My month of streaming
This article is a part of a daily content material sequence the place I evaluation my favourite motion pictures and reveals that I streamed from the month. Check out my articles from January, February and March to seek out out what else I’ve been watching in 2025.
That’s proper, I’m again with one other streaming roundup and it has been one other eventful few weeks of latest titles and outdated favorites on the most effective streaming companies. Last month, I used to be pleasantly pleased with all of the titles I ticked off my watchlist, and whereas April had some very excessive highs, it additionally had its lows.
Speaking of highs, I used to be stunned with a number of the new episodes in Black Mirror season 7 after not being completely entertained from seasons 5 and 6, and needed to severely maintain again the tears whereas watching Jesse Eisenberg’s Oscar-winning A Real Pain (2024). But this month I used to be going via a severe film musical part, with three of the 9 spots in my listing going to a few of my favourite musical variations.
Though there have been some titles that I did not fairly heat as much as, I’ve included them anyway as they’ve been integral to my April streaming schedule, but additionally to remind myself of what to keep away from watching subsequent month.
A Real Pain (2024)
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Director: Jesse Eisenberg
Age ranking: R
Runtime: 89 minutes
Where to stream: Hulu (US); Disney+ (UK & AU)
All the discuss A Real Pain throughout this yr’s awards season made me really feel like I used to be lacking out on one thing. It wasn’t till I used to be lastly capable of stream it on Disney+ I spotted that I used to be lacking out large time, and it is simply the most effective film I’ve streamed this month.
The appearing and writing mixture can actually make or break a film, however Jesse Eisenberg nailed it with A Real Pain, whose screenplay is taken to a different degree with the assistance of Kieran Culkin’s shifting appearing efficiency.
A visit to Poland brings two mismatched cousins David (Eisenberg) and Benji (Culkin) collectively who set out on a Jewish heritage tour in Poland to recollect their late grandmother. As they settle into their journey, previous tensions floor as they traverse via essentially the most triggering places that hit dwelling for them as members of the Jewish neighborhood.
Black Mirror
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Creator: Charlie Brooker
Age ranking: TV-MA
Episode runtime: ~40 minutes
Where to stream: Netflix (US, UK & AU)
One of the most important new streaming releases this month was Netflix’s sci-fi dystopian anthology sequence Black Mirror, which returned for a seventh season after a two yr absence. In its newer days Black Mirror has stumbled relating to sustaining the shock issue that made followers fall in love with it within the first place, and after a below-average fifth and sixth season it wanted to enhance itself. Thankfully, it got here via.
While not all of its new episodes struck a chord with me (primarily Plaything) I wasn’t completely disenchanted with what I watched and thought that the episodes’ premises have been fascinating to say the least. I notably preferred the commentary of subscription companies in Common People and was moved by the emotional drama within the episodes Eulogy and Hotel Reverie, the latter being one all cinephiles ought to watch.
If you are all caught up on the current season, check out what we considered it with my colleague Lucy’s rating of Black Mirror season 7’s episodes.
The Last Showgirl (2024)
Director: Gia Coppola
Age ranking: R
Runtime: 108 minutes
Where to stream: Mubi (US, UK)
I used to be very excited to see The Last Showgirl land on Mubi just lately as I had simply missed it within the cinema, nevertheless it did not dwell as much as the expectations that I had reserved for it. Nonetheless, it packs an ideal solid with Pamela Anderson within the lead, with Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, Billie Lourd, and Jason Schwartzman in supporting roles.
Anderson performs a seasoned Las Vegas showgirl who has devoted the previous few a long time of her profession to considered one of Vegas’ most famous stage reveals. But when she’s informed that the residency is scheduled to shut, she’s left in a state of uncertainty and would not know what this might imply for her future.
The Terminator (1984)
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Director: James Cameron
Age ranking: R
Runtime: 108 minutes
Where to stream: Max (US); Prime Video (UK & AU)
I watched The Terminator on a whim on Sunday partly as a result of I hadn’t seen it earlier than and felt obliged to observe it – being among the finest sci-fi motion motion pictures in spite of everything. I perceive the way it’s earned its status, it simply takes quite a bit for me to love a scfi-fi. Not to overlook that Arnold Schwarzenegger is simply the most important unit I’ve ever seen.
The Terminator (Schwarzenegger) is a cyborg murderer who’s despatched to Earth from the yr 2029 with one mission, and that is to murderer Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton). When he tracks her down her life is on the road, which is why spearhead of AI system Skynet Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) is shipped to avoid wasting Sarah understanding that her unborn son will function their key to profitable a nuclear battle within the distant future.
