Category: Netflix
NFLX2019 Redux
(January 4, 2020)Almost a year ago I foolishly decided to watch all “Netflix Originals” movies to see what it’s like. Here’s the tl;dr: Based on these movies, Netflix is doomed. There were some movies I enjoyed, but none I could recommend without any caveats. However, it’d be a mistake to think that these movies have that much … Continue reading NFLX2019 Redux
NFLX2019 December 31st: Ghost Stories
(January 4, 2020)Ghost Stories. Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar and Anurag Kashyap. 2019. ☆☆☆☆☆★ Nooo! The final Netflix Original movie of 2019 is an Indian movie! Nooo!!! Not that there’s anything wrong with Indian movies. Some of my best friends are Indian movies. It was just not what I was expecting to round off the year. … Continue reading NFLX2019 December 31st: Ghost Stories
NFLX2019 December 31st: Dead Kids
(January 3, 2020)Dead Kids. Mikhail Red. 2019. ☆☆★★★★★ Huh. A Filipino movie? That’s definitely a first in this year of Netflix Originals. It’s… a bit amateurish. The actors are pretty likeable, but take that scene in the bar where they’re arguing about going to a night club: There wasn’t anything much wrong about any single line, but … Continue reading NFLX2019 December 31st: Dead Kids
NFLX2019 December 26th: The App
(January 3, 2020)The App. Elisa Fuksas. 2019. ☆☆☆★★★ Hey! It’s Italian! I think this is the first Italian Netflix Original I’ve seen in this blog series? Perhaps it’ll be wonderful! Hm… that’s a lot of mobile phone screen caps… In portrait mode… Well, that’s harsh… But what does he really mean? Well, I can see why people … Continue reading NFLX2019 December 26th: The App
NFLX2019 December 24th: Como Caído del Cielo
(December 30, 2019)Como Caído del Cielo. José Pepe Bojórquez. 2019. ☆☆★★★★ A Mexican movie? I think this is the first one I’ve seen in this blog series? So the plot is that a dead guy’s er spirit gets to take over a dying guy’s body. Hilarity should ensue, but doesn’t really. Instead they go right to the … Continue reading NFLX2019 December 24th: Como Caído del Cielo
NFLX2019 December 20th: The Two Popes
(December 30, 2019)The Two Popes. Fernando Meirelles. 2019. ☆☆☆★★★ Oh, fuck. This is that Catholic propaganda movie? Gah. OK, perhaps it’s watcheable anyway? I mean, the Riefenstahl movie was pretty good. This is also one of the few Netflix movies that has gotten some attention in the media, so it’s a movie Netflix has pushed hard, I … Continue reading NFLX2019 December 20th: The Two Popes
NFLX2019 December 13th: 6 Underground
(December 30, 2019)6 Underground. Michael Bay. 2019. ☆☆☆☆☆☆ Huh! It’s that guy from Deadpool! In a plane! And now he faked crashing the plane! And now they’re in a car chase! Is this the best movie ever? And the car chase is in Italy! And now there’s guns! There’s somebody in the back seat doing surgery to … Continue reading NFLX2019 December 13th: 6 Underground
NFLX2019 December 6th: Marriage Story
(December 7, 2019)Marriage Story. Noah Baumbach. 2019. ☆☆☆☆★★ Oh, I’ve seen reviews of this movie in all the newspapers. And it’s always that way: A Netflix movie either has no presence whatsoever in mass media or it’s absolutely everywhere. So I guess that there’s certain Netflix movies that Netflix pushes really hard, and the rest they just … Continue reading NFLX2019 December 6th: Marriage Story
NFLX2019 December 5th: A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby
(December 6, 2019)A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby. John Schultz. 2019. ☆☆★★★ Oh, this is part of a series? At least, while searching for it, there seemed to be some other movies with suspiciously similar names. And it starts with a recap. Check. Man, it just immediately seems like a super-cheap film: The early crowd scenes seems … Continue reading NFLX2019 December 5th: A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby
NFLX2019 November 28th: Holiday Rush
(December 6, 2019)Holiday Rush. Leslie Small. 2019. ☆☆★★★★ I think we’re getting to a certain … time of year. I think Netflix has done at least half a dozen Xmas movies this year? But interestingly enough, each one seems to target a lightly different genres. Or audiences. So this is the black one. Uh-oh. OK, but these … Continue reading NFLX2019 November 28th: Holiday Rush
