This week on The Movie Gourmet – new reviews of the brilliant biodoc The Disappearance of Shere Hite and the gripping thinkpiece Our Father, The Devil, plus the outrageous and hard-to-find classic film noir Decoy, on TCM tonight.
When we get to the Holidays I pause my regular WATCH AT HOME feature The most eclectic watch-at-home recommendations you’ll find ANYWHERE) and replace it with the movies from my Best of 2023 list that are already available to stream.
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.
- The Disappearance of Shere Hite: revoking one’s own celebrity. In theaters.
- Our Father, The Devil: can revenge extinguish trauma? AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube, redbox.
- 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
From my Best Movies of 2023 – so far:
- OPPENHEIMER: creator of a monster controlled by others. To stream on November 21.
- PAST LIVES: a profound and refreshing romance. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube.
- THE MAN WHO DID NOT WANT TO SEE TITANIC: wow – laughs, thrills, love. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube.
- RETURN TO SEOUL: brilliantly crafted and emotionally gripping. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube.
- BARBIE: a marriage of the intelligent and the silly. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube.
- FREMONT: self-discovery and a fortune cookie. Amazon, Vudu.
- AFIRE: the summer of his discontent. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu.
- HANNAH HA HA: what makes for human value and fulfillment? Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube.
ON TV
On November 22, Turner Classic Movies is presenting Chandler, the 1971 neo-noir starring Warren Oates as a seedy private detective who gets in over his head. I mention, but don’t dwell on Chandler in my essay Warren Oates: a gift for desperation. Look for film noir icons Charles McGraw and Gloria Grahame in supporting roles.