Great list! And yes, Mrs. Claremont can hardly be more wonderful. And it seems Beresford's "Tender Mercies" is also on Prime, so check that out while you can.
I hadn't heard of Monsieur Lazhar but it sounds like a great movie to watch with my daughter, who is just finishing up her first year as a third grade teacher.
A delightful list. For fellow Canadian readers (am I the only one?) your a bit out of luck. Black Robe is rentable on Amazon! Man on Wire is on Apple and Tubi. Monsieur Lazar is on free on Prime!! Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont is on Tubi. Nine Queens is nowhere I can find 😒
I've seen three of these (M. Lazhar, Man on Wire & Mrs. Palfrey) and they were all excellent! I look forward to the other two.
Some others also on Prime: Hangmen Also Die (pre-Hollywood Fritz Lang), Licorice Pizza (improbable love in Southern California), I am Not Your Negro (unvarnished James Baldwin), Moonrise Kingdom, Almost Famous, Pulp Fiction . . . . If you want to spend a few bucks there are also some classic (and wonderful) silents available: Man with the Movie Camera, Berlin: Symphony of a Great City, Sunrise, Metropolis, L'Atalante, Nosferatu (1922 version). There are a lot of good movies, but you have to dig to find them.
Tonight I watched Black Robe and Monsieur Lazhar - the first was enlightening, the latter was brilliant. As a teacher for 44 years I found the restrictions on Mr. Lazhar's love of his students a poignant reflection of teaching today. So many teachers feel compelled to stay within their "dictated curriculum" that personalization and emotion are too often cast aside. Loved this little movie. Thanks Ty.
Thank you so much for these wonderful recommendations! I would not have been aware of them but for your sharing. My husband and I watched Mrs. Palfrey last night and were truly enchanted. We will definitely check out the others in this blog. Mrs. Palfrey reminded me of another enchanting movie from 2004–Ladies in Lavendar, one of my all time favorite movies.
About "Nine Queens:" I enjoyed the performances and, well, the entire film...until the last scene where it WAS, in fact, simply, Mamet. I would argue that there is something to be said for "House of Games" being a bit of an original or at least first, 30 years earlier---- thereby preventing "Nine Queens," under my own rules, from being "better." (And, of course, there's always "Sleuth" as a trump card.) But I digress----after watching "Queens" I began to muse on the spectrum from Genre (ie: Noir) to Homage (every vampire film esp "What We Do in The Shadows) and the straight rip-offs (all the films I try to avoid---- if warned.) Basically that's just a thought for a future column. You're welcome!
Thanks for all the great writing and recommendations. You have saved me from a lot of dreck, and exposed me to some wonders I’d have never found. I just finished watching Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont and am filled with post-film wistfulness; a lovely film.
This comment is out of place but I could not figure out how to search your columns to see if you have watched and reviewed the series Sort Of, which currently has 2 complete seasons on HBO, now MAX, and if so, if you have written about it.
If not, I do hope you will check it out. It is among my top 10 of streaming series, possibly top 5. I find it to be a welcome and refreshing combination of poignant, funny, deeply touching, unpredictable and sensitive. It speaks to many topics of the current times without hitting you over the head with it and without trying too hard with the humor. Look forward to hearing if you know it.
Great list! And yes, Mrs. Claremont can hardly be more wonderful. And it seems Beresford's "Tender Mercies" is also on Prime, so check that out while you can.
I hadn't heard of Monsieur Lazhar but it sounds like a great movie to watch with my daughter, who is just finishing up her first year as a third grade teacher.
I've added them to my Ty Burr list on Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/ah9Wy
Great list... seen most, but will rewatch Mrs. Palfrey....
A delightful list. For fellow Canadian readers (am I the only one?) your a bit out of luck. Black Robe is rentable on Amazon! Man on Wire is on Apple and Tubi. Monsieur Lazar is on free on Prime!! Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont is on Tubi. Nine Queens is nowhere I can find 😒
Wonderful list. I hadn’t seen any of these, so I’m looking forward to some enjoyable watching. Thank you!
I've seen three of these (M. Lazhar, Man on Wire & Mrs. Palfrey) and they were all excellent! I look forward to the other two.
Some others also on Prime: Hangmen Also Die (pre-Hollywood Fritz Lang), Licorice Pizza (improbable love in Southern California), I am Not Your Negro (unvarnished James Baldwin), Moonrise Kingdom, Almost Famous, Pulp Fiction . . . . If you want to spend a few bucks there are also some classic (and wonderful) silents available: Man with the Movie Camera, Berlin: Symphony of a Great City, Sunrise, Metropolis, L'Atalante, Nosferatu (1922 version). There are a lot of good movies, but you have to dig to find them.
Tonight I watched Black Robe and Monsieur Lazhar - the first was enlightening, the latter was brilliant. As a teacher for 44 years I found the restrictions on Mr. Lazhar's love of his students a poignant reflection of teaching today. So many teachers feel compelled to stay within their "dictated curriculum" that personalization and emotion are too often cast aside. Loved this little movie. Thanks Ty.
I love Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont. I’d forgotten about this one.
Thank you so much for these wonderful recommendations! I would not have been aware of them but for your sharing. My husband and I watched Mrs. Palfrey last night and were truly enchanted. We will definitely check out the others in this blog. Mrs. Palfrey reminded me of another enchanting movie from 2004–Ladies in Lavendar, one of my all time favorite movies.
About "Nine Queens:" I enjoyed the performances and, well, the entire film...until the last scene where it WAS, in fact, simply, Mamet. I would argue that there is something to be said for "House of Games" being a bit of an original or at least first, 30 years earlier---- thereby preventing "Nine Queens," under my own rules, from being "better." (And, of course, there's always "Sleuth" as a trump card.) But I digress----after watching "Queens" I began to muse on the spectrum from Genre (ie: Noir) to Homage (every vampire film esp "What We Do in The Shadows) and the straight rip-offs (all the films I try to avoid---- if warned.) Basically that's just a thought for a future column. You're welcome!
Hello Ty,
Thanks for all the great writing and recommendations. You have saved me from a lot of dreck, and exposed me to some wonders I’d have never found. I just finished watching Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont and am filled with post-film wistfulness; a lovely film.
This comment is out of place but I could not figure out how to search your columns to see if you have watched and reviewed the series Sort Of, which currently has 2 complete seasons on HBO, now MAX, and if so, if you have written about it.
If not, I do hope you will check it out. It is among my top 10 of streaming series, possibly top 5. I find it to be a welcome and refreshing combination of poignant, funny, deeply touching, unpredictable and sensitive. It speaks to many topics of the current times without hitting you over the head with it and without trying too hard with the humor. Look forward to hearing if you know it.
Good call on Nine Queens. I did not know the ending was coming