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.
FIVE CAME BACK (Netflix)
FIVE CAME BACK, a three-part Netflix documentary directed by Laurent Bouzereau and written by Mark Harris, must jump atop your viewing list for the upcoming weekend. The film chronicles the directorial—and military—careers of Frank Capra, John Ford, John Huston, George Stevens, and William Wyler—from the 1930s to the post-war boom—and features contemporary talking heads in Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, Guillermo del Toro, Paul Greengrass, and Lawrence Kasdan. This documentary is sublime! Having recently reviewed the film, I am currently grasping for the words which have been irrevocably penned: check out the review before I do the film a disservice. And then of course go watch the film. [John Loftus]
LAURENCE ANYWAYS (Amazon Prime)
Though his image and talent has unfortunately been clouded by controversy and debate of late, the inventive 28-year-old filmmaker Xavier Dolan has consistently and strongly proven himself as among the most talented of young directors working today. His critically successful and award-winning 2012 film LAURENCE ANYWAYS is my personal favorite from his repertoire; it combines his famous style with a great, strategic use of soundtrack and an emotional, compelling story with exceptional performances. Clocking in at nearly three hours, the film is a long but visually gorgeous masterpiece which follows a transgender woman whose transition unfortunately tests and strains her relationship. The characters all struggle with their self perception, philosophies, and the concept of love and gender. Dolan’s signature style is never substituted for substance and only adds to and complements the emotion and drama of the story itself. LAURENCE ANYWAYS guarantees a difficult and emotional story with constant visual delights and astounding performances, and is a perfect gateway to Xavier Dolan’s excellent work. [Hayley Bensmiller]
