Welcome to another round of Weekly Shots! As your pop culture sommelier, I aim to serve you a heady cocktail of film and television recommendations, a mix of curated picks and pure escapism to satiate every entertainment connoisseur’s palate. From the audacious drama of Hollywood’s golden age to contemplative narratives on life and death, I have something for everyone this week. So, grab your popcorn and let’s get started!
First up, Damien Chazelle’s latest cinematic offering Babylon turns Hollywood nostalgia on its head, serving up a blend of outrageous humor and unsparing cynicism. Babylon will keep you hooked on Prime Video.
Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game is the fascinating journey of Roger Sharpe, a writer who champions the illegal pinball scene in 1970s New York City. This remarkable story is available on Hulu.
Then we dive into the scenic Calabrian countryside with Il Buco by Michelangelo Frammartino. Streaming on MUBI, this immersive tribute to death and exploration offers a unique narrative blend of pastoral life and speleology.
Our journey continues with The Cow Who Sang a Song Into the Future, Francisca Alegria’s elegiac exploration of life and death. Available on VOD, this film meditatively confronts the relentless monsters of the past.
For those seeking the cutting edge of cinema, the New Auteurs series on Metrograph at Home introduces works from some of the most exciting new directors. Here, you can catch Jodie Mack’s The Grand Bizarre, João Dumans and Affonso Uchoa’s Araby, Oliver Laxe’s Mimosas, and Eduardo Williams’ The Human Surge.
Double feature: Take a thrilling ride with Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell in Miami Vice, Michael Mann’s modern action standard-setter that bursts with style and sudden violence. And, They Cloned Tyrone, Juel Taylor’s eerie exploration of a government conspiracy starring John Boyega and Jamie Foxx (again!). On Netflix.
Also on Netflix, Sweet Magnolias (Season 3) returns. Your favorite southern gals are back with a new season of drama and margaritas in Serenity, SC.
Then, shoot hoops with Stephen Curry: Underrated, the coming-of-age story of one of the most influential basketball players in history, streaming on Apple TV+.
Next, it’s back to the publishing world with Minx (Season 3). Follow Joyce Prigger as she navigates the success of her Playgirl-like women’s magazine, Minx. Find out what’s next for her on Starz.
Special Ops fans, be sure to check out the brand-new Taylor Sheridan series, Special Ops: Lioness, on Paramount+. This series features an impressive cast, including Zoe Saldaña, Nicole Kidman, and Morgan Freeman, in a CIA operative tale aiming to prevent a terrorist attack.
Now, prepare for a colorful and whimsical journey to the perfect world of Barbie Land with Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig. Barbie and Ken experience the joys and challenges of the real world in this vibrant and playful film, playing in theaters now.
Finally, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer brings us to the tense and secretive world of the Manhattan Project during World War II. Follow J. Robert Oppenheimer’s grueling journey to design the atomic bomb, now showing in theaters.
Until next week’s shots, indulge in this exciting selection, and remember, the world of film and television always has something for everyone!
