Here are our picks for what you should watch this week.
Beasts of No Nation
Netflix is no stranger to making its own content. There is a stable of television shows, stand up specials, and documentaries that the streaming service has built up over the last few years. But strangely, the company has never ventured into the realm of the feature film. Netflix can now check that off its list with the release of Beasts of No Nation, and it’s a pretty impressive debut that will likely earn it as much awards attention as its shows have.
The film follows the life of Agu, a young boy in West Africa who finds himself in a difficult position after his father is killed in a civil war. Agu is taken away to become a child soldier in the army of a twisted militant leader. Beasts of No Nation will not be an easy watch — Although it’s beautifully filmed and well-scripted, it’s a challenging film that intends to make the viewer deal with some unpleasant truths about war and the human cost associated with it. There are no names of countries or sides — just warfare. Plug in a conflict taking place today, and the premise of the film will still apply.
Anthony Jeselnik: Thoughts and Prayers
Anthony Jeselnik made his name through the series of roasts hosted on Comedy Central, regularly bringing material that received big laughs and bigger cringes. And while he’s added hosting duties to his resume with Last Comic Standing, Jeselnik is still at his best when he’s performing stand up. He spares no one when he’s on stage, and if you aren’t offended by a particular joke, just wait — He’ll get you with the next one.
Circle
Horror flick Circle occupies some space between the Hunger Games and Saw franchises. It’s a thriller and a social experiment rolled into one. The film starts with fifty strangers, all held captive in a mysterious chamber awaiting their execution. Every two minutes, a person is killed. The captives quickly learn that, as a room, they have the ability to vote on who gets killed — which means they’re also picking who the one survivor will be.
Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me
You are undoubtably familiar with the music of Glen Campbell. The country singer has been working for half a century, penning and singing hits that have topped the charts. The story of his success and struggles as an artist is fascinating, but his battle with Alzheimer’s paints a much more human picture of the music giant. This film documents his decision to continue touring even after his diagnosis, and the challenges he’s faced since.
Jane the Virgin
Jane had her life on track and was intending to remain a virgin until marriage. Yet somehow, thanks to a medical mixup, she ended up pregnant. Jane the Virgin takes a satirical look at the often too-perfect world depicted by most shows and films, as Jane’s life starts to turn more and more into a telenovela like the ones the character obsesses over. The CW show turned into a hit thanks to Gina Rodriguez’s impressive portrayal of Jane.
