What to watch: one of my favorite movies
Plus, a gangster epic, and a family drama. The Friday letter.
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Dear friends,
One of my favorite films from the past year, Mayor, has just been made available for streaming (on The Criterion Channel). It’s a fun and fascinating documentary portrayal of the mayor of Ramallah, Palestine’s de facto capital. I highly recommend it.
Stay safe. Talk next Wednesday.
OUR TOP TV SHOW OF THE WEEK
Godfather of Harlem
Amazon Prime made the first two episodes free this week. The rest require an Epix addition.
This gangster epic based on true events picks up from American Gangster. It’s about the fate of heroin kingpin Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson, who dies in the movie’s opening scene (of natural causes, mind you).
Co-created by the people behind Narcos, the series opens when Johnson is released from Alcatraz in 1963 following a long sentence and returns to Harlem to find that much has changed. With the aid of civil-rights activist Malcom X (played, of course, by Nigél Thatch), an out-of-touch Johnson strives to reclaim his old neighborhood from the Italians in an all-out war.
Part deep-diving gangster epic, part period piece with a modern sensibility, Godfather of Harlem has it all: gritty drama, great writing, swanky 60s style, and an awesome soundtrack.
📰 L.A. Times: “This unofficial prequel to "American Gangster" does play with nostalgia from the era... But its depiction of a racially divided, corrupt and often venal world rings just as true today.”
📺 On Amazon Prime U.S..; 🍅 rating: 92%
OUR TOP MOVIE OF THE WEEK
The Squid and the Whale
New on Amazon Prime U.S this week here.
Marriage Story director Noah Baumbach’s autobiographical film is a strikingly realistic take on divorce and the turmoil it sets on an already-dysfunctional family.
Bernard (Jeff Daniels) is a selfish, decadent writer who’s splitting with his unfaithful wife Joan (Laura Linney). Their two sons, Walt (Jesse Eisenberg) and Frank (Owen Kline), are taking different sides that reflect their individual personalities.
This separation only reinforces the brothers’ insecurities as they quickly fall into depression and isolate themselves from friends. The parents, meanwhile, each find unconventional lovers just as quickly, Bernard with a student of his, and Jane with her son’s tennis coach. The Squid and the Whale is a funny, emotional and gripping story that strikes a perfect balance in tone despite dealing with bitter divorce and troubled adolescence.
📰 The Washington Post: “The movie feels like it was written in the filmmaker's own sweat and tears.”
📺 On Amazon Prime U.S.; 🍅 rating: 92%
Top picks outside of Netflix and Amazon
Mayor, which I wrote about here when I first saw it at Filmfest Hamburg, is now available on The Criterion Channel and various rental services. The film follows Musa Hadid, the mayor of Ramallah, over two years as he tries to make his constituents’ lives better under occupation. With the focus on cheesy Christmas decorations and funny city-branding attempts, Ramallah is portrayed like it were any other capital—except for the daily reminders that it’s far from that.
The 2020 Irish comedy Dating Amber is now on HBO Max. It’s about two friends who pretend they are dating to avoid getting bullied at school for their sexual orientation. It’s a great little comedy-drama.
That’s it for this week, I hope there’s something in there for you.
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The next edition of this weekly letter will be in your inbox Friday, April, 9th.
Until then,
Bilal
This issue was edited by Salwa Benaissa.
Thank you--I am in Mexico (five years now) and your newsletter is so helpful. I usually have to try to find what you advocate -on fmovies.to...it's the only one I know of. Thanks. I see three or so a week, but It's such a nice thing to know which will be good movies.
Best wishes,
Jules
in Xalapa, MX.