Instant Picks of the Week 11/6/2015

Gone are the days of scrolling mindlessly through your queue! No longer will you have to sift through the vastness of what’s coming to the instant viewing wastelands this month! Whether you’re looking for a stellar film or an exciting new show to binge, Instant Picks of the Week brings you the hottest releases  in film and television on instant viewing platforms that we know you’ll love, or at the very least not despise.

LOS ANGELES PLAYS ITSELF (Netflix)

Buried deep in the annals of Netflix is arguably the most fundamentally comprehensive look into the film industry’s use of Los Angeles as a setting and character, exploring everything from downtown LA’s Bradbury building to the famous Stahl building terraced high above the city. LOS ANGELES PLAYS ITSELF is the rare type of video essay that’s endlessly rewarding for viewers of all walks of life, whether it be film enthusiasts or psychologists. Thom Anderson’s dry wit combined with his insightful discussion of Hollywood’s influence on the perception of the most photographed, yet least photogenic city in the world makes for an exceptionally intricate exploration of setting, as well as how it manifests differently between filmmakers who come from varying socioeconomic backgrounds.

TIG (Netflix) and BOYISH GIRL INTERRUPTED (HBO GO)

Following a series of family tragedies, a near-death experience, and finally a breast cancer diagnosis, Tig Notaro opened her now-famous set at Los Angeles’ Largo Theater with the cheery words: “Good evening. Hello. I have cancer.” The most successful comedians are open books. Tig Notaro is more than an open book – she’s an open shirt. It would be easy enough to only watch one, but Netflix’s documentary and HBO’s stand-up special reveal two distinct sides of a talented performer, conveying a more complete picture when viewed together.

In Netflix’s TIG, we see Notaro in the year after her famous Largo set – from treatment to a new relationship to trying for a child. Both hilarious and heartbreaking, the documentary is an enlightening and ultimately heartwarming glimpse into the life of a stone-cold badass. While TIG focuses on the behind-the-scenes action, the HBO stand-up special BOYISH GIRL INTERRUPTED shows us where Notaro truly shines: on stage. Her demeanor goes beyond confidence – it’s a sort of comfort with herself that makes her so compelling. Even after she takes off her shirt, bearing her mastectomy scars for the world to see, she is so in control of her words and her audience that her bare chest is quickly forgotten. If you’re going to watch something this week, Tig has been through enough to deserve your attention for two hours and twenty-five minutes. You won’t regret it.

Crossfader Staff

The good people of Crossfader Magazine.