Past Lives

What It’s About:

This romantic drama follows Nora, a Korean immigrant, and her conflicting feelings about her past and present self, as seen through her relationships with her childhood best friend and husband.

Why You Should Watch:

A24 quickly snatched this one up after a buzzy premiere at Sundance, and it’s no wonder. Past Lives may not have seized the box office or cultural zeitgeist like Barbie or Oppenheimer, but there is no doubt it stands alongside them as one of the year's best films. It’s an emotional, gorgeous, and thought-provoking exploration of how one reconciles who you were with who you’ve become, including the roads you didn’t take versus the one you did, the life you’re living versus the many you might have had, and the people (and the love) you could have chosen. Allegedly, the premiere had jaded industry professionals weeping in the dark, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you found yourself doing the same. And that’s not a bad thing. As Roger Ebert would always say, the best movies that make you cry are not the ones about sadness. They’re the ones about goodness.

Who’s In It, and Where You Probably Know Them From

Greta Lee - The Morning Show, Russian Doll, What We Do In The Shadows, Girls, and New Girl.

John Magaro - The Big Short, Orange Is The New Black, First Cow, and Carol

Who Made It, and What Else Have They Done:

Celine Song wrote and directed the film, which is her major filmmaker debut.

Where You Can Watch:

I usually don’t recommend movies only available on VOD, but this one is worth the price of admission. You can rent it on Prime Video or AppleTV.

Telemarketers

What It’s About:

This three-part documentary details the depravity of the telemarketing industry, specifically the billion-dollar scam involving Civic Development Group.

Why You Should Watch:

What makes Telemarketers so great is how alive it feels. This mostly can be attributed to the director, Sam Lipman-Stern, and his quasi-legal first-hand experience working with a cast of colorful buddies at one of CDG’s New Jersey call centers. The star of that cast is no doubt his best friend, Patrick J. Pespas – a top-notch sales guy and a bit of a wild card (he frequently snorts heroin on camera) who is downright magnetic on screen. Throughout the series, Telemarketers keeps that laid-back, unpolished vibe, a breath of fresh air compared to the cookie-cutter documentaries we get so much of these days. Don’t expect to be blown away by Telemarketers story so much as the intimate time you get to spend with the charismatic felons that make up CDG’s eclectic workforce.

Who’s In It, and Where You Probably Know Them From

No one, unless you worked at CDG or were buying drugs in New Jersey in the early aughts.

Who Made It, and What Else Have They Done:

The series was executive produced by Josh Safdie, Bennie Safdie, and Danny McBride. The Safdie brothers previously directed Uncut Gems and Good Times (and you might recognize Bennie as one of the scientists from Oppenheimer). McBride is a comedian you likely recognize from Pineapple Express, Eastbound and Down, The Righteous Gemstones, or Vice Principals.

Where You Can Watch:

Max

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