Weekly Film/TV Recs
Every week, we will share a film or TV show recommended by a LUX member, so check back here often! If you want to help us build this list, please fill out this form to submit your film/TV recommendation!
Image from NPR
Black is King
2020, directed by Emmanuel Adjei, Blitz Bazawule, and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
Watch on Disney+
Visual album from Beyoncé inspired by 'The Lion King' (IMDB).
Recommended by Jack Szvetecz
“An experimental musical so called "visual album" that exploits humanity in all its wonder, wealth, sex, and companionship. A classic Disney tale guides this brilliant and innovative modern film from Beyoncé to the glorious heights of a successfully executed blockbuster/arthouse hybrid.”
Image from SIFF
Cléo from 5 to 7
1962, directed by Agnès Varda
Watch on HBO or Kanopy
Suspecting that she has cancer, pop singer Cléo spends an afternoon in paranoia about her biopsy results coming in at 7:00. Cléo must learn to overcome her self-centered attitude and condescending “friends” to be at peace with whatever the biopsy says.
Recommended by Jonny Kwan
“This gem of the French New Wave era offers us a lesson in existentialism: what does it mean to live a life of liberation? The fantastic character designs and symbolism in this film make Varda’s answer clear as day. We may not all be fighting with vanity and misogyny, but we are still surrounded by reasons to be afraid and people who disparage us. We must learn how to live despite that oppression.”
Image from PBS
No Direction Home: Bob Dylan
2005, directed by Martin Scorsese
Watch on Netflix
A chronicle of Bob Dylan's strange evolution between 1961 and 1966 from folk singer to protest singer to "voice of a generation" to rock star (IMDB).
Recommended by Jack Szvetecz
“He is one of the greatest artists (if not the greatest) of a generation. As turbulent as the sixties were, this film focuses on one man, his origins, his loves, his art. Bob Dylan to me is one of the greatest poetic minds of all time. His words each have meaning beyond meaning. Martin's exploration of his 60s journey reflects how Dylan was not just viewed by other bohemians, but by culture itself.”
Image from Vanity Fair
The Shawshank Redemption
1994, directed by Frank Darabont
Watch on iTunes, Amazon Prime, or Hulu
Framed for murders he didn't commit, Andy Dufresne, a respectable banker, is sent to hell on Earth: Shawshank Prison. How does Andy cope with this undeserved situation? He gets busy livin’, and his determination will change the dismal world around him.
Recommended by Jonny Kwan
“This film is considered a classic for a reason. All the writing and cinematography is done so smartly, and this film’s armature is one our world needs to consider immediately: get busy living or get busy dying. Seeing the influence of Andy’s undying moxie is ridiculously satisfying; it will motivate you to be an Andy in your life.”
Image from NPR
Les Misérables
2019, directed by Ladj Ly
Watch on Amazon Prime
A cop from the provinces moves to Paris to join the Anti-Crime Brigade of Montfermeil, discovering an underworld where the tensions between the different groups mark the rhythm (IMDB).
Recommended by Jack Szvetecz
“I am recommending this film because in this age when our country is going through the examination of police and racial politics and policy, we should look at art from other not so different places where these issues are shown. This quite different installment of Les Misérables looks through an artistic realism lens at the community and its relationship to authority in the modern-day Parisian suburbs.”
Image from Variety
Miss Purple
2019, directed by Justin Chon
Watch on Hulu
Kasie (a young woman working as a karaoke bar hostess) reconnects with her brother Carey as they care for their dying dad. Growing up, they struggled in their relationship with their father and mother who abandoned them.
Recommended by Luke B. and Abigail Q.
“Directed by the one Asian dude in Twilight, or that one guy in KevJumba videos, pick your poison. I (Luke) am a fan because this movie is just reaaaallly pretty and pays some visual homage to Wong Kar Wai and Christopher Doyle. It’s also very slow, sentimental and moving. Give it a go!”
Image from Cinema Escapist
Save the Green Planet!
2003, directed by Jang Joon-hwan
Watch on Amazon Prime or Kanopy
Lee Byeong-gu has a mission. To stop aliens from destroying the earth. Believing that Kang Man-shik, a wealthy CEO, is one of the alien leaders, he kidnaps and tortures him in an attempt to get the suspected alien to confess and call off the planned destruction of the planet.
Recommended by Cheryl Lee
“This movie is insane. Watched it for a genre studies class and it's my favorite film so far. It's camp, horror, sci-fi, drama, detective, comedy, all wrapped up into one, charming, unassuming, but absolutely bonkers two hours. So bad, it's almost perfect. AND the lead looks like Brian.”
Image from Vulture
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse
2018, directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman
Watch on Netflix
Bitten by a radioactive spider in the subway, Brooklyn teenager Miles Morales suddenly develops mysterious powers that transform him into the one and only Spider-Man. When he meets Peter Parker, he soon realizes that there are many others who share his special, high-flying talents.
Recommended by Daniel Perez
“I am recommending this because every second of this movie is dripping in passion for the art and culture of film, comic books, and superheroes. Even a short google search will tell you a dozen really interesting facts about little details that show the effort and love put into this movie. Top that all off with an absolutely stunning Stan Lee cameo during a heartbreaking sequence, throw in excellent found-family and coming of age undertones, mix in a killer soundtrack, and you've got one of the best animated films of all time.”
Image from The Atlantic
A Hidden Life
2019, directed by Terrence Malick
Watch on iTunes or Amazon Prime
The Austrian Franz Jägerstätter, a conscientious objector, refuses to fight for the Nazis in World War II.
Recommended by Jack Szvetecz
“In his latest ‘painting,’ Malick presents a beautifully tragic story of defiance in the face of the state, society, and religion. ‘Not about state and liberty as much as good and evil. What does evil look like, what does it sound like, will we know when we know? What does good look like, what does it sound like, will we know when we know? A hidden life is but a fantasy as much as liberty is blessed upon us by the lord.’”
Image from /Film
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
2019, directed by Céline Sciamma
Watch on Hulu
In eighteenth century France, a painter is commissioned to do the wedding portrait of a woman opposed to the idea of being married off. The painter must do her work in secret, and observe the woman during the day. As the two spend more time together, they develop a connection.
Recommended by Tessa Homan
“I love every aspect of this film; it’s understated, but so effective. The two leads offer incredible performances, and the script allows them to play around with the subtleties of body language. The film is an amazing, emotional gut-punch, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it hours after I’d first watched it.”
Image from YouTube
honey boy
2019, directed by Alma Har’el
Watch on Amazon Prime
Written by Shia Labeouf and based on his life, this film follows a child actor’s experiences while living in LA with his alcoholic father and his experience as a young adult coming to terms with his past while in rehab.
Recommended by Reagan Welsh
“I love this film because it is an example of how personal film can be and how someone can use their past pain to create. It also has beautiful cinematography, phenomenal acting, and a great screenplay.”