Watch This Tonight

Everyone who worked on this show will be a star in about three weeks. I'm fully convinced of that. Hulu's new streaming television series TELL ME LIES comes out of the gate so strong, with stellar acting from its leads Grace Van Patten and Jackson White, wickedly sharp, rockstar writing from series creator Meaghan Oppenheimer, strong direction from Jonathan Levine - this TV show is the total packa...

I don't find this movie anxiety inducing at all. Perhaps that's because I'm a reformed degenerate gambler. The Safdie Brothers Adam Sandler starring film UNCUT GEMS is a ghost of Christmas future movie for me, one I enjoy watching because I avoided going down the path of the character in the movie. Do you have any films you watch that way? Let me know at dan@voyagemedia.com, or at watch_this_tonig...

FX/Hulu continues their winning television streak with The Patient, a true two-hander starring Steve Carell and Domhnall Gleeson. If you've seen any marketing of the show, you'll know the high-concept premise. A serial killer abducts a therapist to try and get himself cured. Wild high-concept idea for a TV series, and through two episodes, they're pulling it off. A sneaky half-hour television dram...

More than just a novelty act, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds new documentary TV series Welcome To Wrexham on FX/Hulu really breaks down what it means to be a sports fan, especially in a blue collar town. The show is funny, that is a given, but it's also emotionally engaging and compelling for any sports fan (even if you've never seen a game of soccer). Let me know what you think of this TV serie...

Why have I watched this movie 20 times? On the face of it, JC Chandor's ensemble drama, about an after-hours fiasco at a Wall Street firm, starring a starry ensemble including Zachary Quinto, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Stanley Tucci and Demi Moore, sounds like it should be dry and frankly, boring. It is anything but. The quality of the writing, the quality of the character work, the performances,...

I was planning to not watch. It took an Instagram post from director Greg Yaitanes (Banshee, Quarry) to get me through the door. And once I was through the door, I shut the door behind me and planned to stay forever, within 15 minutes. This television series, with so much riding on it for HBO, steers its way steadily in through George RR Martin's world. We might have all over-thought this. Sunday...

Paul Schrader, Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish, and degenerate gambling, in a film cut through with classic Schrader weirdness. Even if you're not a gambler, this is a unique, compelling, character-driven movie with strong performances and sharp turns. Recommended for anyone looking for a film off-the-beaten path and truly original. Available on HBOMax. I'd love to know what you thought if you've see...

I saw this all-time-great George Clooney film when I was a 19-year-old, for the first time. I've seen it, in the ensuing 15 years, probably every year since. I even got to direct one of the actors from the film (Denis O'Hare) in an upcoming Voyage Media scripted podcast. Tony Gilroy's extraordinary movie is one of the best examples of writing, directing, and performance in an old-school adult dram...

Denis Lehane. Ray Liotta. Taron Egerton. Greg Kinnear. Paul Walter Hauser. A criminal goes undercover in a prison to try and get a serial killer to confess to where he's buried dead bodies... before an appeal may set the killer free. Apple+. If somehow you're not in just from this information, listen to find out how this series really delivers in all facets. One of the Exhibit A examples of the pe...

If you're a holdout, don't feel bad. I was too. I'll explain why I finally took the plunge with BETTER CALL SAUL. And if you are caught up with the show, stay tuned for a deep dive into the Gustavo wine scene, in the spoiler section. Maybe one of the best scenes ever in the history of television, for the quality of writing, performance, direction and cinematography. A little something for everyone...

Are there movies you rewatch every few years? Do you see these films differently, as you are in different stages of your life? Sideways is one of those movies to me, what I'm calling Watch This Tonight All-Stars. I've seen this movie at 18, 20, 25 and now 35, and each time I see different things in it, and find something new to love and analyze about it. Is that your experience? If so, listen in....

A show that sneaks up on you, and then delivers powerhouse episodes on par with anything done by the all-time TV greats like The Sopranos and Breaking Bad. A show that can be riotously funny in one moment, and heartbreakingly tragic in the next. A tour-de-force of performance, direction, and scripting. Mr Inbetween is special. Do yourself a favor and watch it. Available on Hulu. Even years now aft...

If HBO's new Nathan Fielder series THE REHEARSAL is real, it is one of the boldest, most bizarre, sociological experiments ever committed to film. Perhaps the most telling statement about the show is that I HOPE it's fake. Because if it's real, the real people in it will be furious when they see it. Unlike anything else on TV, THE REHEARSAL has become appointment television for me. Join the discus...

Jeremy Renner has a friend that's a bear in this show. That is Exhibit A of how this TV series has no guardrails, Taylor Sheridan is not taking notes, and did I mention this is basically MICHAEL CLAYTON for the prison system? If you missed Renner in THE TOWN smoldering mode, look no further than this Paramount+ series. Join the discussion and add your thoughts on what television series or film or...

If you think this is just an animated sitcom about aliens, watch the first two episodes. SOLAR OPPOSITES has a wildly fun and clever A plot that is basically that, but it also has one of the most inventive, intriguing running B plots of any animated series... ever. And it's that unique balancing act that makes the show so special. Join the discussion and add your thoughts on what television series...

36 years of filming the same 3 central subjects. Maybe the most impressive documentary accomplishment... ever? This documentary has been filming for one year longer than I have been alive. I found it to be a staggering achievement that deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as HOOP DREAMS as amongst the best documentaries ever made. Listen in for the kind of recommendation this show exists to...

As of July 28th, this show had 1.1 BILLION views... it's okay, admit it, you like it. THE TERMINAL LIST has gotten a polarizing reaction from critics, but a lot of positive reactions from audiences. I break down Chris Pratt's violent revenge thriller, with its sky-high production values, in this episode. Listen through the spoiler section if you've seen the part where [redacted] pulls the [redacte...

An incisive, entertaining, and strangely uplifting documentary that truly is a celebration of the life of Anthony Bourdain. I've found myself rewatching this documentary, which may be surprising, but I'll explain why I leave it on a positive note, and I think you will too, despite the circumstances of Bourdain's death. Join the discussion and add your thoughts on what television series or film or...

The filet mignon of spooks and spymasters, with Jeff Bridges and Jon Lithgow, impeccable writing, cinematography, production value, and Rottweilers. Join the discussion and add your thoughts on what television series or film or documentary you're watching tonight (and I'll likely wind up reviewing it on the show), by writing a review, posting on the Watch This Tonight Facebook group, or interactin...

If you thought LOST wasn't crazy enough... this is the show for you. YELLOWJACKETS is LOST if every character was a high school girls soccer player. The unique wrinkle is we see the core ensemble later in life, as they struggle with the residual trauma of their experience. Did I mention there's definitely cannibalism? This show has a little something for everyone. Join the discussion and add your...

Jon Bernthal. Dirty cops. Baltimore. From the creators of THE WIRE, featuring many cast members from THE WIRE. In other words, a show cooked up in my dream laboratory. If you've not gotten into this show, for whatever reason, listen to the first 5 minutes of the pod, and then go watch. If you've watched the show, listen to the whole episode to get the great spoiler moments covered at the end. Avai...