Hello everyone! Today I am starting a new weekly post that
will go up every Monday and it is simply called "Netflix Pix". I am
so often asked to recommend movies to people that are streaming on Netflix so I
figured I'd start a post doing just that. Every Monday I will compile a list of
five films that are streaming on Netflix and that I have seen and recommend to
you all. We all know there are endless amounts of movies on the service and
choosing which ones to watch can be a difficult decision without someone you
trust telling you it's worth it. Well, I am hoping I am that trusty someone and
I have burned through plenty of the films on there so I feel I am well
qualified to do so.
Some weeks I may pick a theme and without a doubt once a
month I will do a post entirely of horror movies. I hope I can introduce you
guys to some new kinds of films that you haven't seen and get you exploring
some titles you may have never even considered before. Netflix has been very
instrumental in helping me personally grow as a movie geek and I would love to
help do the same for some of you. So keep an eye on my page every Monday going
forward if you are looking for new things to explore and without further delay,
here is my first ever Netflix Pix.
1. Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) Directed By: Guy
Ritchie
With The Man From
U.N.C.L.E. hitting theaters this week, the newest film from director Guy
Ritchie, I invite you to look back at the movie that elevated him into a new
level of filmmaking. Lock, Stock is the first in a series of films that Ritchie
would do focusing on the British underground crime circuit. Starring Jason
Statham at a time when he did actual acting, this film is brilliant take on the
world of organized crime.
Focusing mainly on a group of friends who think they can
walk in and take a game of cards run by a group of unsavory people, this film
intertwines multiple storylines by both coincidence and incident. After the
Card game goes awry it sets in motion a series of events that collides multiple
different worlds in a hunt for money, weed, and guns. This is the film that
established Guy Ritchie and his unique style of filmmaking and would lay the
groundwork for his future films like Snatch
and RocknRolla.
2. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002) Directed By: George
Clooney
The directorial debut of acting juggernaut George Clooney,
this film is a unique take on the "biopic" and with Straight Outta Compton releasing this
weekend, it just feels appropriate. The film is an adaptation of the cult
memoirs of Chuck Barris, a well-known game show host from such programs as The
Gong Show. Clooney stars alongside Sam Rockwell in this highly underrated
movie.
The film centers on the alleged true story of Chuck Barris'
secret life as a CIA hitman. Yeah, you heard that right, Chuck Barris claims in
his memoirs that he was an undercover CIA hitman during his time as an iconic
TV host. Whether or not any of that is true doesn't matter, it makes for
wonderful storytelling and filmmaking. It's a fun trip into the past to take a
look at life at a different time. You believe that it's possible for him to
have achieved this in a time where the world was becoming consumed by network
television and their consumerist lives. The movie is all around fun and I would
definitely suggest you check it out. It is worth a watch for Clooney and
Rockwell alone, the two are incredible on screen together.
3. Blue Ruin (2013) Directed By: Jeremy Saulnier
Written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier, this movie is one
of the best American action movies of the last decade. The film focuses on
Dwight, a quiet homeless man who has some demons. When he returns home to
attempt and carry out an act of revenge on the people who previously hurt him
he proves to be far more unprepared than he thought. Before he knows it his
life is turned upside down and he ends up in a desperate fight to protect
himself and the ones close to him. Go in knowing as little as possible and
simply enjoy the ride. Its fast paced, intense action that is as good as
anything you see in the theaters this summer.
4. Death Wish (1974) Directed By: Michael Winner
One of the wonderful things about Netflix is the massive
amount of old and classic films they have. More specifically their inventory of
older R rated action movies. One of my favorites currently on Netflix is
Charles Bronson in Death Wish. This
is the kind of film we see quite often nowadays but back in 1974 this was a
fresh idea. Similar to the last movie I talked about, Blue Ruin, this is a tale of revenge in the name of family.
After his wife is murdered by street thugs, Paul Kersey
(Charles Bronson) finds himself in the darkest of places. His takes his anger
to the streets and begins a terror of vigilante justice. He hits the street
with his revolver and begins taking out would-be muggers and all other
worthless scum. It's one of the earliest movies I can remember that uses the no
mercy style action. Bronson's character is ruthless with his gun, the pain of
losing his wife has consumed him to the point where he has no regard for wasted
human life. I would say watch anything with Charles Bronson in it regardless
but this one is fun for all the ultra-violent action movie fans.
5. The Art of the Steal (2013) Directed By: Jonathan Sobol
Last year this little movie popped up on Netflix and took me
completely by surprise. I am a huge fan of heist movies as well as Kurt Russell
and Jay Baruchel so this was an easy sell for me. The movie ended up being a
really clever art heist movie that also succeeds as a cool tale of revenge as
well. The movie is hilarious and a total blast to watch and writer/director
Jonathan Sobol does a great job making it feel fresh.
Crunch Calhoun (Kurt Russell) is an ex-art thief who has
taken up employment as a daredevil with an affinity for crashing. His new line
of work isn't the most effective way of making cash though and when his old
associate approaches him with a new score he has no choice but to get back into
the game. He is going to be working with his brother (Matt Dillon) again, who
screwed them over on the last job but is willing to put that aside for the
promise of a huge score. The heist isn't what it appears to be though and by
the time the credits roll you'll have realized that the art of the steal isn't
what you'd thought.
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