NFLX2019 November 27th: The Irishman
(December 5, 2019)The Irishman. Martin Scorsese. 2019. ☆☆☆☆★★ So here it is: Netflix claim to cinematic greatness. They shovelled a whole lot more money in Scorsese’s way than anybody else would have, and they got a movie (shown in actual cinemas (for a couple of weeks)) that all the newspapers in the entire world wrote think pieces … Continue reading NFLX2019 November 27th: The Irishman
NFLX2019 November 21st: The Knight Before Christmas
(December 4, 2019)The Knight Before Christmas. Monika Mitchell. 2019. ☆☆★★★★ Uh-oh. This movie starts off with that sample of an eagle er falcon that’s used everywhere. Yeah, this one: This doesn’t bode well for the budget. OK, this is very high concept: A knight from the thirteen hundreds (I think?) is magically transported to the present day. … Continue reading NFLX2019 November 21st: The Knight Before Christmas
NFLX2019 November 15th: House Arrest
(December 4, 2019)House Arrest. Shashanka Ghosh, Samit Basu. 2019. ☆☆☆★★★ I think this may be the final Indian Netflix Original of the year. They’ve been more miss than hit, so my expectations aren’t high. This one starts off really well: They’re going for a kooky, topsy-turvy aesthetic, and the actors seem charming. It’s basically a screwball comedy … Continue reading NFLX2019 November 15th: House Arrest
NFLX2019 November 15th: Klaus
(November 22, 2019)Klaus. Sergio Pablos. 2019. ☆☆☆☆☆★ This is super sweet. It’s told in a brash, irreverent tone, but it’s a very sentimental Christmas movie about Santa Claus and stuff. If you’re easily moved, it’s full of really touching scenes throughout: It’s amazing that they keep delivering these highly emotional punches time and time again. And the … Continue reading NFLX2019 November 15th: Klaus
NFLX2019 November 8th: Earthquake Bird
(November 22, 2019)Earthquake Bird. Wash Westmoreland. 2019. ☆☆☆★★★ Man, this is a mess. I was totally on board thinking this was a really interesting movie, where ever shot had a deeper meaning. We were all “oh, this means she can see dead people! No, she’s a vampire! No, she’s dead!” but calm down: There’s no Shyamalaning going … Continue reading NFLX2019 November 8th: Earthquake Bird
NFLX2019 November 8th: Let It Snow
(November 9, 2019)Let It Snow. Luke Snellin. 2019. ☆☆☆☆★★ My prejudices immediately told me that this was going to be a horrible teen comedy thing. But it’s not! It’s a fun teen comedy thing. The actors are charming (it’s an ensemble thing) and the interlocking plots (FSVO plot) are all kinda interesting (and intersects in interesting ways) … Continue reading NFLX2019 November 8th: Let It Snow
NFLX2019 November 1st: Holiday in the Wild
(November 9, 2019)Holiday in the Wild. Ernie Barbarash. 2019. ☆☆★★★★ This is initially just confusing, because they’re sending off somebody to college… … but which one is he? Is the one in the middle or the one on the right? Who’s playing the teenager here? (It’s the one in the middle, and he’s cast for this way-appropriate-age … Continue reading NFLX2019 November 1st: Holiday in the Wild
NFLX2019 November 1st: The Man Without Gravity
(November 9, 2019)Hey! I’ve read that book. The Cloven Viscount? The Man Without Gravity. Marco Bonfanti. 2019. ☆☆☆★★★ Fourth movie of the night! Wow. An Italian movie? I think this is the first Italian Netlix Original? There’s a buttload of Indian ones, and a handful of Spanish, but other than that it’s mostly American. But no, this … Continue reading NFLX2019 November 1st: The Man Without Gravity
NFLX2019 November 1st: Drive
(November 9, 2019)Drive. Tarun Mansukhani. 2019. ☆☆☆☆★★ Third movie of the night: This is an Indian action movie or something? “DROVE”? As in “it drove me crazy”? The titles at the start seemed to say something about Israel? Is this an Indian/Israeli thing? And now there’s dancing! Yay! What spectacle. After the titles, I’m definitely intrigued. Oh … Continue reading NFLX2019 November 1st: Drive
NFLX2019 November 1st: The King
