Remember when the start of summer meant nothing but reruns on TV and big blockbusters in theaters? You probably don’t, if you’re under the age of 25. Yet that’s life in the streaming age, where there’s always a rich assortment of new movie and show releases to enjoy, as featured each week in Consequence ’s Stream On newsletter. ( Subscribe here! )
This month, there was a new Star Wars story for the smaller screens, the high-profile releases of some Emmy contenders (next year, anyway), and some great independent films that made their way to streaming platforms. We’ve also got some great docs covering the worlds of stand-up, music distribution, and theater, a fresh take on the superhero genre, and however you might describe the brilliance that emerges from Julio Torres’ wonderful brain. Check out the best of June below, including the Pick of the Month selection! (All other entries are sorted alphabetically.)
Pick of the Month: Am I OK? (Film)
AM I OK?<\/i> by Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne, an official selection of the Premieres section at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by James Clark.\r\rAll photos are copyrighted and may be used by press only for the purpose of news or editorial coverage of Sundance Institute programs. Photos must be accompanied by a credit to the photographer and\/or 'Courtesy of Sundance Institute.' Unauthorized use, alteration, reproduction or sale of logos and\/or photos is strictly prohibited.","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"All photos are copyrighted and may be used by press only for the purpose of news or editorial coverage of Sundance Institute pro","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"AM I OK? \u2013\u00a0Still 1","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="AM I OK? Review" data-large-file="https://consequence.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/AmIOK-1-e1643125360928.jpeg?quality=80&w=1024" data-medium-file="https://consequence.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/AmIOK-1-e1643125360928.jpeg?quality=80&w=300" data-orig-file="https://consequence.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/AmIOK-1-e1643125360928.jpeg?quality=80" data-orig-size="1200,675" data-permalink="https://consequence.net/2024/06/am-i-ok-review-dakota-johnson/am-i-ok-still-1/" height="675" src="https://consequence.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/AmIOK-1-e1643125360928.jpeg?quality=80" width="1200"/>
Am I OK? (Max)
Directed by: Tig Notaro, Stephanie Allynne Cast: Dakota Johnson, Sonoya Mizuno, Jermaine Fowler, Kiersey Clemons, Molly Gordon, Tig Notaro, Sean Hayes Streaming on: Max
A tiny yet delightful and funny film about friendship, starring Dakota Johnson and Sonoya Mizuno as BFFs whose bond is put to the test due to some major life changes, including Johnson’s Lucy coming to realize, at the age of 32, that her sexuality might not be as straightforward as she thought. Directors Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne bring so much nuance to every scene, and most importantly know how to bring out Johnson’s best work (some actors only thrive when properly directed). For more, be sure to read our own Mary Siroky’s review , from the film’s Sundance 2022 premiere.
The Acolyte (TV)
The Acolyte (Disney+)
Created by: Leslye Headland Cast: Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, Joonas Suotamo, Carrie-Anne Moss Streaming on: Disney+
I feel like I’m a bit in the minority for liking the newest Star Wars show as much as I do, but between some solid performances, a fresh perspective on the franchise (no Skywalkers, no Empire, just some Jedi with some complicated secrets), and Carrie-Anne Moss doing actual goddamn jedi-fu , it really did win me over.
The Bear Season 3 (TV)
The Bear (FX)
Created by: Christopher Storer Cast: Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, Abby Elliott, Matty Matheson Streaming on: Hulu
I’ll confess that for me personally, no episode in Season 3 lives up to Season 2’s “Forks” . But that’d be tough for any TV show to pull off (“Forks” is a masterpiece, after all) and as Clint Worthington details in his review , there’s an awful lot to appreciate about the return of FX’s awards juggernaut. Not to mention the fact that the soundtrack is a wild and eclectic thing to behold .
Go ahead and savor this season, is my suggestion. Don’t rush through it. There aren’t any epic twists or spoilers or cameos you’ll want to protect yourself against (the biggest cameos, in fact, arrive relatively early in the season). And it rewards a slower pace.
Clipped (TV)
Clipped (FX)
Created by: Gina Welch Cast: Laurence Fishburne, Ed O’Neill, Jacki Weaver, Cleopatra Coleman, Kelly AuCoin, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Rich Sommer, Corbin Bernsen, Clifton Davis, Harriet Sansom Harris Streaming on: Hulu
The newest FX limited series from executive producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson (who also work with Ryan Murphy on the American Crime Story series) is focused on a very specific moment in time: The spring of 2014, when the LA Clippers (yes, Los Angeles has two basketball teams, truly we are blessed) finally made strides towards winning an actual NBA championship. That success was thanks to new coach Doc Rivers (Laurence Fishburne) and no thanks to the team’s grotesque and racist owner Donald Sterling (Ed O’Neill) — especially after shocking audio recordings of Sterling making racist comments to his mistress V. Stiviano (Cleopatra Coleman) were leaked.
The scandal itself is fascinating, but the way the show depicts its characters struggling with its ramifications is equally fascinating . Also, Ed O’Neill’s unbelievable (and I’m not just saying that because he was a great interview ) and LeVar Burton not only plays himself, but his scenes with Doc are arguably the show at its best.
