film + tv recommendations: october
There is nothing I love like talking to others about film and giving them recommendations for things to watch. I wait anxiously for friends to reply after they’ve watched a film or tv show I love so that I can hear their responses and see if they thought the same thing as me. I love hashing out different opinions on the things we’ve watched, and I love discussing the technicalities of scenes. So, because of that, I decided to start doing monthly recommendations of film and television for you all to watch! I’ve included a short description on why I loved the film or show, and a little tidbit on what types of film and tv watchers would like it. The categories are broken up into films I saw in a theater, shows, and films you can stream, and then films from mine and Noah’s personal collection—these tend to be older films or ones that have been out for a while and I just love!
Let me know below if you’ve seen any of these and your thoughts, or if you’re planning to after reading this! Also, send me your own recommendations for recent releases and streamable shows + tv to watch!
in theaters:
Bad Times at the El Royale
This was a movie I was incredibly excited for since the first trailer dropped. It was an original script, a great cast, and a compelling plot that leaves you wanting to know what happens next. The trailer was addictive and its set in 1969, so the production design and costumes are something I adore. when I saw the film, I wasn’t let down. The acting was phenomenal and the film, at a whopping 2 hours and 21 minutes, never let up and kept you engaged the entire time. The editing in it was so fun and a big part of why the film really stands out from others. As I also said, the script is original. It's not often you find original stories in Hollywood and this one is an absolute treat. If you want to go to the theaters and just have a whole love of fun and appreciate a well-done film, I highly recommend.
Recommended for people that like Tarantino, large casts with different character perspectives shown, and everything 70s.
Wildlife
Jake Gyllenhaal is my favorite actor, and Carey Mulligan is an absolute dream--combine the two and you have an acting dream. Wildlife is also Paul Dano’s directorial debut, and I had been following it for a while. He had dreamed of making this film and I loved reading how hard he worked to make it happen. This film isn’t for everybody. Its slow and is heavy and not a whole lot happens, but it feels very real. Similar to Beautiful Boy, it holds reality close to its heart and doesn’t try to be anything its not. It’s heartbreaking to watch a parent’s divorce through the eyes of a timid, fourteen-year-old boy, but it is also such a different perspective that makes it stand out.
Recommended for people that like slow-burn films, quieter scenes, and indie dramas.
Assassination Nation
I’m not sure if this is still out in any theaters but if it is, RUN to go see this freaking movie if what I say next intrigues you. This film is not for everybody, in fact, I’d say it is for a niche group of people. I am almost positive it will go into cult movie status as the years go by though, similar to Heathers and Donnie Darko. It is violent, it is provocative, it is vulgar, and it is a whole bunch of satire rolled into one movie. It is almost so in your face with satire that there isn’t a moment that doesn’t feel like it is trying to say something about society and the way we handle women, the internet, and politics. Personally, I loved that about it. It didn’t hold any punches and it wanted to make a statement, whether or not people liked it or not. It took risks, many of which other people might hate, and it was shot beautifully. There’s one particular tracking shot that goes on for a good 10 minutes and it absolutely insane. It was genuinely empowering and I will probably rave about how much I love this film until I’m in my grave.
Recommended for people that like Spring Breakers, heavy satire and feminist agendas, and dope soundtracks.
streaming (on netflix):
The Haunting of Hill House
Netflix has been making television shows that are more and more like films with the way they are shot, directed, and written, and this is one of them If you are a fan of spooky, atmospheric films and tv shows, The Haunting of Hill House is for you. however, I will say that it will rip your heart out and stomp on it. Besides the obvious emotional grasp that Hill House has, it is also crafted almost immaculately. One scene was over 18 pages long and episode 6 is almost entirely done in multiple, ridiculously long, one takes. It is so carefully crafted, from the direction to the dialogue to the production design and cinematography…I am in constant awe. The first half of the series is shown through a different perspective each episode, cutting between current time and past. I can rave about this show for hours, but I’d rather you go and watch it than listen to me.
Recommended for people that like Guillermo del Toro atmospheric style horror, exquisite cinematography, and compelling family dramas.
