February 20th, 2022
This Week: Two pieces of comfort food, a true crime doc, the least buzzy best picture nom, and a thriller that returns us to the golden age of the Tight 90.
Happy Sunday, Stream Team. This week we have recs from all corners of the streaming universe, and I’m excited to share them with you.
But you know what would be even more exciting to me? If you shared the gift of the Stream with your friends, who will definitely be needing it when they wash up on the shores after this holiday weekend hungover, afraid, and in desperate need of content.
Now let’s get to it.
Reacher
What It’s About: This action-drama follows a former military police investigator who finds himself embroiled in a small town conspiracy when he is falsely accused of murder.
Why You Should Watch: For pulpy, bone-crunching action
You probably don’t remember the two (?!) Tom Cruise movies based on this literary character, but it appears that this uber popular book series (26 novels!) has finally been done justice on film. Following in the proud history of ‘80s action movies and TV crime-procedurals like Lethal Weapon and Magnum PI, Reacher follows an alpha-male-military-vet-kind-of-cop with a personal vendetta, (cue dead partner/wife/family member), who bombastically enforces law and order without actually adhering to any law and order whatsoever. This giant of a man, who is some kind of strange cross between Rain Man, The Hulk and Sherlock Holmes, shows up in a Southern town and immediately starts gouging eyeballs, breaking men in half, solving crimes faster/better than the police, and knocking boots with his hot, no-nonsense partner (who could easily be related to Ruth from Ozark). The story doesn’t always add up (let’s drive 40 miles out of town when we could make a phone call!), and the budgets are small (I’ve never seen a Southern town that’s so obviously a backlot in Toronto), but you forgive it in exchange for how much fun you have watching Swollock Holmes crack skulls and pull the occasional laugh-out-loud-macho-man-move like opening a beer bottle with his bicep. Guys, if you’re looking for a comfort show when she’s watching something on Bravo or And Just Like That, this one’s for you.
Who’s In It, and Where You Probably Know Them From:
Alan Ritchson - Probably as Thad from Blue Mountain State, or from a variety of superhero shows (anyone else remember Smallville?). This guy’s got range, though. It all started for him when Paula Abdul 100p tried to smash on an early episode of American Idol, and he also has a burgeoning music career (check out his chaotic electro-pop single “Mojito” below).
Willa Fitzgerald - Her biggest credit is from the Scream MTV series, but she also has appeared in Billions, House of Cards, and a lot of other crime procedurals like Law and Order: SVU, Blue Bloods, and Royal Pains.
Malcolm Goodwin - Honestly not a ton to call out here, although I was disappointed to find out that The Fall of the House of Usher has nothing to do with Usher.
Honorable mention to Kristen Kreuk, whom you may remember as Lana Lang on Smallville (clearly a formative show for me), Fiona from Eurotrip, or from her stint branding women in Nxium. Also Bruce McGill, who has played every Colonel Sanders-style Southern character on film for the past thirty years (not to mention D-Day from Animal House).
Who Made It, and What Else Have They Done:
Nick Santora, who was most notably a producer on Prison Break, as well as a remake of The Fugitive that (unfortunately) was the flagship show for Quibi (RIP).
Where You Can Watch: Amazon Prime
Abbott Elementary
What It’s About: A group of dedicated teachers do their best to help their students succeed in life, despite working at a chronically underfunded public school in Philadelphia.
Why You Should Watch: For easy, warm-hearted laughs
This show owes a lot to the sitcom mockumentaries of years past, but honestly if it ain’t broke don’t fix it (unlike the fictional school of Abbott Elementary, where everything is broken and needs fixing). There’s something to be said for a sitcom that can have you both laughing and feeling for the characters 25 minutes in, and it’s a nice reprieve from the sometimes-daunting 10 episode premium series that have come to dominate our free time. Quinta Brunson is great as the show’s Leslie Knope, (her character’s passion is for child education rather than small-town government), and the rest of the characters are pretty amusing as well; like the woke White guy who thinks he’s being an ally, (much to the dismay of his Black coworkers), or the ditzy principal more concerned with the performance of her TikToks than her students (seriously though, Janelle James might low-key be one of the funniest people currently on TV). If you’re tired of rewatching The Office or Parks and Rec for the billionth time, give this one a spin.
