Hi friends,
I hope you’re having a lovely December so far. As always, here are our top picks for your weekend viewing. Depending on your mood, you can catch a chilly series on Amazon Prime to match the weather, or you can put on a steamy film on Netflix to keep you warm. And if you’d rather rewatch old favorites, there’s also a list below of new arrivals and expiring titles on Netflix and Prime.
Have a nice weekend!
OUR TOP TV SHOW OF THE WEEK
Three Pines
New on Amazon Prime 🍅 rating: 71%
Set in the seemingly idyllic town of Three Pines in Quebec, Canada, Three Pines the series follows Chief Inspector Armand Gamache (Alfred Molina) as he attempts to solve a string of murders and disappearances in the area. It’s a classic whodunnit that doesn't try too hard to be twisty and complicated; instead, it lays out its clues neatly and cleverly without giving too much away, all while digging deep into local issues such as the institutional neglect of indigenous people.
There’s no shortage of mysteries and crime thrillers on TV at the moment, but what makes Three Pines stand out is its virtuous lead. “You look for good even in the worst of humanity, don’t you?” says one witness about Armand, but I’m interested in seeing how far his well-meaning ways can go.
In the same way that Andrew Garfield’s detective character was forced to confront his Christian ways in Under the Banner of Heaven, I’m sure Molina stretching the limits of his character will make for solid turns in this show.
OUR TOP MOVIE OF THE WEEK
Lady Chatterley's Lover
New on Netflix 🍅 rating: 87%
Remaining fairly faithful to the book it’s adapted from, Lady Chatterley's Lover follows aristocrat Connie Reed (Emma Corrin) as she flees from an unhappy marriage in search of pleasure and fulfillment elsewhere. She does eventually find it in the gamekeeper Oliver Mellors (Jack O'Connell), but their social standing and married status force them to keep their affair under wraps.
Many critics are calling Netflix’s take on D.H Lawrence’s novel the best adaptation yet thanks to its frank handling of mature scenes and themes. Indeed, Lady Chatterley's Lover is sensuous and steamy—nothing is held back in this explicit drama, fair warning, but it’s just as delicate and intelligent as it is explosive. In this beautifully shot drama, important points are made about the purpose of relationships, the consequences of prejudice, and even the futility of classes.
Top picks outside of Netflix and Amazon Prime
Our first pick outside of Netflix and Amazon is the series Welcome to Chippendales, which tracks the bizarrely real story of how the male strip joint came to be (it involves a lot more murder than you’d think). Kumail Nanjiani plays Chippendales founder Steve Banerjee, an ambitious man who will do everything in his power to achieve his American Dream of becoming a renowned businessman. Part origin story, part murder mystery, and part 80s period piece, Welcome to Chippendales is a surprisingly engaging watch that will keep you hungry for the next episodes. Streaming on Hulu.
Our second pick outside of Netflix and Amazon is another series—AMC’s Interview with the Vampire, a remarkable remake that takes place in 1910s New Orleans. It centers on Louis (Jacob Anderson), a wealthy Black man who is turned into a vampire by his lover Lestat (Sam Reid). The series is a sprawling gothic tale that explores the relationship between Louis and Lestat, as well as the politics of race and the ethics of being undead. Because of its episodic nature, Interview with the Vampire can ably explore the nuances and depths of its source material, Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles. Streaming on AMC+, Philo, DirecTV Stream, and fuboTV.
New titles worth your time
The mind-bending psychological thriller Shutter Island and the heartwarming coming-of-age Frances Ha have both returned to Netflix and are available to stream again on the platform.
Meanwhile, on Amazon Prime Video, noteworthy new arrivals include the romantic comedy Moonstruck, the anti-capitalist documentary The Queen of Versailles, the sisterhood classic Thelma & Louise, the brilliant South Korean thriller Burning, and the 1994 adaptation of Little Women (great to put on for the holiday feels).
Great titles that will soon expire
No notable titles are expiring on Netflix, but over at Prime Video, leaving soon are the poignant drama Lucky, which follows an old man’s search for enlightenment before death, and the revealing documentary Zero Days, about the computer virus Stuxnet built by the US and Israel in a bid to win cyberwarfare against their enemies.
That’s all for this week. This edition of the newsletter will be back on Friday, December 9.
Till then,
Renee