i am a freak from Norwich, England

September 9, 2021

If you like documentaries

New | Documentary | Amazon Prime

Val

Made me a Val Kilmer fan. So well put together it felt more film than doc.

New | Documentary | Netflix

Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed

I will never buy anything Bob Ross branded after watching this.

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If you like Florence Pugh

Retro | Comedy |  Amazon Prime

Fighting With My Family

Written and directed by comedian Stephen Merchant and starring Florence Pugh as real life WWE wrestler - and self titled “freak from Norwich, England” - Paige. Fighting With My Family is like a raunchier, funnier CODA. It’s a wonderfully happy family film, while also being a love letter to the WWE and the Rock. I LOVED IT. Flo can do no wrong.

Disclaimer: I’m going to WWE Smackdown tonight so this was part of my immersion strategy 😆😆😆

Retro | Horror / Thriller | Amazon Prime

Midsommar

In my timid exploration of horror films, I finally watched Midsommar, also starring a brilliant Florence Pugh. If you don’t like slasher films or jump-out-and-scare-you films, but don’t mind lite gore and loads of suspense, then this one is for you! A terrifyingly beautiful, super creepy, psychological thriller with (I felt) a satisfying end.

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If you like musicals

New | Musical | Amazon Prime

Cinderella

Camilla Cabello’s Cinderella doesn’t want a prince, she wants investors for her start up fashion business. And I’m so into it. This musical of cover songs, directed by Pitch Perfect’s Kay Cannon, reminds us that pop songs are popular for a reason. Prince Charming singing Queen and Billy Porter as the Fairy Godmother made this my #3 Cinderella film. (Drew & Brandy cannot be replaced).

📢 Thanks to The Helm for bringing this to my attention their newsletter

New | Musical | Amazon Prime

Annette

Could not be a more different musical. I was initially frustrated with it being another film overindulging in the challenges of being an entertainer ( I didn’t like LaLa Land), and I was definitely more creeped out by that wooden baby than anything I saw in Midsommar. But, ultimately was entertained and moved. The NYT said it better:

“A work of art propelled by a skepticism about where art comes from and why we value it the way we do. A fantastical film that attacks some of our culture’s most cherished fantasies. Utterly unreal and completely truthful.” - A.O. Scott

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If you like trailers

The Matrix Resurrections (HBO Max)

C’Mon, C’Mon (A24)

The Power of the Dog (Netflix)

Don’t Look Up (Netflix)

The Card Counter (Focus Features)

Last Night in SoHo (Focus Features)

Seeing Fauci in theaters today! On my radar for this weekend are White Lotus, and hopefully starting Lula Rich or Scenes From a Marriage. Eyeing what’s happening at Venice and Toronto. Any other recs?

✌️❤️🍿

Christie