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 an exciting add with Eileen ,the 2023 psychological thriller. Based on Otessa Moshfegh‘s first novel of the same name, this tells of Eileen, played by Thomasin McKenzie, an isolated young woman living with her alcoholic father, Jim (Shea Whigham), and working in a grey juvenile prison in Massachusetts. But her life awakens when the new prison counsellor, Dr. Rebecca St. John(Anne Hathaway) enters her life. The doctor is a rule breaker, who doesn’t take anything from anyone, and who takes Eileen‘s heart from the start. But as Rebecca‘s notices Eileen‘s bedazzlement, and looks to turn it to her own reward, she may have bitten off more than she can chew. Shea Whigham, Marin Ireland, Sam Nivola and Owen Teague also star, while William Oldroyd directed. And Eileen was nominated for multiple awards last year, and went on to win Girls on Film Ally Award for director Oldroyd. And it gets an 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Patrich Cremona of the Radio Times called it a “film that becomes something of a twisted delight, especially when an ingenious third-act rug-pull nudges the film into far darker territory.” So I might watch, if Its not too scary. Luckily, Hulu has also added Biosphere, a 2023 sci fi comedy/drama. Sterling K Brown and Mark Duplass play the last two men on Earth, Billy and Ray, respectively, in the not too distant future, surviving inside a biosphere designed to resist the ravages of a world left unsurvivable after an unnamed apocalypse. Billy is a chemist who might be responsible for that catastrophe, while Ray was the last president of the U.S.. But both are faced by the equally calamitous reality that they can’t breed, and so are truly the last two humans. But after much arguing and panicking, especially on Ray‘s part, the pair may come up with a solution. Mel Eslyn directed. and this movie gets an 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Dennis Harvey of 48 Hills called it “whimsical, funny, endearing, and ultimately a bit profound..”So it’s on my list. Hulu also offers Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story, a 2023 nature doc. this tells the love story of Billy, the human rescuer of Molly, a wild sea otter, in the Shetland Islands. Narrated by the other female in Billy‘s life, his wife, Susan, she tells us that her husband was lost after their move to the remote island, and only found meaning when he found Molly, desperate for food, and weak from hunger. So Billy fed and nursed her, and after Molly inserted herself in his life, Billy ended up fishing for her, and bending over backward to serve the little furball. Charlie Hamilton James directs a film that’s not only sweet and affecting, but also beautiful in the scenery and wildlife it captures. And this show gets an astounding 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and an 8/10 on IMDb. And Matt Donahue of But Why Tho? says it “is heartfelt and wholesome. At the same time, it also uses an intimate story to tell a larger one that helps the audience understand how we can and should interact with the world around us.” And I totally agree, so I’m tuning in. And, finally, Hulu has added Past Lies, a 2024 Spanish drama series. Based on a book by Elia Barceló, this tells of the lives of professional women in Spain, whose lives are turned upside down, after the discovery of the remains of a classmate, Rita, who disappeared 25 years ago, And the girl’s friends like Teresa, ( Belen Cuesta) are not only stunned, but also afraid that their seemingly perfect lives are going to be forever smashed , if the truth of what happened to her is found. And Rita‘s sister Paula (Irene Escolar) is determined for the truth to come out. Elena Anaya, Marta Etura, Itziar Atienza and Roger Casamajor also star, and there are 6 episodes amiable for bingeing now. and this series gets a 6.9/10 on IMDb, and Rupali Manohar Chauhan of Meaww says it “successfully transports viewers into a world of mystery, suspense, and emotional depth, and it should without a doubt be on your watch list.” And you know I love a mystery, so I’m watching.
