Weekly Digest

Watch List Weekly Recap 7/29/22

A New Hollywood legend passes away, an actor-turned-director debuts his first film, and recommendations for what to watch in theaters and on streaming services.

Ty Burr

Ty Burr

— 2 min read
Watch List Weekly Recap 7/29/22

This is the Friday recap of Ty Burr’s Watch List postings for the week. If you’d like to receive this weekly email ONLY, please go to your account page and under “Email notifications” uncheck every box except “Weekly Digest.” If you’d prefer to not receive it at all, uncheck just “Weekly Digest.”

On Monday, I wrote some words of appreciation for director Bob Rafelson, seen above with Jack Nicholson, who he launched to stardom and who remained a friend to the end. Rafelson died last week, and he’s responsible for more items in your cultural memory bank than you may realize.

Bob Rafelson 1933-2022
For much of this year, starting in January, I exchanged emails with Bob Rafelson about an interview for our shared alma mater’s alumni magazine; the legendary film director was cantankerous, generous, hilarious, but we never seemed to get around to the actual interview. Rafelson, 89, had long absented himself …
Ty Burr's Watch List

I don’t usually do interviews in the Watch List, but “Office” co-star B.J. Novak’s from my home town, he has a new movie out — his first as director — and he’s good, dry, witty fun to talk to.

"Vengeance" Is His
B.J. Novak is in his early 40s now, but he still has the wry, flexible certainty of a smart kid itching to take on the world. He has one of those faces that pop up in the culture like a Whac-A-Mole. Where have you seen this guy before? Ah, right, “The Office” (2005-2013), on which he wrote, produced, and…
Ty Burr's Watch List

For New Release Friday, a Hulu premiere (“Not Okay,” above), plus best bets for weekend viewing in theaters and on the streaming services.

What to Watch, Last-Ditch July Edition
What can you say when the most intensely moving film of the week is the viral video of Joni Mitchell performing at the Newport Folk Festival?
Ty Burr's Watch List

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