Hi friends,
Happy start of fall to those who experience it! To paraphrase Tom Hanks from You’ve Got Mail—autumn makes me think of school supplies, and I’d love to send you all a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I could.
As always, I wish you all a nice, restful weekend.
OUR TOP TV SHOW OF THE WEEK
A League of Their Own
On Amazon Prime 🍅 rating: 94%
Based on the 1992 classic of the same name, A League of Their Own tells the story of the Rockford Peaches—how the women’s baseball team came to be, who its eccentric members are, and what life was like in wartime America, especially for driven women with unconventional goals.
More than a remake, A League of Their Own actually updates the premise to be more conscious of sexuality and race, making it feel very modern and up-to-date despite its period setting. It’s a funny and enlightening show with some anachronistic tendencies here and there (expect non-1940s pop music to play), which might rebuff historical purists but will likely charm everyone else.
OUR TOP MOVIE OF THE WEEK
Plaza Catedral
New on Netflix 🍅 rating: 100%
The Panamanian drama Plaza Catedral pairs a grieving mother with a crime-hardened youngster. A violent incident unexpectedly bonds the two, and while initially reluctant, they eventually soften up, each of them receiving the care and forgiveness they unknowingly had been seeking for so long.
Thanks to director Abner Benaim’s penchant for documentaries, Plaza Catedral feels genuine and immersive through and through, never cheaply descending to sensationalism or sentimentality. It’s among the 15 shortlisted foreign-language films that competed for the best international feature award at this year’s Oscars.
Top picks outside of Netflix and Amazon Prime
Among our top picks this week is the TV show Industry. The British series follows a group of recent graduates competing for a full-time position at Pierpoint, a prestigious investment bank in London. One critic describes it as “an unholy mix of Euphoria and Succession, with a touch of Skins thrown in the mix,” and I have to agree—it’s equal parts racy and brainy. Despite not completely understanding the finance jargon crammed into the show, I am deeply seated for it. Season 2, which premiered last month, is ongoing on HBO and HBO Max.
Another recommendation outside of Netflix and Amazon Prime is Petite Maman, newly streaming on Hulu. The quiet and gentle feature from French director Céline Sciamma (Portrait of a Lady on Fire) follows eight-year-old Nelly as she explores her mother’s childhood home. There, she befriends a girl her age and opens up about her bittersweet thoughts on life.
New titles worth your time
The latest season of Cobra Kai—the Karate Kid revival series that switches the tables on heroes and villains—is new on Netflix. Also new is BBC’s Call the Midwife, a longstanding series following nurses in 1950s London, and the K-drama Little Women, an adaptation of Louisa May Alcott starring some of South Korea’s biggest names.
Over at Amazon Prime, notable new titles include the female-centered coming-of-age film The Virgin Suicides and the mystery thriller Zodiac.
Great titles that will soon expire
The war epic Dunkirk leaves Netflix on September 11, followed by all nine seasons of 90’s coming-of-age sitcom Saved by the Bell on September 14.
On Amazon Prime, the documentary Crazy Love, which recalls the madcap love-turned-crime story between exes, expires on September 19.
That’s all for this week. This edition of the newsletter will be back on Friday, September 16.
Till then,
Renee
Already seen A League of Her Own, loved it, now I'll check out Crazy Love, thanks 😁😁😁
ily, Renee! I live for a You've Got Mail quote at the start of fall. 😭