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 this week, with Origin, the 2023 Ava DuVernay drama. In this dramatization of Isabel Wilkerson’s award-winning book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor stars as Isabel Wilkerson herself, as the movie limns her journey to writing Caste, after her best-seller, The Warmth of a Thousand Suns. On the grueling tour for her first book, Wilkerson is hit with hardship, as her mom (Emily Yancy) needs to move to assisted care. Aided by her husband, Brett ( Jon Bernthal!), Wilkerson moves beyond her personal tragedy, into recognizing the deeper divisions that have plagued man for millennia. Niecy Nash-Betts(!), Vera Farmiga(!), Gaurav J. Pathania, Connie Nelson and Audra McDonald(!) also star, and DuVernay wrote the script, here, along with directing. And this movie was nominated for numerous awards last year, including the Golden Lion at the 2023 Venice Film Festival, and went on to win the Best Actress Award for Taylor at both the African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA), and the Black Film Critics Circle Awards, and Best Narrative Feature and the Visionary Award for DuVernay at the 2023 Virginia Film Festival. And it gets an outstanding 7.2/10 on IMDb, and and Robert Daniels of RogerEbert.com called it “a dense, forceful masterwork, and, quite simply, the most radical film of DuVernay’s career.” So I’m definitely tuning in. Hulu also offers Rose’s War, a 2023 British historical drama. Imogen Poots plays heiress Rose Dugdale, here, who, in Ireland of 1974, rejected her high station and British elitism in general, and joined with the IRA. When the group descends on a stately home in County Wicklow for an art heist, to fuel funds for the war. But as the gang hides out after the theft, tensions rise, and the rebels begins to turn on each other, with no idea how or when their ordeal will end. Lewis Brophy, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Jack Meade, and Patrick Martins also star, while Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor co-directed. And nd this movie was nominated for Best Film at both the Gijón International Film Festival and the London Film Festival. And it gets an impressive 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Wendy Ide of the Guardian called it a “fascinating psychological study of fanaticism, with Poots’s expressive performance unpeeling the layers beneath Dugdale’s fervent belief in her cause.” And I’m definitely watching. Hulu has also added the much talked about Brats, a 2024 doc from Andrew McCarthy. This considers the 80’s actors comprising the renowned Brat Pack, a title first coined by Rolling Stone in 1985. Many of those actors were disappointed with that name, what became an indelible label, like McCarthy. And so, he goes on a road trip, here, to interview his former castmates, and revisit their opinions of being a ‘Brat.’ Much of the gang return, like Emilio Estevez, Demi Moore, rob Lowe and Ally Sheedy, and McCarthy wrote the script here, along with directing. and this doc gets a 7.2/10 on IMDb, and Eric Deggans of NPR calls it “journey brimming with nostalgia, pop culture potency and a bittersweet look back at youthful times.” So if you want a journey back to the 80‘s, enter here. And, finally Hulu has Blood Free, a 2024 K-drama sci-fi thriller series. Han Hyo-joo plays Yoon Jayu, a CEO of BF, or Blood Free, a biotech company making lab grown meat. When Jayu keeps receiving death threats, and finally her life is actually attacked, the company is forced to hire Chaewoon, a former officer, to protect her. But as the bizarre rumors about the sinister origins of BF meats grow, so do the threats to Jayu‘s life, and the pair begin to wonder, is it coming from within their own organization? Ju Ji-hoon, Lee Hee-joon, Lee Moo-saeng and Park Ji-yeon also star, and there are 10 episodes available now. and this series gets a 7.10 on IMDb, and Arash Nahandian of Gazettely calls it a “cutting edge Korean thriller.” So I’m tuning in, if it’s not too scary.