One Day (2024)
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Age ranking: TV-MA
Episode runtime: ~18 minutes
Where to stream: Netflix (US,UK & AU)
This month I lastly obtained round to watching One Day and sure, I’m conscious that I’m late. When the restricted sequence was first launched on Netflix I bear in mind everybody simply could not cease speaking about it, which was a part of the explanation I laid off it for some time. And additionally as a result of I’ve a tumultuous historical past with ending sequence, even when they’re among the many greatest Netflix reveals.
I did not love One Day as a lot as the following individual, ending the present felt like a little bit of a chore, but it surely’s not the worst factor I’ve ever seen come from Netflix (*cough* Emilia Pérez)
The restricted sequence is predicated on David Nicholls’ 2009 novel of the identical title, One Day is a romance story following the 14 year-long relationship between its protagonists Emma Morley (Ambika Mod) and Dexter Mayhew (Leo Woodall). Starting with their assembly at commencement in 1988, every episode jumps one yr centering on the couple whether or not collectively or aside, revealing how their relationship evolves after going their separate methods.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
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Director: Mel Stuart
Age ranking: G
Runtime: 100 minutes
Where to stream: Max (US); ITVX (UK); Foxtel Now, Binge (AU)
What can I say about this film apart from how a lot I like it as a standalone film musical. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is without doubt one of the motion pictures that outlined my childhood together with different film musicals, but it surely’s the fantastical units and the presence of Gene Wilder that made this film a specific stand-out for me.
Before Mel Stuart made among the finest film musicals ever, it was Roald Dahl who launched story of Willy Wonka in his well-known youngsters’s e book, and would go on to put in writing the screenplay for its film adaptation.
Famed but enigmatic chocolatier Willy Wonka (Wilder) sparks a world competitors that enables 5 fortunate winners of golden tickets to have a non-public tour of his chocolate manufacturing unit. Among the grasping and spoiled youngsters that win is a younger and humble, but very poor boy named Charlie (Peter Ostrum), who every encounter their very own distinctive destiny whereas on the tour.
Grease (1978)
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Director: Randal Kleiser
Age ranking: PG
Runtime: 110 minutes
Where to stream: Peacock (US); Netflix, Paramount+ (UK & AU)
The second film musical in my listing is a must-watch if you happen to’re a fan of the style. I bear in mind watching Grease at a really younger and turn out to be obsessive about each John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John of their respective roles, but it surely was at all times Rizzo that I had a mushy spot for. While it is not my favourite film musical it is definitely one of many very first examples that launched me to the style.
Set in the course of the early days of rock n’ roll, Grease is considered one of the summertime motion pictures. High college greaser Danny Zuko (Travolta) and charming change scholar Sandy (Newton-John) discover themselves hooked to one another in a summer time romance. Coming from two completely different highschool cliques, the 2 of them navigate the challenges of a cross-clique love story via the world of film drive-ins, and numerous vibrant musical numbers.
Annie Hall (1977)
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Director: Woody Allen
Age ranking: PG
Runtime: 110 minutes
Where to stream: Prime Video, Hoopla, Pluto TV (US); Prime Video (UK & AU)
Being a staple romance drama film I needed to see what Annie Hall was all about, and having a 90-minute runtime signifies that it is a good and straightforward night watch. Despite his controversy, Woody Allen crafts a singular character that is not afraid to allow us to in, however whereas I can respect the film as a beloved basic I could not assist however discover myself being, dare I say, somewhat bored.
Successful comic Alvy Singer (Allen) recollects the downfall of his relationship with singer Annie Hall (Diane Keaton) in a 90-minute lengthy recap of the highs and lows of their time being collectively. Reflecting on his childhood and talking on to the viewers via a sequence of fourth-wall breaks, relating to his private life, Singer bares all.
Chicago (2002)
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Director: Rob Marshall
Age ranking: PG-13
Runtime: 113 minutes
Where to stream: Hoopla (US); Prime Video (UK); Netflix, Stan (AU)
This month actually was the month of film musicals, and Rob Marshall’s 2002 film imagining of Chicago is the final one in my listing.
It might be troublesome for a filmmaker to translate the enjoyment of a stage musical to the massive display, however for me Chicago is a smash hit and it is not simply because my Welsh hero Catherine Zeta-Jones performs one of many main roles.
Set in the course of the Twenties Jazz Age, vaudeville sensation Velma Kelly (Zeta-Jones) and aspiring singer Roxie wind up in jail for homicide. Determined to get out expert lawyer Billy Flynn (Richard Gere) take son each of their circumstances turning the scenario right into a battle for fame and public consideration.
