What I’ve Been Watching in April 2020.

Hello, my friends! I hope that you are all doing well. I’ve been spending a lot of time watching TV shows and movies, so I thought I’d compile a list that hopefully gives you some ideas of what to watch! I would also love to hear your recommendations!

Movies

The Purge: Anarchy (Bought on Amazon Prime) It had been ages since I’d seen the first Purge movie, but I remembered that I hadn’t enjoyed it very much. I had heard that the second one was better and I definitely agree with that. For those who don’t know, the Purge movies take place in a near distant future where one day a year, EVERYTHING is legal. The first movie is centered around a wealthy family, whereas the second one is focused on a poor family. I’m not a big fan of action movies, but this one kept me thoroughly entertained. I found this one to be much better than the first, as it seemed more realistic. To be honest, I found most of the characters to be sort of aggravating, but I felt the plot was interesting enough to make the movie still worth a watch.

The Clovehitch Killer (Available on Hulu) I first watched this movie over the summer and really loved it. I enjoyed it just as much the second time around. I haven’t heard many people talk about this movie, but I really do think it’s worth a watch. The mood of it is phenomenal and they do a superb job of capturing the feeling of living in a small town. It’s a thriller that focuses on a teenage boy who begins to think differently of his father as he finds some disturbing items in his possession. A true slow burn film that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Singles (I own this on DVD, but it’s available for purchase through Amazon and Itunes) I had seen this movie once before, but it had been a year or two, so I wanted to give it another watch. It is such a charming romantic comedy that takes place in 1990’s Seattle. It follows a group of young adults and their misadventures with love and life. I would recommend this movie if you’re feeling down for some heartwarming fun.

The Twilight Saga (I own them all on DVD, but they’re available for purchase through Amazon, Youtube, and iTunes) Ah, Twilight. I watched all five of these movies in the span of two days this month. I was such a big Twilight fan back in the day, team Edward 100%. Watching these movies as an adult is SO strange. I feel such a sense of nostalgia after watching them, but I can’t say that I think they’re particularly good movies, rather, they’re movies that are enjoyable to watch. Is there still a market for Twilight reviews in 2020? There are certainly things throughout Twilight that I find disturbing now that went completely over my head as a tween/teen, such as Edward sneaking into Bella’s room to watch her sleep? That being said, I have never not cried during the montage that they play at the End of Breaking Dawn: Part Two, that’s accompanied by Christina Perri’s A Thousand Years. (I still love that song!) So, if you haven’t seen Twilight, do I recommend it? Yes. No. Yes. No. Maybe.

The Talented Mr Ripley (Available on Netflix) I came across this movie by googling “Thrillers on Netflix” and decided to give it a go. I don’t want to go into too much detail, as there are plenty of twists and turns throughout this movie. A very vague summary of it would be to say that a young man, Thomas Ripley, is hired by a wealthy man to bring his son back to the states. I don’t want to give anything away, so I will leave it at that. The scenery in this movie is absolutely beautiful, being shot completely in Italy. This movie shows just how intoxicating a wealthy lifestyle can be and what it feels like to be so close to that life that you can taste it. One last thing that I appreciated about this movie was that the pacing was absolutely fantastic.

Legally Blonde (I own on DVD, but it’s available for purchase on Itunes, Amazon Prime, and Youtube) The story of Elle Woods, a bubbly sorority girl who wants nothing more than to win her boyfriend back after he dumps her for not being “serious” enough. Her solution? Get into Harvard to prove to him that she is the girl that he’s been looking for! Reese Witherspoon is absolutely fantastic in this movie and I could watch it over again. And I have! (Ha!)