(November 9, 2019)The King. David Michôd. 2019. ☆☆☆★★★ OK, second movie of the night, and it’s a longer one. I guess you could term this a… post-Game of Thrones historical drama? That is, it’s “gritty”. But it does aim for more realism than Game of Thrones, I guess: The hairstyles are bad and the actors have artfully … Continue reading NFLX2019 November 1st: The King
NFLX2019 November 1st: American Son
(November 8, 2019)American Son. Kenny Leon. 2019. ☆☆★★★★ I was already behind on mah Netflix stories, but then I got a cold and now I’m even further behind. But now I’m fine! I slept from 8 to 20 today! Can I watch all the Netflixes tonight? There’s only seven! It’s now 23, so I should be done … Continue reading NFLX2019 November 1st: American Son
NFLX2019 October 25th: Rattlesnake
(October 26, 2019)Rattlesnake. Zak Hilditch. 2019. ☆☆☆★★★ Hm! This has some similarities with that grass movie I saw the other day. I mean, driving in the boondocks… and a child… OK, it’s not a very er similar similarity. Hm… Is it Wicker Man!? I’m just fifteen minutes in so I’m just guessing here. I’m enjoying this. They’re … Continue reading NFLX2019 October 25th: Rattlesnake
NFLX2019 October 25th: Dolemite Is My Name
(October 26, 2019)Dolemite Is My Name. Craig Brewer. 2019. ☆☆☆☆★★ Hey? Eddie Murphy? There’s a face I haven’t seen in a while. He’s good here. Some of the famous people doing all these cameos aren’t really up to his level, but there’s other fun performances, too. Like Tituss. Anyway, it’s very entertaining. It’s a rags-to-riches story, but … Continue reading NFLX2019 October 25th: Dolemite Is My Name
NFLX2019 October 18th: Upstarts
(October 18, 2019)Upstarts. Udai Singh Pawar. 2019. ☆☆★★★★ Indian movie. Hopefully it’s a comedy, because the serious Indian Netflix movies have been pretty dire. … Oh, darn. It’s a dramedy. I think! My initial thought was that this movie made fun up start-up culture and apps and stuff… but… perhaps it’s serious? If it’s the latter, this … Continue reading NFLX2019 October 18th: Upstarts
NFLX2019 October 18th: Eli
(October 18, 2019)Eli. Ciarán Foy. 2019. ☆☆★★★★ Whut… the titles said “Paramount” and then “MTV Movies” and then a bunch of other producers. So how is this a Netflix Original? Oh: In October 2017, Paramount Players acquired distribution rights to the film, and set it for a January 4, 2019 release. However, Netflix acquired distribution rights to … Continue reading NFLX2019 October 18th: Eli
NFLX2019 October 18th: The Laundromat
(October 18, 2019)The Laundromat. Steven Soderbergh. 2019. ☆☆★★★★ Oh, shit. This is a didactic Soderbergh movie about money? Was this one filmed on an Iphone, too? Soderbergh’s previous Netflix movie was one of the very few that I had to bail on because of pure tedium. OK, I broke down and googled. This is based on the … Continue reading NFLX2019 October 18th: The Laundromat
NFLX2019 October 18th: Seventeen
(October 18, 2019)Diecisiete. Daniel Sánchez Arévalo. 2019. ☆☆☆☆☆★ Hey! A Spanish Netflix Original. I have hope! [30 minutes pass] I still have hope! Actually, this is a pretty spiffy film. A lot kinda rests on the face of the seventeen-year-old in question, and he kinda aces it. He veers a bit between petulant and determined, but he … Continue reading NFLX2019 October 18th: Seventeen
NFLX2019 October 12th: Street Flow
(October 17, 2019)Street Flow. Kery James. 2019. ☆☆☆☆★★ The French title means… Suburbanites? I’m just guessing. I don’t know from French. But I guess that doesn’t translate to the US. “Street Flow” is kinda generic, though. It’s a quite stylish movie with good (and good-looking) actors. The plot is, however, of a pretty standard “it’s tough growing … Continue reading NFLX2019 October 12th: Street Flow
NFLX2019 October 11th: Fractured
(October 17, 2019)Fractured. Brad Anderson. 2019. ☆☆☆★★★ I’m half a minute in and I’m assuming they’re Shalamaying us. [time passes] So now I’m 15 minutes in and I’m still assuming that they’re Shyamalaning us, but even if they aren’t, the assumption is draining all fun out of the movie. Not that there’d be much fun anyway. It’s … Continue reading NFLX2019 October 11th: Fractured
NFLX2019 October 11th: The Forest of Love
