Dear friends,
I love romcoms. I really do. Say what you will about the genre, but romcoms were my gateway to the broader world of films. Before I could love anything about cinema I had to see love itself first on screen.
Which is why I was slightly disappointed with the turnout in recent years. Are romcoms dead? Where are they? Maybe hypercriticism finally killed them off, but if so that’s too bad because romcoms are supposed to be unrealistic and goofy! They reach for the moon and that’s why they work.
I’m still on the lookout for good recent romcoms so in lieu of that, let me leave you with a few helpful lists in case you’re looking to get in the Valentines’ mood this weekend.
Twenty of the best romantic movies to watch on Netflix right now.
Underrated romantic comedies and where to stream them.
My personal all-time romcom favorites (too many from the 2000s, I apologize)
I hope you have a lovely weekend! And happy hearts day to you.
OUR TOP TV SHOW OF THE WEEK
You
Season 4 Part 1 is new on Netflix 🍅 rating: 88%
The latest season of You is here and it’s just as ridiculous and messed up and watchable as ever. Season four picks up where season three left off, with Joe (Penn Badgley) running to Europe to follow his latest obsession, Marienne (Tati Gabrielle).
After an unsuccessful run-in with Marienne, however, Joe decides to settle in London and take up a teaching job at a prestigious high school. It’s at this point where the show takes up the “eat the rich” theme that seems to have films and TV in a chokehold in recent years. It doesn’t quite land its social commentary, but everything else about it remains addictively fun.
OUR TOP MOVIE OF THE WEEK
Saint Omer
Available to rent on Amazon Prime Video starting at $5.99 🍅 rating: 94%
Based on an unfortunate true story, Saint Omer is a courtroom drama that follows the trial of Laurence Coly (Guslagie Malanga) a young woman accused of murdering her infant daughter. Rama (Kayije Kagame), a professor and novelist, attends the trial for research but ultimately finds herself identifying with Coly, which leads her (and us) to confront difficult ideas about motherhood and womanhood, among others.
It’s profound, compelling, and easily one of the most powerful films I’ve seen recently.
Top picks outside of Netflix and Amazon Prime
All that Breathes is a beautifully shot and gently told documentary that follows two brothers on a mission to save the black kite birds who, amidst the thick smog of the city, are now falling out of the skies. My fellow curator Emil recently recommended it on the site and had this to say about the Oscar-nominated film: “It’s a movie that definitely challenges you to think for yourself, as any talking heads or on-screen explanations are traded for truly stunning shots of New Delhi as a biome teeming with life among the dirt. For those who want their documentaries unconventional, this is excellent stuff.” Streaming on HBO Max.
Our last pick is Retrograde, another documentary this time set in Afghanistan. It takes place in early 2021, right before the US’ sudden exit from the country, and follows the charismatic General Sami Sadat as he tries to hold the fort and defend the land from encroaching Taliban forces. It’s heartbreaking and chilling, another reminder of the human cost of war and the terrible need for genuine peace. Streaming on Hulu.
New titles worth your time
No new titles on Netflix, but on Amazon Prime, the enlightening documentary Control Room, about Al Jazeera‘s alleged bias, just arrived on the platform. Other new arrivals on Prime include the docuseries Clarkson's Farm, the sitcom Trial & Error, and the French comedy Attila Marcel.
Great titles that will soon expire
No noteworthy titles are leaving Netflix anytime soon, but over at Amazon Prime, February 12 is your last chance to see the hard-hitting drama Fruitvale Station. The instant classic that is Star Trek Into Darkness will also be leaving Prime the next day, February 13.
That’s all for this week. This edition of the newsletter will be back on Friday, February 17.
Till then,
Renee