Who’s In It, and Where You Probably Know Them From:
Quinta Brunson - She interestingly started out as a Buzzfeed creator, but has gone on to create and star in A Black Lady Sketch Show (along with a number of other comedies).
Tyler James Williams - Probably as Chris from Everybody Hates Chris, but also The Walking Dead and Dear White People.
Lisa Ann Walter - Every woman under the age of 40 will place this actress immediately, but it took me a second to realize this was Chessy from the Parent Trap.
Janelle James - A well-known stand-up, she mostly has worked as a writer on shows like Black Monday and A Black Lady Sketch Show.
Sheryl Lee Ralph - Most recently from Ray Donovan, but with 106 credits over the last 40+ years, this woman is the definition of a working actress, so I’m sure all 20 million of my subs probably recognize her from something different.
Chris Perfetti - Has been bouncing around in different bit parts on TV for years, but this is his most notable credit so far (outside of Sound of Metal which I have no memory of him being in).
Who Made It, and What Else Have They Done:
Quinta Brunson (see above)
Where You Can Watch: Hulu
The Tinder Swindler
What It’s About: This true crime documentary tells the story of a womanizing con man who defrauds women out of millions of dollars while running a global ponzi scheme, until they decide to join together to take him down.
Why You Should Watch: For gawking at spending sprees and general gullibility
I don’t usually go for these kinds of things, but at the request of my wife I gave it a shot and was not disappointed. The delta between who you are in reality and who you are in the digital world is the story of our time, and this documentary shows just how easily someone can exploit that disconnect in the pursuit of greed (it’s not so dissimilar from the Anna Delvey story, although I would not recommend Inventing Anna). The Tinder Swindler offers a ton of money porn with private jets, watches, cars, bottle service, etc, as well as a lotttttttt of “how the hell are these women falling for this?”, but what really makes it fun is when they all band together to take him down. The sheer amount of glee one woman effuses on-screen as she recounts how she eventually started to swindle the swindler is worth the watch alone. That and the recurring “I can’t because my enemies…” excuse Simon uses, which my wife and I have co-opted around the house ever since we watched (“I can’t take out the trash right now, my enemies - they’re everywhere”).
Who’s In It, and Where You Probably Know Them From:
“Simon Leviev,” who you’ve probably started to see pop up in memes on Instagram.
Who Made It, and What Else Have They Done:
This one comes from the same team behind Don’t Fuck with Cats.
Where You Can Watch: Netflix
Nightmare Alley
What It’s About: In this noir-inspired adaptation of William Lindsay Gresham's 1946 book, Bradley Cooper stars as a carnival mentalist who works with his girlfriend (Rooney Mara), and a psychiatrist (Cate Blanchett), to pull off his most dangerous con yet.
Why You Should Watch: For creepy suspense, femme fatales, and the ability to say you saw two best picture nominees (including Dune)
I had been waiting for this one for a while, and was disappointed when it kind of flopped at the box office (I saw it alone in theaters because I’m a sicko). In my opinion, that low box office says a lot more about the state of the industry than it does about the quality of this movie, and of all the prestige best picture nominees currently streaming this one is hands down my favorite. I think it’s bizarre both Bradley Cooper and Cate Blanchett were overlooked for Oscar nominations. Either should have knocked out Javier Bardem and Nicole Kidman, respectively as they both are really fucking great - Cooper as a carnival mentalist con man who can’t help himself when it comes to the next big score, and Blanchett as a femme fatale who easily lives up to the high bar previously set by greats of the genre like Barbra Stanwick, Kathleen Turner, and Faye Dunaway. To no surprise, the absolutely stacked supporting cast are all punching their weight here doing exactly what each of them do best. Willem Dafoe as an all-around slime ball, Rooney Mara as a damaged naiveté who really needs to GTFO, Richard Jenkins as a tortured older man tormented by his regrets, and then Toni Collette who somehow nails the middle ground between maternal and seductive (shoutout to her out-of-nowhere handjob - you’ll see). My only complaint is the movie probably takes a little too long to really get going, but once it does, you’re off. If you’re looking to check out one of the best picture nominees on streaming in the coming week or so, this is the one.