(October 17, 2019)The Forest of Love. Sion Sono. 2019. ☆★★★★★ This is such a bizarre movie. Netflix keeps is really mainstream with the movies they make (or have made) in the US, but they buy up the rights to some pretty oddball foreign movies. But none as odd as this. I don’t even know how to start … Continue reading NFLX2019 October 11th: The Forest of Love
NFLX2019 October 11th: El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
(October 17, 2019)El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. Vince Gilligan. 2019. ☆☆★★★★ Full disclosure time: I’ve watched two episodes of Breaking Bad. I watched the first one and thought “this is Extruded New Golden Age Of Quality TV Product”: All the ticks of “seriousness” that viewers of silly TV series love these days. And I watched the … Continue reading NFLX2019 October 11th: El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
NFLX2019 October 4th: In the Tall Grass
(October 17, 2019)In the Tall Grass. Vincenzo Natali. 2019. ☆☆☆★★★ So what’s this then? A Children of the Corn remix? Oh, it’s based on a shortish story by Stephen King. It’s about a pregnant woman and a a guy lost in … tall… grass? What is that grass anyway? Doesn’t look like papyrus? I guess it’s just … Continue reading NFLX2019 October 4th: In the Tall Grass
NFLX2019 September 27th: In the Shadow of the Moon
(October 17, 2019)In the Shadow of the Moon. Jim Mickle. 2019. ☆☆☆☆☆★ Netlix didn’t release much over the summer, but now suddenly there’s a whole bunch of stuff! Let’s get started. Well, that’s a strange way to start a movie. With a straight-up scientific voiceover that explains the concept of the movie. (It’s telepathy.) OH!!!! The voiceover … Continue reading NFLX2019 September 27th: In the Shadow of the Moon
NFLX2019 September 20th: Between Two Ferns: The Movie
(September 21, 2019)Between Two Ferns: The Movie. Scott Aukerman. 2019. ☆☆☆☆★★ *gasp* This is like the first Netflix Original in a while that isn’t “well, if you like that kind of stuff, here’s a movie that’s kinda like what you’d like to see, only not actually that movie you’d like to see”. Instead if’s a mockumentary about … Continue reading NFLX2019 September 20th: Between Two Ferns: The Movie
NFLX2019 September 13th: Tall Girl
(September 21, 2019)Tall Girl. Nzingha Stewart. 2019. ☆☆★★★★ There haven’t been many Netflix Original movies the past few months. I’ve kinda missed watching horrible, horrible movies. This doesn’t really look that bad. It’s a high school comedy where the main concept is that it’s embarrassing to be a tall girl. I can relate. I’m tall, girl. So … Continue reading NFLX2019 September 13th: Tall Girl
NFLX2017 December 15, 2017: Bright
(September 2, 2019)Bright. David Ayer. 2017. ☆☆★★★★ I started watching this and then I realised that I hadn’t seen the movie, so I thought I should do that first. Amusingly enough, when I search for “Bright” in the Netflix app, it is not among the about 50 or so hits. Apparently “Lucifer”, “Triple Frontier” and “Isn’t It … Continue reading NFLX2017 December 15, 2017: Bright
NFLX2019 August 30th: Back to School
(August 31, 2019)Back to School. Remy Four, Julien War. 2019. ☆☆☆☆★★ Hey, it’s a French comedy! As is often the case with Netflix movies, it’s got a classic plot: Two nerds going to a school reunion. These things usually suck, and… it’s not that bad? There’s hi-jinx and mistaken identities and all that kind of stuff. It’s … Continue reading NFLX2019 August 30th: Back to School
NFLX2019 August 29th: Falling Inn Love
(August 31, 2019)Falling Inn Love. Roger Kumble. 2019. ☆☆☆☆★★ This is a likeable easy-on-the-eyes romantic comedy thing. It’s a classic set-up: Stranger arrives in little town; lots of comedy hi-jinx fixing up an old house and romance ensues. It’s got a good, relaxed vibe going on: It’s very secure in its genre conventions, but that doesn’t get … Continue reading NFLX2019 August 29th: Falling Inn Love
NFLX2019 August 16th: Sextuplets
(August 25, 2019)Sextuplets. Michael Tiddes. 2019. ☆☆☆★★★ Wayans namechecks Tyler Perry early on in this movie, and for good reasons: The gag here is that Wayans plays six different characters. It’s an unpretentious, silly movie, and there are jokes that work. But they don’t come along very often. Looking at imdb, apparently a large number of people … Continue reading NFLX2019 August 16th: Sextuplets
