Rainy Day Screenings

Well, it’s that time of the month again. Here are a few streaming suggestions (some with caveats).

Stonehouse (2023 Brit Box, Amazon) In 1974 British Labour MP and rising Wilson administration star John Stonehouse disappeared off a Miami shore in an attempt to fake his own death. The series is a reenactment of his life leading up to, during, and following. I’ll have to leave it to my Brit friends to verify whether he was as much of a buffoon as he is depicted. Of course I looked up the real story/people and it seems to have the story right in general. Although the real Stonehouse was better looking, much of the cast looks like the originals. It’s not high drama, really, but “based on true events” this 3 part series is quite amusing and worth a watch, especially if, like me, you are avoiding any media relating to our current Clown World administration.

My Brilliant Friend (2023 HBO Max) Ferrante’s Neapolitan Quartet concludes in a devastating and powerful Season 4. Just as in Season’s 1-3 the HBO production remains true to the book. And it may be the best theater I have experienced in many a year. Viewer warning, though: if you are looking for upbeat diversion, you will not find it here. What you will find is superb acting, complex emotions, riveting character studies with a changing Italian socio-political scene over the course of three decades as backdrop. Especially masterful is the seamless melding of the aging of the actors– first as children, then young adults, and in Season Four, middle-aged and to characters in their sixties. Which character is really the Brilliant Friend? Opinions about that may vary, but at least on this end, most will agree that the production is Brilliant as well.

Bad Sisters (2024 Apple) If you loved the first season as did I, the second one (only 3 episodes in) so far has not disappointed, although it is much darker. If for some odd reason you missed Season 1 of this well acted, nail biting, sometimes amusing Irish series, I urge you to check it out. The characters are not as complex as those of Ferrante, but that’s not the point–plot twists and characters you love to hate, aplenty!

Emilia Perez (2024 Netflix) Wow!! I’m not sure where to begin with this genre and gender bending musical crime thriller (see what I mean?). It’s funny at times (but not often) perplexing, and worthy of discussion because like its genre, the “message” is mixed. Since I resolve to exclude spoiler alerts from my reviews, I won’t explain what I mean by that. Just take my word for it and watch this compelling, well acted film about gender, love, Mexican cartels, and a corrupt Mexican government. Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, and Karla Sofía Gascón are terrific.

Carol Doda Topless at the Condor (2024 Kanopy) The sign with Carol Doda’s enormous breasts was an iconic North Beach landmark until it was taken down in 1991 when the building was sold. We don’t really learn that much from the film about Doda. It does chronicle a rather pathetic persona which the filmmakers attempt to couch as a feminist statement. Pretty formulaic as a documentary, the film’s strong point is the documentation of a significant part of San Francisco’s history and those changes that reflect major shifts in the larger culture. It also touches on an interesting conversation about Breasts and their hypersexualization. This is a great film for post-screening dialogue.

What I haven’t seen yet but plan to:

Suggested by a readers: The Old Oak (Kanopy), The Sandpiper (Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton??)

Suggested by various people: Somebody, Somewhere HBO Hulu, Everything Calls for Salvation (Netflix), The Law According to Lidea Poet (Netflix) Martha Inc (Netflix)

And a final note: I enjoyed Shrinking last season. This season just seems kinda 80’s sit com or something. Anyone else have an opinion?