Tenderness

Right now you can watch Tenderness in Australia on Lionsgate+ Amazon Channels, and in the US on Philo and Starz Apple TV Channel — and it earns its twists rather than manufacturing them. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. With 129 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Russell Crowe sets the tone, and the ensemble matches it scene for scene. Available now on Lionsgate+ Amazon Channels — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Tenderness is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. At its heart, Tenderness understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. A hardened cop tries to unravel the past to discover whether a violent teenager was responsible for the murder of his family. A confused fifteen-year-old runaway becomes enthralled with the young man. Russell Crowe and Jon Foster lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2009. What makes Tenderness hold up is that the resolution matters less than how the characters get there. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Viewers who think they have seen every crime drama tend to find Tenderness proves them wrong. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Russell Crowe anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.