Hi friends, I finally saw Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio after putting it off for so long—I had somehow confused it with the inferior Disney Pinocchio adaptation, which was released this year too so that’s not entirely on me. And del Toro’s take is good! More enjoyable, at least, than I’d expect a movie that has been endlessly adapted would be. I hope you have a lovely weekend. OUR TOP TV SHOW OF THE WEEKSmileyOn Netflix 🍅 rating: 100% You may have heard about Bros, the first major studio gay romcom that hit theaters a few months ago. Smiley, a Netflix series from Spain, is a lot like the American movie—sweet and raunchy—but I’d say this ends up being more likable thanks to a colorful cast of characters, including the disarmingly charming leads Alex and Bruno (Carlos Cuevas and Miki Esparbé, respectively). After Alex accidentally sends an impassioned voice call to Bruno, a stranger, the two decide to meet up for drinks. They end up liking, then hating, then desiring one another. There are strong feelings to be sure—confusing, but strong—though whether it’s enough for true love, which they’re both on the lookout for, is what the eight-episode series spends its time trying to answer. Forgive the pun, but Smiley will put a smile on your face especially if you like progressive updates on the classic rom-com setup. And bonus: it’s set during the holidays, so if you’re in need of some Christmas cheer, this could be one of your remedies. OUR TOP MOVIE OF THE WEEKGuillermo del Toro's PinocchioOn Netflix 🍅 rating: 97% I think it’s safe to say you’ve never seen a Pinocchio adaptation quite like Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio. It still largely stays true to the source material, which is to stay it’s still about a father grappling with the loss of his son and a boy figuring out where he figures in the world. But the movie departs from it in significant ways too. Instead of a fairy tale setting, for instance, this Pinocchio has 1930s fascist Italy as its background, lending the film a realism and historicism that weren’t there before. Stars Ewan McGregor, Christoph Waltz, Tilda Swinton, and newcomer Gregory Mann lend their voice in this tender and stellar stop-motion animated movie. Top picks outside of Netflix and Amazon Prime
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That’s all for this week. This edition of the newsletter will be back on Friday, December 23. Till then, Renee You're currently a free subscriber to The Watch. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription. |