Gareth’s Picks

The Fog of War (2003)

Errol Morris’s searing documentary about Robert McNamara and the Vietnam War.  Miraculously, Mcnamara was more than willing to sit down and be interviewed for the film and it gives you a front row seat in the thinking around the war.  It is just as important now as it was in 2003.

Available to stream for free on TUBI

Lake Mungo (2008)

Terrifying found footage/pseudo-documentary from Australia.  It tells the story of a missing girl, but moves in very unexpected ways.  The end is truly terrifying.  Set a new standard for the sub-genre of horror.

Available to stream for free on TUBI

Craig’s Picks

Eat Drink Man Woman (1994)

Ang Lee takes big swings now as a director (Gemini Man and Hulk come to mind, oh and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) but he started off much smaller. Eat Drink Man Woman is about a widowed Chinese Master Chef with 3 daughters living in Taipei, Taiwan. He communicates through food and Lee shoots these food prep scenes with such care, you really can’t help but fall in love with this family. Also you are going to be hungry.

Available to stream for free on Kanopy (get a library card) or PlutoTV

Tampopo (1987)

Speaking of food…Director Juzo Itami tells a delightful story of a little road side ramen shop owned by a widow named Tampopo. She has terrible broth (that makes or breaks a ramen as we know…) so she is taken on an adventure to find a broth master and transform her failing ramen shop into a thriving business. Also you are going to be hungry.

Streaming on Max