Streaming Roulette (March 1st-7th): It's a Sin, Nomadland, Billie Holiday...

by Nathaniel R

Chocolate ice cream. I want chocolate ice cream.

Golden Globe winner Andra Day stars in United States vs Billie Holiday (reviewed), currently streaming on Hulu. Have you seen it yet? That Best Actress nomination race sure is intense, isn't it?

We've decided to do our streaming roulette feature a bit differently and weekly. It's too overwelming to list everything that's going to be available for an entire month and who checks back three weeks later anyway? Instead we'll highlight 5-10 viewing recommendations and/or curiousities each week when they're fresh or about to leave. Naturally the first day of the month is always crazy with the movie dump so this might feel like a monthly roundup, anyways...

CRITERION, NETFLIX, HULU, PRIME, DISNEY+ and HBOMAX follow.

You so and so... you little so and so.. look what you've done to me. 🎵 

Blonde Venus (1930)
Love how Joesph Von Sternberg keeps hiding Dietrich behind plants in this musical number. He's warning you: Do not look directly at her luminosity lest you go blind; the sun isn't the only star. On a related note, this movie is such a trip. It's so wild and riveting and strange. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Oh in the morning' just 'fore day. 🎵 

St Louis Blues (1958)
Part of the "Starring Ruby Dee" series they have going right now though the two stars pictured here are Nat King Cole and Eartha Kitt. Is Nat nursing a hangover? 

also streaming on Criterion:

• Blue Angel (1930) -starring Marlene Dietrich 
• Morocco (1930) -starring Marlene Dietrich. 4 Oscar nominations
• Dishonored (1931) -starring Marlene Dietrich 
• Shanghai Express (1932) -starring Marlene Dietrich. 3 Oscar nominations
• Scarlett Empress (1934)-starring Marlene Dietrich 
• The Devil is a Woman (1935) -starring Marlene Dietrich 
• The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) -noir classic starring Lana Turner
• A Life of Her Own (1950) -starring Lana Turner
• Gun Crazy (195) -noir classic
• The Tall Target (1951) -starring Ruby Dee
• The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) -starring Lana Turner and Kirk Douglas. 6 Oscar nominations
• Take A Giant Step (1959) -starring Ruby Dee
• The Balcony (1963) -starring Ruby Dee and Shelley Winters. 1 Oscar nomination
• After the Curfiew (1964) -Landmark Indonesian Film
• Uptight (1968) -starring Ruby Dee
• "Z" (1969) -directed by Costa-Gavras. 5 Oscar nominations
• The Conformist (1970) -directed by Bernardo Bertolucci. 1 Oscar nomination
• Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970) -comedy from Ossie Davis
• Watermelon Man (1970) -comedy from Melvin van Peebles
• Buck and the Preacher (1972) -starring Ruby Dee
• Nationtime (1972) -Black political doc considered "too militant for broadcast at the time"
• Archangel (1990) -directed by Guy Maddin
• Careful (1992) -directed by Guy Maddin
• Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary (2002) -directed by Guy Maddin
• Coward Bends the Knee (2003) -directed by Guy Maddin
• The Saddest Music in the World (2003) -directed by Guy Maddin
• My Winnipeg (2007) -directed by Guy Maddin
• The Forbidden Room (2015) - directed by Guy Maddin 

How old were you when you left here?

Monsoon (2020)
This film didn't work for me but your mileage may vary. Henry Golding and make for an attractive hook-up who end up on a date thereafter.

Are you okay?

Captain Fantastic (2016)
Loved this movie so much in its year though it's hard to remember much beyond Viggo Mortensen's amazing Oscar-nominated lead performance. But the rest of the cast is good too. There's George MacKay (1917, True History of the kelly Gang, Pride) playing his son in the still above. He has such a distinct look (that profile!) and he's a fabulous actor, too. Also forgot that Steve Zahn and Kathryn Hahn are in this as Viggo's disapproving relatives.

People say a US dollar in your wallet brings wealth.