NFLX2019 August 2nd: Otherhood
(August 24, 2019)Otherhood. Cindy Chupack. 2019. ☆☆☆☆★★ The Netflix recipe is to put a bunch of actors we like watching into a movie, and not really spending any money whatsoever on anything else, like directors or a script. But so what? Bassett, Arquette and Huffman are fun to watch. This starts off like it’s a lighthearted middle-age … Continue reading NFLX2019 August 2nd: Otherhood
NFLX2019 July 31st: The Red Sea Diving Resort
(August 23, 2019)The Red Sea Diving Resort. Gideon Raff. 2019. ☆☆★★★★ Uh-oh. “Inspired by true events”. Those are words to strike fear into any film fan. But what the fuck is this movie? It looks pretty nice… The action scenes are in shakycam, which isn’t my favourite, but the cinematographer doesn’t overdo it. We get kinda perhaps … Continue reading NFLX2019 July 31st: The Red Sea Diving Resort
NFLX2019 July 18th: Secret Obsession
(August 23, 2019)Secret Obsession. Peter Sullivan. 2019. ☆☆★★★★ Oh, Daily Dot: Secret Obsession is a soulless lump of generic mush that aspires to the cheese level of a Lifetime original joint but doesn’t come anywhere close. So this is a slasher flick? As has happened before with these Netflix movies, I’m not at all confident that this … Continue reading NFLX2019 July 18th: Secret Obsession
NFLX2019 July 12th: Point Blank
(August 23, 2019)Point Blank. Joe Lynch. 2019. ☆☆☆★★★ OK, after a couple of holidays I’m back on the Netflix Originals beat. My mission: To watch all the movies Netflix has released this year, according to the list compiled by these people. Right off the bat, this movie rubbed me the wrong way. The actors are pretty charming, … Continue reading NFLX2019 July 12th: Point Blank
NFLX2019 June 19th: Beats
(June 21, 2019)Beats. Brian Welsh. 2019. ☆☆★★★★ I thought this was going to be the usual rags to rap riches story, but instead it’s an unusual rags to rap riches story. It’s got PTSD and mental illness and stuff. It turns out that everything needed to get well is some hard truths from an older man. The … Continue reading NFLX2019 June 19th: Beats
NFLX2019 June 14th: Murder Mystery
(June 14, 2019)Murder Mystery. Kyle Newacheck. 2019. ☆☆☆☆★★ Oh deer. Adam Sandler. Jennifer Aniston. And the director has a long an undistinguished career in television. But, you know, Netflix is TV, so… I assumed that this was going to completely horrendous, but it’s actually not that bad. The concept here is that Aniston and Sandler are working … Continue reading NFLX2019 June 14th: Murder Mystery
NFLX2019 June 7th: Elisa & Marcela
(June 14, 2019)Elisa & Marcela. Isabel Coixet. 2019. ☆☆☆★★★ Another Spanish Netflix Original? Sure, I’m game. And it’s in black and white? Great. But… it looks kinda like an odd black and white? It’s looks a bit washed out… as if it was done on colour video and then they just dropped all the colour? I don’t … Continue reading NFLX2019 June 7th: Elisa & Marcela
NFLX2019 May 30th: Chopsticks
(May 31, 2019)Chopsticks. Sachin Yardi. 2019. ☆☆☆☆★★ Hey, yet another Indian movie… They have been of more variable quality than the American movies (which are mostly er not very good), so perhaps this’ll be good? It’s a comedy, at least. This is mainly a Hindi-speaking film (I think?), but when they speak English (as all Indians seem … Continue reading NFLX2019 May 30th: Chopsticks
NFLX2019 May 31st: Always Be My Maybe
(May 31, 2019)Always Be My Maybe. Nahnatchka Khan. 2019. ☆☆☆☆☆★ Hey, this looks cute. It’s about two friends growing up? Wow, that’s a weird song choice. Young Americans (by David Bowie) in a horrible cover version? Didn’t want to pay for the rights or would it be too obvious that that’s a horrible choice of a song … Continue reading NFLX2019 May 31st: Always Be My Maybe
NFLX2019 May 24th: Rim of the World
(May 25, 2019)Rim of the World. McG. 2019. ☆☆☆☆★★ It’s a sci-fi movie by the guy who produces Supernatural? Sure, I’m in. Oh, it’s a movie for children. Oh, well. Hey, it’s kinda amusing. Lots of kooky characters; some great lines. Heh heh. I laughed out loud in real life loudly. This is funny! As with Malibu … Continue reading NFLX2019 May 24th: Rim of the World
NFLX2019 May 24th: The Perfection
