From HBO, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime: Whether your plans are to Netflix and Chill or actually watch the films, there's no shortage of sickening love stories and odd-couple rom-coms wherein — no matter what — everyone ends up together and everything is good.
Fewer holidays are more adept at launching us into existential and emotional crises as Valentine’s Day.
The holiday of love is often more about what other people think about your relationship … or lack thereof. The barrage of couple’s social media posts — invariably paired with saccharine, corny captions — is an unavoidable annoyance, whether you’re in a relationship or not.
Other inescapable tediums: trying to snag a last-minute reservation because you were so focused on the Super Bowl; waiting for the droopy bouquet of flowers you ordered to arrive; dejectedly wandering the grocery aisles hunting up comfort food ‘cause the entire neighborhood beat you to the chocolate ice cream — few tragedies are greater than this.
But why do we place so much pressure on a day which should be happy? Whether you’re celebrating with a partner, with friends, or with some well-needed self-care, Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be a source of love-induced suffering.
So many of our expectations come from films and movies. You know those sentimental Hollywood endings which inform our expectations about everything, especially romance. But films can also be the antidote. Watching some tried-and-true romantic titles is one of the best — and cheapest! — things you can do to celebrate V-Day!
Whether your plans are to Netflix and Chill or actually watch the films, there's no shortage of sickening love stories and odd-couple rom-coms wherein — no matter what — everyone ends up together and everything is good.
Here are some of the best titles streaming right now:
Valentine’s Day: HBO
Sometimes, the obvious choice is the smartest. This star-studded ensemble comedy gets better every time you watch it. Like all happy endings, this one ties everything — and everyone — together in a feel-good way at the end.
Crazy, Stupid, Love: HBO
Another ensemble cast, this movie is so good I watch it on repeat. With the enviable chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, Steve Carell and Marisa Tomei’s hilarious hijinks, and the heartwarming story, this one checks all the boxes.
Brokeback Mountain: Hulu
Go ahead. Do it. Break your own heart. Brokeback Mountain is a truly outstanding — albeit tragic— love story of all time. Breathtaking performances by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal are heart-wrenchingly tender — the perfect film to channel all your yearning.
If Beale Street Could Talk: Hulu
If you’re a hopeless romantic, Beale Street is a gorgeous tale about how love can endure anything — even the turmoils wrought by injustice. It’s a sobering reminder of the realities of the far reaches of the prison system.
Something Borrowed: Netflix
This one’s for the wallflowers out there. Ginnifer Goodwin and Kate Hudson play best friends in love with the same guy. This cringey-in-the-best-way comedy reminds us to always go for the person we love — before it’s too late.
Silver Linings Playbook: Netflix
Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence are both at their best in this Oscar-winning dramatic comedy. And who doesn’t love a movie with a pivotal dance scene extravaganza? Come for the incredible acting, stay for the surprisingly sweet love story.
Always Be My Maybe: Netflix
Comedians Ali Wong and Randall Park make the childhood-sweethearts-reconnecting narrative original and exciting in Always Be My Maybe. Between the jokes and the Keanu Reeves cameo, which appears to the tune of the song "Sail" by AWOLNATION, this is an unexpectedly earnest storyline about family, home, and of course, love.
I Want You Back: Amazon Prime
This brand new Amazon comedy follows comedy all-stars Jenny Slate and Charlie Day as they try to win back their exes in the only way they know how: trickery and schemes. This laugh-out-loud adventure is perfect for mending any broken hearts.
Sylvie’s Love
This is the period piece you’ve been looking for. Set in 1950s Harlem, this film is a sensual kaleidoscope of music, color, art, and love.
Fight Club: Amazon Prime
Just like I’ll always make the case that Die Hard is a Christmas movie, I firmly believe that Fight Club counts as a romantic film. This freaky take on a love triangle is full of twists, turns, scenes with a shirtless Brad Pitt— let us never forget that omnipresent coffee cup robe. Any excuse to watch it is good enough for me.
February is here, and with it comes hoards of content for us to celebrate Black History Month — and while some of it is genuinely inspiring, much of it is tired and trite.
