This week on The Movie Gourmet – a new review of the indie gem Fremont and my Wrapping up Cinequest.
CURRENT MOVIES
- Fremont: self-discovery and a fortune cookie. In theaters.
- Scrapper: a funny film about connection and second chances. In theaters.
- The League: untold stories. Amazon.
- Oppenheimer: creator of a monster controlled by others. In theaters.
- Between Two Worlds: friendships on a really bad job. In theaters.
- Afire: the summer of his discontent. In arthouse theaters.
- Past Lives: a profound and refreshing romance. In theaters.
- Barbie: a marriage of the intelligent and the silly. In theaters.
- Theater Camp: show people in the making. In theaters.
- Asteroid City: deadpan, witty, whimsical…and who cares? In theaters.
- Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed: leading man in the closet. HBO Max.
- Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny: just a whole lotta fun. In theaters.
- No Hard Feelings: an amusement with Jennifer Lawrence. In theaters and can be purchased on Amazon, Vudu YouTube.
WATCH AT HOME
The most eclectic watch-at-home recommendations you’ll find ANYWHERE:
- NUTS!: the rise and fall of a testicular empire. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube.
- Land Ho!: rowdy geezer roadtrip to Iceland. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube.
- Beast: finally unleashed … and untethered. Amazon (included with Prime), AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube, redbox.
- Won’t You Be My Neighbor?: gentleness from ferocity. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube, redbox.
- The Imposter: a jaw dropper. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube.
- The Secret in Their Eyes: Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube.
- The Stopover: PTSD takes more than an umbrella drink…Amazon, AppleTV.
ON TV
Monday evening, September 3, Turner Classic Movies honors labor on Labor Day with the 1979 Oscar-winner Harlan County U.S.A. Filmmaker Barbara Kopple embedded herself among the striking coal miners and got amazing footage – including of herself threatened and shot at.
Coal miner’s wife Florence Reece had written the song Which Side Are You On? in 1931 and, as an old woman with ma husband dyin’ of black lung, sings it at a rally in the film. Pete Seegar had popularized the tune by then, and you still don’t want to be a lousy scab. It’s still an apt anthem for the exploitation of Gig Economy workers today.
You can also stream Harlan County U.S.A. on HBO Max and the Criterion Channel. And it’s one of my 5 Great Hillbilly Movies.