What to Watch

Tom wambsgans is back!

Renee Cuisia

Jan 20

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Hi friends,

A coincidence: nearly all of my recs this week are period pieces, two of them set in the 1970s. So if you do take me up on these, be prepared to see a whole lot of beards, wigs, and glitters. I promise you it’s worth it.

As always, I hope you have a nice weekend!

OUR TOP TV SHOW OF THE WEEK

Hunters

Season 2 is now on Amazon Prime Video 🍅 rating: 72%

I’ve always marked Amazon Prime’s Hunters, a 1970s period series that follows nazi-hunting vigilantes, as something “worth checking out” in this newsletter, but I haven’t really, fully recommended it, until now.

After seeing all two seasons of it, I can confidently agree with the rave reviews calling it an engaging, action-packed, and worthwhile watch. Sure, it’s rough around the edges and inconsistent at times, but the dark humor, compelling action sequences, bold historical interpretations, and magnificent ensemble—which includes Al Pacino, Jeannie Berlin, and Jennifer Jason Leigh—make it an exciting series that’s worth more than just checking out, it should be properly binged. (I imagine fans of Edgar Wright and Quentin Tarantino will enjoy making comparisons, at least.)

Whereas season one of Hunters gives us the origin story of our hero Jonah (Logan Lerman), a young Jewish man who joins a group that hunts down nazis-in-hiding, season two leans into the consequences of his decisions. As creator David Weil puts it, now that Jonah is a hardened killer, will he “opt for the sword of scales of justice?” That’s the core question season two, the final season, answers in flashy but ultimately meaningful ways.

OUR TOP MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Till

Available to rent or buy starting at $19.99 on Amazon Prime Video 🍅 rating: 74%

From the 1970s, let’s move even further down to the 1950s. Specifically: 1955 Mississippi, where an unwitting fourteen-year-old named Emmett Till (Jalyn Hall) was brutally lynched for interacting with a white woman. Till tells the story of how Emmett’s mother Mamie (Danielle Deadwyler) comes to terms with the death, defends his son in court, and ultimately sparks a political movement.

Based on a shockingly true story, Till is a brutal film about grief and justice, and about how personal devastation can lead to mass movements. Watching Till will both infuriate and galvanize you into action, such is the effect of this powerful film.

I’m surprised Deadwyler hasn’t received as many nominations or buzz for her charged performance here. Just please: give her all the awards.

Top picks outside of Netflix and Amazon Prime

*In **Stonehouse**, real-life couple Matthew Macfadyen and Keeley Hawes play John and Barbara Stonehouse.*

Jumping back to the ‘70s! Our top pick outside of the usual platforms is Stonehouse, starring Matthew Macfadyen as the controversial British politician John Stonehouse who, among other things, served as a spy for Czechoslovakia and faked his own death. Stonehouse is an absurdly narcissistic and power-hungry man, but his limited wits can only achieve so much, so seeing him stumble upon his own web of lies is both funny and tragic to watch (it helps that Macfadyen has perfected the art of the bumbling idiot). I’m not saying he should be typecast, but I would like to see more of Macfadyen in this part he plays so well. This miniseries only has three concise but jam-packed episodes, so you can easily finish it in one sitting. Streaming on Britbox.
Finally, going back to the present. Our final pick is the Bolivian film Utama, which follows a Quechua couple living in the mountains of the country. They live peaceful lives as herders, but when a drought arrives to wreck the community’s ecosystem, they’re forced to choose between staying at home or fleeing to the city. Utama is beautiful and breathtaking, every shot a framable photo, but it’s also subtle and unassuming despite lifting very weighty themes such as climate change. In a crowd of splashy movies, Utama is a breath of fresh air. Available to rent or buy starting at $4.99 on AppleTV+.

New titles worth your time

*The docuseries **Break Point** begins with the 2022 season.*

New and worth checking out on Netflix is the docuseries Break Point, which follows pro tennis players in tournaments including the Grand Slam around the world.
Meanwhile, on Amazon Prime Video, new arrivals include oldies but goodies I Saw the Devil, a Korean bloody thriller, and Fruitvale Station, the eye-opening drama about police brutality.
Apocalypse Now Redux, the extended version of Francis Ford Coppola's iconic war movie, is now available on both Netflix and Prime.

Great titles that will soon expire

**The Hateful Eight** features an all-star ensemble that includes Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Samuel L. Jackson.

On Netflix, Quentin Tarantino’s Wyoming-set mystery thriller The Hateful Eight expires on January 25.
Meanwhile, on Amazon Prime, the compelling documentary Peter And The Farm, about one man’s forced isolation on his farm, expires January 23.

That’s all for this week. This edition of the newsletter will be back on Friday, January 27.

Till then,

Renee

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