Hesher

Hesher is currently streaming in Australia on Amazon Prime Video, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video and The CW, and it rewards the patience it asks of you. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. 761 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Joseph Gordon-Levitt leads a cast that never overplays its hand. Start it on Amazon Prime Video whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Hesher is worth clearing space for. The writing in Hesher treats its characters as people first, plot devices second. A young boy has lost his mother and is losing touch with his father and the world around him. Then he meets Hesher who manages to make his life even more chaotic. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Natalie Portman lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2010. Hesher resists tidy resolutions in a way that respects how messy real consequences actually are. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Viewers drawn to character-driven storytelling will find plenty to sit with in Hesher. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Joseph Gordon-Levitt carries the material with a performance that rewards close attention. Worth starting sooner rather than later.