Too often, America’s Black History Month is reduced to a few anecdotes about slavery and civil rights. However, the past few years have caused a shift in the greater consciousness. Trump’s presidency exposed many dangerous and frightening corners of our country. In the face of such enmity, it’s impossible to deny that we have much work to do. Summer 2020 was a catalyst for a more nuanced conversation about systemic racism , but the good work is constant and daily.
Although the rich tapestry of Black History — much less conversations about our present realities — cannot be contained in one month, February is an exciting time to commemorate Blackness. From learning about Black pioneers to celebrating Black culture, many industries join in the opportunities to celebrate.
The film industry usually bets on the velocity of Black History Month to release projects like civil rights biopics, the occasional Black-led comedy or blockbuster. Such was the case with Black Panther, which was released with much hype in February 2018. And 2022 is no exception.
Hollywood pretty much screeched to a halt for a large part of 2020 during the pandemic. This past year is now providing a bevy of delayed content for our viewing pleasure. The pandemic also helped streaming services gain a foothold in movie-watching cultures, so a large number of this month’s most anticipated releases will happen online.
Here’s a mere smattering of the latest streaming features we are eagerly anticipating:
Kimi
Some of our favorite people have teamed up for the new HBO tech thriller, Kimi. I mean, Steven Soderbergh?Zoë Kravitz? We’ll watch anything with Zoë — even if she has a walk-on role. But not this time, Zoë plays the lead who suffers from agoraphobia and is forced to leave her house to help solve a crime. This fascinating drama has piqued my curiosity, I’ve played the trailer twenty times — at least. In the meantime, I’ll be watching Zoë’s High Fidelity to get me amped.
Bel-Air
Who didn’t love the cult-classic, 90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air? The iconic show catapulted Will Smith to superstardom and is still one of our most-loved shows to this day. The show followed a fictionalized version of Will who moved from a rough neighborhood in West Philly to the glamorous climes of Bel-Air. While the original brought us many laughs, what if we got to see the less goofy sides of that kind of culture shock? How about an update that tells a darker story? Well, this reboot is a modern reimagining of the same scenario, but with serious undertones. The series was ideated by a fan whose fictional trailer went viral and was quickly snapped up by Will Smith. We’re eager to see the results! The show airs on February 13th — Super Bowl Sunday — right after the big game!
Everything’s Gonna Be All White
This Showtime docuseries is a three-part exploration of the history of race in America. It’s a gigantic topic with big names to back it up. Everything’s Gonna . . . is a series of interviews with historians, artists, and activists such as Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Dr. Nell Irvin Painter, Jemele Hill, Amanda Seales, Favianna Rodriguez and Tamika Mallory. The first episode premieres on February 11th on Showtime.
Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power
This powerful documentary on Starz illuminates the life of Barbara Lee, an electrifying politician, activist, and pioneer of America’s civil rights movement. Still alive and active today, this film is sure to cement her legacy and advance the work she continues to do for the Black community in the political sphere. It’s available on Starz from February 1st.
The Porter
This original dramatic series promises to be enticing and inspiring. Set in the 1920s, The Porter dramatizes the formation of the world’s first Black Union composed of railway workers from both Canada and the United States. Based on real events, the series tracks the journey of an ensemble of characters who hustle, dream, and pursue their ambitions in the fight for liberation. It’s a telling tale that resonates today. Bonus: Emmy winner Alfre Woodard has a recurring role! Episode one premieres on CBC on February 21st.
In normal years, summer is the season reserved for blockbusters and big title releases from major studios. However, the past few years have been far from normal years.
After March 2020 sent the world into lockdown, theaters were closed for close to 18 months and the moviegoing experience has not yet recovered. Streaming — with its killer combination of convenience and the emerging high-quality of its original content — was already poised for a takeover. Streaming platforms like Netflix and HBO Max are increasingly offering hotly-anticipated titles, so who is going to pay for the cinema and all its trappings?
But, oh, was it grand to have the option. When going to the movies was suddenly impossible … it was all we wanted.
Though I consider myself a fan of the theatre experience, I've been known to watch a movie on my computer instead of the big screen when released on the same day.
However, having the choice stripped from me during the pandemic, I longed for the movie-going experience like never before. Both movie fans and movie makers have been itching for a return to the cinema. Many big studios held back their highly-anticipated films for when viewers had the choice to see them as intended.
This meant that, with greater and greater vaccination counts, movie rollouts are following a new schedule. Thus, the end of the year will be blockbusters galore!
