1. The Dry
117 MINUTES | 2021
The Dry, the debut novel by Australian writer Jane Harper, is one of the best mysteries I’ve read in recent years. So I’m so happy to hear that it’s been turned into a tightly plotted thriller. It follows a man who returns to the tiny, Outback town where he grew up to attend the funeral of an old friend, only to realize that his friend may not have died the way everyone seems to think he did.
– Lindsey Anderson, Senior Culture Editor
2. 25 Weeks: A Wisconsin Pizza Harvest
56 MINUTES | 2021
Director/farmer Charlie Tennessen spends 25 weeks following the wheat harvest at Wisconsin’s Anarchy Acres farm in his search for the best flour to use to make pizza crust.
– Ann Christenson, Senior Dining Editor
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3. The End of Us
92 MINUTES | 2021
One of what will surely be many movies to address the COVID pandemic, this romantic comedy follows a woman who just broke up with her boyfriend the day before March 2020’s lockdown. After a job loss, the two are forced back into living together. Relational comedy-drama ensues.
– Archer Parquette, Managing Editor
4. Gunda
93 MINUTES | 2020
This black-and-white documentary follows the lives of animals living on a Norwegian farm. The stars include piglets and their mother, two cows and a one-legged chicken. The New York Times described this film as a “remarkable pig’s-eye view of the world.”
– Allison Garcia, Digital Editor
5. Bill Traylor: Chasing Ghosts
75 MINUTES | 2020
The artist Bill Traylor, who was born into slavery in Alabama and created hundreds of artworks in his late 80s while grappling with homelessness, eventually became a wildly influential artist. So I can’t wait to see this documentary about his life and work, which features interviews with Traylor’s family members.
– LA
6. Best Summer Ever
72 MINUTES | 2020
A musical whose cast emphasizes diversity and features those with and without disabilities, this film sounds like the upbeat antidote to the year-plus we’ve had.
– AC
7. Tom Petty, Somewhere you Feel Free
89 MINUTES | 2021
This documentary/tribute to legendary musician Tom Petty, who died in 2017, centers on his album Wildflowers. It combines never-before-seen footage and new interviews to paint a portrait of Petty’s musical skill.
– AP
8. Call Me Human
78 MINUTES | 2020
The cinematography in the trailer for this documentary is absolutely stunning. The story follows Innu writer Joséphine Bacon, who is fighting agains the loss of the language, culture and traditions of her people. The film promises to share the history of Bacon’s people across multimillenials. And a fun fact: in Bacon’s laguage, Innu means “human.”
– AG