What I Watched: August 2023

Talk To Me (2023)

Directed by Danny and Michael Philippou
Original Release Date: June 30, 2023
A24 | Regal Canyon Country | First-time Viewing

The Righteous Gemstones (2023)

Episode 302: “But Esau Ran to Meet Him”

Directed by Jody Hill
Original Release Date: June 18, 2023
HBO | Streamed on Max | First-time Viewing

The Righteous Gemstones (2023)

Episode 303: “For Their Nakedness Is Your Own Nakedness”

Directed by Danny McBride
Original Release Date: June 25, 2023
HBO | Streamed on Max | First-time Viewing

The Righteous Gemstones (2023)

Episode 304: “I Have Not Come to Bring Peace, But a Sword”

Directed by Jody Hill
Original Release Date: July 2, 2023
HBO | Streamed on Max | First-time Viewing

The Righteous Gemstones (2023)

Episode 305: “Interlude III”

Directed by David Gordon Green
Original Release Date: July 9, 2023
HBO | Streamed on Max | First-time Viewing

The Righteous Gemstones (2023)

Episode 307: “Burn for Burn, Wound for Wound, Stripe for Stripe”

Directed by Danny McBride
Original Release Date: July 23, 2023
HBO | Streamed on Max | First-time Viewing

The Righteous Gemstones (2023)

Episode 308: “I Will Take You by the Hand and Keep You”

Directed by Jody Hill
Original Release Date: July 30, 2023
HBO | Streamed on Max | First-time Viewing

The Righteous Gemstones (2023)

Episode 309: “Wonders That Cannot Be Fathomed, Miracles That Cannot Be Counted”

Directed by Jody Hill
Original Release Date: July 30, 2023
HBO | Streamed on Max | First-time Viewing

The Accused (1988)

In her mid-20s, Jodie Foster beat out Glenn Close, Meryl Streep, Sigourney Weaver, and Melanie Griffith to win the Oscar for this performance. She’s hands down the film’s highlight, appearing strong and confident in one scene and then vulnerable and broken in another. I initially found it amusing that the opening shot stayed outside the bar for an extended period. I remember thinking that they could get away with a lot in the ‘80s. But it’s a stroke of genius because it leaves the audience wondering what happened inside, making for a more compelling ride. Jonathan Kaplan and Tom Topor save the firsthand account for the end. Not only was this groundbreaking for the 80s, becoming one of the first films to deal with rape, but it still feels timely. The scene where Foster’s character gets asked what she was wearing at the bar and if she might have instigated the rape feels like an ugly interrogation you’d still hear to this day.

Directed by Jonathan Kaplan
Original Release Date: October 14, 1988
Paramount Pictures | Streamed on Max | First-time Viewing

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)

Directed by Jeff Rowe
Original Release Date: August 2, 2023
Paramount Pictures | Regal Canyon Country | First-time Viewing

Jade (1995)

Directed by William Friedkin
Original Release Date: October 13, 1995
Paramount Pictures | Streamed on Paramount+ | First-time Viewing

Ponyo (2008)

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Original Release Date: July 19, 2008
Studio Ghibli | Streamed on Max | First-time Viewing

The Pope’s Exorcist (2023)

Directed by Julius Avery
Original Release Date: April 14, 2023
Screen Gems | Streamed on Netflix | First-time Viewing

Haunted Mansion (2023)

Directed by Justin Simien
Original Release Date: July 28, 2023
Walt Disney Pictures | Regal Canyon Country | First-time Viewing

Strays (2023)

Directed by Josh Greenbaum
Original Release Date: August 18, 2023
Universal Pictures | Work | First-time Viewing

Your Place Or Mine (2023)

Directed by Aline Brosh McKenna
Original Release Date: February 10, 2023
Netflix | Streamed on Netflix | First-time Viewing

Shotgun Wedding (2023)

Directed by Jason Moore
Original Release Date: January 27, 2023
Amazon Studios | Streamed on Prime Video | First-time Viewing

Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Original Release Date: June 10, 2005
Studio Ghibli | Streamed on Max | 2nd Viewing

Holes (2003)

Directed by Andrew Davis
Original Release Date: April 11, 2003
Walt Disney Pictures | Streamed on Disney+ | 2nd Viewing

National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)

Directed by Harold Ramis
Written by John Hughes
Original Release Date: July 29, 1983
Warner Bros. Pictures | Streamed on Vudu | 2nd Viewing

Deal of the Century (1983)

Directed by William Friedkin
Original Release Date: November 4, 1983
Warner Bros. Pictures | Streamed on Roku | First-time Viewing

Vacation Friends 2 (2023)

Directed by Clay Tarver
Original Release Date: August 25, 2023
20th Century Studios | Work | First-time Viewing

The Flash (2023)

Directed by Andy Muschietti
Original Release Date: June 16, 2023
Warner Bros. Pictures | Streamed on Max | 2nd Viewing