What to watch this week in Jewish entertainment
Credit: Netflix
Published February 4, 2022
It’s that time again to relax and watch some movies and television shows. Here’s what to watch this week in Jewish entertainment
Stream a unique take on Anne Frank
While “My Best Friend Anne Frank” isn’t exactly engineered to make you relax, it will get your mind racing. Working from a story by Alison Leslie Gold, director Ben Sombogaart takes an alternative angle to the mystery surrounding one of the most tragic stories from the Holocaust. The story of Anne’s best friend, Hannah Goslar, who recounted her friendship with Frank in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam up until their reunion in a concentration camp.
The tale of Anne Frank is well known, so finding another point of view for such a horrific tragedy is enlightening. Sombogaart traveled to Israel to speak with the real Goslar, who was in her nineties but was willing to tell her story. If you want a piece of entertainment that can fill in the blanks and draw upon a trusted emotion, “My Best Friend Anne Frank” should be right up your alley.
Netflix’s 2022 slate includes big roles for Jonah Hill and Adam Sandler
Every February, the streaming giant releases a 2-3 minute teaser trailer for their upcoming content. Along with “Knives Out 2” and the Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans-starring “The Gray Man,” Hill and Sandler have a couple big swings on the docket this year.
When Sandler, whose Jewish family descends from Russian-Jewish immigrants on both sides, isn’t making disposable comedies with his friends, he actually decides to show his true acting talents. “Hustle” is about a struggling NBA scout (real-life basketball fanatic Sandler) who attempts to revive his career by bringing a player from overseas to try out. If “Uncut Gems” taught us anything, it’s that basketball movies involving Sandler are gold.
Don’t sleep on Beanie Feldstein’s brother, though. Hill co-wrote and stars in the untitled Netflix comedy drama, which centers around a young couple who experiences a clash of cultures and generations when they meet each other’s families. Eddie Murphy, David Duchovny, and Julie Louis-Dreyfus. Hill co-wrote it with director Kenya Barris, writer and creator of the popular show, “Black-ish.”
Here’s the rest of the preview slate:
Hail, Mr. Crystal!
When the Critics Choice Awards ceremony, rescheduled due to the Omicron outbreak last month, takes place, a certain very well-known Jewish comedy guy will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. Billy Crystal hasn’t worked that much in recent years, but he has put together quite the career. From the stage to hosting for the Oscars to a slew of classic comedy roles (“City Slickers” will always be funny), Crystal can blend comedy and drama like no other. Just watch “Forget Paris,” the B-side to the much-more popular “When Harry Met Sally.”
On March 13 at the 27th annual ceremony, he will become just the sixth star to receive the prestigious honor from the C.C.A.
Skating to the sounds of “Schindler’s List!”
Jewish Olympic figure skater Jason Brown has waited this long to use the powerful music of Steven Spielberg’s award-winning yet punishing watch of a film in order to gain the maturity needed to do so at the world’s biggest event. After winning a bronze medal in Sochi back in 2014, Brown didn’t qualify for the 2018 games. He will be at this month’s games and using this music. That alone deserves a good cheer.
Investigating “Nakba” at Sundance
Taboo in Israeli societies, “Nakba” is what Palestinians call the War of Independence that took place in 1948 shortly after Israel declared its own freedom. Due to the depopulation, their military engaged in a battle that claimed over 200 Arab lives. Israeli-Jewish filmmaker Aron Schwarz digs into the infamous date that hasn’t been talked about or investigated in decades. You can’t always present “Nabka,” also known as catastrophe, but you can avenge its existence by pointing out the wrongdoings.
Being Israeli, Schwarz wants to clear the red off the ledger of his ancestors with this documentary, which premiered at Sundance last month. The film, titled “Tantura,” is named after the tiny fishing village where the massacre occurred. Like the other pulverizing 2022 Sundance documentary, “Three Minutes-A Lengthening,” Schwarz’s film aims to not understand, but illuminate the past.
The good Dr. Wesley returns to Salem!
“Days of Our Lives” fans were given a jolt of fresh air when St. Louis native Jewish actor Kevin Spirtas reprised his popular role, Dr. Craig Wesley, for this season. Upon his return to the popular, and never-ending, town of Salem, Wesley makes a huge revelation to his wife on the show, Nancy. To say it’s fired up hardcore fans of the show is an understatement. Next week, Jewish Light will speak with Spirtas about his return to the soap opera hit and what he’s been up to since his last appearance in 2009.
What you can skip this week: Anything to do with Whoopi Goldberg. Just skip it for a week while the actress and talk show host understands her history. Also, you can skip “Sister Act 2” forever.
See you next week.
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