battleship turned out to be a surprisingly good popcorn action film, and this one looked as though it might be, as well.
Avengers: Infinity War, Part 1
I didn’t want to care about this. Not after the hot flaming dumpster fire that was Age of Ultron and the depressing grind that was Civil War. But I do care. I do. I can’t help it. I know that the Marvel Studios folks trying to tell a story with as many characters as they are, even across two films, is gonna be ludicrous, but I can’t help it. I’m hopeful.
Deadpool 2
I’m honestly not sure if the sequel can live up to the awesome of the first film, but I know that Ryan Reynolds really cares about this character and his story, so I hope it will. Also, the marketing for it is already hilarious. I’ve never enjoyed a marketing campaign for anything as much as I enjoyed the one for Deadpool and it looks like the advertising team for the sequel is keen to live up to that legacy.
If you haven’t, already, check out this early trailer…ish…thing:
Oceans 8
MORE WOMEN-LED ACTION! YES! YES! Heist movies are some of my favorites and the trailer makes this one look like it’s going to at least be a lot of fun, even if it isn’t a masterpiece of the genre.
The Incredibles 2
It’s about damned time.
Aquaman
The Justice League movie was only okay, but it definitely sold me on some of the characters. I hope they give Jason Momoa something meaty to work with. And I hope we see a lot of floating hair wreathing incredible biceps.
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Mostly watching this for The Wasp and for the far-flung possibility of Cassie Lang showing any signs of being likely to be the springboard off which they launch a Young Avengers movie.
Come on, Marvel. Give me a Young Avengers movie. Give me Kate Bishop. Give me Billy and Teddy being sickeningly cute. Give me Eli fucking Bradley, you cowards!
X-Men: Dark Phoenix
Once again, I don’t really WANT to care, but I do. I love the X-Men in the comics and no matter how badly they keep screwing up the characters in the movies, I keep finding myself wanting to see the next one.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
A Miles Morales movie! Long overdue! I wish it was live-action, but still. I’m psyched about this.
Bohemian Rhapsody
Rami Malek is going to make a great Freddy Mercury. If you haven’t seen his other work, you should check it out.
* * *
Obviously, this isn’t all the movies that will be good or all the movies I’m going to see in 2018. There will be lots more to watch out for. I hope you all stick with me to see it unfold!