(May 25, 2019)The Perfection. Richard Shepard. 2018. ☆☆☆☆☆★ I’m not sure in what sense this is a “Netflix Original”. It’s a Miramax movie released in 2018… but then Netflix bought the exclusive distribution rights? Or something? OK, I’m hiding the rest of the text because if you want to watch this movie, you should be un-spoilered. Click … Continue reading NFLX2019 May 24th: The Perfection
NFLX2019 May 17th: See You Yesterday
(May 25, 2019)See You Yesterday. Stefon Bristol. 2019. ☆☆☆☆★★ What’s this then? From the name it sounds like a science fiction movie… but it’s produced by Spile Lee? Is that what he does these days? I kinda lost track of him in the 90s after a couple of kinda boring movies he did after the initial burst … Continue reading NFLX2019 May 17th: See You Yesterday
NFLX2019 May 16th: Good Sam
(May 25, 2019)Good Sam. Kate Melville. 2019. ☆☆★★★★ Watching Netflix Originals in this way, one by one based on release date but knowing nothing about them, I find myself playing the What Genre Is Netflix Making A Generic Movie In Now? game. This is about a scrappy TV reporter? It’s very efficient: In the second scene, the … Continue reading NFLX2019 May 16th: Good Sam
NFLX2019 May 13th: Malibu Rescue
(May 24, 2019)Malibu Rescue. . 2019. ☆☆☆☆☆★ So what’s this then? Is this a children’s movie… or is it at parody of a children’s movie? OK, I’ve watched now for ten minutes and I still can’t tell. Perhaps it doesn’t matter? It’s weird as fuck anyway. The actors are really fun. Everything is somewhat over the top, … Continue reading NFLX2019 May 13th: Malibu Rescue
NFLX2019 May 10th: Wine Country
(May 24, 2019)Wine Country. Amy Poehler. 2019. ☆☆☆☆★★ Oh wow. Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch, Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey, Jason Schwartzman… Oh! And Poehler directed this! From the name, I supposed that this would be a Netflix rip-off of that Pinot Noir movie that was all the rage a while back, but this looks more like a parody … Continue reading NFLX2019 May 10th: Wine Country
NFLX2019 May 3rd: The Last Summer
(May 24, 2019)The Last Summer. William Bindley. 2019. ☆★★★★★ So… this is one of those teen dramedies about a pre-nostalgic “last summer”. There are jocks, there are nerds, there are Heathers. It’s such a generic throwback of a movie. I can’t decide whether the filmmakers are totally inept or they’re taking brave artistic choices: Everything is washed-out … Continue reading NFLX2019 May 3rd: The Last Summer
NFLX2019 May 3rd: Despite Everything
(May 24, 2019)Despite Everything. Gabriela Tagliavini. 2019. ☆☆☆☆★★ I went on a holiday for ten days, and then I had a cold for a week, so I’m way behind on my Netflixes. I seem to have eight movies to catch up with… Well, that’s doable this weekend. Let’s get started. Hm… Oh, this is a Spanish movie? … Continue reading NFLX2019 May 3rd: Despite Everything
NFLX2019 April 19th: Music Teacher
(April 19, 2019)Music Teacher. Sarthak Dasgupta. 2019. ☆☆☆★★★ I’ve been following the “drama” and “comedy” lists here and thinking that I was getting all the Netflix Originals. But then I noticed that I wasn’t getting “The Silence”, which I thought was a Netflix Original. It turns out that it’s on this list instead, which is a list … Continue reading NFLX2019 April 19th: Music Teacher
NFLX2019 April 19th: Someone Great
(April 19, 2019)Someone Great. Jennifer Kaytin Robinson. 2019. ☆☆☆☆★★ I’m like totes caught up with the Netflix (this movie was released today), so I’m watching other movies on the side. But since they’re not really uh conceptual? then I’m not blogging about them, for which everybody’s happy, I guessing. But I’ve discovered over the years that it’s … Continue reading NFLX2019 April 19th: Someone Great
NFLX2019 April 12th: The Perfect Date
(April 12, 2019)The Perfect Date. Chris Nelson. 2019. ☆☆☆☆★★ I think imdb says it perfectly: i think this in one of the many netflix-production that will place itself in the basket of inrecognition, unless you like social network-work, and the freshnes of new juicy fruits entering the silver screen with beauty and galore . i think the … Continue reading NFLX2019 April 12th: The Perfect Date
NFLX2019 April 12th: Who Would You Take to a Deserted Island?
