tubi

MUD (2013)

August 28, 2020

(Hulu/Prime/tubi/VOD) A surprisingly uncomplicated thriller but also a coming-of-age film about a boy who believes in true love, despite being presented with numerous evidence to the contrary. Grounded by earnest dialogue and fantastic performances (despite McConaughey’s distracting teeth), it also features Mitchell himself: Joe Don Baker.

PRINCESS CYD (2017)

August 23, 2020

(Hulu/kanopy/mubi/tubi/VOD) Absolutely charming ‘summer of self-discovery’ film about a teen visiting her writer aunt in Ravenswood, Chicago. As I lived in Ravenswood for several years (and currently live adjacent to the neighborhood) I recognized -every single location- in the film, even down to the church the aunt attends, which means that the film’s home field advantage may unfairly tilt my critical scales, but it really is an extraordinarily delightful film. Pairs well with Showtime’s WORK IN PROGRESS.

(Warning: the trailer is less of a trailer and more of a highlight reel, so you may want to avoid it.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhzSJgutiN4

THE LADY IN RED (1979)

August 10, 2020

(tubi) Penned by John Sayles — his second screenwriting credit — it tells the story of Ana Cumpănaș, aka the last woman to be involved with John Dillinger before his death. The film’s an odd amalgam of genres, including: cathouse, women in prison, and gangster, but yet manages to be more than the sum of its parts.

Please note: the trailer below is NSFW.

LADY OF BURLESQUE (1943)

August 7, 2020

(epix/Paramount+/tubi/VOD) LADY OF BURLESQUE is a delightfully self-aware adaptation of Gypsy Rose Lee’s sensationlist detective novel regarding the murder of a stripper in a burlesque stage show (the original novel was called THE G-STRING MURDERS). Barbara Stanwick leads, clearly loving the role. Honestly not sure if the Hayes code restrictions help or hurt the film.