NETFLIX
Netflix has a frightening add with Joko Anwar’s Nightmares And Daydreams, a 2024 Indonesian horror anthology. Here, award-winning writer/director Joko Anwar tells seven chilling stories that seems disparate, only to weave together at the end. It begins with an old woman being committed to an elite nursing home by her taxi driver son, who never imagines how the tables might turn on him, before the night is over. There is also a story of a magical child, adopted by a poor couple, in the hopes of becoming rich, and one of Ali, who hypnotizes a woman in order to steal from her. Ario Bayu, Faradina Mufti, Yatti Surachman, Yoga Pratama, Nirina Zubir, and Asmara Abigail also star, and Tommy Dewo, Randolph Zaini, and Ray Pakpahan direct the 7 episodes here. And this series gets a 6.7/10 on IMDb, and Jonathan Wilson of Ready Steady Cut calls it ” an ambitious seven-part horror anthology…. that feels like Guillermo del Toro spent too long holidaying in Jakarta.”And I’m watching..from under the couch. Netflix also offers Doctor Climax, a 2024 Thai historical drama series. this tells the true story of Dr. Nat, played by Chantavit Dhanasevi, who led Bangkok and Thailand, into its own sexual Revolution in the 70‘s, with his column The Climax Question. As the dermatologist had often treated female patients for gynecological problems and answered their questions, he is asked by his friend Tien(Chaiwat Thongsang), editor of the Bangkok Express, to write a column. And the result is nothing short of stardom for the shy doctor and his column and a sea change in a country where sexuality and intimacy had previously been taboo subjects. Utoomporn Silaphan, Chermawee Suwanpanuchoke, Somchai Sakdikul and Arachaporn Pokinpakorn also star, and there are 7 episodes available for streaming now. And it gets a smashing 7.5/10 on IMDb, and Tarushi Patali of the Feast of Legends says its “a captivating and humorous series that skillfully blends education with entertainment. Through Nat’s journey from a timid dermatologist to a bold columnist, the show explores themes of self-discovery, societal norms, and the complexities of fame.” And’m watching. Netflix has also added Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors, a 2024 British documentary. This not only explains much about the Terracotta Warriors, and the king that demanded them for his tomb, Qin Shi Huang. But it also covers their actual discovery in 1974, the subsequent archaeological digs in Shaanxi province, and the arduous restoration of the soldiers, that rarely survived in one piece. And it features a deep dive into era of Qin Shi Huang, the early Qin dynasty, and its crumbling that ensued the emperor’s death. James Tovell directs a fascinating piece, with narration by by Jing Lusi(Crazy Rich Asians!) that will keep you watching. And it gets an impressive 7/10 on IMDb, with Neerja Chouduri of the Midgard Times calls it a “must-watch historical documentary.” And I totally agree, I’m watching twice. Netflix has Abang Adik , a 2023 Malaysian neo-noir drama. This tells the story of two orphan, brothers, Abang (Wu Kang-ren), and Adik (Jack Tan), who live in poverty and desperation in Malaysia. With hunger always at their elbow, Abang, the deaf-mute elder brother, toils in a wet market, but Adik finds the easy money of the criminal crowd too hard to resist. Serene Lim, April Chan, Tan Kim Wang and Bront Palarae also star, and Jin Ong directed, and wrote the script, as well. And this film was nominated for seven Golden Horse Awards nominations, and Wu Kang-ren going on to win Best Actor, and Best Feature Film at the Fribourg International Film Festival. And it gets an amazing 7.3/10 on IMDb, and John Berra of Screen Daily called it “a tour de force from Malaysia’s Jin Ong.” So I’m tuning in. And, finally, Netflix has Miss Night and Day, a 2023 romantic mystery series. Here, Lee Mi-jin finds herself frustrated with her job search, with no one taking her abilities seriously, because she’s only 28. So she makes a wish, to be older, and taken more seriously, only to find herself waking as a 50 something woman. And so she applies and becomes an intern as her older self, played by Lee Jung-eun(Parasite!) at the Prosecution Services, only to find herself constantly morphing back and forth, from young woman to older. And the fact that Prosecutor Kye Ji-Woong in shows interest in her outside of work, and she in him doesn’t make her unreliable age any easier to take. Choi Jin-hyuk, Jung Eun-ji, Baek Seo-hoo and Moon Ye-won also star, and there is 1 episode available now, with more to come. And though its too early for any rating on IMDb yet, it gets a 7.5/10 on MyDramaList, and and Tarushi Patali of The Feast of Legends writes it “masterfully blends drama, fantasy, and social satire to deliver a thought-provoking and emotionally engaging story. Mi-Jin’s journey through age discrimination, unexpected magical transformations, and personal growth sets a compelling foundation for the series.” And I’m definitely tuning in.