(April 12, 2019)Who Would You Take to a Deserted Island?. Jota Linares. 2019. ☆☆★★★★ A Spanish Netflix movie! I am exite! But… well, there’s good bits. They’ve gone for a very low-makeup look for the actors (you can see every pore), and the actors are pretty good. Especially the women. But it’s difficult to get into this … Continue reading NFLX2019 April 12th: Who Would You Take to a Deserted Island?
NFLX2019 April 5th: Unicorn Store
(April 5, 2019)Unicorn Store. Brie Larson. 2017. ☆☆☆★★★ Huh. Brie Larson? But she’s Captain Marvel? Two movies released at the same time? Errr: It screened in the Special Presentations section at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. It was released on April 5, 2019, by Netflix. So it’s two years old, but now suddenly it’s a “Netflix … Continue reading NFLX2019 April 5th: Unicorn Store
NFLX2019 March 29th: The Highwaymen
(April 5, 2019)The Highwaymen. John Lee Hancock. 2019. ☆★★★★★ Does it say anything about our times that Netflix found it attractive to make a movie about Bonnie & Clyde where the heroes are the men who hunt them down? Or is it just the result of a random walk performed by the Netflix movie generator script? I’m … Continue reading NFLX2019 March 29th: The Highwaymen
NFLX2019 March 29th: 15 August
(April 5, 2019)15 August. Swapnaneel Jaykar. 2019. ☆☆☆★★★ Hey! Another Indian movie. Netflix are really going after the Indian market? The other (three?) Indian movies so far this year haven’t all bin good, but they have a better track record than the American Netflix movies, so I’m excited. One slight puzzling thing about the Indian Netflix movies … Continue reading NFLX2019 March 29th: 15 August
NFLX2019 March 22nd: The Dirt
(March 30, 2019)The Dirt. Jeff Tremaine. 2019. ☆☆★★★★ This doesn’t start off well, but once it gets going there’s one funny scene after another. It’s not even the most OUTRAGEOUS scenes that are funniest — there’s like the scene where they dump the blond guitarist. Ramsay Bolton totally deadpans his way through it, and that drummer guy … Continue reading NFLX2019 March 22nd: The Dirt
NFLX2019 March 13th: Triple Frontier
(March 30, 2019)Triple Frontier. J.C. Chandor. 2019. ☆☆★★★★ Oh deer. You’ve seen this movie a gazillion times before: Cool military guys doing cool military things with a roaming, restless camera (steadycam and helicopter footage). Every single shot is a cliché and there’s metal music to underscore how cool it all is. I mean: War is hell. That’s … Continue reading NFLX2019 March 13th: Triple Frontier
NFLX2019 March 8th: Juanita
(March 30, 2019)Juanita. Clark Johnson. 2019. ☆☆☆☆☆★ Oh, I haven’t bitched about the Netflix UX yet, have I? Let the rant commence: I loathe it. I go to the Netflix app and it says DOUUUNNG as loud as possible. Then I start thinking about what I’m going to watch and it starts auto-playing, with full sound, whatever … Continue reading NFLX2019 March 8th: Juanita
NFLX2019 March 8th: Walk. Ride. Rodeo.
(March 29, 2019)Walk. Ride. Rodeo.. Conor Allyn. 2019. ☆★★★★★ Oh deer. This is based on a true story? At the start here I thought this was a quite funny parody… but then… I slowly realised… that it’s a real Based On A Real Story movie. I don’t like to use hate speech so I’ve avoided using this … Continue reading NFLX2019 March 8th: Walk. Ride. Rodeo.
