Sure-Fire Streaming: Sonic, Vanished, Pieces Of A Woman, and more!
By Jordan Parker
https://parkerandpictures.wordpress.com/
Sonic the Hedgehog – Available On Prime
Back when a Sonic movie was announced, a Twitter firestorm launched after a lazy character rendering of the speedy 90s videogame hedgehog was released.
Never before have I seen such fan service – These filmmakers re-branded and changed the Sonic character to look more believable, and their bet paid off.
Adults – full of nostalgia from playing the game on their Sega systems – and their kids arrived in droves to see the flick.
The best part? Sonic ended up actually being pretty darn good. It’s a lively adaptation, full of wit, with a wonderful voice performance from Ben Schwartz and the most full-bodied comedic turn from Jim Carrey in a decade make this a must-see.
When a small-town police officer discovers pesky sonic, he must help him fight off evil genius Dr. Robotnik, who is trying to steal him to do experiments on him.
With an A-grade cast, laughs for all ages and a generally fun atmosphere, it’s the perfect escapism for these modern times.
The Vanished – Available On Netflix
When you spend as much time watching movies as I do, not many twists and turns come as a surprise.
But The Vanished lands squarely on this list because it came right out of nowhere and left me gobsmacked.
Two parents camping at an RV park suffer their worst nightmare when their daughter goes missing, and they soon realize they’ll need to take the investigation into their own hands.
As they spar with law enforcement and search for their little girl, they recognize they’ll stop at nothing to find her.
This leads to some consequences and actions they’ll never be able to take back or forget, as they push against their own morals and boundaries to find their little girl.
Thomas Jane and Anne Heche, two of the most underrated actors working, sell this picture. But you need to see this heartstopping ending for yourself.
Pieces Of A Woman – Available On Netflix
This is, quite honestly, the most difficult film I’ve seen in the past decade.
Following a home birth that ends in absolute tragedy, a couple tries to pull together the remaining pieces of their relationship, but don’t know how to console each other.
The two lovers are dealing with the fragments of something that was dismantled for reasons beyond their control, and they struggle with what to do.
Vanessa Kirby gives an Oscar-worthy performance here as a woman struggling with losing her child, and Ellen Burstyn is the best she’s been in 20 years as a mother who just wants to hold her child and make things better.
It’s a tearful, heartbreaking affair, but you won’t catch a more raw, captivating flick this year. I guarantee it.
The Lovebirds – Available On Netflix
As a long-time couple comes to the realization they can no longer particularly stand each other, they’re put in a situation where they must band together to survive.
This comedy about two lovers who witness a murder is about as fresh, funny and enjoyable as it can get.
Issa Rae – the incredible star of HBO’s Insecure – and Kumail Nanjiani, who starred in comedy The Big Sick, have pretty impeccable chemistry here. They’re hilarious together, and they make this whole thing work.
It’s a foul-mouthed adult comedy, but one with a big beating heart, and that counts for something.
I belly-laughed numerous times, and there were surprises-aplenty in a movie I truly wish audiences could have experienced on the big-screen. This one is best with an audience, but your bubble should all really have fun with this one.
Yellowstone – Available On Prime
From the man behind such incredible hits as Sicario and Hell Or High Water comes this incredible Paramount series.
Yellowstone is about a wealthy ranching family – think Dynasty, but better acted – who face scrutiny and attempts to usurp their stronghold in the valley, even as they fight within the family as well.
Kevin Costner stars as patriarch John Dutton, and his no-nonsense, family-first character makes for the best work I’ve seen the acting legend do in years.
Playing his offspring are Luke Grimes, the criminally underrated Wes Bentley, and Kelly Reilly, who is fierce as foul-mouthed daughter Beth.
With ranch-hands who live and die by his orders and his security and right-hand man Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser in the role of his career) doing his bidding, John Dutton does some despicable things while staying away from the real danger.
This is an addicting show and entirely worth a binge-watch. You won’t regret it.