AMAZON
Amazon has few new movies of note added, but they do offer the 2023 Indian Hindu-language crime drama series Dahaad. This begins with the disappearance of several poor girls in Rajasthan, India, when Inspector Anjali Bhaati(Sonakshi Sinha) is put on the case. But then bodies begin to be found, in public bathrooms in the area, but what appear to be suicide, turns into somethings far more sinister. As Bhaati finds all the girls were of a lower caste, and looking for suitable marriage partners, her investigations cause more trouble for her and jeopardize her position in the force. Gulshan Devaiah, Vijay Varma and Sohum Shah also star, and there are 8 episodes available for streaming now. This series has been nominated for numerous awards, including at the Berlin International Film Festival, and received 9 nominations at the 2023 Filmfare OTT Awards, where Sonakshi Sinha won the Best Actress in a Series award, along with Best Actor – Female at the Bollywood Hungama OTT India Fest. And this series gets an astounding 7.6/10 on IMDb, and Bollywood Hungama says ” Dahaad is one of the finest shows to have come out in the Indian digital space. It boasts of powerful performances, a taut script and terrific direction, and most importantly, it also makes an important comment on caste and gender discrimination.” And I am definitely tuning in. Amazon also has For Love & Life No Ordinary Campaign, a 2023 documentary. This tells the story of Brian Wallach, and his wife, Sandra Abrevaya after what could have been a soul-crushing diagnosis for Brian of ALS at 37, with death predicted within 6 months. But instead of ‘curling up in a ball, as Brian said, he acted to put treatment of ALS on the front burner, instead of the back one. As he had formerly worked for Barack Obama, and she for non-profits in D.C., they put their prowess to work, and went to Washington D.C., to testify before congress on the lack of treatment options for ALS patients. They also co-founded the nonprofit I AM ALS, which pushed more funding through congress for both treatment and research into the disease. And director Christopher Burke manages both lively intimate scenes between the couple and in front of the politicians that impact our healthcare, making for a vibrant production.; And this movie won the Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary at the Chicago International Film Festival, and the Festival Favorites Award at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival. And it gets a stunning 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and 9.1/10 on IMDb. And Jeff Mitchell of the Phoenix Film Festival said “Burke’s camera faces Brian and Sandra’s journey in heartbreaking and inspiring fashions.” And I’m watching. And, finally, Amazon has season 1 of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, a mystery series from Acorn Tv. This takes place in 1920’s Melbourne, where The Honourable Phyrne Fisher, played by Essie Davis(!), a very independent woman of independent means finds herself investigating murders, including the unsolved disappearance of her sister, years ago. in this first season , she investigates the shooting of a of a Latvian anarchist, 2 deaths at a Gilbert and Sullivan opera, and a murder at the circus, which brings back memories of her sister Janey‘s unsolved murder. Always aided by her lady’s maid Dot(Ashleigh Cummings), and coming up against Detective Inspector (Nathan Page), there is always mystery afoot. Hugo Johnstone, Nicholas Bell, and Miriam Margolyes(!) also star, and there are 13 episodes available to eat up now, before they all go by to Acorn TV on July 1. And this series has been nominated for numerous awards- many at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards– where it won the Best Costume Design in Television for Marion Boyce in 2014. And it gets an whopping 8.2/10 on IMDb, and Steve of Mystery File calls it “a delightful traditional (not a cozy) mystery series that rivals the British visually and in quality of the production.” And I’m so watching.
So sit back and binge this weekend, on classics, old and new, on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. Enjoy!
Grownups Guide to Streaming 