So far, the final quarter of 2021 has seen such mammoth releases as Dune, Eternals, Shang-Chi, The French Dispatch, and more. The remainder of the year promises a similar variety of high-budget movies and indies across streaming and cinematic screens, all with eager anticipation building behind them.
Here are some of our most exciting picks:
King Richard
It is a rare living athlete who can reach the same level of influence as the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena. And fewer still have movies made about them while they're still alive. King Richard is as much an ode to their prodigious talents as it is to the man who nurtured them. Will Smith plays the tennis stars' father Richard Williams in this depiction of the tennis stars while they were still children. It's not just a sports movie, but also an exploration of race, perseverance, and family.
It's out November 19 in theaters and on HBO Max.
C’mon C’mon
For indie lovers, C'mon C'mon will satiate your hunger for a long awaited new Mike Mills film. Mills — the director behind cult classics such as Beginners and 20th Century Women — is known for creating family narratives that explore relationships, time, and memory. C'mon C'mon promises to do the same. Joaquin Phoenix takes off the Joker makeup to play a man unexpectedly burdened with caring for his young nephew.
Together, they form a beautiful, transcendent bond — but how? You'll have to wait until November 19th when it is released.
House of Gucci
Lady Gaga. Adam Driver. Knit sweaters. Need we say more? Okay, we will. Since it started filming, we've been on the edge of our seats over this film. That's basically due our having been fed a steady diet of on-set paparazzi pics and teaser trailers — including the now-iconic clip of Lady Gaga stirring a visibly empty espresso cup. Oh, the pleasures of movie magic. Now, the official trailer is finally out and the full feature is soon to follow on November 24. Until then, we'll read all about how Lady Gaga perfected the accent and rewatch A Star is Born until we have another feature film to devour.
Spiderman: No Way Home
It's almost here! Finally! After the last Spiderman film Spiderman: Far From Home's cliffhanger — rivaled only by Avengers: Infinity War — and pandemic delays forced us to wait foreverrr for its resolution. But the wait will come to an end on December 17th. Here's what we know so far: the new film explores the idea of the multiverse — just like the animated Into the Spiderverse did previously. What this means for us: our favorite Spidermen come together as Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and other vintage villains all pop up in this can't-miss adventure.
The King’s Man
As much as we love a sequel, we like a prequel just as much. Kingsmen — the film series that made Taron Egerton a star — leaves behind contemporary London to explore the origins of the film's world. The King's MAn takes us to Oxford in the 1940s where Ralph Fiennes and Harris Dickinson play a father-son duo who forge the Kingsmen Agency. See you in theatres December 22!
Don’t Look Up
Every single celebrity you love is in Don't Look Up — a satire about the end of the world which might hit a little too close to home these days. The story follows Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio, astronomers who discover the end of the world is approaching, as they try to get people to believe them. It doesn't go well. Despite the chilling parallels to our current apocalyptic state, we will be tuning in on December 24th to watch Lawrence and DiCaprio — joined by Timothee Chalamet, Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, Cate Blanchett, Ariana Grande, Kid Cudi, and even more.
Licorice Pizza
Paul Thomas Anderson is back at it with the off-beat, coming-of-age, sort-of-romantic comedy Licorice Pizza. The film is this season's Lady Bird — meaning it's sure to make its unknown teen protagonists stars. It also comes right on time, as the nostalgia for the 70s hit its peak this summer and people are still fiending for that summer magic. Also: Bradley Cooper. Say less.
Cyrano
After these past few years, we deserve to feel good. Cyrano lets us finally, finally do that. On New Year's Eve, this cinematic production of one of the most iconic stories will make its way to theatres. Starring Peter Dinklage and Kelvin Harrison Jr vying for Haley Bennett's heart, this soaring romance is the perfect, hopeful story to end the year with.
Nobody panic, but they took Moonlight off Netflix.
Maybe it's for the best — who amongst us really needs to go into yet another bout of Barry-Jenkins-fueled melancholy after deciding, against our interests, to turn on Moonlight for the thousandth time? Probably none of us. If that's the journey you need to be on right now, however, don't worry, Moonlight is currently streaming on other platforms, so godspeed.
But if you're a Netflix loyalist looking for something to watch this Pride Month, where does that leave you?
