Kramer vs. Kramer

Kramer vs. Kramer is currently streaming in the US on Fawesome, 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. 2,481 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Watch it for Dustin Hoffman — one of the stronger performances out there right now. Start it on Fawesome whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Kramer vs. Kramer is worth clearing space for. Character-driven storytelling at its most effective — Kramer vs. Kramer earns every emotional beat it goes for. Ted Kramer is a career man for whom his work comes before his family. His wife Joanna cannot take this anymore, so she decides to leave him. Ted is now faced with the tasks of housekeeping and taking care of himself and their young son Billy. Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1979. Kramer vs. Kramer resists tidy resolutions in a way that respects how messy real consequences actually are. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

For anyone looking for storytelling that takes its characters seriously, Kramer vs. Kramer delivers. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Dustin Hoffman is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.