Fancy Dance (Film)
Fancy Dance (Apple TV+)
Directed by: Erica Tremblay Cast: Lily Gladstone, Isabel DeRoy-Olson, Ryan Begay, Crystle Lightning, Audrey Wasilewski, Shea Whigham Streaming on: Apple TV+
Lily Gladstone gets an incredible showcase in this darker-than-expected character drama about a woman trying to track down her missing sister, with her sister’s daughter along for the ride. It’s a unique character-driven story rooted in the Native identity of its characters, detail-rich from beginning to end, a tight 90 minute runtime, and did I mention how good Gladstone is in it? (She’s very, very good.)
Fantasmas (TV)
Fantasmas (HBO)
Created by: Julio Torres Cast: Julio Torres, Martine Gutierrez, Tomas Matos, Joe Rumrill Streaming on: Max
This wild HBO comedy series features the fearlessly inventive, too-brilliant-for-words Julio Torres as an artist named Julio Torres, bewildered by the world around him but full of great ideas for how to improve it (a common theme in his work): Strange, sweet, hilarious, and full of surprises, Fantasmas is a true confection of comedy. Stay, at least, for the Steve Buscemi cameo in Episode 1. You won’t be disappointed. Also, streaming now on Max is Problemista , Torres’ feature directorial debut, and it’s equally delightful: If nothing else, anyone who’s ever had to contend with that loathsome entity known as Filemaker Pro will experience deep visceral catharsis by the end of this film. Also, stay through the credits for an incredible Bank of America joke.
While originally based on a true story , this collaboration between director Richard Linklater and star Glen Powell (they wrote the script together) takes some wild turns by the end. A true blend of genres, including comedy, drama, true crime, and thriller, there are some sequences that really deliver on the thriller aspect, while Powell’s often hilarious as an undercover fake assassin whose many identities lead to him having a whole new sense of self. Adria Arjona is also a real knockout here, finally getting a role more interesting than “lady who might have feelings for Dr. Michael Morbius,” and hopefully launching her career onto a whole new level.
How Music Got Free (TV)
How Music Got Free (Paramount+)
Directed by: Alex Stapleton Streaming on: Paramount+
I was describing this two-part documentary to a friend just recently, and it was the words “narrated by Method Man” which sold her on checking it out. Though the rapper’s irreverent narration is just one reason to watch this compelling look back at the digital pioneers (or in the federal goverment’s eyes, criminals) who were responsible for the rise of spreading music online in the late ’90s and early 2000s. If nothing else, it’s amusing to hear just how paranoid Eminem got about digital security after The Eminem Show was leaked in 2002 — directly from Eminem (a producer as well as interview subject).
Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution (Film)
Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution (Netflix)
Directed by: Page Hurwitz Featuring: Tig Notaro, Rosie O’Donnell, Eddie Izzard, Lily Tomlin, Sandra Bernhard, Patti Harrison, Joel Kim Booster, Billy Eichner, Lea DeLaria, Wanda Sykes, Marsha Warfield, Margaret Cho, Mae Martin, Fortune Feimster, Trixie Mattel, Mario Cantone, Scott Thompson, Hannah Gadsby, many more Streaming on: Netflix
This documentary is the most Pride Month-y thing I’ve seen yet this year (complimentary), a sharp look at the history of queer stand-up comedy. Director Page Hurwitz brings together a remarkable collection of talking heads — including some unheralded pioneers in the space — to break down how bad it used to be… and the ways in which it’s gotten better.
Red Queen (TV)
Red Queen (Prime Video)
Directed by: Koldo Serra Cast: Vicky Luengo, Hovik Keuchkerian, Alex Brendemühl, Nacho Fresneda Streaming on: Prime Video
I really dig the main character of this Spanish thriller, described as “the smartest woman in the world” and heavily burdened by that status. While she’s introduced in a very grim way (imagining several different ways to die by suicide), the show itself has a lot of life to it, in part thanks to Antonia’s new partner and a compelling mystery at its core.
Slave Play. Not A Movie. A Play. (Film)
Slave Play. Not a Movie. A Play. (HBO)
Directed by: Jeremy O. Harris Streaming on: Max
As someone who really enjoys live theater but doesn’t get to see too much of it, I’m always fascinated by attempts to translate that experience to the screen. Director Jeremy O. Harris does not do that with his documentary about the creation and development of his headline-making play — instead, it’s more like a portrait of the development process, and perhaps the best possible way to understand Harris’s intentions as a creator. Basically, if you saw all the commentary around the play during its original Broadway run but never really understood what was going on, this will offer some insight.
Supacell (TV)
Supacell (Netflix)
Created by: Rapman Cast: Tosin Cole, Adelayo Adedayo, Yasmin Monet Prince, Eddie Marsan, Nadine Mills, Eric Kofi-Abrefa, Calvin Demba, Josh Tedeku, Rayxia Ojo, Giacomo Mancini, Michael Salami, Travis Jay Streaming on: Netflix
With Marvel slowing down the pace of its superhero content, this is the perfect time for fresh voices to play in this realm, and the new Netflix series Supacell is a perfect example of that. Well-directed by the artist known as Rapman, this series features four Londoners living complicated lives who unexpectedly get superpowers… as well as a chilling glimpse at a dark future. Some elements might feel a little familiar, but the way they’re remixed here is solid, and for Doctor Who fans — look, it’s Ryan!
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