My Top Three This Week
Greetings to all my semi-constant readers. The summer is skyrocketing through seasons and fall will soon be here. I hate rushing through a season but if it makes it easier to shelter at home I am all for it. There is some really great content out there if you filter out some of the dreck which I have done and found some really good things this week.
1) Palm Springs streaming on Hulu is the Groundhog Day update we have been waiting for with a twist. And I love it. Andy Samberg is Nyles who is attending a Palm Springs wedding and connects with a depressed maid of honor-the bride's sister Sarah (Cristin Milioti) after charming her with his slick dancer moves and witty banter. Things take a dark turn when Sarah witnesses Nyles being attacked and follows him to a cave even though he is begging her to stay away. What happens next is a time loop of Sarah and Nyles sharing this terrible day over and over again . But someone else is stuck with them -Nyles' attacker Roy played by the fantastic J.K. Simmons. Lots of famous faces appear in this perfect summer tale but the biggest surprise for me was how good Andy Samberg is as a leading man in a romantic comedy.
2) I May Destroy You on HBO Max is a dark , tense thriller one moment and a sweet story of friendship the next. Arabella (Michaela Coel) a young writer , taking a break from a due project meets some friends for a drink. She wakes up the next day feeling off and having flashbacks that something awful happened. While she is piecing together the story , her friends Terry and Kwame are struggling with their own demons.This story twists and turns and takes us down the rabbit hole of the meaning of "consent " I have no idea where this is going but I want to go along for the ride. Michaaela Coel is one of my favorite actresses out right now
3) Quibi (short for quick-bites) a Jeffrey Katzenberg venture is a series of 1o minute segments meant to be watched on your phone or tablet that combined together or watched back to back make a full feature. Whether this takes off is uncertain but there is a lot of content and each is packed with Star Power. One of my favorites is "The Dummy" starring Anna Kendrick as Cody the young girlfriend of a famous tv writer who makes an alarming discovery of his "Love Doll" Barbara. She befriends Barbara who may or may not animated and actually speaking to her.After her boyfriend throws Barbara in the trash and Cody rescues her thus they begin a sort of Thelma and Louise adventure. There is a star studded cast of cameos and this role was perfectly cast for Kendrick and the hilarious Meridith Hagner (Search Party) is the voice of Barbara. Another great series on this platform is The Most Dangerous Game in a new incarnation . Featuring Liam Hemsworth as Dodge Tynes , terminally ill and broke with a pregnant wife and no options. Enter Miles ( Christoph Waltz) offering a way out. To be the prey of 5 hunters - if he survives he gets to keep millions of dollars and if he does not survive the hunt his family still receives the money. This ultimate cat and mouse game has more suspense than I expected and I really enjoyed it.
Bonus:
Mucho Mucho Amor : The Legend of Walter Mercado streaming on Netflix. Fresh out of the San Francisco Frameline Film Festival , this glimpse into the myth and legend and the man behind exquisite capes. At an early age Walter knew he was different and became an actor , model and then a beloved fixture and icon for Puerto Rico. The legend began quite by accident when he appeared on television reading horoscopes and was asked back to continue this with each new segment the more flamboyant he became. His clothes and non binary persona became a staple in every house and family member wanted to see what their horoscope would be that day. People loved him and suddenly he stepped out of the spotlight . This documentary is an up close and candid snapshot of the legendary Walter Mercado.
Bonus:
Mucho Mucho Amor : The Legend of Walter Mercado streaming on Netflix. Fresh out of the San Francisco Frameline Film Festival , this glimpse into the myth and legend and the man behind exquisite capes. At an early age Walter knew he was different and became an actor , model and then a beloved fixture and icon for Puerto Rico. The legend began quite by accident when he appeared on television reading horoscopes and was asked back to continue this with each new segment the more flamboyant he became. His clothes and non binary persona became a staple in every house and family member wanted to see what their horoscope would be that day. People loved him and suddenly he stepped out of the spotlight . This documentary is an up close and candid snapshot of the legendary Walter Mercado.
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