We Need Another Moment

Last month I covered the movie phenomena known as “Barbinheimer.” Sadly, as good as “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” are, nothing of note came out, in my opinion. The only new movie I saw was “Talk to Me,” which only horror fans would appreciate. I saw the amazing “Sound of Freedom” again and also saw “Barbie” again. I would have seen “Oppenheimer” again if it were not three hours long.

I’m looking forward to seeing the thriller “The Good Mother” starring Hillary Swank. It’s the story of a mother losing a son to a drug-related death. Many of you know I lost my brother in the exact same way in April, and I went down a rabbit hole of OxyContin stories, but I’m excited to see this on the big screen. To my horror-loving fans, I’m super excited about “Don’t Look Away,” which has an0 “It Follows” feel, and I loved that movie. And finally, I’m can’t wait to see “My Big Fat Greek Wedding III.” I really love this franchise.

So now to the streaming world …

Max (formerly known as HBO)

• “Every Secret Thing” I don’t know how I missed this movie when it was released in 2017, but it is an excellent “did they/didn’t they” thriller until literally the last minute - I never figured it out! Diane Lane and Elizabeth Banks are perfectly cast as mother and detective.

Apple

• “The Morning Show” I rewatched the last two episodes of the last season to prepare for the new season dropping September 12. This is a hard show as it’s the story of the Matt Lauer fallout at NBC; of course, all names are changed. This may be triggering to survivors of sexual abuse so please proceed with caution.
• “Ted Lasso” This one called for another rewatch because in September I was in the actual Richmond in England. Yes, I sat at the pub and the famous red bench. I wish I could edit the language in this show, but I still say the last two episodes are two of the best hours of television ever.

Netflix
A little side note about Netflix and the password crackdown, which Netflix claims was a huge financial success. Many of the people “in the industry” that I follow say it was not a huge success. Who knows?

• “Painkiller” This incredible series is led by Peter Berg, one of my favorites because he is the man who gave us “Friday Night Lights.” Also Taylor Kitsch (forever Tim Riggins in my heart) stars. Taylor actually lived this OxyContin nightmare with his sister. He took her in and monitored her sobriety for seven years, so he was passionate about this project. Based on the New York Times story that sounded the alarm 10 years before the rest of the world heard of the drug, this is not only a well done series, but it is important. I’d even recommend older teens watching with parents. My brother started smoking pot at 15. By 18, he was on cocaine. He was smart and had potential. At 50, he was found dead in a hotel room with OxyContin, heroin, fentanyl and meth in his system. No drug is recreational. In my mind, that is simply a fact.
• “The Pharmacist” Continuing my OxyContin rabbit hole, this docuseries follows a pharmacist who lost his son to an OxyContin deal-gone-wrong in New Orleans. He then started researching OxyContin and “pain clinic” doctors. It’s raw and personal. I loved it.
• “Umma” If you like creepy movies and Sandra Oh, this is for you. Sandra is an adult haunted by her mother’s abuse to the point she is raising her own daughter totally off the grid. It does get scary towards the end.

Hulu

• “Dopesick” Based on the book by the same name, this one also required a rewatch from me.
• “Only Murderers in the Building” I’ve yet to see this myself but all my peeps who are watching it are loving it.

Amazon Prime

• “Champions” If you missed this Woody Harrelson-led comedy about a basketball team of Down syndrome young adults, you can stream it now. It is so sweet but again, watch out for foul language.
• “Shelter” This series based on the book by Harlan Coben is so good. It’s a series John and I can watch together.

Paramount Plus

• “Special Ops: Lioness” This series created by “Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan stars Zoe Saldana and Nicole Kidman. If you like FBI/CIA type shows, this is a good one for you.

Next month, I’ll have up close and personal “Ted Lasso” information and will have followed the Easy Company’s trail from the phenomenal HBO series “Band of Brothers.” Until then, pass the popcorn……