If you explored the Paramount+ movie suggestions from last week, you’ll be pleased to know that Tuner and The Get Out continue to rank at No. 2 and No. 3 for U.S. viewers. In the lead for the last week of September, however, is a wildly entertaining crew known for their outrageous antics. Jackass: Best and Last marks their final outing, and it’s my highlighted choice this week.
To contrast the light-hearted nonsense, there are two Oscar-winning films that delve into much deeper themes. One is a dark classic featuring an iconic milkshake scene, while the other is a psychological thriller from South Korea set to debut this Thursday.
3
There Will Be Blood
Daniel Day-Lewis portrays an oil magnate with a very lengthy straw
Paul Thomas Anderson, who recently won his first Oscar for One Battle After Another, still has many fans who consider There Will Be Blood his crowning achievement. This epic drama from 2007, adapted from Upton Sinclair’s novel Oil!, features Daniel Day-Lewis in a hauntingly powerful role that earned him his second Academy Award for Best Actor.
Day-Lewis plays Daniel Plainview, an early 20th-century oil tycoon driven by insatiable greed. He even exploits his adopted son, H.W. (Dillon Freasier), to present himself as a family man to skeptical landowners, just before he drains their land of oil. When he identifies a rich oil reserve on the property of Eli Sunday (Paul Dano), a flashy faith healer, they forge a deal—Daniel can extract oil if he funds Eli’s church.
The ensuing conflict between greed and faith showcases one of the most iconic, deranged diatribes ever filmed regarding the metaphor of oil, along with a gripping conclusion that satisfies to the core.
2
Parasite
A masterful con and a house full of secrets
Korean director Bong Joon-ho has defied genre constraints for over two decades. His critically acclaimed film Parasite, which won the Best Picture Oscar in 2019, solidified his position as a top storyteller after an eclectic career that included a serial killer drama, a successful monster film, and sci-fi projects in English.
Parasite is a black comedy that evolves into a thrilling narrative. It depicts the struggles of the impoverished Kim family—father Ki-taek (Song Kang-ho), mother Chung-sook (Jang Hye-jin), son Ki-woo (Choi Woo-shik), and daughter Ki-jung (Park So-dam)—who live in a cramped basement in Seoul, folding pizza boxes for a pittance. When Ki-woo successfully deceives his way into a tutoring position within the affluent Park family, the entire Kim family soon find themselves working there under false pretenses.
They enjoy their newfound lifestyle until they uncover a hidden secret in the house that could unravel their façade, prompting them to take drastic actions to maintain the deception. This groundbreaking film boasts a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and it’s best experienced with little prior knowledge. It will be available on Paramount+ starting October 1.
1
Jackass: Best and Last
Johnny Knoxville and his crew embark on one final adventure
Johnny Knoxville and his troupe of risk-taking jesters have had an incredible ride. I distinctly remember watching the original Jackass episodes on MTV with friends during our Friday nights. Their outrageous stunts never failed to set the mood. The ensuing films took it to the next level, with Jackass 3D featuring Steve-O’s infamous porta-potty stunt still ringing in my mind as one of the wildest, most ridiculous, and funniest moments ever captured.
However, all good things must reach a conclusion, and this year’s Jackass: Best and Last serves as a fitting farewell. This fifth installment in the series (following 2022’s Jackass Forever) skillfully combines iconic segments from the MTV series and earlier films with fresh stunts and interviews with the cast.
Returning cast members include Johnny, Chris Pontius, Dave England, and Wee Man, who remain painfully aware of the real consequences of their daring antics. Highlights include Steve-O allowing a robot to perform a prostate exam on him and Johnny enclosing Zach Holmes and Poopies in a dark room under the impression there are snakes. All Jackass films, along with the restored MTV episodes, are accessible on Paramount+.
From high drama to potty humor
Paramount+ really has a wide array of movie offerings, spanning from serious dramas to gut-busting humor. Adding a prestigious South Korean thriller later this week means diverse entertainment options are on the horizon.
