The weekend is here, so it's time to relax and catch up on our what-to-watch list. From Albuquerque to Amity Island, Cheddar's digital team might have a few suggestions to get you through.
NOTE: Spoilers possible. Proceed with caution.
Sweet Tooth: Season 1 - Netflix
Picked by Copy Editor Mike Nam
Stop me if you heard this one before: a dark, post-apocalyptic America where a young protagonist must contend with the fascist, bigoted military powers doing unspeakable things. Yet, the young hero is a boy with the features of a deer guided by a violent, haunted man with a past (but a heart of gold) and a young woman searching for her own redemption. Netflix's Sweet Tooth is an adaptation of Jeff Lemire's darker comic series made more whimsical and, well, actually sweet. Also, it's been renewed for a second season for those who might be wary of a Netflix one-and-done.
The Movies That Made Us: Season 2 - Netflix
Picked by Copy Editor Mike Nam
From recasting the lead in Back to the Future halfway through production to how a tragic tale of a Los Angeles sex worker's tryst with a corporate raider became the megahit romantic comedy Pretty Woman, The Movies That Made Us takes a nostalgic look back at some of the biggest box office blockbusters of the '80s and '90s for a second time.
Neo-Noir Collection - Criterion Channel
Picked by Cheddar Reporter Alex Vuocolo
With so many streaming riches to choose from, it's nice when a platform packages up its selections in a neat, thematic bow. The Criterion Channel — known for its extensive catalog of classic, arthouse, and foreign film — does exactly that every month with its "Collections," which highlight a particular director, actor, time period, or subgenre. This month, Criterion assembled 26 films under the label of "Neo-Noir," a lesser-known but still rich film tradition going back to the 1970s. What makes a flick neo-noir? That's a topic for debate, but really anything that refers back to the hardboiled genre of the '40s and '50s while also subverting it usually qualifies.
Look no further than Criterion's stacked list for some examples. The collection spans from New Hollywood classics such as Chinatown (1974) and Night Moves (1975), both moody riffs on the detective genre, to more hyper-stylized noirs such as the neon-lit serial killer procedural Manhunter (1986) and the gorgeous Philadelphia-set conspiracy thriller Blow Out (1981). Really there's something for everybody, assuming you're down for some downbeat crime cinema.
Wrath of Man - Amazon Prime Video
Picked by Cheddar Reporter Alex Vuocolo
English director Guy Richie remains, despite several ill-advised forays into blockbuster cinema, a product of the post-Tarantino, postmodern, post-90s crime tradition. If you like that sort of thing (twisty plots, smart-ass dialogue, violent physical gags) you've probably seen Snatch or Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. While I usually find his work derivative and even obnoxious, his latest effort, Wrath of Man, hit me like an armoured truck (see the plot for the pun). It retains Richie's penchant for silly tough-guy dialogue and needlessly convoluted plots, while also delivering an engrossing revenge story and some truly spectacular action sequences, which are not for the faint of heart but will leave others in slack-faced awe. Wrath of Man is a tall glass of action-concentrate, with plenty of pulp. Take a big swig and thank me later.
Better Call Saul - AMC+
Picked by Producer Lawrence Banton
In an attempt to send some support to actor Bob Odenkirk as he recovers from a heart-related incident while filming recently, consider watching AMC’s Better Call Saul. The Breaking Bad spin-off and prequel follows the origin story of Jimmy McGill and how he became the sleazy lawyer we would come to know as Saul Goodman. Much like Breaking Bad, the show starts off as a slow burn, but the storyline is sure to keep you hooked. There are five illustrious seasons to enjoy, and though Odenkirk’s in recovery, the highly anticipated 6th Season is expected to close out the series.
Jaws, Jaws 2, Jaws 3, Jaws the Revenge - Amazon Prime
Picked by Sr. News Editor Dina Ross
With a new month arriving, Amazon is about to win the summer classic movie race (if that's a thing). All of the Jaws movies are about to hit Prime Streaming on Sunday, August 1. While the technology of the 1975 original might not hold up by today's standards, there's no question that fear of what's lurking in the water never gets old. So now that it's hot, hot, hot outside, settle in for a Jaws marathon — and don't forget to beware of what's in the water.
Looking for more to watch? Check out our recommendations from last week and the week before.
