Here’s a watchlist for those who don’t have anything to do and those who haven’t made any active plans this weekend.
Materialists
The narrative centers on Lucy Mason (Dakota Johnson), a former actress who has become a matchmaker, and she is certain that she won’t get married until her spouse is affluent. Lucy is torn between Harry (Pedro Pascal), a suave millionaire and the brother of one of her clients, and her ex-boyfriend, John (Chris Evans), a struggling actor she left due to financial worries. She starts to wonder if luxury or love is more important in a relationship. The movie’s surprisingly honest approach to relationships, which eschewed clichéd rom-com clichés in favor of exploring genuine emotional quandaries, won plaudits from critics.
Status: Streaming on Netflix
Death by Lightning
Netflix’s new four-part miniseries Death by Lightning is a historical drama that resembles The West Wing set in the 19th century. It is on a legislator who wants to act morally and well despite numerous challenges. It is full of political maneuvering and unforeseen treachery. Michael Shannon’s portrayal of James Garfield, who is known for his ferocity, is evident in Garfield’s public speeches. However, at home, Garfield is a kind, devoted husband, father, and farmer—an unlikely candidate to become the head of the 1880s national government. “Assassination can be no more guarded against than death by lightning, and it’s best not to worry about either.” In response to worries about threats to his life, President-elect James A. Garfield wrote to Secretary of the Treasury John Sherman.
Status: Streaming on Netflix
Close
The masterfully performed Close, a Cannes prize winner and Oscar® finalist for Best International Film, captures the delicate beauty of boyhood. Lukas Dhont’s deeply sympathetic examination of teenage intimacy, set in the Belgian countryside’s flower fields, exposes the limitations of masculinity. Homosexuality is still talked about behind closed curtains; their classmates become aware of their intimacy, which leaves their lives in a heap of ashes. However, they are not explicitly stated to be ‘homosexuals’ in the show. Close negotiates ambiguity and portrays male agony, both its apprehensive expression and its calculated suppression.
Status: Streaming on Mubi
Heretic
For once, Hugh Grant stepped out of his stereotypical froppy hair-lover-boy role and donned the suit of a fanatic psychopath. Scott Beck and Bryan Woods are the writers and directors of the 2024 American psychological horror movie Heretic. It centers on two young Mormon missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who pay an oddball (Hugh Grant) a visit after he shows interest in their church. However, it soon becomes apparent what Grant’s genuine motivations are. This atmospheric horror explores how an innocent conversation about theology may go horribly wrong.
Status: Streaming on Prime Video
The Accountant 2
Ben Affleck’s character, Christian Wolf, has a knack for handling challenging situations. After an old friend is killed and leaves a mysterious message to “find the accountant,” Wolff is forced to solve the crime. Wolff enlists the aid of his estranged and extremely deadly brother, Brax (Jon Bernthal), after realizing that more drastic methods must be employed. On an $80 million budget, the movie has made over $103 million worldwide. Critics have largely given it excellent reviews, with some even saying it is better than its predecessor. Additionally, a sequel is being planned.
Status: Streaming on Prime Video
Hit Man
Glen Powell plays rigid professor Gary Johnson in the sunny retro-noir directed by Oscar-nominated Richard Linklater. Johnson also works as a fictitious hit man for the New Orleans Police Department. Gary, who is skilled at assuming various identities and personas to apprehend unfortunate individuals who may be targeting their adversaries, ventures into morally questionable terrain as he develops feelings for Madison (Adria Arjona), a stunning young woman who may be one of those criminals. Madison falls in love with one of Gary’s hitman personalities, the enigmatic and seductive Ron, and their passionate relationship ignites a domino effect of deceit, play-acting, and rising stakes. A romantic and soft-hearted version of Macvoy’s Split.
Status: Streaming on Netflix