Prime Video’s ever-expanding catalog, also known for its massive selection of movie rentals, has become a subscription giant in its own right. Whether or not their list of original films and TV shows impresses you, access to new films produced by or partnered with Amazon is vital to our current cultural lexicon. For our streaming recommendations this month, here is one of those brand-new features and two older favorites that Prime Video currently offers.
Air
Air, the most recent film on this list, tells the tale of Air Jordan and Nike’s partnership with Michael Jordan. As only the fifth of prolific actor Ben Affleck’s directorial career, Air joins an impressive roster that includes The Town and Best Picture winner Argo. Being Affleck’s first feature as a director since 2016 is only part of its legacy; this film also marks the return of Amazon Studios to the big screen since 2019, as they have poured all their resources since into streaming only.
Nevertheless, the real draw here is the story itself, and Ben Affleck’s direction is only part of what makes Air an above-average cinematic take on history. Seeing how a risky partnership with a rookie basketball player flourishes into an industry-changing brand quickly attracted a large streaming audience this month, making Air the biggest 2023 film release on Prime Video.
Pulp Fiction
On the universally essential side of streaming this month, Pulp Fiction is not just a current popular option but one of the most popular films ever. Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece, a film many entertainment journalists have placed on lists of the most influential films of its time, has courted controversy and rabid praise since its release. If you know about modern film history, you know about Tarantino and Pulp Fiction.
Everywhere you look online, this movie nowadays is rarely absent from articles titled something like “the best movies of all time.” Pulp Fiction‘s violence, snappy dialogue, inventive indie-influenced camerawork, and stellar ensemble cast birthed an entire generation of filmmakers who appreciated the golden years of Hollywood as equal to the unique cutting-edge aspects of the here and now. As an older movie that switches from platform to platform every month, get a watch in here before it leaves any day now.
Whiplash
Led by a young Miles Teller and an Oscar-winning J.K. Simmons, Whiplash introduces a nightmarish instructor in the first minutes, exponentially increasing his ferocity with every new scene in the name of making the best music students possible. Filled with jazz classics and thriller-like direction from then-unknown film auteur Damien Chazelle, this movie is a rewardingly challenging, ultimately enjoyable watch that no one has easily forgotten since its 2014 release.
Teller’s young drummer character, the vulnerable prime subject for emotional and physical abuse from his teacher, is an early career best for the actor, slowly degrading as he alternately tries to cope and pushes back against Simmons’ character. Is it all worth it to create the perfect jazz group? You’ll have to stream it on Prime Video to find out.
