This month’s curated picks in the back corners of subscription streamers offer a wide array of choices: unfairly forgotten star vehicles, clever genre subversions, and a pair of top-notch music documentaries about vastly different artists.
“ Miss Stevens ” (2016)
Stream it on Hulu.
A high school English teacher (the wonderful Lily Rabe) accompanies a trio of students on a weekend theater competition in this road movie and character study from director Julia Hart (“Fast Color,” “I’m Your Woman”). Miss Stevens is vaguely dissatisfied with her life, so questionable choices are made – and others seem possible in the form of a talented but maniacal student (a pre-famous Timothée Chalamet) with an undeniable crush on his instructor. Still, few jerks in the pat, stereotypical ways one might predict. Evocative and intimate, “Miss Stevens” has the richness and narrative precision of a particularly successful short story.
It seems impossible that a 2019 release combining such user-friendly elements as Kristen Stewart, Crooks, Laura Dern, and Literary Fraud could have gone without taking a glance, but that’s exactly what happened to the Justin Kelley’s adaptation of Savannah Koop’s memoir. This story – of how Koop conspired with writer Laura Albert to play Albert JT LeRoy’s best-selling literary character – is compelling to begin with, but Kelly uses it to shade compelling themes of identity and identity. perception, and (thanks in large part to its self-aware performers) also subtly examines the ethics of acting and characterization. Stewart is a good choice for the shy, self-aware “JT”, while Dern paints a stunning portrayal of a consummate con artist, whose mask slides easily to reveal the desperation below.
“Tucker & Dale versus. Evil ‘(2011)
Post it on Amazon.
Eli Craig’s feature debut stems from a simple but deliciously clever premise: What if one of those ‘killer hillbillies in the woods’ horror movies were told from the point of view of … the hillbillies ? What if it turns out that they were actually nice guys, and all this terror and bloodshed was just a big misunderstanding? Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine are extremely funny as poor good old boys, working chemistry and rhythm reminiscent of Abbott & Costello (especially in this team’s comedy-horror mash-ups), while their co-star Katrina Bowden (“30 Rock”) Find the right mix of fear and bewilderment as the “last girl” in history.
Lauren Anne Miller co-wrote and co-starred as a tense but desperate young professional who joins her former “nemesis” and current roommate (an Ari Graynor game) in a lucrative phone sex business. This boisterous, rowdy comedy from director Jamie Travis harnesses the expected laughter of the intricacies and tools of the trade, and the shamelessness of their clientele (seen in cameo appearances like Kevin Smith, Ken Marino and Miller’s wife Seth Rogen). But the image also has a nice welcome trend, making real emotional investments in the relationship between its protagonists, as well as a lovable customer (Mark Webber) who wants to be more.
“ Trust me ” (2014)
Stream it on HBO Max.
Clark Gregg has spent decades working as one of Hollywood’s most trusted actors, appearing in David Mamet films, Aaron Sorkin TV shows and (most famous) as Agent Coulson in Marvel movies and series. When he wrote, directed, and starred in this ruthless industry satire, he drew in collaborators from his entire career, assembling a supporting all-star cast (including Allison Janney, William H. Macy, Sam Rockwell and Felicity Huffman) to tell the story of a desperate talented agent (Gregg) working from all angles to land a promising newcomer (Saxon Sharbino). Gregg’s dialogue is lively and his direction is assured; it is a film which knows its subject inside and out and which does not retain anything.
‘Z for Zachariah’ (2015)
Post it on Amazon.
Margot Robbie, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Chris Pine are the points of a complicated love triangle in this post-apocalyptic drama from director Craig Zobel (“Compliance”), adapted from Robert C. O’Brien’s novel. Robbie stars as the daughter of a shy preacher, tending to a family farm discovered by a curious scientist (Ejiofor). The warmth and then the affection that develop between them – naturally, because they are not exactly the last on earth, but quite close – are disturbed by the arrival of a handsome stranger (Pine). Zobel loads a full plate, stacking philosophical rubbers and biblical allegories on matters of the heart, but the pieces fit together perfectly; it is both deeply felt and extremely intelligent.
‘I’m so excited!’ (2013)
Stream it on HBO Max.
Pedro Almodóvar’s recent series of piercing personal works (culminating in the magnificent “Pain and Glory”) has led many to underestimate this delightful 2013 adventure, a return to the unapologetic excitement of his earlier works. As part of his film about a commercial airliner flying from Madrid to Mexico City, the writer and director unleashes a mechanical malfunction that keeps the plane in the air, as wacky flight attendants try to entertain and (ahem ) business class passengers. It’s just sexy silliness, and that’s the point – he finds a noted, cheerful hedonist assuring his audience that he hasn’t changed everything. this a lot.
‘White Night’ (2012)
Post it on Amazon.
The depressing similarity that has plagued American crime films in recent years has left European genre filmmakers to take over. Play A is this breathtaking action thriller from French director Frédéric Jardin, in which a dirty cop (Tomer Sisley) crosses paths with a ruthless drug trafficker (Serge Riaboukine), and must redress this reproach in order to save his son’s life. A 2017 American remake with Jamie Foxx replicated the story, but it’s the element of the smallest note; what he couldn’t duplicate was the massive styling of the picture, steeped in neon, sweat, and sin.
‘Zappa’ (2020)
Stream it on Hulu.
Actor-turned-director Alex Winter (“Bill” for “Ted” by Keanu Reeves) creates this intimate, complex and discreetly innovative documentary portrait of revolutionary musician Frank Zappa. Drawing on a treasure trove of material from Zappa’s personal archives (much of which had never been seen before), Winter begins at the end of the artist’s life, then goes back to explain who he was, why he was. was unique and what remains misunderstood in his work. Ingeniously put together and surprisingly poignant, it offers both an entry point for beginners and rare gems for superfans.
‘Nas: time is illmatic’ (2014)
Stream it on Netflix.
“Zappa” covers an entire career; “Time is Illmatic” takes an opposite approach, delving deeply into a musician’s most iconic work. But director One9 is finding clever ways for his documentary, released on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Nas’ debut album, “Illmatic”, to achieve the expected biographical rhythms, while benefiting from the laser focus on this influential album and its individual pieces. In the end, it does what this kind of documentary should always do: it makes you want to listen to it all over again.
