Remember when the start of summer meant nothing but reruns on TV and big blockbusters in theaters? You probably don’t, if you’re under the age of 25. Yet that’s life in the streaming age, where there’s always a rich assortment of new movie and show releases to enjoy, as featured each week in Consequence’s Stream On newsletter. (Subscribe here!)
This month, there was a new Star Wars story for the smaller screens, the high-profile releases of some Emmy contenders (next year, anyway), and some great independent films that made their way to streaming platforms. We’ve also got some great docs covering the worlds of stand-up, music distribution, and theater, a fresh take on the superhero genre, and however you might describe the brilliance that emerges from Julio Torres’ wonderful brain. Check out the best of June below, including the Pick of the Month selection! (All other entries are sorted alphabetically.)
Pick of the Month: Am I OK? (Film)
Am I OK? (Max)
Directed by: Tig Notaro, Stephanie Allynne
Cast: Dakota Johnson, Sonoya Mizuno, Jermaine Fowler, Kiersey Clemons, Molly Gordon, Tig Notaro, Sean Hayes
Streaming on: Max
A tiny yet delightful and funny film about friendship, starring Dakota Johnson and Sonoya Mizuno as BFFs whose bond is put to the test due to some major life changes, including Johnson’s Lucy coming to realize, at the age of 32, that her sexuality might not be as straightforward as she thought. Directors Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne bring so much nuance to every scene, and most importantly know how to bring out Johnson’s best work (some actors only thrive when properly directed). For more, be sure to read our own Mary Siroky’s review, from the film’s Sundance 2022 premiere.
The Acolyte (TV)
The Acolyte (Disney+)
Created by: Leslye Headland
Cast: Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, Joonas Suotamo, Carrie-Anne Moss
Streaming on: Disney+
I feel like I’m a bit in the minority for liking the newest Star Wars show as much as I do, but between some solid performances, a fresh perspective on the franchise (no Skywalkers, no Empire, just some Jedi with some complicated secrets), and Carrie-Anne Moss doing actual goddamn jedi-fu, it really did win me over.
The Bear Season 3 (TV)
The Bear (FX)
Created by: Christopher Storer
Cast: Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, Abby Elliott, Matty Matheson
Streaming on: Hulu
I’ll confess that for me personally, no episode in Season 3 lives up to Season 2’s “Forks”. But that’d be tough for any TV show to pull off (“Forks” is a masterpiece, after all) and as Clint Worthington details in his review, there’s an awful lot to appreciate about the return of FX’s awards juggernaut. Not to mention the fact that the soundtrack is a wild and eclectic thing to behold.
Go ahead and savor this season, is my suggestion. Don’t rush through it. There aren’t any epic twists or spoilers or cameos you’ll want to protect yourself against (the biggest cameos, in fact, arrive relatively early in the season). And it rewards a slower pace.
Clipped (TV)
Clipped (FX)
Created by: Gina Welch
Cast: Laurence Fishburne, Ed O’Neill, Jacki Weaver, Cleopatra Coleman, Kelly AuCoin, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Rich Sommer, Corbin Bernsen, Clifton Davis, Harriet Sansom Harris
Streaming on: Hulu
The newest FX limited series from executive producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson (who also work with Ryan Murphy on the American Crime Story series) is focused on a very specific moment in time: The spring of 2014, when the LA Clippers (yes, Los Angeles has two basketball teams, truly we are blessed) finally made strides towards winning an actual NBA championship. That success was thanks to new coach Doc Rivers (Laurence Fishburne) and no thanks to the team’s grotesque and racist owner Donald Sterling (Ed O’Neill) — especially after shocking audio recordings of Sterling making racist comments to his mistress V. Stiviano (Cleopatra Coleman) were leaked.
The scandal itself is fascinating, but the way the show depicts its characters struggling with its ramifications is equally fascinating. Also, Ed O’Neill’s unbelievable (and I’m not just saying that because he was a great interview) and LeVar Burton not only plays himself, but his scenes with Doc are arguably the show at its best.
Fancy Dance (Film)
Fancy Dance (Apple TV+)
Directed by: Erica Tremblay
Cast: Lily Gladstone, Isabel DeRoy-Olson, Ryan Begay, Crystle Lightning, Audrey Wasilewski, Shea Whigham
Streaming on: Apple TV+
Lily Gladstone gets an incredible showcase in this darker-than-expected character drama about a woman trying to track down her missing sister, with her sister’s daughter along for the ride. It’s a unique character-driven story rooted in the Native identity of its characters, detail-rich from beginning to end, a tight 90 minute runtime, and did I mention how good Gladstone is in it? (She’s very, very good.)
Fantasmas (TV)
Fantasmas (HBO)
Created by: Julio Torres
Cast: Julio Torres, Martine Gutierrez, Tomas Matos, Joe Rumrill
Streaming on: Max
This wild HBO comedy series features the fearlessly inventive, too-brilliant-for-words Julio Torres as an artist named Julio Torres, bewildered by the world around him but full of great ideas for how to improve it (a common theme in his work): Strange, sweet, hilarious, and full of surprises, Fantasmas is a true confection of comedy. Stay, at least, for the Steve Buscemi cameo in Episode 1. You won’t be disappointed. Also, streaming now on Max is Problemista, Torres’ feature directorial debut, and it’s equally delightful: If nothing else, anyone who’s ever had to contend with that loathsome entity known as Filemaker Pro will experience deep visceral catharsis by the end of this film. Also, stay through the credits for an incredible Bank of America joke.
Hit Man (Film)
Hit Man (Netflix)
Directed by: Richard Linklater
Cast: Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio, Retta, Sanjay Rao, Gralen Bryant Banks, Molly Bernard, Evan Holtzman
Streaming on: Netfilx
While originally based on a true story, this collaboration between director Richard Linklater and star Glen Powell (they wrote the script together) takes some wild turns by the end. A true blend of genres, including comedy, drama, true crime, and thriller, there are some sequences that really deliver on the thriller aspect, while Powell’s often hilarious as an undercover fake assassin whose many identities lead to him having a whole new sense of self. Adria Arjona is also a real knockout here, finally getting a role more interesting than “lady who might have feelings for Dr. Michael Morbius,” and hopefully launching her career onto a whole new level.
You must be logged in to post a comment.