Ten Movies to Stream, Best Picture Power Rankings, and an Ask Amanda Mailbag

Streaming Gems

Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins highlight standout films currently available on streaming platforms, emphasizing their must-watch status. They discuss Asghar Farhadi's latest masterpiece, available on Amazon Prime, which explores complex social dilemmas and moral questions, reminiscent of his previous acclaimed works 1. Amanda praises Mia Hansen-Løve's film for its intelligent yet playful storytelling, featuring a couple navigating creation and relationships on Bergman Island 2. Sean also mentions Benjamin Cleary's debut film, "Swan Song," starring Mahershala Ali, now accessible on Apple TV 3.

   

Literary Picks

Amanda Dobbins shares her literary recommendations, expressing a desire to see certain books adapted into films. She highlights "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt as a perfect candidate for adaptation, while also suggesting a redo of "The Goldfinch" 4. Amanda praises Kate Atkinson's "Life After Life" as her favorite novel of the last 20 years, alongside other works like "Pride and Prejudice" and "Americana" 5. She humorously discusses the movies she hopes her child will watch by age ten, including classics like "Singin' in the Rain" and "Bringing Up Baby" 6.