Hey everyone! I know it's Tuesday and I am once again a day late on my post but fear not, this week's Netflix Pix is here. While browsing my queue this morning I noticed some high quality war movies are currently streaming. We all know that the military makes for great cinema and some of my favorite movies of all-time are in fact war based, so I decided to highlight five war or military related movies currently on Netflix that you all need to watch. These films range in time, place, tone and just about everything else yet each one is a brilliant depiction of a life most of us have never know. So pop some popcorn, crank the surround sound and relax with this week's Netflix Pix.
1. The Great Escape (1963) Directed By: John Sturges
This movie is a masterpiece, plain and simple. One of my favorite movies growing up and of all-time, I used to watch this film repeatedly. Starring a laundry list of classic A-list talent like Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence, and more this film centers on a group of prisoners in a Nazi POW camp. These guys can't be kept in a cage forever though and they plot a master plan to dig their way out of the camp with a series of underground tunnels. The film is an absolute blast and one of the greatest films ever made. If for some reason you haven't seen this movie before clear your schedule tonight and enjoy this amazing piece of cinema.
2. Three Kings (1999) Directed By: David O. Russell
The name David O. Russell has become huge in the past few years with films like Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle but long before his recent mainstream success he made a brilliant little movie about the Persian Gulf War. Starring George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Ice Cube this film follows their characters in the aftermath of the war as they step out on a treasure hunt for stolen Kuwaiti gold. The war has left these soldiers frustrated and angry and their journey across the dessert opens theirs eyes up to a whole other side of war. This is a wonderful little film with incredible acting.
3. Apocalypse Now (1979) Francis Ford Coppola
I don't think I need to say much for this film, the seminal war film directed by Francis Ford Coppola is one of the most iconic films ever made. Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, and Robert Duvall head the cast of this Vietnam War epic and turn in some of the best performances of their prolific careers. The film follows a group of soldiers sent out to find and kill a renegade colonel who has alienated himself from the war. If you are one of the few people who haven't seen this film before you need to change that, it is so iconic for a reason.
4. The Patriot (2000) Directed By: Roland Emmerich
This Roland Emmerich directed American Revolution epic is one of the few films to capture our bloody revolution in the right light. Following an American farmer who joins up in the revolution after a British soldier kills his son, this film is a beautiful tale of revenge in war. Mel Gibson gives one of his best performances of the modern century and Heath Ledger supports in probably his most underappreciated role. It is a great recreation colonial American and the attitude that infected the country when we decided to go into revolution and break away from Britain. This title just recently popped on Netflix so if you haven't seen this before you now have the perfect opportunity.
5. Lord of War (2005) Directed By: Andrew Niccol
Probably the most out-of-the-box of all these titles, Lord of War follows an American immigrant who uses his overseas connections to become the master of arms dealing at the close of the Cold War. The film stars Nicolas Cage and Jared Leto as brothers who go into business together selling large amounts of guns and ammo to struggling armies across the planet. This is Nic Cage and Jared Leto at their best and the two have surprisingly good chemistry together. It is a different film that has us following the "bad guy" for two hours and feeling sympathy for him the whole time, even though he deserves everything that is coming for him. It is a great representation of how the illegal arms race went crazy after the Soviet Union fell and Russia was left without a government. It is a highly intense drama that is probably way more fun than it should be.
As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!
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