NFLX2019 February 22nd: Paddleton
(March 29, 2019)Paddleton. Alex Lehmann. 2019. ☆☆☆★★★ Uhm. Ray Romano. He’s, like, somebody I don’t like a lot. I didn’t even recognise him before I read imdb. Well, to be honest, I still don’t recognise him after reading imdb. This is a movie extruded to satisfy the urges of the same audience as this? It’s even got … Continue reading NFLX2019 February 22nd: Paddleton
NFLX2019 February 22nd: Paris Is Us
(March 29, 2019)Paris Is Us. Elisabeth Vogler. 2019. ☆☆☆☆☆☆ I was totally wrong about how many Netflix Originals have been released this year: I had somehow counted 30, but there’s only 14. Which means that I’ll probably get caught up this weekend?! Have Netflix cut back? If they continue at this pace, there’ll be vaguely more than … Continue reading NFLX2019 February 22nd: Paris Is Us
NFLX2019 February 22nd: Firebrand
(March 24, 2019)Awesome beard. Firebrand. Aruna Raje. 2019. ☆☆★★★★ I never thought I’d say these words but: *phew* Finally it’s another Indian movie! This is a somewhat strange movie. It combines the aesthetics of a lighthearted drama with a rather distressing storyline about PTSD after rape. This is a movie that seems to have avoided attention by … Continue reading NFLX2019 February 22nd: Firebrand
NFLX2019 February 8th: High Flying Bird
(March 24, 2019)High Flying Bird. Steven Soderbergh. 2019. ☆★★★★★ Everybody loved Steven Soderbergh after Sex, Lies, and Videotape, but then the rest of his movies happened. I mean, he’s got a bunch of blockbusters with the Oceans * movies (haven’t seen them), but he’s also done more ambitious movies, like his Solaris remake (I’ve seen it, but … Continue reading NFLX2019 February 8th: High Flying Bird
NFLX2019 February 1st: Velvet Buzzsaw
(March 23, 2019)Velvet Buzzsaw. Dan Gilroy. 2019. ☆☆★★★★ Once again, this movie seems so calculated. It’s like they put random attractive movie traits (Gyllenaal as totally gay; the art scene; horror) through a blender and came up with this without anybody wanting to make this specific movie. That doesn’t mean that this is horrible: Any scene is … Continue reading NFLX2019 February 1st: Velvet Buzzsaw
NFLX2019 January 25th: Polar
(March 23, 2019)Polar. Jonas Åkerlund. 2019. ☆☆☆☆☆★ Oh. Jonas Åkerlund? Did he just do the film about black metal Lords of Chaos? Hm… I see; that one was made a couple of years ago but not really released until now. Anyway, I’m expecting something stylish with an excessive amount of violence, so I’ve got my pillow ready. … Continue reading NFLX2019 January 25th: Polar
NFLX2019 January 18th: Soni
(March 22, 2019)Soni. Ivan Ayr. 2018. ☆☆☆☆☆★ Great! After two horrible American Netflix Originals, this is an Indian movie picked up for distribution by Netflix, so its script presumably hasn’t been auto-generated by an Eliza bot. This movie reminds me a bit of 70s hyper-realist movies like Jeanne Dielman. 23, quai du Commerce. 1080 Bruxelles. I mean, … Continue reading NFLX2019 January 18th: Soni
NFLX2019 January 18th: IO
(March 22, 2019)Futura! Brave choice! This guy eats a tomato for the first time in forever and has a foodgasm, which reminds me of this Sheri Tepper novel I read many years ago: It’s set in a future where there is no nature, and on a game show, a family wins the right to eat the very … Continue reading NFLX2019 January 18th: IO
NFLX2019 January 11th: The Last Laugh
(March 22, 2019)The Last Laugh. Greg Pritikin. 2019. ☆★★★★★ OK, this one is HDR for some reason… why not… By Emacs! This is a horrible movie. Let me sum up the plot: Chevy Chase and Richard Dreyfuss are old. That’s it. The (I hesitate to call it that) cinematography is violently pedestrian. The jokes are… there… The … Continue reading NFLX2019 January 11th: The Last Laugh
NFLX2019 January 4th: Lionheart
(March 22, 2019)Lionheart. Genevieve Nnaji. 2018. ☆☆☆☆★★ OK, we’re off on The Journey Into Netflix Originals. This is the first thing I’ve actually watched on this setup: I’ve only done debugging, so far, and of course problems are showing up, so my concentration on this film is far from 100%. I’ve got the Apple TV set to … Continue reading NFLX2019 January 4th: Lionheart
NFLX2019
(March 22, 2019)I’ve recently been watching mostly old movies, so I thought it was about time for a complete turn-around: What’s going on in movies today? And the freshest movies available (outside movie theatres) are on Netflix: In particular the “Netflix Originals”. Some of these have a brief limited theatrical release, but arrive on the screens pretty … Continue reading NFLX2019