Preview: Streaming Spotlights
by Jonathan Pietrafesa ’23, Staff Writer
Quarantine has been tough on all of us, and now that most of us are trapped here on campus, and social interactions are being kept to a minimum, staying occupied is harder than ever. Luckily, we live in an age where the amount of media at our fingertips is virtually infinite, so this time of isolation offers a perfect chance for you to catch up on that ever growing backlog of stuff you’ve been meaning to watch. So here’s some great television and movies that are coming to your favorite streaming services this month:
Netflix Spotlight
I’m Thinking of Ending Things
Charlie Kaufman is back after a five-year filmmaking hiatus, this time with an adaptation of Ian Reid’s 2016 debut novel, I’m Thinking of Ending Things, a psychological thriller revolving around a young woman and her trip to visit her new boyfriend’s parents. The packed cast includes stars Jessie Buckley, Jesse Plemons, David Thewlis, and Toni Collette, and if the trailer is any indication, this certainly seems to be tapping into the uncomfortable and eerie feeling the novel does so well. The subject matter seems perfectly fit for Kaufman’s unique style, focusing on breakups, human nature, and time through a wholly unique lens. If nothing else, this is bound to be one of the most creative (and probably divisive) films of 2020, and I’m certainly looking forward to it. So if you are a fan of Kaufman’s other works (writer of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Being John Malkovich, Director of Anomalisa and Synecdoche, New York) then you should certainly keep an eye out for this one. It premieres Sept. 4 on Netflix.
Other noteworthy additions:
Back to the Future Trilogy (Sept. 1)
Grease (Sept. 1)
Magic Mike (Sept. 1)
Pineapple Express (Sept. 1)
The Promised Neverland: Season 1 (Sept. 1)
Chef’s Table: BBQ (Sept. 2)*
The Devil All The Time (Sept. 16)*
Ratched (Sept. 18)*
Enola Holmes (Sept. 23)*
*Denotes a Netflix original.
Amazon Prime Spotlight
The Graduate
Mike Nichols’ 1967 romcom starring Dustin Hoffman is widely considered to be a classic. It is maybe the greatest portrayal of post-college anxieties ever made, making it a perfect film for those of us struggling with during-college anxieties. This film follows Benjamin, a recent college graduate who faces pressure from every corner of his family, leading to him becoming romantically involved with one of his peer’s mothers. Wonderfully shot and acted, deeply relatable, and super entertaining, The Graduate has aged excellently, and it is as good of a meditation on the fear of failure and time we all have as I’ve ever seen. Catch it streaming on Amazon Prime starting Sept. 1.
Other noteworthy additions:
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Sept. 1)
Rambo (Sept. 1)
Casino Royale (Sept. 1)
Bewitched (Sept. 1)
Kramer vs Kramer (Sept. 1)
The Boys: Season 2 (first three episodes on Sept. 4, the rest will be weekly)*
Gemini Man (Sept. 18)
Utopia: Season 1 (Sept. 25)*
*Denotes an Amazon Prime original.
Hulu Spotlight
Fargo: Season 4
Noah Hawley has had his work cut out for him trying to anthologize one of the greatest dark comedies ever made, the Coen Brothers’ Fargo, but he’s excelled, and his show has quietly been one of the best crime dramas out there in the golden age of television. Turns out the acts of God, Minnesota niceness, stupid criminals, and the evil that lives within ordinary people that define the Coens’ masterpiece translates incredibly well to television, as the first three seasons captured the essence of the original film so well. Now, with a packed cast of Chris Rock, Jason Schwartzman, Jessie Buckley, and Andrew Bird (among others), Hawley is taking us to Kansas City, where two crime syndicates, one African-American, one Italian, who are fighting for control of the region, swap sons with each other as a form of truce. Obviously, this won’t end well, and will certainly lead to the normal twists, action, comedy, and murder that this series is known for. Watch the first two episodes streaming on Hulu starting Sept. 27, with weekly episodes to follow, and catch up on the first three seasons there while you’re waiting.
Other notable additions:
Evil Dead II (Sept. 1)
Last House on the Left (Sept. 1)
Top Gun (Sept. 1)
Twilight Saga (Sept. 1)
The Terminator (Sept. 1)
Jeopardy: Episode Refresh (Sept. 1)
Prisoners (Sept. 10)
Babyteeth (Sept. 18)
Pen15: Season 2 (Sept. 18)*
*Denotes a Hulu original.
HBO Max Spotlight
We Are Who We Are
Luca Guadagnino is one of the most interesting filmmakers working right now, with his hit film Call Me By Your Name and his remake of Dario Argento’s Suspiria both being big hits, showcasing Guadagnino’s technical prowess and ability to make truly beautiful films. His next big project, a series for HBO, looks just as promising, with a diverse cast of Jack Dylan Grazer, Jordan Kristine Seamon, Chloe Sevigny, Kid Cudi, and many others. This eight-episode limited series follows two American teenagers living on an army base in Italy, and seems to follow the themes of love, friendship, and identity all present in Call Me By Your Name, but with a setting that goes beyond the usual coming of age story. Guadagnino has proven to be a stylish and heartfelt director with his previous work, so seeing this translated onto an eight-episode format is certainly something to look out for. Catch the first episode streaming on HBO Max on Sept. 14, with weekly episodes to follow.
Other Notable Additions (all streaming starting Sept. 1):
Just Mercy
Lovecraft Country (season 1 continues)
Point Break
The Conversation
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Dog Day Afternoon
Lean on Me
Badlands
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!: Complete Series
The Invisible Man
City of God
Raised by Wolves