Classmates Minus (2020)
Can't vouch for this one about four former high school friends with midlife crises, as we haven't watched it but it scored 3 Golden Horse wins in Taiwan: Supporting Actor (Na-Dou Lin, who is the guy not holding the money in this shot), Art Direction, and the Audience Award.

also streaming

• Bigfoot Family (2021)
• Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell — Netflix Documentary
• Batman Begins (2005)
• Blanche Gardin: Bonne Nuit Blanche (2021)
• Caught by a Wave (2021)
• Crazy About Her (2021)
• Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
• Dances with Wolves (1990)
• Geez & Ann (2021)
• High-Rise Invasion (2021)
• I Am Legend (2007)
• Invictus (2009)
• Jason X (2001)
• Killing Gunther (2017)
• LEGO Marvel Spider-Man: Vexed by Venom (2019)
• Nights in Rodanthe (2008)
• Our Idiot Brother (2011)
• Rain Man (1988)
• Step Up: Revolution (2012)
• Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny (2006)
• The Dark Knight (2008)
• The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
• Training Day (2001)
• Two Weeks Notice (2002)
• Year One (2009)

Stop being so quiet! [Laughter]

Nomadland (2020)
For awhile earlier in the year it was hard to picture Nomadland as a frontrunner that would last until Oscar night because it wears modesty and its low budget nature so well (not exactly hallmarks of Oscar winners, don'cha know) but the longer you sit with it the more majestic it feels. That very humility and unassuming quiet are just so affecting. But, what's more, as this split second above from a living on the road "class" reminds, it has a cathartic sense of humor alongside its tougher emotions... something you don't really remember about it until you're revisiting. 

Liam is attempting to bring a third party into this situation.

Lost Girls and Love Hotels (2020)
Not without merit -- we get way too few films about complex adult behavior surrounding sexuality --  but I wanted to love it more. The movie is about an S&M tinged relationship between Alexandra Daddario and Japan's Takehiro Hira (who you might love from his leading role in the BBC miniseries Giri/Haji) but the most fun scenes are the bar interludes like this one above which I happily landed on in the streaming roulette, where three ex-pats (Daddario, Andrew Rothney, and the perpetually great and undervalued Carice Van Houten) meet regularly to get very drunk in Tokyo. 

also streaming

• The 13th Warrior (1999)
• 50/50 (2011)
• A Very Brady Sequel (1996)
• As Good as It Gets (1997)
• Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader (2012)
• Attack the Block (2011)
• Beloved (1998)
• Blow (2001)'
• Brooklyn’s Finest (2010)
• Charles and Diana: 1983 (2020)
• Cocktail (1988)
• Demolition Man (1993)
• The Descent (2006)
• Dolphin Tale (2011)
• Dolphin Tale 2 (2014)
• Employee Of The Month (2006)
• Enemy Of The State (1998)
• The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)
• Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
• The Ghost Writer (2010)
• The Great Debaters (2007)
• I Can Do Bad All By Myself (2009)
• Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)
• In the Line of Fire (1993)
• Judge Dredd (1995)
• The Last Face (2017)
• Malcolm X (1992)
• McLintock! (Producer’s Cut) (1963)
• The Nanny Diaries (2007)
• Neil Young: Heart of Gold (2006)
• The Ninth Gate (1999)
• Pandorum (2009)
• Patriot Games (1992)
• Predators (2009)
• Pretty Woman (1990)
• Priceless (2016)
• Rushmore (1999)
• Scrooged (1988)
• Shape of Water (2017)
• Shine a Light (2008)
• Silverado (1985)
• Sliver (1993)
• The Social Network (2010)
• The Spirit (2008)
• Stargate (1994)
• Starsky & Hutch (2004)
• The Terminal (2004)
• Tokyo Rising (2020)
• The Tourist (2010)
• Traitor (2008)
• Vertical Limit (2000)
• Warrior Queen of Jhansi (2019)
• Wedding Crashers (2005)
• The Whole Nine Yards (2000)
• Young Frankenstein (1974)

also streaming - many of the same titles as Hulu, plus...

