Hi friends,
Just a bit of news this week: Amazon Prime has finally surpassed Netflix as the biggest streaming service in the US, according to a study from Parks Associates. Given the many bad blows Netflix got this year, I can’t say I’m surprised, but it will be interesting to see how (or if) Amazon retains that prime spot in the coming years.
As always, I hope you have a nice weekend!
OUR TOP TV SHOW OF THE WEEK
George & Tammy
The first episode is on Amazon Prime 🍅 rating: 82%
Country music fans, rejoice: country singers Tammy Wynette and George Jones are given their due in the new musical drama George & Tammy. The six-episode series follows the sometime stage duo amid their rocky careers and even rockier love affair.
Only episode one is out at the moment, but if it’s anything to go by, George & Tammy seems like a very promising watch: beautifully crafted, sung, and acted. A quick Google search will reveal that George and Tammy (played by Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain, respectively) have led very full lives, to say the least, so I’m sure there are plenty more interesting scenes in store for us.
Note: the following episodes will be available on Showtime.
OUR TOP MOVIE OF THE WEEK
Sr.
New on Netflix 🍅 rating: 98%
Robert Downey Sr. was a great asset to American filmmaking. An experimental creative in New York, he made countless movies with his wife and family and didn’t care (as everyone does now) whether it made money or not—only that it made him and the people around him laugh and think and scratch their heads in equal measure. Sr. is a documentary about this prolific man, as told by his son Robert Downey Jr.
In Sr., we get an intimate look at father and son—their home life, their sometimes-testy relationship, and their different artistic philosophies. I wish it could’ve delved more into that latter conflict for some genuinely compelling scenes, but as it is, I appreciate the emotion and sentiment infused in the documentary. The love is palpable, and I think as a tribute, that’s all that really matters.
Top picks outside of Netflix and Amazon Prime
Our first pick outside of Netflix and Amazon is the series Sort Of, which centers on the life of transwoman Sabi (played by series creator Bilal Baig). The series follows Sabi as they attempt to balance odd jobs, familial duties, and relationships. In season two, which premiered last week, the arrival of an overseas family member shakes Sabi and makes them reassess other vital bonds in their life. Streaming on HBO Max.
Our second pick will be hit or miss for some of you (it’s a Marvel property!) but I’m including it anyway in case you’re looking for a nice holiday fix. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is a 40-minute film that follows the titular guardians—well, two of them mostly—as they pursue some holiday cheer after the loss of a friend and teammate. It’s a classic Christmas tale, hopeful and joyful, and it’s perfect to watch if you have kids around. Streaming on Disney+.
New titles worth your time
Great new arrivals on Netflix this week include Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, the a-list hit Bullet Train, and the Spanish psychological thriller God’s Crooked Lines.
On Amazon Prime, the Oscar hit La La Land and the Korean crime film Memoir of a Murderer are new and worth checking out.
Great titles that will soon expire
On Netflix, the compelling miniseries Manhunt: Unabomber leaves Netflix on December 11, BBC’s The Adventures of Merlin on December 14, and the film The Danish Girl on December 15.
No notable titles are leaving Amazon Prime next week.
That’s all for this week. This edition of the newsletter will be back on Friday, December 16.
Till then,
Renee