Story Stream: 3/21 - 3/27

Hello, friends! Here are the stories that I streamed this past week! Be sure to share your recommendations in the comments below!

MOVIES

The Legend of N****r Charley (1972)

The next film in the Criterion Channel's Black Westerns collection I've been working my way through the last couple weeks. This one had it's moments. The story is solid enough, but the film is ultimately lacking. I wanted to love it, but it was mostly just meh for me. I didn't love it or hate it. Unlikely to see its 1973 sequel, The Soul of N****r Charley. Streaming on Criterion Channel. (5/10 - Not Highly Recommended)

Cherry (2021)

I've been looking forward to this one for a few weeks now. I think Tom Holland is super talented, and he more than proves it in this film. His tremendous range, to play everything from your friendly neighborhood Spiderman (and to play it better than anyone else has) to a post-war PTSD-suffering veteran in love, is on full display here. Not the happiest film, but certainly worth your time. Streaming on Apple TV+. (7/10 - Strongly Recommended)

New Jack City (1991)

A genre classic and a shaper of culture for decades to come. I hadn't seen this in years, but in prepping to review it for it's 30th anniversary on Thirty Pop, I revisited it, and loved it still. Perhaps the most impressive performance is from Chris Rock, minimal as his role may have been, but that's to take nothing away from Wesley Snipes, Ice-T, or Judd Nelson. Well cast throughout. However, I did hear a rumor that Taimak (Bruce Leroy from The Last Dragon) was trying hard for the role of Scottie (Ice-T's character), and I'd have LOVED to see that. Streaming on HBO Max. (6/10 - Recommended)

More Than A Game (2008)

All I can say is if I'd seen this when it came out in 2008, I'd have spent the last several years watching a LOT more professional basketball. Thank God so many people had cameras on young Lebron and his buddies. This was a very well made documentary. Excellent storytelling start to finish. Streaming on Hulu. (7/10 - Strongly Recommended)

Thomasine and Bushrod (1974)

I've honestly not been too excited about this one. I'm not sure why, and I was very wrong. This was one of my very favorites from Criterion Channel's Black Westerns collection. There was maybe one character I didn't love, but he wasn't in it for long, and he wasn't entirely bad. The leads are incredible though. I really, really loved this one and will definitely be revisiting it.. Streaming on Criterion Channel. (8/10 - Highly Recommended)

TV

Calls - Episode 1

I guess this would be considered a TV show? But also, totally not. This is something altogether new by Apple. It's this weird audio fiction with interesting and additive (albeit somewhat superfluous) visual elements. Almost like an old radio drama visualized. It's very interesting and very original. I only watched/listened(?) to the first episode, but I'll definitely come back to it and finish. Streaming on Apple TV+. (6/10 - Recommended)

Murder on Middle Beach - Episode 1

I'm all about non-dramatized true crime documentaries — a somewhat recent development — but I haven't made it past the first episode (of four) of this one yet. I don't know. I don't know if this one is going to do it for me. It's well made for the most part, especially considering it began as a school project, but after the first episode I'm just not sure I feel anything at all. No curiosity, no need to know "whodunit," not even much empathy for the storyteller as he investigates this very personal tragedy. It's just kinda...whatever. (Also the fact that MOM is highlighted in the poster above is just so lame). Streaming on HBO Max. (5/10 - TBD)

MUSIC

Justin Bieber - Justice (2021)

I've been a Bieber fan, (okay, a full on Belieber) since the release of Purpose in 2015. Before that, like so many who've never really listened to his music, I sort of wrote him off as an idiot pop star YouTube kid. But genuinely, this guy has been telling his story honestly and with such vulnerability for several years now. He's extraordinarily talented musical and vocally. And he's honestly such a kind soul, from all I can tell. This new record feels like it was stamped from the Purpose template, and that's a very good thing. This is guaranteed to get some Grammy nods, whether it actually wins or not. Mark my words. This is heartfelt pop gold. Streaming on Apple Music. (10/10 - Very Highly Recommended)

PODCASTS

The H - "Peaceful Bones, with Dr. Sam Axelrad"

As I mentioned a few weeks back, my mentor has been reviewing my work one episode at a time, and as I send him episodes to check out, I've been revisiting them myself. This week I remixed this episode from the first season of The H. It's a fascinating story, and I'm still proud of the way I told it. I definitely hear things I'd do different today, but I think that's always the case for folks who make things. I think this episode does a solid job of "but/therefore" storytelling. Streaming on all podcast apps. (8/10 - Highly Recommended)