September 2024’s Best Streaming Titles: “Bubba Ho-Tep,” “The Shining,” “Grave of the Fireflies,” “Pan’s Labyrinth”
Elvis fights a mummy, Redrum, Studio Ghibli heartbreak, Guillermo del Toro, and more.
As Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, et al. add more content, it can be difficult to know what to look for amidst all of the new titles. I’ve compiled a list of particularly noteworthy and interesting movies and TV shows to add to your streaming queues in the coming month.
Amazon Prime Video
Bubba Ho-Tep (Sep 1)
Everyone knows that Elvis Presley died in 1977. But Bubba Ho-Tep presupposes that he’s actually been living in a Texas nursing home all these years, along with a Black man who believes he’s John F. Kennedy. And it’s up to the two of them to stop an ancient Egyptian mummy from devouring the souls of their neighbors. Bruce Campbell gives a performance for the ages as the regret-filled King of Rock and Roll who gets one final shot at being a hero. Although its premise is ridiculous on paper, Bubba Ho-Tep is a pitch-perfect blend of dark humor, horror, and pathos (read our review).
Constantine (Sep 1)
As an adaptation of the long-running Hellblazer comic, Constantine ticked off fans by casting Keanu Reeves as the cynical British sorcerer/occult expert/con-man John Constantine and transplanting him to California. But once you get past that (not to mention the film’s muddled plot and theology), Constantine can still be a fun Hollywood-level “B” movie. The plot: when Constantine agrees to help a detective (Rachel Weisz) solve the mystery of her sister’s suicide, they’re both drawn into the long-running conflict between Heaven and Hell. Cue the special effects, gross demons, and Reeves’ inimitable watchability.
Galaxy Quest (Sep 1)
The premise — actors from a classic sci-fi TV series are kidnapped by aliens who believe the show to be real — makes it sound like Galaxy Quest does nothing but poke fun at all things Star Trek. Which it does, and brilliantly so, but its jokes are coming from a place of love. As a result, it’s the best kind of parody, one that recognizes the inherent silliness of Star Trek while also capturing what makes Star Trek so great in the first place. By Grabthar’s hammer, indeed.
Swingers (Sep 1)
There was a time when my friends and I considered Swingers to be the ultimate guys’ movie, but don’t let that turn you off from this clever, winsome ’90s comedy. In Doug Liman’s directorial debut, Jon Favreau (who wrote the script) plays a struggling actor and comedian who’s reeling from his last relationship. Vince Vaughn plays the ladies’ man trying to help Favreau get over his broken heart with the help of parties, a trip to Las Vegas, and lots of swing music.
Elementary (Sep 14)
Jonny Lee Miller stars in this modern update of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic Sherlock Holmes stories. This time around, Holmes is a recovering addict living in New York City, where he uses his considerable intellect to help the NYPD solve crimes. Joining him is Dr. Joan Watson (Lucy Liu), who is initially his sober companion, but soon becomes a trusted aid and confidant. Although initially criticized for copying BBC’s Sherlock, Elementary ran for seven seasons and developed quite a devoted following of its own.