American Vandal
If you love true crime but also appreciate great humor and Mockumentaries…this is your TV show. The amount of time and energy that went into making American Vandal so clever has to be astronomical. The show follows two high school broadcast students as they create a documentary series on a recently expelled student, who they believe was wrongfully accused. The entire opening of the show credits the characters and the high school as the creators and producers of it, and it becomes even more meta as the series goes on. The second season followers the two students as they pick up another case out of state, due to their sudden rise to fame. It shows the students on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and even mentions that Netflix picked up their series…the characters, not the actors. It is meant to be completely real as if the first season is Oceanside actually took place and Dylan Maxwell is a real person in America. The characters even have Instagram accounts that are regularly updated! The dialogue, mystery, and acting are all so superb and I highly recommend it for anybody looking for a new show to binge and a good laugh.
Recommended for people that like true crime documentaries, clever humor and exposition, and satire on today’s world.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
This came out today and I’ve already binged most of the season. Wow. As somebody that is a huge Sabrina fan, I was nervous when I saw that it was done by the producers of Riverdale (a show that ruined one of the comic series I grew up reading religiously). However, I had been holding onto hope after the first trailer dropped because of how dark and twisted the series looked. Similarly, I was hopeful because Netflix was releasing it and not the CW. So far, I am loving it a whole lot. Kiernan Shipka is an absolutely perfect Sabrina, and her relationship with Ross Lynch’s Harvey Kinkle is so precious. There’s a lot of fierce feministic arcs in the show that I adore, and the dark and witchy vibes are so different than the original, lighthearted series. I love the fact they didn’t make it into a rehashing of that show, but instead took it into a whole different realm and made it their own. Its quite scary at times too, which I love, and the production design behind Greendale is incredible. The actors behind Zelda, Hilda, and Ambrose are equally as phenomenal as Kiernan, and I get excited to see them on screen. I adore this show!
Recommended for people that like darker twists on teenage angst, anything to do with witchcraft, and Stranger Things.
personally own:
Beetlejuice
This bad boy is a classic and one that I threw on here after being told by multiple friends that they had never seen it before. That was simply a concept I couldn’t wrap my head around, so here I am adding it to my recommendation list for this month because of that! If you don’t know what Beetlejuice even is, I need you to go look it up right now. In my opinion, it's a Halloween classic and one that should be enjoyed every October (or November, December, January, etc). I am a huge Winona fan, and Lydia is such an iconic character that always brings me joy to think about. Just…go watch this film, alright?
Recommended for people that have not seen it before because every person that loves humor, Halloween, and fun needs to watch this film.
Somewhere in Time
I couldn’t put together this list of recommendations without including a romance film for those that veer away from the spooky and scary. I remember watching this film as a kid and being enamored with the costumes, Jane Seymour, and the music. It is one of those films that sticks with you because of how gentle and beautiful it is. It makes you want the love that Richard and Elise have and creates whirlwinds of imaginative moments in your head. It is truly just beautiful. For those that don’t know, the story follows playwright, Richard, as he discovers a way to time travel back to the 1910s to meet the famous actress that told him “come back to me” years before. Their love is the definition of destiny, and you have to watch it see it play out. It also takes place at the Grand Hotel, which is easily one of the most beautiful places in America.
Recommended for people that like classic romance films, could stare at Christopher Reeve’s face all day, and love period pieces.
Zodiac
The great David Fincher knows how to make a film. A few weeks ago Noah and I rewatched this film and man…it is a good one. If you haven’t seen it, it follows the police and reporters that handled the Zodiac case and a man that is driven nearly insane by trying to figure out who it is. The cast is superb: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr, and that alone should make you want to see it. If you know Fincher, you also know that he is a master filmmaker that never really makes a bad film. It is a long movie though, but I suggest watching it all the way through so that its impact hits. It is just so good, I can’t even put it into words really. If you’ve always wanted to know more about the Zodiac case, watch this. It isn’t a documentary but it really gives you more insight into exactly what happened during that time in San Francisco.
Recommended for people that like slow-burn films and can handle a 3 hour movie, true crime, and complex and drawn out plots.
Thank you for reading! I hope I’ve convinced some of you to watch some of these!
xx Liv