We’re keeping it short and simple this month so as to go out and enjoy the lovely spring weather. But for quality inside viewing time, we recommend the following titles we’ve enjoyed this past month—

DEVI’S PICKS:

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE (in theaters): This movie is pure genius and the most fun I’ve had all year, one of the most inventive movies I’ve seen since THE BRAND NEW TESTAMENT, this one centers around existentialism, absurdism, martial arts, amazing eye candy and a whole lot of heart. The less you know going into it, the more delighted you will be. Don’t watch the trailer. Don’t read the reviews. Just see it. It is the perfect movie for these dark times providing the anecdote for what ails our troubled world, and you will never see a hot dog again and not think fondly of Jamie Lee Curtis. If this movie were a drug, I’d gladly become an addict.

RUSSIAN DOLL (series, Netflix): If you have not yet seen Season 1, by all means do and halfway through Season 2, I’ll pre-emtively say, ditto.” This mind-bending dramedy series by mega-talented co-creator/actress/writer/director Natasha Lyonne is one of the most original shows out there, combining Lyonne’s signature cynical wit with a fresh take on time-loop storytelling. As this, too, is best enjoyed with as little prior knowledge about it going in, I’ll suffice it to say, this female-driven dramedy will keep you laughing, guessing and admiring what a group of bright, talented woman come together in the spirit of unabandoned creativity.

SWEET TOOTH (series, Netflix): I’m torn on this one but feel compelled to recommend it for its fascinating and mostly very compelling take on a post-apocalyptic, pandemic world. Based on Jeff Lemire’s comic book of the same name, the series adaptation tones down the horror aspects of the original for broader audience appeal. The story takes place after “the sick”– a deadly virus that makes our own dystopic reality seem a little less daunting — has ravaged the world. It follows various storylines of how different people cope in this unforgiving new reality but mostly centers around the title character—a hybrid, children born half human, half other animal (in Gus’ case, he’s part deer)—and his journey to find the woman he believes if his mother, after his father dies when he’s nine. He’s interesting and endearing at first, but his lack of character growth and selfishly redundant behaviors that repeatedly put those trying to help him in peril, grows a bit tiresome. However, the subplot heroes, including a kickass woman who runs a refuge for hunted hybrids, a doctor who faces deep moral issues to save his infected wife, and an army of “lost children” who form an adult-free society that is half utopia, half Lord of the Flies, kept me interested and left me curious for Season 2.

AMY’S PICKS:

THE SINNER-SEASON ONE (Streaming on Netflix): The deadly violence that can erupt from repressed female anger is a major theme in the compelling series THE SINNER. Jessica Biel proves that she is a talent to be reckoned with as she shines in the leading role of Cora, a young mother accused of stabbing a man to death on a crowded beach in broad daylight. Her guilt is certain, but the case remains a mystery: Why did she do it? This intense crime thriller keeps its investigation focused on the story of Cora’s past life and the traumatic secret that explains her shocking act of violence. Biel served as an executive producer and the series is based on the novel by German crime writer Petra Hammersfahr.

THE SINNER-SEASON TWO (Streaming on Netflix): The second season of this series features three compelling female protagonists. This thriller/mystery series is the story of two women living in an oppressive commune dominated by a cult like leader and how it ties into the murder of a couple trying to flee with a young boy. The detective assigned to the murder case is a young African-American woman whose investigation forces her to reckon with her troubled past relationship with a woman whose disappearance haunts her. This season is a study in overcoming the toxicity of a suffocating patriarchal system.

We’ll be back next week with Amy’s latest movie review, and after a year hiatus due to the extensive writing demands of an intensive fiction workshop, Devi will be back soon after with the latest entry in her evolution of rom-com series. In the meantime, Enjoy the milder temps and hopefully some sun, too!

cheers,

Devi & Amy