The Upstream: December 2023
10 great movies new to streaming this month.
Happy final month of 2023! We’ve made it.
I’ve noticed an uptick of new subscribers from the Substack Network … first off, welcome! And whether this is your first email from Marshall and the Movies or you’ve been here since 2021, you might find these archived posts relevant for the holiday season:
Now, on with the show — 10 movies new to streaming this month!
Yes, The Biggest Little Farm is an excellent documentary about nature, ecology, and life ... but it’s also one of the better movies about business I’ve seen in a while! It’s got TED Talk levels of thought-provoking discussion around handling and embracing institutional obstacles. If you’re a people manager, you could honestly show this in a seminar or something. It’d be a great discussion.
Blockers, Netflix
Credit to Blockers for quickly moving beyond “what if American Pie but gender-flipped?” logline. When three parents find out their teenage daughters are setting out to lose their virginity by prom night, it puts the onus for humor in this sex comedy on the adults. It’s the teens who are smart and considerate about making these big decisions. Which, if you’re in that younger demographic, is probably empowering and enlivening.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, Hulu
Topical: there are some Christmas elements in this big-budget Christian allegory! (But then again, it’s basically Santa Claus showing up?) Even if you weren’t a big youth group kid for whom the existence of this movie constituted some kind of a miracle in your teenage years, there’s still a lot to like. At the very least, get caught up on the lore before Greta Gerwig starts shooting her spin on Narnia next year!
Eye in the Sky, Max
More than a mere morality play, Gavin Hood’s Eye in the Sky displays an impeccable representation of how we fight now in the digital age. This taut thriller depicts a single mission conducted as a collaboration between the United States, United Kingdom and Kenya. Together, their militaries scope out terrorists from an unmanned aircraft flying high above the ground, and just when they see their target … and a young girl stands peskily in the way. It’s to the film’s immense credit that it plays out as much like Dr. Strangelove as Zero Dark Thirty with everyone trying to avoid making the final decision to pull the trigger.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Disney+
This summer’s newsletter on my viewing experience of the latest Indiana Jones movie was, admittedly, more about the theater than the film itself. Let me reassure you: it’s a fine time! Don’t expect Raiders of the Lost Ark, and you’ll be rewarded with a handsome globetrotting adventure with flashes of inspiration. What really stood out to me was John Williams’ score — it adds so much to each moment James Mangold deploys it. While many left this film thinking about how much they’ll miss Harrison Ford, I couldn’t help but rue that we will soon be out of new John Williams scores. What a loss that will be.
Josie and the Pussycats, Criterion Channel
It was not long ago that I recommended Josie and the Pussycats in my “mindless yet mindful” newsletter, so I will simply refer you there to why it’s so great … and say how amazing it is that this movie’s brilliance is being recognized by The Criterion Channel. Disc release when!
May December, Netflix
If there’s one movie to watch this weekend, make it May December. Spoiler alert: it’s going to be on my top 10 later this month. Pour yourself a glass of wine for one of the most wildly entertaining explorations of performance and identity you’re ever likely to see. As Natalie Portman’s actress Elizabeth prepares to portray Julianne Moore’s Gracie — who made headlines decades ago for her romance with then 12-year-old Joe (an astonishing Charles Melton) — her presence unsettles a tenuous status quo. Director Todd Haynes raises the question of whether if it’s ever possible to understand the actions of another because, well, we rarely even know ourselves.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Amazon Prime Video
After all the fits and starts, it does appear that Amazon Prime Video actually made their TV series of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, a romantic action-thriller featuring a couple on either side of espionage unbeknownst to each other. This, of course, was most famous for the off-screen sparks that flew between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The movie itself is a good time, if nowhere near as explosive as the tabloid covers. (How bad can anything be with an appearance from peak O.C.-era Adam Brody, after all?)
National Treasure, Hulu
Everything I needed to know about American history, I learned from National Treasure. Kidding, of course. But don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting to go visit the sites of the country’s founding thanks to the infectious enthusiasm of Nicolas Cage’s Ben Gates. This PG-rated romp to uncover a hidden secret from America’s past that isn’t cancellable (I guess?) still packs a fun punch.
She’s the Man, Netflix
Invented Channing Tatum. And gave us some great laughs from Amanda Bynes, whose run as a great comedic movie star was cut far too short by her off-screen troubles. (Hope she’s doing well, or at least better.) Anyways, don’t come expecting particularly great gender commentary … but She’s the Man still makes for a simple, silly time.
You can always keep up with my film-watching in real-time on the app Letterboxd. I’ve also compiled every movie I’ve ever recommended through this newsletter via a list on the platform as well.
Found this a very measured and intelligent discussion of why Saltburn doesn’t quite work (even if it has moments):
Also found this conversation with Benny Safdie quite illuminating into his whole thing:
A great perspective on Sondheim becoming the new Shakespeare, even if I disagree somewhat with the author’s assertion about the pessimism of his work.
I forgot to include this one in the previous newsletter, but subscribers got this essay reflecting on why I think The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a true David Fincher masterpiece.
The Case for BENJAMIN BUTTON
Even though it was available to watch on Netflix, I decided to pay for the experience of David Fincher’s The Killer on a big screen last night. Something didn’t sit right with me just letting the director of one of my favorite movies of the century just fade into the sea of streaming tiles.
You can keep track of all the freelance writing I’ve done this year through this list on Letterboxd.
Yours in service and cinema,
Marshall