Giant

Giant is currently streaming on major platforms, and it rewards the patience it asks of you. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. 764 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Elizabeth Taylor sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Available now — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Giant is worth clearing space for. Giant takes its time building the world its characters inhabit, and the patience pays off. Wealthy rancher Bick Benedict and dirt-poor cowboy Jett Rink both woo Leslie Lynnton, a beautiful young woman from Maryland who is new to Texas. She marries Benedict, but she is shocked by the racial bigotry of the White Texans against the local people of Mexican descent. Rink discovers oil on a small plot of land, and while he uses his vast, new wealth to buy all the land surrounding the Benedict ranch, the Benedict's disagreement over prejudice fuels conflict that runs across generations. Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1956. The performances in Giant do a lot of work in the silences between the dialogue. The consistency throughout is what elevates it — not every moment is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

Viewers drawn to character-driven storytelling will find plenty to sit with in Giant. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Elizabeth Taylor carries the material with a performance that rewards close attention. Worth starting sooner rather than later.