Posts tagged streaming now
Mommy Dead and Dearest

For a deeper understanding of Munchausen-by-proxy syndrome, whereby a mother abuses her own child to seek personal sympathy and attention, this documentary is it. For almost 20 years, Dee Dee Blancharde fed daughter Gypsy Rose numerous drugs which induced horrible medical symptoms. Meanwhile, her massive fraud resulted in free trips, housing, and gifts and money from the surrounding community. In the incredulity of it all, you feel utter hatred toward Dee Dee, but are at least hopeful for Gypsy, who is now healthy and likely to receive her father’s support when she's up for parole in 2024. 
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The Edge of Seventeen

2016. Directed by Kelly Fremon Craig. Written by Kelly Fremon Craig. 
Coming-of-age movies are always fun ('80s = Breakfast Club/Pretty in Pink/Heathers, '90s = Clueless, '00s = Mean Girls) and in 2017, I really loved the Edge of 17. Today's darn kids have just as much neurosis, as many parental and adult relationship issues. There are hilarious lol moments, awkward moments, and the moments when you realize who's really worth loving. Hailee Steinfeld is a joy to watch.
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Equity

2016. Directed by Meera Menon. Written by Amy Fox, Sarah Megan Thomas, Alysia Reiner and Amy Fox. 

For any woman who’s climbed the corporate ladder, this film, led by an all-woman production team, provides an interesting study of the sexism that exists in male-dominated industries such as technology and finance, but also the competition among women themselves for the top spots they seldom hold. Anna Gunn’s character shines, and the film arc is steadily-paced with an interesting plot-line (and amusing subplots) that are just complex enough to keep us pleasantly entertained to the end.
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Soaked in Bleach

This docudrama debunks what we've been sold about Kurt Cobain’s suicide, suggesting instead that homicide was the cause of death, with fingers pointed at Courtney Love. For any Gen X’er, Cobain was a music icon and Nirvana the catalyst of mid ‘90s grunge rock. Interviews with friends, and private and crime scene investigators, assert that the Seattle Police Department bungled the entire case. We learn Cobain was of a happy disposition leading up to his death, and was planning on leaving Love and removing her from his will; their pre-nup would have left her with very little. Instead, Cobain died, and Love continues to benefit from his estate—to this day valued at up to a billion dollars in ongoing royalty payments. Thumbs Up 👍

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Twinsters

The incredible story of identical twin sisters separated at birth, adopted by two different families across the world, only to learn of each other by a chance sighting in a YouTube video. More astounding is the twins' intrinsic similarity, despite their  cross-cultural backgrounds; a zero-ing in on the concept of "nature vs nurture." A beautiful, emotional ride and a top documentary of the year. Thumbs Up 👍

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Master of None

Laugh-out-loud moments, a killer soundtrack, millennial plight and the first-generation American experience make this series pure binge-worthy joy. We join Dev Shah (Aziz Ansari) and his best friends in their tech-enabled lifestyles, hip New York haunts, pop culture musings, romantic escapades, and discussions on the uncertainties of independent, modern love. We also get a taste of what it's like for "brown dudes" trying to make it in mainstream entertainment. Thumbs Up 👍

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Narcos

Don’t let the opening credits fool you; Narcos isn’t as salacious as implied. Instead, Season 1 presents early political and familial influences on Pablo Escobar (Brazilian actor Wagner Moura) and the rise of the Medellín drug cartel. Scenes can be dialogue-heavy and slow, with a diverse cast of dubious accents. The story, costumes, set-design, and lush backdrop of Escobar-era Medellin hold you just enough to keep watching. Meh 😐 

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