Weekend Watchlist, 7/31: Higher power
What to watch this weekend
Happy Friday, PV Guide readers! I hope you have a great weekend ahead of you.
Earlier this week, I reviewed the fun new indie sci-fi thriller Redux Redux. And if you're a premium subscriber, don't forget to check out the Premium Picks page for the best of the best on Netflix, streaming for free, and more.
Here are this week’s picks!
Maaveeran
Where to watch: Prime Video (or rent/purchase)
The biggest release this week is the new Spider-Man movie, Brand New Day. It's been a while since a Hollywood superhero movie excited me, and even though it’s been getting surprisingly decent reviews, I wanted to recommend this excellent Tamil superhero comedy instead. It's about a timid cartoonist who, after a head injury, starts hearing an omniscient voice encouraging him to be a hero, hurtling him into a conflict with a corrupt politican. Maaveeran is fun, heartfelt, a little meta, and more than a little goofy – exactly what superhero movies should be.
Master
Where to watch: Prime Video (or rent/purchase)
Tamil superstar Vijay is retiring from movies to enter politics, recently being elected the chief minister of Tamil Nadu. His final movie (allegedly), Jana Nayagan, had a lot of drama in the lead-up to the release, which initially coincided with election season. After censorship drama and seemingly endless delays, it's now out in theaters (to disappointing reviews).
Instead of going out to see Jana Nayagan, stay home and watch one of his better movies instead: Master. Vijay plays a teacher at a school for troubled youth, where he clashes with a gangster (the also great Vijay Sethupathi) who has been using those students to help out with all his crimes. I found it exhilarating when I first saw it in 2021 – both lead performances, the electric energy throughout the movie, and the fun fight sequences.
Criterion’s Southern Gothic collection
Where to watch: Criterion Channel
One of the Criterion Channel’s newest collections is full of great choices for a hot summer evening. My highest recommendation goes to The Night of the Hunter, one of the all-time great American movies, but it's hard to go wrong!
