Yes, it’s that time again, the weekend, and time to review the best new movies and television shows added online this week, to Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. And there are some exciting new adds this week, so let’s get started.
HULU
Hulu has a major add with the award winning All of Us Strangers, a 2023 romantic drama. Andrew Scott stars, here, as Adam , a lonely writer who suddenly meets Harry(Paul Mescal!), a neighbor in Adam‘s nearly deserted apartment building. And as their romance develops, Adam returns to his suburban boyhood home, years after his parents death. But upon his return, he finds his parents at home, seemingly still as they were when he lost them decades ago. Claire Foy(!) plays his mother, and Carter John Grout, Jamie Bell and Ami Tredrea also star, and Andrew Haigh(Lean On Pete) wrote the script, along with directing, here. This movie premiered at the 50th Telluride Film Festival in 2023, and earned six BAFTA Award nominations, and was named one of the top ten independent films of 2023 by the National Board of Review. And it gets an outstanding 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 7.6/10 on IMDb. Becca James of the Chicago Reader wrote “driven by such tender and thoughtful performances, All of Us Strangers is a healing, heartbreaking, and haunting look at the human condition that will stay with viewers long after they’ve left the theater.” So I’m watching. Hulu has also added The Pod Generation, the 2023 sci-fi satire. This takes place in a near future world, where tech reigns supreme, and so, when Tech giant Pegasus offers a chance to experience pregnancy with an exterior(artificial) womb, Rachel and Alvy Novy(Emilia Clarke and Chiwetel Ejiofor, respectively) get on the waiting list. But Rachel is more enthusiastic than Alvy, a botanist, about the artificial womb, and so, as the due date gets closer, more problems and doubts arise between the pair. Vinette Robinson, Veerle Dejaeger, Lamara Strijdhaftig and Rosalie Craig also star, and Sophie Barthes directed. This film was nominated for Best Film at the 2023 Stockholm Film Festival, and won the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. And though it gets only a 42% on Rotten Tomatoes, it gets a 5.6/10 on IMDb, and Brandon Yu of the New York Times wrote its a “wickedly funny and fun, if disconcerting, film that arrives right on time for our age of ChatGPT and artificial intelligence doomerism.” So I’m watching. Hulu has also added Crazy Fun Park, a 2023 Australian comedy/horror series. This revolves around Chester(Henry Strand), an imaginative teen who dreams of being a graphic artist, together with his friend Mapplethorpe(Stacy Clausen). So when Mapplethrope dies at a rundown amusement park, Crazy Fun Park, Chester is lost. Until he realizes that his bestie isn’t gone at all, but still at the park, together with a lot of other undead friends. But as Chester is drawn more and more to the park, his attraction to a girl in the real world puts his otherworldly connections in danger, as the undead don’t appreciate other outsiders at all. Hannah Ogawa, Pedrea Jackson, Lee Halley, and Charli Wookey also star, and there are 10 episodes available for streaming now. And this series won the TV Week Logie Award for the Most Outstanding Children’s Program in 2023, and gets a 6.8/10 on IMDb. And Johnny Loftus of the Decider says to stream it, adding it “deals with its mature themes straight on and with clarity, and transitions ably into a fantasy-horror tone as it reveals what the escape of an abandoned theme park can truly mean for the individuals it was meant to entertain.” And it’s funny, so I’m tuning in.And finally, Hulu has added Blackberry, the 2023 dramedy. This tells the true story behind the development of the first smart phone, with inventors Mike Lazaridis (Jay Baruchel) and his partner Douglas Fregin (Matt Johnson) trying to get backing for the idea. Finally, they hook exec. Jim Ballsillie (Glenn Howerton) into the deal, but he has ideas of his own, including becoming CEO of the company. And, though the pair are(rightfully) leery of Ballsillie‘s ego, they agree, and they’re on their way. And the Blackberry explodes in popularity, that is, until the iPhone hits the scene. Glenn Howerton, Rich Sommer, Michael Ironside, SungWon Cho and Cary Elwes(!)also star, while Matt Johnson directed(and co-wrote the script with Matt Miller). And this movie gets a stupendous 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, and David Sims of the Atlantic calls it ” is one of the best business biopics I’ve seen, because it’s fueled by that skepticism; it’s a roller coaster that viewers can enjoy riding all the way up, but it’s not afraid to question its own climax the whole way down.” So I’m watching.
