How To Watch Waves (2019)

Feedback Not Found

The page you were looking for doesn't exist. Here are our top 20 recommendations right now instead:

Trailer

Good 7.7

Thrilling

Bullet in the Head 1990

In the fallout of his conflict with producer Tsui Hark, filmmaker John Woo was alone, virtually blacklisted, and unable to find funding for what could have been the prequel to A Better Tomorrow. Because of these circumstances, he self-funded this action thriller Bullet in the Head. Of course, it’s possible that the themes of brotherhood, loyalty, and betrayal are entirely coincidental, but nonetheless, Woo crafts a compelling narrative, helped by its haunting score and the tear-tracked performances of the three leads. Setting the film in the Hong Kong riots and Vietnam War, Bullet in the Head reveals how war never leaves any relationship unscathed, not even between those who proclaim to be brothers.

skip My recs queue seen

Excellent 8.5

Locked suggestion 2025

Go PRO to unlock recommendations above 8.5/10.

Unlock for $2/month Trailer

Good 7.8

Thrilling Weird

The Secret Agent 2025

From 1964-1985, Brazil was under a military dictatorship. If you’re looking for films about this period of time, you can check out 2024 Oscar winner I’m Still Here, which poignantly depicted the memoir in a straightforward manner. But if you’re looking for another approach, you should check out this political thriller. The Secret Agent takes on a more exhilarating spin, with the main character Armando right in the action. Narcos’ Wagner Moura delivers an excellent performance of a former professor who isn’t actually an agent, but is somewhat forced to act like one, with his role to forge his passport and to find information on his missing mom. And as he tries to flee the country, his story echoes the genres of the time, with slow, intense zoom-ins that remind us of Cold War spy paranoia albeit more sunny, and a series of tiger shark attacks that reminds us of thrillers like Jaws (1975). It’s this approach that makes The Secret Agent an exciting and original take on this tense time period.

skip My recs queue seen1

Excellent 8.5

Locked suggestion 2025

Go PRO to unlock recommendations above 8.5/10.

Unlock for $2/month Trailer

Good 7.4

Easy Thrilling

Young Sherlock 2026

Young Sherlock isn’t quite accurate to the Andrew Lane book series or the original works from Arthur Conan Doyle. Here, the detective in question is college aged, rather than 14 or 60, a choice made surely to introduce a new ensemble of fresh-faced talent. And unlike its source material, there’s a larger mystery behind each episode’s case. We would say that these changes make the story better fit for television– Holmes at his unpolished youth has more freedom to mess up, so it certainly allows the cast and crew to have much more fun. And while some decisions feel distinctly out of time, Young Sherlock would be enjoyable enough for this generation.

skip My recs queue seen

Excellent 8.6

Locked suggestion 2004

Go PRO to unlock recommendations above 8.5/10.

Unlock for $2/month Trailer

Good 7.7

Dramatic Romantic

Love Story 2026

Let’s get this out of the way: Love Story isn’t an accurate retelling of the marriage between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bassette, just ask their living relatives about it. However, historical accuracy is not really the point. Much like the other franchises under American Story, Love Story feels more like a portrait of what America used to be– this time, through the closest thing the United States had to a royal marriage. Indulging in the 90s-00s nostalgia, this whirlwind romance takes on familiar themes of celebrity and public scrutiny with all the high-fashion glamor, a semblance of curated taste, and none of today’s social media clout chasing. It helps that Sarah Pidgeon and Paul Anthony Kelly look so good together, with their classic visages and old-school vibes. Love Story doesn’t present something new or true, but the show is nonetheless very watchable.

skip My recs queue seen Trailer

Very Good 8.0

Funny

Man on the Run 2025

The Beatles is the greatest musical band ever created, or at least the one with the most success, most influence, and most impact in the industry. So, what do they do when that same band breaks up? Fans that have followed their careers since are likely to know what has happened, but the perspective Man on the Run presents is fascinating. Focusing entirely on Paul McCartney, this documentary clears up some of the mystery and confusion that surrounded him, the weight of the expectations and the disappointment of the fans over the break-up. Of course, the archive alone would already please fans. Filmmaker Morgan Neville simply takes that footage to celebrate McCartney’s reinvention.

