TV & Film

Never Have I Ever

Where: Netflix
What: Series, Season 2, 30 mins, 10 episodes
When: Now
Genre: Comedy
Why you should watch: Comedy legend Mindy Kaling’s latest series hits all the right notes: it’s funny, charming, serious at times, and stars a diverse and realistic cast who stand out in an overproduced, often inauthentic media landscape.

This Video Has 33,758,702 Views

Where: YouTube
What: Plainspoken yet complex monologue about coding, the internet, and the white cliffs of Dover
Genre: Commentary
Why you should watch: By the time you click the play button, its title will have changed. That’s because it’s hooked up to code that changes it periodically, for reasons difficult to describe—but it all hooks you into a meta-video that is somehow existential, technical, educational—and maybe even touching—all at once.

Skipping the First Five Minutes of Tangled

Where: YouTube
What: Stylized, personality-driven video essay on Disney’s Tangled, plus a lot of other stuff
Genre: Commentary
Why you should watch: Video essayists crafting intricate, university lecture–length arguments about niche cultural opinions are racking hundreds of thousands of views. If you haven’t explored the genre yet, get on board—and few recent videos exemplify the genre better than this creation by CJ the X.

Beans

Where: In theatres
What: Film, 92 mins
When: Now
Genre: Historical drama
Why you should watch: A searingly relevant coming-of-age movie set in—another—shameful moment in Canadian history, as an adolescent Mohawk girl grows up in ’90s Quebec against the backdrop of the Oka Standoff between Indigenous land defenders, racist whites and government goons. Beans was the deserving best picture winner at the 2021 Canadian Screen Awards, with best first feature honours going to director Tracey Deer. An essential Indigenous perspective.

Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain

Where: In theatres
What: Film, 119 mins
When: Now
Genre: Documentary
Why you should watch: A loving—and pissed-off—look at the ultimately tragic life of the man who looked like he had it all. The film picks up Bourdain’s meteoric career from the publication of his bestselling memoir Kitchen Confidential to his suicide at the height of his TV fame. Tasteful, touching and not afraid to explore his death, and its impact, honestly.

All the Streets are Silent: The Convergence of Hip Hop and Skateboarding (1987–1997)

Where: Streaming on Vimeo On Demand and Hot Docs Cinema
What: Film, 89 mins
When: Now
Genre: Documentary
Why you should watch: Hip hop and skateboarding collided in ’90s New York City. The collaborative cultural explosion that followed spawned an unlikely club and fashion scene, including international brands Zoo York and Supreme. Highlights include archival performances by a fresh-faced—and skinny—Jay Z, and Method Man.

I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson

Where: Netflix
What: Series, 15 mins, two seasons, 12 episodes
When: Now
Genre: Sketch comedy
Why you should watch: Tim Robinson was fired from a gig at SNL after one season. His hit sketch show, however, has already reached a level of relevance and meme-able social media stardom that the aforementioned comedy giant hasn’t hit in decades. And, no matter how popular, you always feel like you’re one of the special few in on the joke.

Mr. Corman

Where: Apple TV+
What: Series, 30 mins, 10 episodes, new episodes Fridays
When: Aug. 6
Genre: Dramedy
Why you should watch: Joseph Gordon-Levitt creates, directs and stars in this clever series about a millennial fifth-grade teacher stuck in a rut—his music career tanked, single after breaking off an engagement and not too fond of his friends. Gordon-Levitt’s vivid imagination takes what could be a clichéd storyline and makes it a spellbinding and wholly unique watch.

The Pursuit of Love

Where: Amazon Prime
What: Mini-series, 60 mins, 3 episodes
When: Now
Genre: Dramedy
Why you should watch: Set in Europe between the two world wars, it may look like this is another addition to the Downton Abbey and Bridgerton-fuelled British aristocracy genre. Instead, this Wes Anderson-cadenced series pokes fun at the genre, while taking viewers along on a playful and emotional ride with two best friends who have very different approaches to finding love.

Pray Away

Where: Netflix
What: Film, 101 mins
When: Now
Genre: Documentary
Why you should watch: Now openly gay, the faces of evangelical conversion therapy organization Exodus International come forward in this gripping film to reject the anti-gay movement they started.

In interviews, along with archival footage (no shortage—they advertised Exodus everywhere from The Jerry Springer Show to 60 Minutes), the ground-breaking doc chronicles the journey of ex-members, current members and survivors.

Modern Love

Where: Amazon Prime
What: Series, Season 2, 30 mins, 8 episodes
When: Aug. 13
Genre: Drama
Why you should watch: Based on true stories from the New York Times column of the same name, this heartstrings-tugging anthology depicts love stories about everything from romance during a pandemic to an insomniac’s romantic redemption. Season 2 features appearances by Lucy Boynton (Bohemian Rhapsody), Kit Harington (Game of Thrones), Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting) and Marquis Rodriguez (When They See Us).

Gunda

Where: VOD
What: Film, 93 mins
When: Now
Genre: Documentary
Why you should watch: This unconventional doc about the secret lives of farm animals destined for the slaughterhouse is understated, subtle and quietly tragic. It’s essentially an art-house film, shot in black and white and heavily aestheticized, its message largely up to the viewer to discern. Gunda lays bare unseen dimensions of animal life without sensationalizing them: no anthropomorphism; no gratuitously violent shots; no pleading cries to go vegan. Just enduring silence.

We Are Lady Parts

Where: Global TV App
What: Series, 25 mins, 6 episodes
When: Now
Genre: Comedy
Why you should watch: This quick-witted British comedy follows Amina, a graduate student looking for love on Muslim dating apps, who has a secret passion for playing guitar but horrible stage fright. Enter Lady Parts, an all-female Muslim punk band looking for a lead guitarist. With a diverse cast exploring self-identity, and original songs like Voldemort Under My Headscarf, this show is equal parts powerful and hilarious.