NETFLIX
The biggest title added on Netflix this week is probably the 2024 live action Avatar The Last Airbender fantasy series. n a remake of the famous cartoon series, the world is in chaos , under attack from the Fire Nation, as Katara (Kiawentiio), a waterbender and her brother , Sokka (Ian Ousley), find the Avatar, Airbender Aang (Gordon Cormier) asleep(after 100 years). They awaken him, and tell him of his importance for restoring the balance of the world, and convince him to train with them. Which is easier said than done, but after much work, they set off to free their world from the Fire Lord (Daniel Dae Kim). Amber Midthunder, Maria Zhang, Arden Cho, Dallas Liu and Ken Leung(!) also star, and there are 8 episodes available for streaming now. But, unfortunately, this series is strictly for kids, or grown fans of the show, with hackneyed dialogue and even missteps in special effects. So it gets only a 59% on Rotten Tomatoes, still Mae Abdulbaki of Screen Rant says “where the live-action series falters a bit is in its special effects, which can fluctuate depending on the episode. Some of the visuals are shaky, and don’t look as crisp as they ought to. Luckily, this is only the case in certain instances, especially at the start, and is never enough to derail the show.” So if you are a determined fan, go ahead and tune in. I’d rather watch The Abyss, a 2024 Swedish disaster movie. This takes place in Kiruna, Sweden‘s northenmost town, and home to Frigga Vibenius, played by Tuva Novotny, a single mom who works as the controversial Kiirunavaara mine’s security manager. The mine is controversial becuase the whole town of Kiruna must move(in real life, too) a few miles, because of the danger of land collapsing beneath it. But when that collapse starts occurring right under people’s feet in Kiruna, swallowing them up whole, something must be done quickly to save lives, and Frigga is the one to do it. Felicia Truedsson, Kardo Razzazi, Peter Franzen, Edvin Ryding and Tintin Poggatts Sarri also star, and Richard Holm directs. And this movie is number 1 on Netflix right now, and it won Best Visual Effects at the 2024 Guldbagge Awards. So, though it gets a 5.4/10 on IMDb, Jon O’Brien of Inverse calls it “the kind of lean disaster film that gets in and out without unnecessarily destroying any major landmarks or obliterating entire populations…this abyss is worth peeking into.” So I’m watching. Netflix has also added Kamla, a 2024 Egyptian drama. This tells the story of Kamla(Injy El Mokkaddem), a dedicated psychiatrist in Egypt, unappreciated as an older unmarried (female) professional in Cairo. As Kamla cares for her ailing father, and tries to pursue her professional life, her aunt tries to fix her up with unmarried men, and Kamla actually feels a closer bond with a fellow outsider, a female patient and a sex worker. May Elghety, Firas Saayed, Salwa Othman and Loutfy Labib also star, and John Ikram Sawers directed. This movie premiered at the Red sea International Film Festival , and though it gets no rating on IMDb, it gets a 6.1/on El Cinema, and it’s compelling too. so it’s on my list. Netflix has also added Daydreamers, a 2024 Somali-Kenyan satirical drama . Also called Bufis, this finds Assad(Ilmi Ahmed),a Green Card Broker, trying to come up with compelling stories for the upcoming green card lottery visa at the U.S. Embassy. Then Kamal(Ali Buul), his partner, will help him come up with suitable candidates to play the fictional families, who get to go to the U.S.. Zeitun Salat, Gure Sayid, Mohamud Fidle, Shazmin Ali, Hodan Mohamed, Abdirizak Maalim and Mariam Ibrahim also star, while Mahad Ahmed and Vincenzo Cavallo co-direct. And this movie was nominated for the Free Spirit Award at the 2023 Warsaw International Film Festival, and gets a stupendous 7.8/10 on IMDb. Ayush Awasthi of Film fugitives says “the essence of these utopian dreams and their direct contradiction with the immediate environment in a dramatic but lighthearted way.” And I’m tuning in. And, finally, Netflix has Ghost Doctor, a 2024 K-drama fantasy/medical series. This revolves around first year resident Ko Seung Tak(Kim Bum ) , who has help solving medical cases with the help of Dr. Cha Young Min(Rain). Dr. Cha is in a coma, but is able to communicate with the unusually receptive Dr. Seung Tak, and even take over his body to perform surgery. And so, the previously arrogant Dr Min comes to make Dr. Tak the most successful doctor in the hospital, and help the younger doctor deal with the pressure of his family and life, in general. Son Na Eun, Ji Jin Hee,Ji Hyun Lee, Sung Dong Il, Uee and Yoo In Na also star, and there are 16 episodes available for streaming now. And this series gets an amazing 7.9/10 on IMDb, and KDrama and Ramen calls it “a fun, original concept that allowed for plenty of interesting medical moments and some beautiful life lessons about empathy and humility.” So I’m tuning in.
