Looking for your next binge-worthy series or film to add to your streaming queue? Check back with Village Life every Friday for Jordan Parker's comprehensive insights on the week's most buzz-worthy programs from top streaming services like Netflix, Crave, Amazon Prime, and beyond.
On Crave – The Killing Of Two Lovers
When I initially saw this film, I had absolutely no expectations. It was a Sundance selection, but its star was also mired in controversy.
Clayne Crawford was fired from the TV adaptation of hit film series Lethal Weapon amidst reports of poor behaviour on the set. Unfortunately, by the time this astounding film came out, many were soured on him. It was quietly released on VOD.
But when I finally – begrudgingly – did sit down to watch it, I was treated to a brilliant, heavy drama with intense performances, from Crawford especially.
It follows David, who attempts to keep his large family together through a separation. But when his wife meets someone new, his abhorrent behaviour threatens to ruin his ties to his estranged wife for good.
Writer-director Robert Machoian’s film lives and dies by Crawford’s haunting performance, an art-imitating-life role that sees him at his best when he’s giving in to his character’s worst tendencies.
Sepideh Moafi and Chris Coy – who play the new couple – are also fantastic, but I truly believe if Crawford’s bad behaviour wasn’t a reality, this would have catapulted him to fantastic things.
As it stands, though, while he may be a cautionary tale, this is an absolutely enthralling work that should be seen.
On Amazon Prime Video – The Burial
Sometimes a single flashy, show-boating performance can make an entire film soar.
Jamie Foxx lays his considerable charisma and talent out here, and makes The Burial an absolute crowd-pleaser all on his own.
He plays lawyer Willie Gary, a fast-talking courtroom titan hired by small funeral home owner Jeremiah O’Keefe. When a corporate giant attempts to – through unsavoury bargaining tactics – put O’Keefe’s business under to ensure they buy it for pennies on the dollar, Gary is brought in to litigate.
Foxx is Oscar-worthy, and Tommy Lee Jones, Jurnee Smollett, Succession alum Alan Ruck, Mamoudou Athie and Bill Camp all give great turns.
This based-on-a-true-story film is hilarious and rousing, and director Maggie Betts truly does get the best from her cast.
On Paramount+ -- Pet Sematary (1989)
A prequel to the original 1989 classic Pet Sematary recently came out on Paramount, and I have to say I was truly and totally disappointed.
One thing it did, however, was make me give the source film a re-watch, and the nearly-35-year-old horror flick holds up.
Written by horror icon Stephen King, the film follows a grieving father, who is searching for solace after a family tragedy. He finds an ancient burial ground in his area, and uses it to summon the dead. But when things rise from the ground in Pet Sematary, they don’t come back the same as they were before.
While the acting leaves something to be desired – save for a great B-movie performance from Fred Gwynne – this is a really, really fun horror flick.
It’s atmospheric, bloody and a few scenes in it have lived rent-free in my head since I was a kid. It’s definitely worth a watch – or a repeat viewing – for Halloween.
On Disney+ -- Inventing The Abbotts
This is a coming-of-age gem with a brilliant ensemble cast and beautiful set-pieces that I personally found unforgettable.
Yet somehow, it seems to have been lost to time, despite some really great work by actors who are all household names now.
Working-class brothers Doug and Jacey Holt live quiet lives, working and toiling to help their widowed mother Helen and get themselves to university. But the three wealthy Abbott sisters across town – Alice, Eleanor, and Pamela – constantly have their attention and spark competition between the siblings.
In a small town filled with secrets, the girls’ father doesn’t want them around the Holts, for reasons that become clearer to them as time goes on. But love, affection, and lust can’t be stopped through the years, as relationships become tangled and intermingled.
The cast includes Joaquin Phoenix, Jennifer Connelly, Liv Tyler, Billy Crudup, Will Patton, and Kathy Baker. It’s a fabulous ensemble film, and worth it just to see the early work of this younger cast alone.
On Netflix – I Like Movies
I honestly couldn’t believe I loved this movie as much as I did. But this nostalgic take on brick-and-mortar video store days and the discovery of film in one’s youth is a triumph.
A Canadian feature, it follows teenager Lawrence, a cinema lover who prefers the comfort of his offbeat, indies flicks to the company of other people.
He shows his single mother disdain and disrespects his best friend and filmmaking partner Matt. While getting a job at his local video store initially seems like a great way to meet people, Lawrence’s social issues soon bubble to the surface.
Writer-director Chandler Levack’s film is a difficult one – Our protagonist Lawrence isn’t particularly likeable, but Levack manages to thread the needle between sympathy and contempt, with the help of young star Isaiah Lehtinen.
He’s pretty great here, and is joined by the always-great Percy Hynes White and Romina D’Ugo. It’s a disarmingly crass, funny film with more heart than I would have expected.
About The Author:
Jordan Parker is a freelance journalist and runs entertainment firm Parker PR. A huge lover and supporter of the local arts scene, he’s an avid filmgoer and lover of all genres.
A 2SLGBTQIA+ professional, he also works doing Events & Fundraising for the AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia and has a passion for giving a platform to queer events and artists.
His writing often skews toward local businesses, productions, events, and covering arts & entertainment. He’s also an avid sports fan and spends every May getting let down by the Maple Leafs in the first round of the playoffs.
Jordan believes in an open-door policy and welcomes story pitches and questions from readers.
Email: [email protected]
