What to Watch This Weekend: News of the World, Promising Young Woman, Sylvie's Love, Love Me, Soul, Twentieth Century, Dora, Photograph

We have a special Holiday-themed What to Watch with suggestions for streaming movies so you can stay in, stay warm, and avoid the cold.  Wishing everyone a happy and healthy holiday season!

For A Simpler Time: News of the World (Theaters)
News of the World shows the power of information and connection in a unique western setting, delivering a wonderful performance by Zengel and two hours of signature Tom Hanks!  For more information, check out the review!

For A Powerful And Darkly Comedic Story: Promising Young Woman (Theaters)
Promising Young Woman tells a dark tale with an amazingly bright style, sharp unapologetic writing, and painful lessons that will stay with you well after the credits roll.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Throw Back Jazz Love Story: Sylvie's Love (Amazon)

Sylvie's Love feels like a blend of modern sensibilities and a old time charm, with fantastic performances, wonderful music, and a striking classic film style.  For more information, check out the review!

For An Intricate And Intimate Romance Series: Love Me (Topic)

Love Me is a smart, realistic, and funny series about love and relationships that will touch both your funny bone and your heart.  For more information, check out the review!

For One Some Amazing Animation And Music: Soul (Disney+)

Soul will reinvigorate your heart and soul, with its stunning animation, wonderfully diverse characters and focus on black culture, and humorous and heartfelt story.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Ridiculous, Over The Top Experience: The Twentieth Century (Digital)
The Twentieth Century is so wonderfully different and strange that you will laugh and cringe at the odd characters, technicolor style, and biting satire.  For more information, check out the review!

For The Kids: Dora And The Lost City Of Gold (Amazon)
The live action movie based on the very popular animated kids show was a surprisingly good film, with a funny cast, plenty of Dora easter eggs, and an exciting story that will entertain young and older viewers. 

For A Love Story That Spans Time: The Photograph (HBO)

The Photograph provides a fresh romantic drama, with realistic characters in a modern story layered with an amazing jazz and hip-hop soundtrack and believable dialog.  For more information, check out the review!

What to Watch This Weekend: February 14, 2020

In Theaters: Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic the Hedgehog is an entertaining re-imagining of the classic video game.  It's wonderful performances, great special effects, and plenty of humor and callbacks to the game will quickly entertain you!  For more information, check out our review!

In Theaters: The Photograph

The Photograph tells a fresh romantic drama, with realistic characters in a modern story layered with an amazing jazz and hip-hop soundtrack and believable dialog.  For more information, check out our review!

At Redbox: Ford v Ferrari

Ford v Ferrari is a high octane experience with fantastic acting, a compelling story, and a combination of exhilarating sound and heart pumping race scenes that will make you think you are on the track!  For more information, check out our review!

Streaming (Netflix): To All The Boys P.S. I Still Love You

The follow up to Netflix's surpisingly entertaining teen rom-com continues the story of the characters that we met in the first movie and fans of the original should definitely put this on their Valentine's schedule.  And if you haven't seen the first one, make sure to check that out first! 

Streaming (Vudu Free With Ads): La La Land

La La Land is a celebration modern day Los Angeles and tells the story of two people pursuing their dreams in a city that is known to either make those come true, or crush them mercilessly.  This story is set against a backdrop of music and style that is intoxicating and exciting.   

Streaming (Amazon): Pati Patni Aur Woh

Pati Patni Aur Woh has entertaining moments with a likable cast who are put in some very ridiculous situations.  However, the film's rush to conclusion and desire to shoehorn a happy ending hurts the overall message.  For more information, check out our review!

Review: The Photograph

Release date: February 14, 2020
Running time: 106 minutes
Starring: LaKeith Stanfield, Issa Rae, Chelsea Peretti 

The Photograph tells an unrealistic romantic drama with realistic characters.  Michael (Stanfield) is a talented writer working on a story about loss in Louisiana.  Mae (Rae) is an art museum curator who happens to be the daughter of a talented photographer.  The two's paths cross due to Mae's mother's photography, leading the two into a complicated relationship.  

The Photograph's main story is actually two stories in one: part of it is the story of Michael and Mae; the other part is an important relationship for Mae's mother.  These stories are told in increments, with flashbacks from the main story occurring to flesh out more of Mae's mother's life.  Despite these stories taking place decades apart, they deal with similar themes.  Learning more about Mae's mother's life helps to understand Mae's perspective; seeing the choices and sacrifices she made helps flesh out Mae's character.  And these characters are very well realized.  They thankfully do not follow your typical relationship movie tropes and feel much more authentic than you would normally get.  Aside from Michael and Mae, there are a few additional characters that help move the story and Michale and Mae's relationship along.  Additionally, some provide comic relief, particularly Michael's brother (Lil Rel Howery).  His lines and entertainment are especially entertaining and his humor helps to humanize these characters.  

These realistic characters also have mostly believable dialog.  There are some cheesy romantic movie lines, but for the most part the dialog is smart and well thought out.  But one of the most impressive aspects of this film is the soundtrack.  There is a mix of jazz, blues, and hip-hop (sometimes in the same songs) to really provide some exciting ambiance to the film.  The soundtrack is not overpowering, but it is essentially to set the mood and give insight into what is happening on screen.  The one negative about The Photograph is that the story is a long one with some pacing issues.  The movie starts off slowly, which I appreciate, but unfortunately slows down in the middle of the film as well.  However, this should not dissuade you from seeing this film.  The Photograph provides a fresh perspective on a romantic drama, with an all black cast and some aspects that take sharp deviations from your typical romantic movie plot.  

The Photograph provides a fresh romantic drama, with realistic characters in a modern story layered with an amazing jazz and hip-hop soundtrack and believable dialog.

Watch It