The final month of the year is finally upon us, and with it comes a bountiful crop of new movies available on streaming to tide us over through winter.
But I know First Reformed would be in contention. Anchored by a masterful performance from Ethan Hawke, First Reformed follows a minister (Hawke) of a tiny, old congregation in New York.
First Reformed
His church is more a museum than a real congregation, and is funded by a local megachurch run by a celebrity pastor (Cedric the Entertainer). For many filmmakers, that conflict alone would be rich enough to dive into.
But Paul Schrader is unlike many filmmakers. Schrader delicately weaves a story of climate change, grief, and the challenges before us, both as individuals and as a society.
What could easily just be a downer (and it is bleak at times) for me instead manifests a very human connection, even in despair.
Michael Mann’s 1981 neo-noir crime thriller is exceptional.
Thief
You know what you’re getting with a Wes Anderson comedy, and Zissou is one of his best. The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou is available to stream on Hulu.
The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou
First Cow
Year: 2019Run time: 2h 2mDirector: Kelly ReichardtCast: John Magaro, Orion Lee, Toby Jones.
One of my favorite movies of the decade, First Cow is a tender bromance about two men in 1820s Oregon, the unlikely friendship they strike up, and a very sweet cow they meet and steal milk from (in a friendly way).
They use that milk to bake some treats, with their eyes on a life of comfort and security.
"The way Cookie and King-Lu’s story fits into a larger picture of American history isn’t as important, or as touching, ...
...as the way their relationship blooms onscreen. They’re both odd ducks in Fort Tillicum, where the ability ...
...to throw a punch and get rowdy is a dominant force in securing social status. King-Lu is more of a dreamer, while Cookie is more practical, but they’re kindred spirits, in spite of their occasional arguments. […]"
McCabe & Mrs. Miller
Featuring beautiful cinematography of the forests and hills of West Vancouver by Vilmos Zsigmond, whip-sharp dialogue, ...
...compelling characters, and a haunting plaintive score composed of songs written by the one and only ...
...Leonard Cohen, McCabe & Mrs. Miller is a exhilarating, tragic portrait of frontier life on the fringes of civilization ...
...that’s perfect for any fan of shows like Deadwood or films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.