Films to watch on Netflix or Amazon Prime. (Part 1)
Posted by James, 2 April 2021 (5-6 minute read)
Lockdown’s been tough for everyone. But in our house, we’ve always tried to see the positives. So a few months ago, we decided to have a weekly Film Night (complete with popcorn and chocolate!).
We’ve been alternating the choice of film between us. And we’ve ended up watching some really great stuff. So if you’re looking for films to watch on Netflix (or Amazon Prime), read on. You won’t be disappointed!
1. First Man (2018) – Currently on Netflix
Starring Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy, First Man tells the story of the years leading up to perhaps the most extraordinary moment in our planet’s history – Neil Armstrong walking on the moon. But the film considers the struggles between Neil and Janet Armstrong just as much as it does a nation’s quest to keep a promise made by President John F. Kennedy to put ‘man on the moon’ by the end of the 1960s.
Gosling and Foy are superb as the two leads. But I also really loved the directional choices made by Damian Chazelle. First Man truly does capture the claustrophobia of being trapped in a space rocket, while simultaneously highlighting just how close to death these astronauts were. Well worth a watch!
2. Captain Fantastic (2016) – Currently on Netflix
Captain Fantastic has a really interesting premise. Viggo Mortensen plays Ben Cash, who lives in the wilderness of the Pacific Midwest with his six children. The Cash family are entirely self-sufficient, and Ben educates his children to think critically and be completely independent. They don’t rely on any forms of modern technology and celebrate Noam Chomsky’s birthday instead of Christmas!
This central concept is a powerful one, as it pits American capitalism against ideas of community and self-reliance. And although the film’s ideas are laboured a little too explicitly at times, I really loved the absent presence of Ben’s wife Leslie (played by Trin Miller). If you’ve ever read As I Lay Dying (the ‘Cash’ family name may even be a nod to William Faulkner’s novel), you’ll certainly see parallels in the way that Captain Fantastic deals with a family losing their matriarch.
Although it ends a little too ‘Hollywood perfect’ for my liking, Captain Fantastic is a thought-provoking examination of Western society and its value systems.
3. Rocks (2019) – Currently on Netflix
A fresh take on the coming-of-age drama from director Sarah Gavron, Rocks tells the story of Olushola ‘Rocks’ Omotoso – a teenager living in Hackney who’s forced to look after her little brother after their mother mysteriously abandons them.
Driven by a cast of almost entirely unknown actors (led by Bukky Bakray), Rocks is a powerful story about the exuberance of youth. It’s a narrative that’s not often focused on – but one that certainly needs to be told.
4. Enola Holmes (2020) – Currently on Netflix
Millie Bobby Brown plays Enola Holmes – Sherlock’s brilliant younger sister – in a film based on a young adult fiction series of the same name. This one’s something of a cinematic romp, filled with fun and packed with great performances (including Bobby Brown herself, Henry Cavill as Sherlock and Helena Bonham Carter as their mother Eudoria).
Sherlock Holmes is a character mined for stories like no other. And while never especially thought-provoking, Enola Holmes is a super way to spend a couple of hours. I’m sure there’s already a sequel in the works…
5. Wildlife (2018) – Currently on Netflix
Carey Mulligan rarely missteps in her career. And Wildlife, directed and co-written by Paul Dano, is another great example of her supreme talents. It’s the story of a strained marriage between Joe and Jeanette Brinson (played by Jake Gyllenhaal and Mulligan respectively), as well as a mother’s fraught relationship with their teenage son. Set against the backdrop of 1960s Montana, I particularly liked how Wildlife presented the complicated position of a woman in a marriage she no longer wants to be in.
Dano makes full use of the wilderness of Montana, as well as the talents of his cast. Wildlife is a quiet, contemplative film – but one that certainly leaves you thinking long after the final credits roll.
6. The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019) – Currently on Amazon Prime
It’s pretty hard to reinvent Charles Dickens. With so many adaptions of his novels out there, coming up with something new can be quite difficult.
Well Armando Iannucci has done it with The Personal History of David Copperfield! Dev Patel plays the titular Copperfield and the film takes you (as the book does) from the character’s birth through to his present day.
Patel is great as Copperfield – as is Peter Capaldi as Mr. Micawber. But the stand-out performance (by a mile) is Ben Whishaw as Uriah Heap. The scene between Copperfield, Heap, his mother and some ‘dense’ cake had me in stitches…
If you like your Dickens, you’ll love The Personal History of David Copperfield!
7. Uncut Gems (2019) – Currently on Netflix
I’m of the generation that expects Adam Sandler to act in a certain way. And if I’m honest, I don’t find many (probably any) of his comedic performances all that funny. But in Uncut Gems, Sandler is superb. One of the best screen performances I’ve seen in a long time…
He plays Jewish-American gambling addict Howard Ratner – an obsessive character full of contradictions and complexities. Directors Josh and Benny Safdie uncover the very best of Sandler. Ratner is genuinely unlikeable, but the acting and storytelling mean that you find yourself constantly rooting for him in Uncut Gems.
The film’s ending left me thinking for quite some time about the effects of addiction, the seductive power of money and the tragedy of people continuing to chase their losses. I cannot recommend Uncut Gems more highly. An amazing film!
So there you have it – 7 films to watch on Netflix or Amazon Prime. In two weeks’ time, I’ll bring you Part 2, complete with another septet of films for your consideration.
If you’ve seen a great film recently, comment below or tell me about it on Twitter (@JWCopywriting). And don’t forget… if you need a copywriter for your business, let’s start working together today. Visit my website and contact me here!
Speak soon,
JW