by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Welcome to the Buried Treasure of the Streaming World! This series takes a month’s worth of content at a time and sift out the buried treasure that exists on all forms of streaming. These films most likely fly under the radar, but now it is time to shine that spotlight on them and give them the attention they truly deserve. Time to dive in, shall we?
Violet (4/5 stars) VOD
Have you ever experienced a moment when the voice inside your head was just so negative and put you down? Whether it is legitimate anxiety or just a moment of shaken confidence, I think many people can relate to such a moment. But what if that voice was Justin Theroux and he just put you down nonstop until you give into these dark and unproductive thoughts? Writer-director Justine Bateman (yes… Jason’s sister) delivers this engrossing and bold look into these feels and torments. Olivia Munn is our Violet, who lives her life while her thoughts appear in cursive text on screen and Theroux’s cruel specter speaks out her dark thoughts aloud. This drama is incredibly creative in its storytelling and conveyance of emotions while delivering a relatable narrative full of workplace frustrations and relationship insecurities. Munn’s best performance and strong filmmaking make this one worth searching out on VOD.
Mogul Mowgli (4.5/5 stars) VOD
Who saw Sound of Metal… and why was it one of the best films released that year? If you loved that film, Mogul Mowgli is certainly your speed. Riz Ahmed follows up his career-best performance as a drummer with this role as a rapper who is slowly losing strength in all his limbs. Poor Ahmed… every film just wants to torture him and destroy his dreams! Director Bassam Tariq (before joining the MCU with Blade) delivers this engrossing drama full of personal perseverance, family dynamics, and deeply symbolic visions that one must confront. These boldly shot versions provide a unique spin on a story that is probably quite familiar for audiences now (especially after Sound of Metal). Ahmed and the rest of the supporting cast provide fantastic performances filling most scenes with meaningful and poignant drama. Do yourself a favor and check this out to solidify why Ahmed is one of the best at his craft.
The Capote Tapes (4/5 stars) VOD
How do you make a compelling documentary about one of the boldest and most unique personalities of a generation? Truman Capote was a terrific writer (In Cold Blood is a pioneer in the true crime genre) whose personality overcame this distinction and made him one of the most recognizable figures in pop culture. We have seen multiple actors bring Capote to life (the late, great Phillip Seymour Hoffman among them) but this documentary makes the audience see the man behind the personality. Told through commentary from many including his young ward, The Capote Tapes deliver plenty of documentary footage while also conveying the words and perspective of this enigmatic man. One of shorter stature and a voice that stands out amongst us all, this figure gets a genuine and meaningful tribute in the form of this quality documentary.
Tango Shalom (3.5/5 stars) VOD
How did I come about this fun little yarn of a Jewish man and his dream to dance the tango? Thank you, Robert Meyer Burnett, for plugging this all over social media so I would finally check it out. This little comedy is full of faith and a message about being true but also living your dreams. Jos Laniado leads the way as Moshe Yehuda who dreams of dance and fate finds him agreeing to dance with Viviana (Karina Smirnoff for all our Dancing with the Stars fans out there). But he cannot touch her! What ensues is a religious journey through different faiths to find the answer. You will laugh and want to get up and move through this feature length runtime. Where a huge budget wasn’t in the cards, Tango Shalom delivers economic laughs and charm along the way.
Mark, Mary + Some Other People (3.5/5 stars) VOD
Have you ever thought about going non-monogamous with your relationships before? Mark, Mary & Some Other People might be a good guide to whether that is a good idea. Hannah Marks wrote and directed this charming comedy about the complexities of relationships… involving many people. Ben Rosenfield and Hayley Law are our titular pair who ooze charisma and pitch perfect chemistry with each other. Their connection jumps off the screen, which makes it even more challenging to see them live through this non-monogamous adventure. Laughs and emotions run high as they see other people (together and apart) and try to find what they truly want out of relationships. Mary and Mark’s dynamic evolves and complicates along the way, but I just could never look away. This film is certainly a challenging one (which might leave the ending hart to swallow) as we see the rise and fall of this relationship. Show this unusual indie rom-com some love.
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