This week on The Movie Gourmet – new reviews of Anatomy of a Fall, a great movie by any measure, and the thoroughly unpleasant Priscilla.
I also highlighted Jim Jarmusch’s Night on Earth, playing TODAY on Turner Classic Movies. It features one of cinema’s very funniest scenes and one of the very saddest scenes – in the same movie.
CURRENT MOVIES
- Anatomy of a Fall: family history, with life or death stakes. In theaters.
- Killers of the Flower Moon: an epic tale of epic betrayal. In theaters.
- The Pigeon Tunnel: a great storyteller’s story, told at last. AppleTV.
- Fremont: self-discovery and a fortune cookie. Amazon, Vudu.
- The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial: just what, not who, is on trial here? Showtime/Paramount+.
- Flora and Son: a bad mom turns it around. In theaters and AppleTV.
- Reptile: a neo-noir showcase for Benicio del Toro. Netflix.
- Oppenheimer: creator of a monster controlled by others. Still in theaters.
- Past Lives: a profound and refreshing romance. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube.
- In the Court of the Crimson King: a perfectionist and his jester. In theaters.
- Priscilla: icky, then unpleasant. In theaters.
WATCH AT HOME
The most eclectic watch-at-home recommendations you’ll find ANYWHERE:
- ’71: keeping the thrill in thriller. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube, redbox.
- Undefeated: an Oscar winner you haven’t seen. Amazon, Vudu, YouTube, redbox.
- Kimi: an adequate REAR WINDOWS ends as a thrilling WAIT UNTIL DARK. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube, redbox.
- Lune: funny, searing, and richly authentic. Amazon.
- Summertime: no longer invisible and unheard, giving voice through verse. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube, redbox.
- Phoenix: riveting psychodrama, wowzer ending. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube.
- I’m Fine (Thank You for Asking): a desperate dash for dignity. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube.
- Making Montgomery Clift: exploding the myths. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube.
- Our Kind of Traitor: Skarsgård steals this robust thriller. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube, redbox.
ON TV
89 years ago, only four years into the Talking Picture Era, there were dramedies (even though the word dramedy had yet to be coined). On November 15, Turner Classic Movies airs George Cukor’s Dinner at Eight, an all-star 1933 Hollywood dramedy that mostly still stands up today. Jean Harlow is hilarious as the trophy bride of the course nouveau-millionaire played by Wallace Beery. Marie Dressler is at least as funny as a former star actress yearning to relive an old romance. John Barrymore adds a heartbreaking performance as a man facing disgrace. If all this weren’t enough, we also get Lionel Barrymore, some ditziness from Billie Burke and a splash of sarcasm from quick-patter artist Lee Tracy. Harlow, who died at 26, is usually remembered as a platinum blonde sex symbol, but Dinner at Eight reminds us of her comic brilliance.