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 sifts 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?
Personality Crisis: One Night Only (8/10) – Showtime
Wait… Martin Scorsese has more than one film coming out in 2023? We all know about Killers of the Flower Moon, which is one of the most anticipated films of the year, but over on Showtime, Scorsese and his co-director, David Tedeschi, deliver a brand new music/concert documentary. Personality Crisis: One Night Only places a spotlight right on the life, career, and legacy of New York Dolls front man, David Johansen. Moving away from his punkier roots, he gets up in front of an intimate club crowd to perform some soulful jams that will make you rethink his musicality. Part biopic doc and part concert film, this well directed (of course) and raw film captures the immense talent of this talented yet overlooked performer. Oh… and the music is great too.
Buster, Baby (8/10) – YouTube
There is a charming little, short film you have probably never heard of waiting on YouTube for you to discover. Isn’t that exciting? Susan-Kate Heaney is a talented and charismatic performer who has plenty of heart and laughs to provide you with in her short film, Buster, Baby. In just a few minutes, this film delivers on the working woman struggles, as well as the struggles of a working actor. From the opening shot of Buster Keaton faces, we know we are in for a wonderful time. The film is silent and black and white, and leans heavily into the physical comedy that was Keaton’s trademark. You will laugh and smile more than you thought you could in a few minutes. The cherry on top is just how adorable that titular baby is too.
Hilma (6/10) – VOD
What do Lass Hallström, his wife, Lena Olin, and his daughter, Tora, have in store for you in this new biopic? Hilma sheds light on the life, love, and works of acclaimed abstract artist Hilma af Klint. This film captures the quirky and beautiful visual stylings of Hallström. There are strong performances by both his daughter and his wife as this iconic artist at different times in her life. The film does not wander too far from the expected biopic path, but these elements certainly help elevate the experience for the audience. There is even an intriguing love affair at the core of the film that adds layers as well. This one makes for an engaging little experience, and the legacy of Hilma deserves the attention.
Little Richard: I Am Everything (7/10) – VOD
Who is one of the most under-praised pioneers of all things rock ’n roll? Little Richard. I Am Everything ventures to capture the charisma, accomplishments, and overall influence of such a figure. That is a towering feat. Little Richard is legitimately one of the most charismatic performers in the history of music, and he has created some of the most iconic songs to grace the early rock ’n roll period of music. This documentary might struggle to avoid the basic structure of documentary rock biopics, but it succeeds on the wings of the sheer impressiveness of Richard himself. This is a worthwhile and engaging film that gives a safe but bright spotlight on this fascinating figure.
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