TV Shows

I Am Not Okay with This. (Available on Netflix) The show follows Sydney, a high school girl who is dealing with high school, family drama, and… superpowers.I watched all seven episodes in one night. This show definitely takes inspiration from movies of another age, such as Carrie, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink. I am an absolute sucker for coming-of-age movies or TV shows. An absolute SUCKER. I loved this show so much and am eagerly awaiting season two. The soundtrack is absolutely phenomenal. There are some heavier subject matters throughout this story, so I would keep that in mind before watching. I’ve seen some comments that people were disappointed with the fact that they give this show a 1980’s aesthetic despite it being a show that takes place in 2020, but I really enjoyed it. I think it makes a show seem much more timeless and doesn’t take us out of the moment as much. Nothing ages a show more than technology that, at the time, is cutting age, but finds itself outdated in a year or so.

Letterkenny (Available on Hulu) Bobby used to watch this show and I would roll my eyes because I did not find it funny whatsoever, but as he kept watching, I started becoming invested in the characters and began enjoying watching it with him. There’s a whole lot of potty mouths in this show, which isn’t really my thing, but the characters are so endearing that I don’t mind it so much. I love this show because while it can be quite crass at times, it’s overall very wholesome and everyone cares so much for each other. It follows the lives of the people in Letterkenny, a small community in rural Canada. And the soundtrack is amazing!

Tiger King (Available on Netflix) This documentary series has certainly taken the world by storm. It’s such a strange watch, because the longer you watch, the stranger the story becomes. For those who don’t know, it’s a documentary that is centered around the world of exotic animal breeding and all that happens within the breeding community. It’s honestly very hard to watch, because you’re exposed to how cruel these people are to the animals they claim to love. I hope that this documentary opens more people’s eyes to the mistreatment of exotic animals.

Little Fires Everywhere (Available on Hulu) This show is SO addicting. It’s such a character-driven show and while it can feel over-the-top at times, it is definitely worth a watch. The acting is also absolutely superb. I haven’t read the book yet, but I plan on doing so shortly. I’m excited to give it a go! It’s a drama that follows two vastly different families living in Shaker Heights, Ohio. There are so many different layers to this show and I know I’m being very vague, but I do not want to give away a single detail.

Mad Men (Available on Netflix) I honestly can’t remember if I’ve ever talked about my love for this show on here before, but Mad Men is my favorite show of all time. It is superbly written and has the most beautiful costumes and set design. I have watched this show a countless amount of times and ALWAYS cry at the last episode. ALWAYS. This show manages to make even the most complicated and unlikable characters sympathetic and capable of growth. A wonderful period drama following the lives of New York ad man and those entangled in their lives.

New Girl (Available on Netflix) When this show came out I LOVED it. I was the biggest Zooey Deschanel fan and was beyond happy to see her in a TV show. Watching it this time around, I found it enjoyable, but I definitely don’t think that I like it quite as much as I used to. I think that part of it, which isn’t New Girl‘s fault at all, but I just don’t find myself liking sitcoms as much as I used to. I prefer TV drama that occasionally has a joke or two, see TV show above… That being said, I find New Girl to not be as funny as I remembered, I also think that the show went on for a little bit too long. The shenanigans that happen are just too wacky and unrealistic now and I hate to say it, but for me, most of the jokes just do not land. Don’t get me wrong, I still find it enjoyable to watch, there are some very endearing moments, good laughs, and of course, endless adorable Zooey Deschanel a-line dresses.

Big Little Lies (Available on Hulu) Much like Little Fires Everywhere, I watched this show because Reese Witherspoon was in it. I didn’t know anything about the premise, I honestly thought it would just be a drama about the wealthy and I suppose to some extent it is, however… it is so much more than that. I think it’s important to know before going into the show that there are instances of domestic violence and assault portrayed throughout the series. I did not know this when I began the show and it was very jarring. This show is fantastically acted and I think the stories that are being told in it are important, however I do think one should proceed with caution, as there are parts that are very disturbing. (I had never seen an HBO show before and I must admit it was quite shocking to me.) And another bonus: yet another wonderful soundtrack!

And that’s that, my dear friends! I certainly had much more screen time than usual, but I think I found some quite riveting shows and movies and I wanted to share them all with you. I hope that you are all staying safe and sane. If you have any movie or TV show suggestions, I would love to hear them!!!

XOXO,

Mattie Mae