AMAZON
Amazon literally has no interesting movies added this week, but there are some interesting finds, like In Your Dreams, a 2023 South African sci-fi adventure series. Here, best friends Lloyd and Marcus,(played by Jesse Suntele and Kiroshan Naidoo, respectively) have a floundering pest control business, so, after being evicted from their apartment, they are desperate for a save. so when they meet up with Marcus‘ old flame Dineo(Didintle Khunou), and she tells of a statue she has, with the power to deliver your dreams, they grab the chance to use it. But the statue doesn’t bring only good dreams, and soon, the trio is in a bunch of trouble, and the spirits released are more dangerous than they realized. Anthony Oseyemi, Sello Maake Ka-Ncube and Kate Liquorish also star, and there are 6 episodes available for bingeing now. And this series gets a 6.1/10 on IMDb, and Emil Hofileña of A Good TV Show to Watch said there are “some very interesting, culturally specific touches to In Your Dreams that tease a much more interesting adventure beyond the first two episodes watched for this review.” And I’m watching. Amazon had F#Ck1Ng Social Media, a 2023 Mexican comedy series. this finds 30-year-old Amanda (Paulina Gaitán), aging out of her fan base as a YouTube influencer and desperate to get back on top. So when an opportunity to star on a reality show arises, she grasps at it, but finds she’ll be competing with her sister, Vicky Moo(Azul Guaita), a young TikTokker, who only wants to gets out of the business altogether. But will either one survive the machinations of their sister to win the contest? Hernán Mendoza, Jesús Zavala, Hugo Catalán, Bárbara Torres and Nataly Valencia also star, and there are 8 episodes available for streaming now. and this series gets an impressive 7.1/10 on IMDb, and Renee Cuisia of A Good Movie to Watch says its ” also a quirky comedy and a touching family drama. There’s just as much to like here as there is to learn.” And I’m tuning in. And, finally, Amazon has season 1 of Cherif, a 2013 mystery series from MHZ Choice. This follows the inquiries of Captain Kader Cherif(Abdelhafid Metalsi), in Lyons, as he investigates the various murders in his area. But a quirky detective set in his ways, Cherif finds his unusual methods challenged when he is partnered with Captain Adeline Briard(Carole Bianic), who believes in always following the book. Greg Germain, Valérie Karsenti,Tassadit Mandi and Mélèze Bouzid also star, and there are 8 episodes available for bingeing now.. But do binge, because this top-rated series, which gets a 7.2/10 on IMDb, is only available through next Thursday. And Fred Teper of The Cliffhanger & Co Chronicles calls it “funny, effective with a perfect cast, and benefiting from extremely careful production work….[and] one of the nice surprises of France Télévisions.” So I’m tuning in and bingeing now.
So sit back and binge this weekend, on classics, old and new, on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. Enjoy!
So sit back and binge this weekend, on classics, old and new, on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. Enjoy!
Grownups Guide to Streaming 