Netflix. The perfect time of the year to binge on Netflix is right now, just as we start getting slammed with final exams. So, let me talk about the best movies on Netflix right now.
If you are in the mood for something relatively new, NightCrawler starring Jake Gyllenhaal is a really entertaining film, it sucks you in. Fun fact: he was actually nominated for a Golden Globe last year. The film centers on a socially awkward man who begins to film crimes and sells them to the local news. However, things get bad when he decides to film murders as they happen. It is definitely an engaging film if you like action and suspense!
For a more comedic and light-hearted film, Some Kind of Beautiful is a recently added film. It focuses on Pierce Brosnan, who acts like a bad boy professor who is also a father and does a good job with that, but things get complicated! Also starring Salma Hayek and Jessica Alba.
Here’s one film that got great reviews last year, Beyond the Lights. I honestly couldn’t take my eyes of the screen. It is about a young AfricanAmerican girl who has a beautiful voice and her English mother depends on her. Years later, we see the same girl who is now a pop star, but corrupted by the exploitation of the music industry and her voice appears to have been made electronic. Her mother seems to be only in it for the money. However, when she meets a young police officer who actually sees her for her, her life changes for the better.
If you are looking for a classic that’s not too old, I would suggest Good Will Hunting. The film is about a tough young man who went in and out of foster care in Boston. He hangs out with his friends (The Affleck brothers) and likes getting into trouble. At one point though, we discover that he has a brilliant mind. However, his inability to let go of the past and his confusion upon meeting the love of his life throws him into a state of uneasiness. Through the help of a new therapist (Robin Williams), he begins to understand just how to let go of the past.
“So, what are you gonna watch tonight?” -Grace Dowling Doctor
Dandy here! As winter and the break approach, many look to Netflix to escape the harsh realities of the outside world and its weather. But you can only binge-watch Friends so many times before you know Joey’s cues better than LeBlanc did. If you’re in that sort of predicament, this is the list for you. Here are ten of my favorite shows, movies, documentaries, and other things available on Netflix. In no particular order:
• The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret This quirky IFC comedy from the mind of David Cross follows American Todd Margaret as he bumbles his way through England while attempting to market the newest energy drink. It’s recently been picked up for a third season, meaning seasons one and two are both on Netflix now.
• Columbo This classic detective hour-long detective serial follows Sargent Columbo as he solves crimes through a combination of questioning and deduction. The Socratic Method is strong in this clever, funny, and occasionally thrilling serial which has been described as less of a “who-dun-it” and more of a “how-catch-em”.
• Bojack Horseman Will Arnett stars in Netflix’s animated comedy about a washed-up actor attempting to re-start a career that has been dead since the nineties. While appearing to be a sitcom about a washed-up, egotistical former star, BoJack Horseman is a more realistic portrayal of depression than anything appearing on television prior.
• Industry Documentaries Super-Entry Netflix features a massive index of documentaries about specific or niche industries or jobs within the entertainment industry. If you’re curious about any part of how your favorite entertainment products get made, Netflix has something for you. A few of my favorites are:
I Know That Voice: Voice-acting, Showrunners: That mysterious 21st century invention, Stripped: Newspaper comics and the strip-comic industry, Supermensch: Talent Agents (Though specifically Shep Gordon), Harmontown
While similar to the documentaries listed above, Harmontown really deserves its own entry. Following Dan Harmon (the mind behind Community and co-creator with Justin Roiland Rick and Morty) as he takes his podcast around the country, performing live in front of crowds with his friends and other industry greats. Definitely not for more sensitive viewers.
• Sleepwalk With Me Based on the stand-up comedy of Mike Birbiglia, Sleepwalk With Me tells the story of an up-and-coming comedian’s struggles with work, relationships, and mental illness. Charming, funny, and surprisingly light considering the subject-matter.
• Master of None This Netflix original series starring comedian Aziz Ansari follows a struggling actor as he deals with dating and relationships in the 21st century, casual racism, and coming into one’s own. If you’re a fan of grounded, realistic comedies that follow a single central character, Master of None is one of your best choices at the moment.
• Let’s talk stand-up Netflix offers a ridiculous quantity of stand-up comedy. Unfortunately, only about a third of it is any good. Here are some of my favorites that are either very recent or that feature lesser-known comedians. Given the nature of stand-up, many of these are not for more sensitive viewers. An asterisk (*) will denote those titles which I find comedians will appreciate more than a regular comedy fan.
Morgan Murphy: Irish Goodbye* Mike Birbiglia: My Boyfriend’s Girlfriend o Todd Barry: The Crowd Work Tour* o John Mulaney: The Comeback Kid o Anthony Jeselnik: Thoughts and Prayers* o Demetri Martin: Live at the Time o Eugene Mirman: Vegan on His Way to the Complain Store
• The Tarantino Collection Several of Quentin Tarantino’s films are available on Netflix! If you missed Django Unchained or Inglorious Basterds while they were in theaters, or if you just feel like watching Reservoir Dogs for the thirteenth time, Netflix has you covered
• The Twilight Zone Finishing off the list is Rob Sterling’s absolutely classic anthology series of supernatural tales to thrill. The four available seasons have a combined total of 148 episodes of 25 minutes each.
“The best-written series ever made”. -Cameron Chamberlain