• The Informer (2020) -- starring Rosamund Pike and Joel Kinnaman
• Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) 
• Bliss (2021) - with Salma Hayek and Owen Wilson
• Map of Tiny Perfect Things (2021) - Kathryn Newton time loop romcom
• Tell Me Your Secrets Season 1 (2021)
• 48 Hours (1982)
• Back to the Future (1985-1990) all three movies
• Attack the Block (2011)
• Due Date (2010)
• E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (1982)
• Extract (2009)
• For Colored Girls (2010)
• The Full Monty (1997)
• Instant Nanny (2015)
• Mae West Dirty Blonde (2020)
• Patriots Day (2016)
• Rainman (1988)
• Religulous (2008)
• Sydney White (2007)
• Tombstone (1993)
• Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns (2008)
• Wet Hot American Summer (2001)

Listen you. How would you like a high heel in your ham hock?

The Muppet Show (1976-1981)
CANNOT WAIT to dive into these. So many great guest stars over the years like Rita Moreno (pictured above), Liza Minnelli, Lena Horne, Candice Bergen, Steve Martin, Madeline Kahn, Cloris Leachman, Julie Andrews, Harry Belafonte, Diana Ross, and Debbie Harry among many others. 

also streaming

• Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) - for an extra charge $
• WandaVision Season 1 (2021) - final episode on March 5th

Shit.

Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
That's LaKeith Stanfield as the titular Judas, FBI informant Bill O'Neal. The titular Black Messiah (Daniel Kaluuya, who just won the Globe for "supporting" actor even though the film is entirely about him) is getting the lion's share of the praise for this one, though. This drama is only available to stream until March 14th (the day before the Oscar nods). Previously reviewed here.

-What is the problem?
-He's the boss. He's a bit creepy.
-For gods sake, Gladys, I'd suck him off to get to New York!

It's a Sin (2021)
Definitely would love to hear from TFE readers on this queer miniseries. Russel T Davies (Queer as Folk, A Very English Scandal) new show looks at the AIDS crisis in London in the late 1980s. It was a propulsive watch but way too rushed. It's but five episodes long and there's easily enough characters and stories for 10 episodes. Some things come out of nowhere because there's been no time to develop certain characters. The other problem was that I just couldn't warm to the lead character/actor Ritchie/Olly Alexander. Otherwise the cast was loveable though I wish debut actor Nathaniel Curtis (playing Ash) had been given more to do because a) of the main quintet he's given by far the least material b) he's ridiculously beautiful and tall and c) he has such a great name (haha). Emmy FYC: Three time BAFTA nominee Keeley Hawes (Bodyguard), as Ritchie's mother Alice, is just sensational in the final episode. 

also streaming

• The Batman seasons 1-5 (2004-2008)
• Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
• Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey (1991)
• The Batman seasons 1-5 (2004-2008)
• Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
• Dunkirk (2017)
• Aquaman (2018)
• Earwig and the Witch (2021)
• It's a Sin -miniseries (2021)
• Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
• There is No "I" in Threesome (2021)
• Tom & Jerry (2021) 

Comments

[Working stiff]

The Informer (2020) --
starring Rosamund Pike and Joel Kinnaman

What is this?!?

...the perpetually great and undervalued
Carice Van Houten...

By that, do you mean underused, underrated or both? ;-)

[NATHANIEL R]

working stiff -- both.

[markgordonuk]

Nat you actually thought the same about Olly too stage kid getting his first proper acting job,no emotion behind the eyes.

You actually thought what Keeley was doing in the final episode was sensational,it was more like a badly written soap,what emotion was she playing,cos it seemed like she went with everyone of them.

Things are rushed and the female lead whilst engaging never came as more of a cipher until the last few episodes.

I was sad NPH exited early.

