“May” be you heard it’s a new month. And “May” be you know that means it’s time for a new round of movies to stream. You also “May” be tired of this “May” running joke at this point. Which is fine because it’s almost time for this preamble to end so we can actually get to this month’s movies.
As always, I’ve searched through Netflix, Prime Video, Max, Hulu, and Peacock to find you some worthwhile hidden gems you might want to stream this month.
Netflix: American Gangster (2007)
Denzel doing peak Denzel things. Ridley Scott fully in his bag. Russell Crowe being an absolute delight. American Gangster has it all. Including a banging Jay-Z soundtrack. Despite the title, American Gangster tends to get lost in the shuffle when we think about great gangster/mobster flicks. But with an all-star cast and legendary director at the helm it’s worthy of consideration in the genre and of a rewatch.
FOR FANS OF: Training Day; The Godfather; New Jack City
Prime Video: The Thin Red Line (1998)
After knocking off the socks of the entire film industry with Badlands and Days of Heaven, Terrence Malick famously disappeared for about 20 years before resurfacing with a new film. That film, The Thin Red Line, was well worth the wait. It’s one of the finest war movies ever made, but unlike any other you’ll ever encounter. Featuring a cast of just about every named actor in Hollywood at the time, The Thin Red Line is a remarkable cinematic experience. Strap in for the 3 hour runtime and enjoy the (most meditative) ride.
FOR FANS OF: Saving Private Ryan; Letters from Iwo Jima; Hacksaw Ridge
Max: Ikiru (1952)
We all love movies that make us feel something. Those deep emotional hits make watching movies worth it. There are few examples of that power that a movie can hold better than Akira Kurosawa’s Ikiru. Kurosawa is often just thought of as the king of samurai flicks – he is that as well. However, he also made some really great movies about his contemporary Japanese culture. Ikiru might be the best of those. Right up there with Seven Samurai or Rashomon as his most impressive filmmaking feat.
FOR FANS OF: Tokyo Story; Perfect Days; Living
Hulu: 22 Jump Street (2014)
There’s a good chance this is the funniest comedy sequel ever made. I’m not quite sure if it’s better than 21 Jump Street, but Lord and Miller seem to have so much more space for jokes with the meta commentary about the nature of sequels than the already hilarious concept of the original. Plus, Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill’s comedic chemistry if off the charts here. A third, fourth, or fifth movie in the series could certainly be overkill, but this team has proved they have the ability to up the ante for comedy when necessary. For now we can continue to appreciate Tatum’s hilarious delivery of the “my name Jeff” line.
FOR FANS OF: The Other Guys; Super Troopers; Neighbors
Peacock: Last Night in Soho (2021)
This Edgar Wright thriller kind of came and went when it was released almost four years ago. Despite not making the splash in the industry that you’d hope for with names like Anya Taylor-Joy and Thomasin McKenzie starring. But Last Night in Soho is still a fun ride. Like some other Edgar Wright movies, the plot doesn’t fully come together in the third act, but much of the rest of the movie more than makes up for it.
FOR FANS OF: Mulholland Drive; Perfect Blue; Barbarian
Make sure you check out all of these awesome options and let us know what you think. Also, be sure to let us know the best hidden gems you’ve streamed recently. Share in the comments and help us expand the list!
See you next month!
