May 31, 2024

WIFF’S WEEKEND WATCH LIST — 5/31

Check out our recommendations of what to watch this weekend.

if you WANT to be on the edge of your seat

civil war

Vincent Georgie: A major hit earlier this year, this is a beautifully tense thriller. A terrific and believable cast, and a stylish and engrossing visual style. I was thoroughly entertained and impressed.

Synopsis: In a dystopian future America, a team of military-embedded journalists races against time to reach Washington, D.C., before rebel factions descend upon the White House.

Available on Apple TV, YouTube and Amazon Prime.

if you love historical drama

farewell, my queen

Vincent Georgie: Come for the sumptuous locations and gorgeous production values, but stay for the drama created by a tantalizing romance.

Synopsis: A look at the relationship between Marie Antoinette and one of her readers during the first days of the French Revolution.

if you love denzel

the great debaters

Vincent Georgie: One of our best actors, no question, but also a fine and audience-minded director. This is a terrific drama.

Synopsis: Poet and professor Melvin B. Tolson (Denzel Washington) teaches at the predominately black Wiley College in 1935 Texas. He decides to start a debate team, something nearly unheard of at a black college. While at first, he butts heads with the influential father (Forest Whitaker) of one of his best debaters, eventually, he is able to form a team of strong-minded, intelligent young students, and they become the first black debate team to challenge Harvard’s prestigious debate champions.

Available on Amazon Prime.

DOUBLE FEATURE

all hail, clint eastwood

Vincent Georgie: Happy Birthday today to the 93-year-old legendary actor-director-producer-musician. While iconic as a performer, Eastwood got much more interesting in projects that he both starred in and directed. Here are two of his very best.

unforgiven

When prostitute Delilah Fitzgerald (Anna Thomson) is disfigured by a pair of cowboys in Big Whiskey, Wyoming, her fellow brothel workers post a reward for their murder, much to the displeasure of Sheriff Little Bill Daggett (Gene Hackman), who doesn’t allow vigilantism in his town. Two groups of gunfighters, one led by aging former bandit William Munny (Clint Eastwood), and the other by the florid English Bob (Richard Harris), come to collect the reward, clashing with each other and the sheriff.

Available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime and YouTube.

the bridges of madison county

A moving love story about a photographer on assignment to shoot the historic bridges of Madison County. He meets a housewife, whose husband and children are away on a trip, and the film traces a brief affair that is never sordid but instead one of two soul mates who have met too late.