Who’s In It, and Where You Probably Know Them From:
Bradley Cooper - I don’t think I really need to do this for him, so I’ll just link to the best thing he’s ever done:
Cate Blanchett - Lady Galadriel from the LOTR Franchise, Carol, The Aviator, Thor: Ragnarok (even she is in the MCU…), Blue Jasmine, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, to name a few…
Rooney Mara - The Social Network, Her, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Side Effects…
Toni Collette - Knives Out, Little Miss Sunshine, The Sixth Sense, Hereditary, About A Boy…
Willem Dafoe - The Green Goblin from The Spiderman Franchise, The Lighthouse, Boondock Saints, The Fault in Our Stars, that epic death scene in Platoon…
Richard Jenkins - Six Feet Under, Step Brothers, The Shape of Water, Burn After Reading…
Ron Perlman - The Hellboy Franchise, Sons of Anarchy, Pacific Rim…
Who Made It, and What Else Have They Done:
Guillermo Del Toro, who without a doubt is one of the top auteur/sickos of our time. If you’re not familiar, he has written/directed/produced films like Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, Hellboy, Pacific Rim, and the sure-to-be weird upcoming Pinocchio remake.
Where You Can Watch: HBOMax and Hulu
Kimi
What It’s About: A tech worker with a combination of what appears to be agoraphobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder uncovers recorded evidence of a violent crime, but is met with resistance when she tries to report it to her shady tech company employer. Seeking justice, she must do the thing she fears the most: leave her apartment.
Why You Should Watch: For suspense, thrills, and Zoe Kravitz
This dropped this week and I loved it for a lot of reasons. For one, I think all races, creeds, and sexualities can agree that Zoe Kravitz is one of the top talents we have out there, and not just because she’s a total smoke, but also because she’s the rare nepotism baby that has rightfully earned her place in pop culture due to her undeniable charisma and on-screen presence (no one’s pulled off a colored wig this well since Natalie Portman in Closer ). Kimi is a great vehicle for her, and you can’t help but root for the troubled, determined, and resourceful Angela as she fights to get justice for a woman she’s never met from the evil tech corp trying to protect their IPO. Second, this film excels at a lost art: telling an exciting and fulfilling story in just 90 minutes. Seriously though - I know all these platforms are trying to keep us glued to their content, but 90% of the time these days I end a movie and immediately think “that could have been 30 minutes shorter.” All credit here goes to Stephen Soderbergh’s deft handling of the story, one that shows off all his talents: a tight script, stylish visual flairs, and a fun, redemptive climax. I know movies are sometimes a hard sell, but this is shorter than two episodes of that show you’re watching and I guarantee more fun.
Who’s In It, and Where You Probably Know Them From:
Zoe Kravitz - Outside of being the daughter of Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet, the (I guess now-former) step-daughter of Jason Momoa, AND Channing Tatum’s girlfriend, you may also recognize here from Big Little Lies, Mad Max: Fury Road, High Fidelity (the TV series), the Fantastic Beasts franchise, the Divergent Franchise, and the upcoming Batman movie (!).
Erika Chistensen - I know she’s done a lot more, but will she ever not be the nut job from Swimfan?
Rita Wilson - Outside of being Mrs. Tom Hanks, you probably know her from Sleepless in Seattle, Now and Then, or Jingle All The Way (lol).
Derek DelGaudio - I was honestly surprised to see him pop up here, as I didn’t know he was an actor. I just know him from his illusionist/magician special In & Of Itself that came out last year (and is worth a watch if you’re into that kind of thing).
Who Made It, and What Else Have They Done:
Stephen Soderbergh, who gave us Ocean’s 11-13 (and 8), Magic Mike, The Knick, Contagion, Traffic, Erin Brockovich, and Out of Sight, to name a few…
Where You Can Watch: HBOMax