skip1 My recs queue seen1 Trailer

Good 7.1

Easy

Tender Mercies 1983

Tender Mercies is mostly a musical drama. There’s no score at all, only performances of guitar-strung songs, mostly original, which the lead Robert Duvall insisted on. But there’s a hint of other genres in the mix. Duvall portrays singer-songwriter Mac Sledge, and like in an old-time Western, he’s a stranger to the small town, dressed up with his cowboy hat and boots. Given his later romance with Baptist widow Rosa, there’s a bit of a Hallmark romance as well. So why mention all this? Because at a time when British filmmakers were being celebrated over Hollywood, Tender Mercies put together some of the elements that characterized something distinctly American. It’s because of this timing that Tender Mercies became critically acclaimed.

skip My recs queue seen1 Trailer

Good 7.2

Thrilling

Steal 2026

As financial systems update for the digital age, so do the related crimes. This crime thriller series starts out with a break-in, but after forcing office worker Zara Dunne to transfer the funds online, the robbery proves to be much more complex than a simple hit-and-run. It’s rather entertaining. The pressure put upon office workers Zara Dunne and Luke Selborn reflects the way technology has shifted risk, simultaneously presenting itself as more secure, yet can be tweaked with just a few clicks. Each new clue is presented quite masterfully, raising more questions and heightening the suspense. While some plot points might be predictable for fans of the genre, most of the twists work, thanks to the performances of Sophie Turner, Archie Madekwe, and Jacob Fortune-Lloyd.

skip My recs queue1 seen1 Trailer

Good 7.5

Funny Thrilling

Ponies 2026

Ponies is a fun ride. Centered on two widows who lost their CIA husbands, the unexpected spy series puts their duo into some wacky hijinks as they try to figure it out at a time where one wrong move can launch a world war. That’s because it remembers the world just got out of one. It is set in the Cold War, after all. The show sets believable weight to the stakes the two women face by putting into perspective the kind of world these spies were working with. And so, with this strong sense of setting, Bea and Twila feel more like real people than the serious super spy or the adventurous James Bond-type. Combined with the surprising chemistry between Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson, breaking out of type, Ponies finds humor and fun in the uncertainty of the time.

skip My recs queue2 seen Trailer

Good 7.4

Funny

Code 3 2025

Code 3 is a comedy about a crazy night out, though the craziness doesn’t stem from drunkenness, drugs, or bad decisions– it comes from the way anything can happen in the shift of a paramedic. And we mean, anything. That means the needle stabbing and projectile vomiting occurs organically. But the crazy night that happens isn’t presented for comedy’s sake only. At the heart of the humor is the understanding of how thankless the job can get, and how much strain the healthcare system is handling even without a pandemic. Code 3 acknowledges their troubles and rightfully honors their work.

skip My recs queue2 seen1 Trailer

Very Good 8.1

Touching Uplifting

Superboys of Malegaon 2025

Based on the life of a real small town filmmaker, this coming-of-age film is a familiar underdog story. After their small movie theater shut down due to piracy, Nasir and his friends decide to create their own, in spite of not having the money or connections to do it. You can probably tell what happens next, given the numerous films about artists with humble beginnings. But despite the tropes, the rushed reconciliation, and not delving into some of the religious tension behind Nasir’s retirement, Superboys of Malegaon still feels refreshing, because it truly understands why the underdog is so compelling. With only their love for the craft to guide them, these boys capture the fun and wonder of making films in their own community, for their own community. Superboys of Malegaon truly listened to their story.

skip1 My recs queue2 seen2 Trailer

Very Good 8.1

Character-driven Discussion-sparking

Death by Lightning 2025

Out of all the presidents in American history, you’ll be hard pressed to remember James A. Garfield. That’s because the man barely made it past six months before he was assassinated. Perhaps it’s because of this that there aren’t many expectations for this historical limited series, other than period sets and costumes, which is done well. But Death by Lightning goes beyond just documenting the guy’s life, as well as the life of his murderer. Instead, the series delves into the ways both men focused on their legacy, for better or worse, pushing the wheel to bring the changes they have fought for, but also prematurely ending their potential impact on the nation. Death by Lightning is fascinating work, one that turns this forgotten president into an important warning for today’s changemakers.

