Netflix Friday - Volume 49

Some Netflix film tips for the weekend! And there is something for everyone, since I picked a movie for all the different genres.
 

Action: Raw Deal (1986)
A former FBI agent turned small-town sheriff (Arnold Schwarzenegger) agrees to help the FBI chief infiltrate the Chicago mafia when the FBI chief’s son is killed by them.
 

Drama: The Natural (1984)
A middle-aged unknown (Robert Redford) comes seemingly out of nowhere to become a legendary baseball player with almost supernatural talent.
 

Comedy: Booksmart (2019)
On the even of their high school graduation, two academic superstars (Kaitlyn Dever, Benie Feldstein) and best friends realize they should have worked less and played more. Determined not to fall short of their peers, the girls try to calm four years of fun into one night.
 

Animation: Turbo (2013)
A freak accident might just help an everyday garden snail achieve his biggest dream: winning the Indy 500.
 

Romance: The Secret: Dare to Dream (2020)
A feature film adaptation of the self-help book, “The Secret”, which focuses on the power of positive thinking.
 

Horror: Quarantine (2008)
A television reporter (Jennifer Carpenter) and her cameraman are trapped inside a building quarantined by the CDC, after the outbreak of a mysterious virus which turns humans into bloodthirsty killers.
 

Science Fiction: Bumblebee (2018)
On the run un the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small California beach town. On the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, Charlie Watson (Hailee Steinfeld) discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken.
 

Crime: In the Name of the Father (1993)
A man’s (Daniel Day-Lewis) coerced confession to an I.R.A. bombing he did not commit results in the imprisonment of his father (Pete Postlethwaite) as well. An English lawyer (Emma Thompson) fights to free them.
 

Thriller: Clear and Present Danger (1994)
CIA analyst Jack Ryan (Harrison Ford) is drawn into an illegal war fought by the US government against a Colombian drug cartel.
 

Documentary: This is a Robbery: The World’s Biggest Art Heist (2021)
March 18^, 1990, 13 works of art were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Guards admitted two men posing as police officers responding to a disturbance call, and the thieves tied the guards up and looted the museum.
 

Family: Beethoven (1992)
A slobbering St. Bernard becomes the center of attention for a loving family, but must contend with a dog-napping veterinarian and his henchman.

Movie Reviews - Booksmart

Director: Olivia Wilde
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 103 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Jessica Williams, Jason Sudeikis, Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte, Diana Silvers, Billy Lourd

Description: On the eve of their high school graduation, two academic superstars and best friends realize they should have worked less and played more. Determined not to fall short of their peers, the girls try to cram four years of fun into one night.

Review: Molly and Amy are not popular at their high school, but they really don’t care about that. The two girls can be found in libraries in the weekends and never at their classmates’ parties. But that’s okay, because in the end they will be the ones going to prestige colleges. When Molly finds out that even their classmates, that don’t care about school at all and party all the time, also managed to get into those schools. And they have let high school pass by like that, without having all the fun. Their plan is to catch up on what they missed out on all those years, but they only have one night to do it in.
“Booksmart” is the directorial debut of Olivia Wilde and it’s an interesting choice for the actress to start with this kind of movie. The genre of high school comedy has, since “Superbad”, not brought us a lot of refreshing movies. And looking at just the plot, “Booksmart” looks like another one of these unforgettable films. But luckily for us, it’s a wonderful film that measures up to “Superbad”. “Booksmart” is clever, innovative, funny and a film with a lot of heart. We don’t only have Olivia Wilde to thank for that, but also the screenplay and cast.
To start with the first: the excellent writing brings dynamic between the two main characters and make it look natural and credible. The dialogues are smart, fast and hilarious. And it constantly avoids expectations and conventions.
The stars f the film are the duo Amy and Molly, portrayed by Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein. Their chemistry is strong, sympathetic and believable. It’s fun to take the trip with them on this crazy night.
Within the genre of the teen comedy, “Booksmart” is a true gem. A hilarious cast and great writing make sure for a film that will speak to a broader audience. An excellent debut for director Olivia Wilde.

Rating: 4,5/ 5