Friday, March 16, 2018

I Stream, You Stream Vol. 69

by Patrick Bromley
Sixty-nine, dudes!

Wind River (2017, dir. Taylor Sheridan) The directorial debut of screenwriter Taylor Sheridan is a really solid dramatic thriller starring Elizabeth Olson as an FBI agent who partners with Jeremy Renner's tracker to solve a murder on a Native American reservation. There's so much about the movie that feels like it's right out of the late '90s, from the way it sidelines its one female character to the whole white savior thing to the way it can be condescending towards some Native American characters, but it's also completely engrossing and really well done. I genuinely believe the movie is trying to do better, which is to be commended, but still steps in it along the way. I still think it's quite good. (Watch on Netflix)
Blade of the Immortal (2017, dir. Takashi Miike) The 100th film (100th!!) from director Takashi Miike is an epic about a samurai (Takuya Kimura) who has magic blood worms put into his body and becomes unkillable. What follows is 2 hours and 20 minutes of nonstop carnage that is super bloody and super entertaining. The movie is probably too long, but it's hard to complain when it's this much insane fun. (Watch on Hulu)
Psychos in Love (1985, dir. Gorman Bechard) I have to credit Stephanie Crawford for turning me on to this one. It's a pitch black comedy about a couple who discover that what they really love to do together is kill people. Crudely made and very low budget, the film owes a great deal to Paul Bartel -- Eating Raoul in particular, not just in subject matter but in tone. It's very funny and very charming. Thanks, Stephanie! (Watch on Amazon Prime Video)
Rich Hill (2014, dir. Andrew Droz Palermo, Tracy Droz Tragos) I know I've recommended this documentary before, but I think it was a couple of years ago and I'd like to bring attention to it again, especially because it's now available for anyone to watch and not just Netflix subscribers. It's a profile of three young boys living in Rich Hill, Missouri, where poverty affects their quality of life and their prospects for the future. It's a heartbreaking film, unflinching and honest and quite sad. Don't watch if you're looking for something light, but there are few better portraits of "real" America I've seen in recent years. (Watch free with ads on Vudu)
Cold Blooded (2013, dir. Jason Lapeyre) Here's another title I know I recommended years ago back in this column's original incarnation (when it was Netflix-specific). Hopefully I can get even more people to watch it now. Zoie Palmer is terrific as a cop assigned to protect a criminal from the bosses who put a hit out on him. Small, scrappy and Canadian (three of my favorite qualities), Cold Blooded is reminiscent of Bound and early Coen Brothers films in its inventiveness and unpredictability. It's rare that a movie can make me sit up and think "oh, shit, they really committed to the thing I didn't think they were going to do." Cold Blooded does that and more. It's the kind of movie I like to champion in this column. When I recommend a Wind River, everyone has already heard of it and I'm basically saying "Oh, this is on Netflix now." With Cold Blooded, I'm saying "This exists and you should see it because it's excellent and you will like it." (Watch free on Tubi TV)

4 comments:

  1. I would just like to add that Draft Day has recently been added to free movies on Vudu.....in case anyone cares.

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  2. Gorman Bechard directed a great indie, "You Are Alone" which is basically a 2 person, one setting drama with two strong performances. "Psychos In Love" is fun, "You are Alone" isn't but I think it's great.

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  3. Rich Hill is really good, but it is a strange watch for me because Rich Hill, MO is my hometown. I have met just about every person in the movie. I had all three of the main kids in class when I was a substitute teacher there. I don't know what the point of writing this is, other than to say that it is a really good movie and should be watched.

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  4. Thanks for the heads up that Blade of the Immortal is on Hulu! Been wanting to watch it and Hulu made it easy. I thought it was good stuff. Miike on his best behavior but still noticeably Miike. Not 13 Assassins good but still really entertaining.

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