skip My recs queue3 seen6 Trailer

Very Good 8.2

Funny Thrilling

Boots 2025

Inspired by The Pink Marine memoir, Boots expands on Greg Cope White’s story to widen its perspective from one recruit to a whole troop. It makes it a team effort, rather than a solo stint. With the different faces and the protagonist’s sexuality, this show updates the classic military show for this generation, but the change works mostly because of an interest in the whole ensemble, letting its relative newcomers play off each other and show off their strengths. And that’s in spite of the times this show was released in. It’s a shame that Netflix hasn’t greenlit this gem for a second season, considering that these guys prove their mettle in each of their performances. Boots has more ground to stomp on, if only certain companies had the same balls the creators here did.

skip My recs queue4 seen6 Trailer

Very Good 8.0

Emotional Raw

My Mom Jayne 2025

Unlike the other documentaries depicting “Hollywood’s smartest dumb blonde”, My Mom Jayne takes on a different approach to Jayne Mansfield. Already the title tells you that it’s from the perspective of one of her children– namely, her youngest daughter Mariska Hargitay– so naturally, it takes a more respectful depiction than what’s been shown of her peers. Hargitay and her siblings present a different kind of retrospective, reassembling the remaining fragments with a more personal touch and an unexpected family mystery. My Mom Jayne is such an excellent portrait of Jayne Mansfield, one that opens surprising layers to the person behind the bombshell persona.

skip3 My recs queue1 seen4 Trailer

Very Good 8.4

Quirky

Long Story Short 2025

Long Story Short follows three siblings throughout their youth and adulthood. It sounds basic enough, except the ten-episode series time-hops every now and then, so we get to drop in on them during certain periods, like the drive back home from a loved one’s funeral, a catastrophic prom night, and even just a good night where everyone gets along. We get glimpses and snippets of their life in non-chronological order, but it all builds up to a resonant and deeply moving whole. Created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg of BoJack Horseman and Tuca & Bertie fame, it’s not surprising how heart-wrenching Long Story Short can get. But as Waksberg leaves behind his animal avatars in this series and focuses instead on human characters, he also crafts something a little less devastating and a little more delightful and closer to home.

skip15 My recs queue15 seen10 Trailer

Very Good 8.1

Easy

John Candy: I Like Me 2025

John Candy: I Like Me takes a somewhat standard approach in remembering the titular comedian. The film pulls out old footage, brings together his loved ones, and they sing praises of what a good guy he was. Given his profession, there were also certain moments where the film explains some jokes, which kills some of the humor. However, it’s a testament to Candy that it doesn’t come across as totally boring, even for non-comedy buffs. Like looking through old photo albums, and rewatching an actor’s old work, John Candy: I Like Me genuinely likes the guy, celebrating the gentle soul and consummate performer that helped define his generation’s comedy.

skip5 My recs queue5 seen6 Trailer

Very Good 8.2

Thrilling Mini-series

Reunion 2025

Reunion plays out like a typical thriller—it follows a recently released ex-con on the hunt for revenge. In most episodes, his reasons for killing remain a mystery, while his moral compass swings from hero to anti-hero. The beats and storylines are familiar, except for the fact that everything takes place in the realm of the deaf. The leading man, David Brennan (Matthew Gurney), is a deaf man who only uses sign language and the occasional angry gestures to communicate with those around him. The victim of his crime, Ray (Ace Mahbaz), was a stalwart in the deaf community, and so his widowed wife chases David in search of answers, answers David has promised Ray he’ll keep until his death. Reunion is an excellent show, if not in terms of narrative, then in terms of technical feats. Everything from the editing, cinematography, and especially the performances, which feature plenty from the deaf actors, point to how creatively and dedicately rooted the series is in the deaf community.

skip3 My recs queue9 seen3

Excellent 8.5

Locked suggestion 2025

Go PRO to unlock recommendations above 8.5/10.

Unlock for $2/month