NETFLIX
Netflix has an exciting add this week with Bodkin, a 2024 Irish mystery/comedy series. Will Forte stars here, as Gilbert Power, one of three pod-casters, , who show up in the small Irish town of Bodkin, to investigate the disappearance of three people on Samhain, 25 years ago. His assistant, Emmy (Robyn Cara), and journalist Dove(Siobhán Cullen), around out the crew, and at first, the whole thing seems ludicrous, with the townspeople attributing the disappearances to something evil like ‘horses.’ But soon, a more ominous tone begins to take hold, and as serious attempts on the investigators lives escalate, it becomes clear many don’t want the truth known. But the truth about what? Charlie Kemp, Kerri McLean, Seán Óg Cairns and David Pearse also star, and there are 7 episodes available for bingeing now. And this series gets an impressive 7/10 on IMDb, and Kaiya Shunyata of RogerEbert.com says “ultimately, Bodkin succeeds in a landscape of thrillers and true crime expansions. It expertly crafts a riveting mystery but also fleshes out its central – and supporting – characters. A series like this hinges on the chemistry of the show’s cast, and thankfully, each and every player gives it their all.” And I’m definitely tuning in. Netflix also offers Trinil, a 2024 Indonesian horror flick. After their honeymoon, Rara(Carmela van der Kruk) and Sutan(Rangga Nattra) move to their new tea plantation in Indonesia, hoping for a new life. But what they find on their arrival, instead, is the murder of two workers, there, supposedly by a ghost-the decapitated head of a woman, Trinil. Rara is disconcerted, with the ghost entering her dreams, and her foreman acting suspiciously secretive. but her husband, Sutan, has a friend, Yusof, who investigates spiritual disturbances, and may be able to help them out of their dilemma. Fattah Amine Willem Bevears, Goetheng Iku Ahkin and Elly D. Luthan also star, and Hanung Bramantyo directs. And this movie, with a nice mix of comedy and slow horror, gets a 6.1/10 on IMDb. And Ayasa Mallick of the Midgard Times says “the story is truly interesting, but the character portrayal of the ghost could have been more scary,…but the storyline will keep you seated till the end.” So I’m watching. Netflix has also added The Guardian of the Monarchs, a 2024 documentary. this tells the unfortunately, true story of activist Homero Gómez González, the chairman for the Communal Land Commission community of El Rosario, in Michoacán, Mexico, and a leading advocate for Monarch butterfly, or the ‘bride of the sun.’ But Gómez González was not only an advocate for wildlife, but also an outspoken critic of the logging taking place in Michoacán. in which organized crime groups are actively involved. So when Gómez González was kidnapped, and subsequently disappeared, few had doubts about who was behind it. but disturbingly Gómez González’ body has not been found, and suspicions about collusion between private interest, criminal groups and even governmental officials remain. Not to mention the danger for activists in a country like Mexico, where criminal groups and bribery of government officials imperil everyone’s lives. The breathtaking cinematography by Xavier Cunilleras, and the compelling narrative put together by director Emiliano Ruprah de Fina make this must-see material for everyone. And this movie gets an outstanding 8/10 on IMDb, and Shabnam Jahan of Leisure Byte calls it a “stirring journey of Homero Gómez González evoking empathy, outrage, and urgent action.” And I’m definitely tuning in. Netflix also offers The Atypical Family , a 2024 K-drama limited series. This tells the story of Bok Gwi-joo and his family, who were once all invested with super powers, which slowly disappeared, due to disease and modern day problems. their despair is complete, until one day, Bok Gwi-ju(Jang Ki-yong) meets a mysterious woman, Do Da-hae(Chun Woo-hee), who changes everything. Da-hae, a masseuse, may just be able to solve, all the Bok family problems, one by one, starting with matriarch, Bok Man-heum, and her insomnia. And so Man-heum invites the young woman to stay with her family, and hopes she will one day marry her son, Gwi-ju. Goh Doo-shim, Claudia Kim, Park So-i and Oh Man-seok also star, and there are 3 episodes available now, with 9 more to come, one each Sunday. And this series gets a stunning 8.1/10 on IMDb, and Riya Singh of the Midgard Times calls it “promising with its engaging plot and characters.” So I’m watching. And, finally, Netflix has Laapataa Ladies, a 2023 Indian Hindi-language satire. This takes place in 2001, with Deepak(Sparsh Shrivastav), a farmer, returning to his home town of Nirmal Pradesh, with his new bride, Phool(Sparsh Shrivastav). But when they get on a crowded train, they are separated, and Deepak ends up taking home the wrong bride,Jaya (Pratibha Ranta). Deepak reports the problem immediately to the cynical police inspector, who mistake Jaya, or as she calls herself, Pushpa Rani,a thief, but in reality, she is fleeing the abusive man her parents married her off to, Pradeep. But can all this chaos ever be made right? Chhaya Kadam, Kanupriya Rishimum and Ravi Kishan also star, and Kiran Rao directs. This film was premiered at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival, and gets a stunning 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 8.5/10 on IMDb. Anupama Chopra of the Film Companion says “the beauty is that director Kiran Rao tells this fiercely feminist story not like a sermon delivered from a soapbox but like a grounded fairy tale. There is a sweetness and simplicity running through every frame.” And I’m definitely tuning in.