From its original titles to its movies on demand, there's a wealth of queer representation on Netflix. While the bar is low and diversity is still lacking in a lot of areas, there are more shows than ever with queer storylines and queer characters.
But not all queer films are created equal. Some feel like pandering from major studios, some use predictable tropes as substitutes for storytelling and character development, and some are just plain … bad.
But there are some gems, even on Netflix — to laugh with, cry to, marvel at, or put on as background noise to numb your existential dread. Just us? Maybe. But here are some queer titles streaming on Netflix now:
Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen
Disclosure is a 2020 documentary chronicling Hollywood's contemporary and historic representation of trans people. Through interviews with prominent trans celebrities in the industry, the documentary explores how Hollywood has told trans stories through the years.
Directed by Sam Feder, the acclaimed Sundance film provides a refreshingly comprehensive conversation about trans representation. By centering trans voices in its archival trip through the past and meditation on the present, Disclosure offers hope for the future of representation through genuine, community-centered storytelling.
Pose
The FX show Pose is historic for its casting and portrayal of LGBTQ BIPOC communities — trans actors in particular. Its main cast is predominantly trans and Black, and its storyline explores the ball scene of the '70s and '80s with both celebration and mourning.
The show has earned its place in the canon and is currently in its third and final season on FX. Meanwhile, its first two seasons are streaming on Netflix in all their glory.
Halston
Premiering in late May 2021, the new Halson biopic is a limited series by none other than Ryan Murphy. Murphy has become known for centering queer stories; and, though often a little idealistic and sometimes a little problematic (othertimes nauseatingly obnoxious … we're looking at you The Politician) in his approach, his productions are unabashed celebrations of queer lives.
After his success with limited series adaptations of biopics such as OJ and Gianni Versace, Halston explores the rise and fall of one of America's most iconic, queer designers — complete with all the sex, drugs, and rock & roll one can expect from both a Ryan Murphy production and a Studio 54 era series.
The Boys in the Band
Based on the 1968 play of the same name by Mart Crowley, The Boys in the Band is a 2020 adaptation of the original play and 1970 film. The now-canon story takes place over one night, a birthday party in which a group of gay friends in New York City convene, confess, conflict, and ultimately find some sort of catharsis.
Another Ryan Murphy production, the fast-paced, dialogue heavy adaptation stays true to the original with its cast of almost exclusively openly gay actors — a shockingly rare phenomenon in mainstream queer cinema — such as Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, Andrew Rannells, Charlie Carver, Robin de Jesús, Brian Hutchison, Michael Benjamin Washington, and Tuc Watkins.
Each actor puts on the show of their lives, culminating in a satisfying, theatric experience replete with '70s era outfits and enviously quick witticisms.
The Half Of It
Why, I implore you, why is anyone talking about The Kissing Booth or To All The Boys I've Loved Before when The Half of It exists? If the answer is Lana Condor, maybe they're valid, but I don't sleep on Leah Lewis, protagonist of the Alice Wu feature film.
YA movies are often sorely lacking in quality — both After and The Kissing Booth were acquired from the teen-story sharing site Wattpad, if that indicates anything about their quality. But every few years, a gem emerges from the wreckage of our teenage dreams; and in 2020, that movie was The Half of It. The underrated teen romantic comedy starts with a classic premise: guy asks girl for help winning the heart of a different girl. But the story unravels in unique, heartwarming ways.
Lewis carries the film with her gentle stoicism, her slow coming of age, and the entirely unforced way she executes the subtle layers of the story — from its Cyranic set up to its Sapphic realization and her self-actualization, as well as the immigrant experience in a small town. One of the most slept on romances on Netflix, The Half of It is a perfect thaw to our cynical hearts.
Handsome Devil
Set in an all boy's boarding school, Handsome Devil sets itself up as an opposites-attract romance — the angsty protagonist and his rugby player roommate.
But by resisting cliches, what emerges is not a cringey, overdone romance formula, but a truly endearing story of camaraderie and queer friendship.
Special
The Netflix Original series Special is a semi-autobiographical feat by writer, director, and star, Ryan O'Connell. Chronicling a dramatized version of his life as a gay man with cerebral palsy, the show swings effortlessly from hilarious to heartwarming with its complex characters and dramatic plot lines. It's the perfect series for a Pride month binge.
