Hey there gang! Spotlight number 113. Wherein I up periscope, and survey the cinematic landscape and see what might be out there and interesting to you today.
This week, there really isn’t anything new coming out – but don’t fret! Because I’ve got some really good recommendations anyway. These are all shows and movies I’ve already started watching myself, and I’ve really enjoyed them, so, yes… a few are a little retro, but I stand by them, and I highly recommend them. Okay?
On Netflix – The Diplomat
This. THIS! I am three episodes in on this show and it is literally perfect. If you loved Borgen (wait, you haven’t watched Borgen???), West Wing, House of Cards, Newsroom, etc… you will eat The Diplomat for lunch. It is so good. It’s realistic, while still diving into enough of thriller elements as to make it super exciting. But to watch people spar verbally for an hour? Yes, please. Take my money.
On Hulu -The Americans
When The Diplomat was hitting the ground initially, what, last week? I realized I had never watched The Americans, and I had heard really good things about that show from a lot of different sources over the years. So I started watching this show on the treadmill each day and have REALLY enjoyed it. It’s just coming at an American audience from an upside down direction. Which is fantastic. You are rooting for the wrong people… but you also know that something big has got to change. It just has to. So, yes, not a new recommendation, but again, if like me you haven’t watched it before, you might want to give it a shot.
On STARZ – Black Sails
I’m definitely going to not yell this recommendation from the rooftops, but, oh, what a guilty pleasure Black Sails has been for me over the last couple of weeks. (Again, treadmill content, that’s all it is.) I think the first season came out 9 years ago, and there are 3 seasons. But if you want a more unfettered Pirates of the Caribbean, then this is the show for you. The biggest thing is seeing how the politics and chaos of a pirate ship play out every single day. It’s been pretty fun.
TED LASSO – RELEASING NOW
I’m absolutely not a comedy fan. I think I can count on one hand how many comedies I’ve talked about on this blog, and I just recently released my 2,000th post. But Ted Lasso competes with some of the best movies and shows I’ve ever discussed here on the site. Why? Because, while being funny, it is also deeply important, and insightful, discussion of issues surrounding mental health. Which, I’ll be honest, I didn’t realize going in was what it really was about. So, yeah, season 3 is releasing each week right now, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Previously on Spotlight Worth Mentioning:
BEEF – Perfection. Loved it. Absolute perfection.
DECISION TO LEAVE – Complicatedly beautiful, brilliant Park Chan-wook film.
THE BEAR – Watched this series this week in basically a sitting. Gorged. Unbelievably good.
INSIDE – Mindjobby closed box film totally worth thinking about.
THE LAST OF US – Best TV show in years and years. Fantastic.
MASTER GARDENER – can’t wait to get into the theater for this one!!
Coming Soon – Watch List:
2023.04.27 THE NURSE
2023.04.28 THE PATIENTS OF DR. GARCIA
2023.04.28 AKA
2023.04.28 SISU
2023.05.05 SILO
2023.05.12 THE MOTHER
2023.05.12 BLACK KNIGHT
2023.05.19 MUTED
2023.05.23 HYPNOTIC
2023.05.25 FUBAR
2023.05.26 BLOOD & GOLD
2023.05.27 JOHN WICK 4
2023.06.?? BLACK MIRROR SEASON 6!!!
2023.06.16 ASTEROID CITY
2023.06.16 EXTRACTION 2
2023.06.30 INDIANA JONES 98
2023.07.14 MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 99
2023.07.21 OPPENHEIMER
2023.09.23 SQUID GAME THE CHALLENGE
2023.11.03 DUNE: PART TWO
2023.11.02 ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE
2023.12.22 REBEL MOON
2023.?.? THE OLD GUARD 2
2023.?.? TRUE DETECTIVE: NIGHT COUNTRY
Unknown SOMETIMES I THINK ABOUT DYING
Unknown POOR THINGS (Yorgos Lanthimos)
Unknown THE ZONE OF INTEREST
Unknown LOLA
Unknown KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON
There you have it. If you’d like to read more of our THiNC. Spotlight recommendations, you can do that right here.
Edited by: CY