AMAZON
Amazon‘s big title added this week is Maxton Hall, a 2024 YA romantic drama series. The story, here, revolves around Ruby Bell (Harriet Herbig-Matten), a scholarship student at the ritzy Maxton Hall boarding school, finding it hard to fit in among the rich kids. Which is fine with Ruby, wanting merely to ace her courses, and lay low. But when she sees something she isn’t supposed to see, she is, unhappily, the center of attention. James Beaufort (Damian Hardung) offers her money to forget what she saw, involving his sister, Lydia, and when Ruby refuses , James ultimately resorts to threats. but when the headmaster senses the pair’s antipathy, he forces them to work together for the school’s next event. Andrea Guo, Sonja Weißer, Eidin Jalali and Kasem Hoxha also star, and there are 6 episodes available for streaming now. But we’ve all seen this before , and so, it gets just a 60% on Rotten Tomatoes. And David Opie of the Radio Times says “there’s a world between Maxton Hall and the other teen shows that it tries to emulate, falling far short of the standard set by Gossip Girl, Élite, and yes, even the Gossip Girl reboot.” So I won’t be watching. Luckily, Amazon also has Carmen & Lola, a 2023 Spanish drama. This gives an intimate look at Roma, or gypsy, life in Madrid, with teenaged Carmen(Rosy Rodríguez) confronted with the only choice of Roma girls her age, an arranged marriage to a Roma man, with children to come. But Carmen’s not interested, and when she meets Lola(Zaira Romero), a more nonconformist(and gay) Roma than Lola has ever known, the pair instantly gravitate toward each other . As the pair warm to each other, and begin to flirt, their families find out, and all hell breaks loose. Moreno Borja, Rafaela Leon and Carolina Yuste also star, and Arantxa Echevarría directed. And this movie premiered at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, and won numerous awards, including Best Feature Film at the 2018 Seattle International Film Festival and Best Supporting Actress for Yuste and Best New Director for Echevarría at the 2019 Goya Awards. And it gets a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Wendy Ide of Screen International wrote “this energetic first feature from Arantxa Echevarria combines a vibrantly realised sense of place and Spain‘s gypsy community with assured work with a cast of non-professional actors.” And I’m definitely tuning in. And, finally, Amazon has In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon, the exciting biography mini-series from MGM+. This tells of Paul Simon‘s life from his youth in Queens and his friendship with Art Garfunkel, to their stardom together, and Simon‘s solo career that followed. But it’s not just about Simon‘s career, but his creative process- how he writes such meaningful songs, and plays the guitar so well. Oh, yeah, and there’s also tons of great music included, with some classics, but also some previously unseen footage from Simon & Garfunkel’s album Bridge Over Troubled Water and Simon’s Graceland, but also rarely seen footage from Simon and Garfunkel‘s reunion concert in Central Park. And interviews with friends like Wynton Marsalis(!), Lorne Michaels and Simon‘s wife Edie Brickell(!) formerly of the New Bohemians., all well put together by director, Alex Gibney. And this docuseries was nominated for the Indiemusic Schweppes Award at the IndieLisboa International Independent Film Festival and gets an amazing 8/10 on IMDb, and Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com said “it’s magical, and he’s given us so much of that magic over the years. An epic examination of one of the best songwriters in history.” And I agree, so I’m watching, twice. but remember to catch it before June 1, because then it all disappears back to the premium channel of MGM+.
So sit back and binge this weekend, on classics, old and new, on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. Enjoy!
Grownups Guide to Streaming 