Pariah
Official Trailer: Pariah | Pariah Movie | Focus Features
If you're really missing Moonlight's magnetic dramatic energy, Pariah is a worthy substitute. Pariah is an an award-winning story about a Black lesbian teenager growing up in Brooklyn, looking for friendship and someone to confide in.
With beautiful cinematography and careful storytelling, Pariah confronts issues like self-actualization, first love, and strained parental relationships with beauty and grace.
Los servicios de streaming se han vuelto tan populares debido a sus pagos mensuales asequibles y fijos y la comodidad de ver los programas cuando quieras, pero tener acceso a contenido en vivo sigue siendo una necesidad.
Cuando se trata de deportes y otros eventos en vivo, o simplemente programas de televisión básicos que no se pueden conseguir en línea, se necesitan canales. Pero cuando ves la factura del cable cada mes, te preguntas si realmente vale la pena.
¿Y si hubiera un compromiso más asequible? Aquí está:
fuboTV.
fuboTV es un servicio que transmite televisión en vivo a través de Internet, y al mismo tiempo ofrece opciones por demanda. Pero eso es sólo el principio de por qué nos encanta esta compañía. Aquí hay 5 razones más por las que necesitas fuboTV:
1.No hay contrato
La mayoría de nosotros pensamos que firmar un contrato largo es sólo parte del acuerdo si quieres tus canales favoritos. Con fuboTV, no hay contrato. La suscripción para su plan Latino Quarterly se paga cada 3 meses, y puedes cancelar en línea en cualquier momento, así que no estás atado. Además, ofrecen una prueba gratuita de 7 días, para que puedas tener una idea de todo lo que ofrece antes de registrarte.
2. Todos los canales que quieres bajo un mismo techo
fuboTV ofrece más de 32 canales bajo un mismo techo. fuboTV ofrece todos los canales básicos que necesitas, como UniMas, Discovery en Español, Univision, Discovery Familia, Cine Sony, El Gourmet, Mas Chic, Nuestra Tele Internacional y Nat Geo Mundo, por nombrar algunos. Además de todos los deportes que se pueden conseguir, especialmente el fútbol, con canales como TUDN, FOX Deportes, ESPN Deportes, Zona Futbol, TyC Sports, GOL TV, TUDNxtra (1-11) y beIN Sports.
3.Mucha variedad
Puedes ver más de 100+ eventos en vivo con
fuboTV incluyendo todos los principales partidos de fútbol. Eso significa LaLiga, Ligue 1, UEFA Champions League y Liga MX, todo sin costoadicional.
fuboTV es famoso por sus ofertas deportivas, pero tienen todo tipo de género que puedas desear, por lo que le encantará a toda la familia. Siéntate a disfrutar una noche de película con Cine Sony, viaja por el mundo con Nat Geo Mundo, o incluso aprende algunas recetas nuevas y deliciosas con El Gourmet.
Sin mencionar que obtienes 250 horas de grabación DVR en la nube para grabar cosas, por lo que no tienes que preocuparte por perder un show en vivo.
4. Es asequible
OK, ¡consigues todo esto por sólo
$33 al mes! Y con el prepago de 3 meses, sólo pagas $99 4 veces al año. Teniendo en cuenta lo caro que es el cable y lo mucho que fuboTV ofrece, esto es una ganga.
5. Hasta 3 perfiles en muchos dispositivos diferentes
Con fuboTV, puedes tener hasta tres perfiles diferentes. Incluso puedes transmitir activamente en hasta 10 dispositivos diferentes al mismo tiempo, si tienes el complemento Pantallas ilimitadas.
fuboTVfunciona en cualquier computadora, iPhone, iPad, teléfono y tableta Android, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung Smart TV, Xbox y Amazon Fire TV. ¡Puedes grabar algo desde un dispositivo mientras estás viendo algo más desde otro!
fuboTV es la opción perfecta para cualquier persona que esté harta de pagar en exceso por el cable, pero todavía quiere una oferta que sea igual de robusta (si no más). Es asequible, conveniente y ofrece características que no se pueden obtener con un contrato de cable regular. Haz tu prueba gratuita de 7 días hoy, ¡no te arrepentirás!
May 2021 offers many promises: The new CDC rules for vaccinated Americans mean the return of a more normal social life, more activities, and less time spent indoors.