[rrrich7]

Say Nathaniel - I'm steamed about Amazon Prime and the way they announce films available on their site, but say nothing about certain fees you must pay IN ADDITION to your monthly amount. A couple of films (I forget which, I was too mad) that are available in theatres are available on Prime for $19.99!!! And even some of their lesser titles have additional charges of $3.99 or more. It really seems like some sort of false advertising. I wonder if you could mention the additional charges when you do your monthly list for Amazon Prime. I know you probably can't, but it takes care of my anger just to have written this post. Thanks.

[JW]

Everything you said about It's A Sin are my thoughts as well. I also really liked Callum Howells as Colin. .

[ben1283]

Pedantic, but Giri / Haji isn’t a Netflix series. It’s a BBC series that Netflix acquired rights for in some other territories. I know they love to market things as ‘Netflix Originals,’ but that often isn’t the case!

I found It’s A Sin to be a deeply problematic, frustrating show for a lot of the reasons you lay out above. The following piece really helped clarify my feelings on it, though: https://brianmullin.substack.com/p/howd-you-get-it-such-a-shame

[cal roth]

The Conformist - best cinematography of all time? I really miss Hit me with your best shot.

[murtada]

I had the same problem with It's A Sin; just couldn't care much about Ritchie/Olly.

[NATHANIEL R]

ben1283 -- that's a good note. I hate when they do that (though i'm not always aware that they have) so i changed the text.

murtada -- right? he was annoying and, though it's a smaller matter it bugged me: i kept being told over and over again that he was intensely desirable and sexy and everyone wanted to be his boyfriend and i just didn't buy it. He's a very specific type but he is in no way a "universal donor" type of sexy.

[thevoid99]

Can't wait for Friday for that season finale of WandaVision. Honestly, that show deserves a lot more credit for not just going into some heavy themes, incredible writing, inventive music, and a hell of an ensemble cast but also for showing love and respect to the medium that is TV. The last episode floored me emotionally as Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, and Kathryn Hahn put in work that should be considered for Emmys.

[par]

it's a sin destroyed me - probably because i was also 18 in 1981 and moved from the sticks to sydney, then melbourne [to go to drama school, no less] and lost friends along the way. it was like being thrown back in time with the fear and uncertainty and the feeling that not enough was being done to prevent it. i was pretty much dehydrated after binging through all five episodes

sure, there things to nitpick but i was overwhelmed that i ever lived through such a time and yet, it feels like ancient history

miss you tom and dale and matthew

[par]

that last post depressed me so to cheer myself up her are my six favourite muppet show guests:

bernadette peters
debbie harry
twiggy
alice cooper
liza minnelli
linda ronstadt

[dtsf]

I LOVED "Monsoon." It's quiet, it's contemplative, Golding is lovely, and I could have watched it for 8 hours.

[Pam]

IT'S A SIN is a must-watch, but it shouldn't be considered the end-all, be-all tale of the early AIDS epidemic in the UK. There's much of the story that's missing, including the major role women (straight, lesbian, etc.) played in serving as carers, allies, activists. And in typical Davies fashion, women get the short shrift in his tale. But we shouldn't blame a film or show depicting an already underrespresented group for not including everything about that group. It's unfair. Just tell more stories.

Re Keeley Hawes. I think she was amazing in this role. US audiences might only recognize her from Bodyguard, but she's been an actress for decades, equally talented in comedy and drama, stage and screen. In fact, there's a large cadre of British actresses in their 40s and 50s, like Olivia Colman, who have mostly worked in television, but have the acting chops comparable to, and even superior to any Hollywood film star.

[G.ShaQ]

It's a Sin was meant to be 8 episodes, cut to 4, settled on 5. So many editorial choices had to me made, leading to the sense of rush. That said, i think it helped move the story along in a brisk manner that counterbalanced the drama, even if every character could have used at least an episode each. The show destroyed me. I was not ready. Callum Scott Howells broke my heart to pieces. The main character was kind of an anti-hero, yes, which i think provided a nuanced perspective on how every character chose to handle safe sex and take things seriously.