As more and more people get their doses of the vaccine (or as the TikTok kids call it, the Facui Ouchie) and count down the days until they are fully inoculated, there are some things that will be missed: sweatpants at all hours of the day, working from bed, and watching too much TV.
Some of us will be incorporating lots of these quarantine habits into our daily lives anyway and still taking the liberty to say no to plans, especially when there is so much good content coming to streaming platforms in May.
Streaming platforms have been stepping up their game for years, producing more and more original movies and TV shows that often beat larger production houses. And while theatres are tentatively reopening, many studios are still partnering with platforms to distribute their content, making the at-home watching experience better than ever.
And with awards season spotlighting streaming content in spades in 2021, giving big prizes to Hulu's Nomadland,amongst others, there's more than enough reason to stay in and turn on streaming.
Not everything is worth watching, though. Here's what is and why you should pay attention.
Ziwe (Showtime, May 9)
What we've all been waiting for: Ziwe's Showtime series with A24.
Many quarantine comedians came and went. From Jordan Firstman, who was famous for his impressions of things and people like "banana bread's publicist" and "money when it gets donated" and who was unseated from his early fame after being called out for (you guessed it) racist tweets, to cultural giants like Ellen, who was exposed for her workplace toxicity but actually suffered no repercussions, everyone seemed to be falling from grace.
But the brightest spot of Instagram humor was Ziwe Fumudoh's Instagram Live series, Baited. No one knows why her guests volunteered to be on the show, but they did and it was glorious. From problematic influencers like Caroline Calloway to national favorites like Bowen Yang, Ziwe's guestlist brought fans who stayed for her humor, her unflinching provocations, and her absolutely inimitable style of asking questions about issues like racism.
The former Desus & Mero writer is a New York-based comedian and performer, and her internet fame turned her into a verifiable star. While she uses words like "iconic" and "famously" to describe others, Ziwe has become the epitome of all of those things, and we wait with baited breath for what the A24 show will hold.
The variety show promises musical numbers, interviews, and sketches that are sure to make SNL more redundant than it already is. The early trailer shows guests like Fran Lebowitz, who Ziwe asks, "What bothers you more: racism or slow walkers?" On May 9th on Showtime, we'll find out the answer.
The Crime of the Century (HBO, May 10)
As we ask each other which vax we all got, and Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J become likened to prestige brands and almost feel like status symbols, The Crime of the Century feels impeccably timed.
The new HBO documentary aims to expose how the opioid crisis was a windfall for big pharma. According to the press release, the two-part documentary explores how the drug was born, how it proliferated, and how it spread through culture, described as a "searing indictment of Big Pharma and the political operatives and government regulations that enable overproduction, reckless distribution and abuse of synthetic opiates."
The revealing documentary is directed by Emmy and Academy Award winner Alex Gibney, presented in association with The Washington Post. Though the commentary on the opioid crisis often focuses on the victims, who were criminalized for so long, this version explains how the health crisis did not come from nowhere and how people were exploited for the sake of the government and big pharma.
"We've defined the opioid epidemic as an opioid crisis, like it's a wildfire," Gibney says. "It actually wasn't a crisis at all, it was a crime and the body count was extremely high." Part one premiers on May 10th.
The Underground Railroad (Amazon Prime, May 14)
Barry Jenkins, Academy Award winning director of Moonlight and If Beale Street Can Talk, has been working on the highly anticipated adaptation of Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad. The 2016 novel was instantly acclaimed and won a Pulitzer Prize for its imaginative interpretation of history, a feat in both acknowledging the truths of slavery while imagining a world of possibility.
Jenkins is well-versed in adaptations, and his most acclaimed previous works have been adaptations themselves. And though Jenkins has worked on stories about pain and struggle — Moonlight a wrenching autobiographical account of being Black and gay, Beale Street a Baldwin novel about the prison industrial complex — Jenkins is adept at telling these stories with beauty and grace, rather than reveling in trauma, unlike previous Amazon productions such as Lena Waithe's Them.
Jenkins is aware of this tension. At a press event on Thursday March 29th, he said, "I think what's really beautiful about putting images into the world is that when someone's ready to find that image, it will be there. What we all did in creating this show, I think it honored our ancestors, we were respectful, respectful of the text and respectful of the audience."
The show stars newcomer Thuso Mbedu as the protagonist, Cora Randall, a 15-year-old enslaved girl who escaped a Georgia plantation to follow the rumors of an Underground Railroad — which, in this imagination, is a literal train system, a real railroad which follows a network of tracks and tunnels deep under the ground of the South.
Halston (Netflix, May 14)
Ryan Murphy is at it again with a new Netflix production, and we can only hope it is more like his masterwork American Crime Story than his insufferable, embarrassing teen-drama series The Politician.
This time, Murphy is at the helm of a series about the famed American designer Roy Halston Frowick, better known as Halston. The limited series explores the life and career of the designer, who is now one of the most prominent names in American fashion — a pertinent topic as the fashion world gears up for this year's Met Gala and its recently announced theme: American fashion.
Halston was not just famous for his designs and his striking minimalist style — though his designs became iconic early in his career when he designed the pillbox hat which Jackie Kennedy made iconic — but also for his legacy as a public figure. He reached the height of his career in the 1970s disco era and was active in the famed New York City social scene.
A regular at Studio 54 and friend of the rich and famous, Halston's personal life was as interesting as his professional life. Despite being disparaged early in his career for his sexuality, he became a household name and an icon to the biggest celebrities and to the youth, especially queer youth.
Ewan McGregor stars as Halston, which was caused some controversy and conversation around the constant casting of straight actors in gay roles, which the actor defended despite the backlash.
According to the synopsis, the show tracks "the designer's decline," delving into the "hostile takeover" of his namesake brand, which "forces him to battle for control of his most precious asset ... the name Halston itself." It premieres on May 14th on Netflix.
The Woman in the Window (Netflix, May 14)
The Woman in the Window is a long-delayed thriller which was set for theatrical release in October 2019 and is finally being released in May 2021. The two-year wait should be rewarded though, as anticipation has been high for the Amy Adams and Gary Oldman-led drama.
The Netflix movie is an adaptation of a screenplay by Tracy Letts, based on the 2018 novel of the same name by pseudonymous author A. J. Finn. The story starts with a now-familiar premise: a woman does not leave her house.
Amy Adams plays a psychologist who suffers from agoraphobia. While in her home, she watches the family across the street from her place in the window. While peering out at them, she sees something she shouldn't and becomes obsessed with them and fixated on solving the crime.
The thriller boasts an all star cast, with Amy Adams as Dr. Anna Fox as well as Julianne Moore, Gary Oldman and Anthony Mackie. It premieres on May 14th on Netflix.
Run the World (STARZ, May 16)
Remember the tyranny of Lena Dunham's Girls, the atrocious show about Lena Dunham living her whitewashed fantasy of Brooklyn in a poor imitation of the equally problematic Sex and the City without the fashion or the iconic cast?
Finally, we have a balm to fill the gap Girls promised to fill: a show about women underrepresented on TV living life in New York City. Run the World follows four Black, female friends who live in Harlem as they navigate their jobs and relationships.
It promises lightheartedness as well as drama, and, as Insecure announces its farewell season, it also promises to deliver the same energy and representation as the Issa Rae production. The show stars Amber Stevens West, Andrea Bordeaux, Bresha Webb, and Corbin Reid as drastically different types of women who have an enviable friendship despite their divergent personalities.
It premieres on Starz on May 16th.
Twenties (BET, May 21)
The exact opposite of her horror-anthology Them and even her urban drama The Chi, Lena Waithe's series Twenties is another unbridled celebration of Black joy
The show is a semi-autobiographical retelling of Lena Waithe's own experiences as a young, Black, queer woman trying to make it as a writer in Hollywood. Filled with Black pop cultural references and the protagonist's enviable collection of vintage tees adorned with Black musicians, the show is a collection of Waithe's own tastes and appreciation for Black arts and culture in its purest form.
The fictionalized version of Waithe is a twenty-something named Hattie, played by Jonica T. Gibbs, a queer and aspiring screenwriter and her two best friends, as they all navigate relationships and professional aspirations in Los Angeles. The show is lighthearted, funny, and heartwarming, celebrating the joy of Black female friendships.
Season two promises higher emotional stakes but also more comedic joy. It returns on May 21st on BET.
Official Trailer: Pariah | Pariah Movie | Focus Features
