Netflix Friday - Volume 86

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

Action: Venom (2018)
A failed reporter (Tom Hardy) is bonded to an alien entity, one of many symbiotes who have invaded Earth. But the being takes a liking to Earth and decides to protect it.
 

Drama: Kramer Vs. Kramer (1979)
After his wifer (Meryl Streep_ leaves him, a work-obsessed Manhattan advertising executive (Dustin Hoffman) is forced to learn long-neglected parenting skills, but a heated custody battle over the couple’s young son deepens the wounds left by the separation.
 

Comedy: Meet the Parents (2000)
Male nurse Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) meets his girlfriend’s (Teri Polo) parents before proposing, but her suspicious father (Robert De Niro) is every date’s worst nightmare.
 

Animation: Shaun the Sheep: The Movie (2015)
When Shaun decides to take the day off and have some fun, he gets a little more action than he bargained for. A mix up with the Farmer, a caravan and a very steep hill lead them all to the Big City and it’s up to Shaun and the flock to return everyone safely to the green grass of home.
 

Romance: The Piano (1993)
In the mid- 19^th century, a mute woman (Holly Hunter) is sent to New Zealand along with her young daughter (Anna Paquin) and prized piano for an arranged marriage to a wealthy landowner (Sam Neill), but is soon lusted after by a local worker (Harvey Keitel) on the plantation
 

Horror: Case 39 (2009)
A social worker (Renee Zellweger) fights to save a girl from her abusive parents, only to discover that the situation is more dangerous than she ever expected.
 

Science Fiction: Don’t Look Up (2021)
Two low-level astronomers (Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence) must go on a giant media tour to warn mankind of an approaching comet that will destroy planet Earth.
 

Crime: Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Barely 21 yet, Frank (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a skilled forger who has passed as a doctor, lawyer and pilot. FBI agent Carl (Tom Hanks) becomes obsesses with tracking down the con man, who only revels in the pursuit.
 

Thriller: Sweet Virginia (2017)
A former rodeo champ befriends a young man with a propensity for violence.
 

Documentary: King George VI: The Man Behind the King’s Speech (2012)
King's Speech is the definitive story of the man who overcame his own failings for the sake of his nation. When his older brother, Edward VIII abdicates the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, nervous-mannered successor George "Bertie" VI is plagued with shyness and a speech impediment when speaking to his subjects. It is the true story of an introvert and humble man whom events and circumstances made him become an inspiration for the British nation during their war with Hitler's Germany.
 

Family: Elf (2003)
Raised as an over-sizes elf, a human (Will Ferrell) travels from the North Pole to NYC to meet his biological father (James Caan) who doesn’t know he exists and is in desperate need of some Christmas spirit.

Netflix Friday - Volume 77

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

Action: Baby Driver (2017)
After being coerced into working for a crime boss, a young getaway driver (Ansel Elgort) finds himself taking part in a heist doomed to fail.
 

Drama: Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Barely 21 yet, Frank (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a skilled forger who has passed as a doctor, lawyer and pilot. FBI agent Carl (Tom Hanks) becomes obsessed with tracking down the con man, who only revels in the pursuit.
 

Comedy: Scary Movie (2000)
A year after disposing of the body of a man they accidentally killed, a group of dumb teenagers are stalked by a bumbling serial killer.
 

Animation: The Road to El Dorado (2000)
Two swindlers get their hands on a map to the fabled city of gold, El Dorado.
 

Romance: Legally Blonde (2001)
Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon), a fashionable sorority queen, is dumped by her boyfriend. She decides to follow him to law school. While she is there, she figures out that there is more to her than just looks.
 

Horror: Christine (1983)
A nerdish boy buys a strange car with an evil mind of its own and his nature starts to change to reflect it.
 

Science Fiction: Deep Impact (1998)
A comet is discovered to be on a collision course with Earth. As doomsday is near, the human race prepares for the worse.
 

Crime: Heat (1995)
A group of high-end professional thieves start to feel the heat from the LAPD when they unknowingly leave a clue at their latest heist.
 

Thriller: Disturbia (2007)
Kale (Shia LaBeouf), a teen living under house arrest becomes convinced his neighbor (David Morse) is a serial killer.
 

Documentary: John Lennon: Love is All You Need (2021)
This incredible documentary features in-depth contributions from wives Yoko Ono and Cynthia Lennon, son Julian Lennon and many previously unseen interviews with John himself. Through rare footage, we learn of his rise to fame with The Beatles, his divorce from Cynthia, his first meeting with Yoko, split-up of the band, and his decision to become a solo artist and advocate for world peace. Lennon: Love is All You Need captures one of the most influential musicians of the twentieth century with some truly unique interviews and unseen footage from those closest to him.
 

Family: Nanny PcPhee (2005)
A governess (Emma Thompson) ises magic to rein in the behavior of seven ne’er-do-well children in her charge.

Best Tom Hanks Movies

It is no secret that I love Tom Hanks. He has been my favorite actor for as long as I can remember. He is always a reason to watch a movie, and even when not all of his movies are perfect, Hanks always delivers. I decided to create a list of his best movies. This list is based, not only on overall ratings, but also on my personal connection with the movie. And making this list was damn hard, so I made a top 25. Here it is!

25. The Great Buck Howard

Not the most known or liked Tom Hanks film, he doesn’t lead this film. His son Colin Hanks does, alongside John Malkovich and Emily Blunt. But I found this a movie worth mentioning because it’s so overlooked and it’s very entertaining.

24. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Tom Hanks plays television icon Fred Rogers, who was probably the nicest celebrity ever. He is being interviewed by journalist Lloyd Vogel. If any movie were a hug, this is it.  

23. Bridge of Spies

During the Cold War, an American lawyer is recruited to defend an arrested Soviet spy in court, and then help the CIA facilitate an exchange of a spy for the Soviet captured American U2 spy plane pilot. This is one of the very few newer Tom Hanks movies where it’s not just him stealing the show. He is accompanied by the very capable Mark Rylance.

22. Saving Mr. Banks

Even in more recent films, Tom Hanks still proofs he is one of the best things Hollywood has to offer. Hanks played real-life iconic figure Walt Disney for “Saving Mr. Banks”, where we follow him in the creation of the film “Mary Poppins”. Pure likeability this movie has.

21. Sleepless in Seattle

Tom Hanks plays Sam, a widower. His son is looking for a new woman for his dad and makes an emotional call on the radio. Hundreds of women respond. One of them is Annie, played by Meg Ryan. It’s one of the most romantic movies, where the lead characters literally only share one scene together.

20. The Da Vinci Code

In this mystery thriller Tom Hanks plays professor Langdon, who is suspected of the murder of the museum curator of the Louvre. Langdon soon understand that this man has left clues that only he can understand. It’s an exciting search for the truth and the real killer. Oh, and we ignore the hair here.

19. Toy Story 2

The second installment of the “Toy Story” franchise has the gang looking for Tom Hanks’  Woody, who was stolen by a toy collector. We are introduced to Jesse and her backstory kind of made me cry. And this is only one of the films on this list.

18. Turner & Hooch

Tom Hanks had a different kind of co-star in “Turner & Hooch”. Hanks plays a cop, who has to take care of a big, sloppy dog called Hooch who is the only witness to his owner’s murder. The chemistry between man and dog is relatable and this film played an important role in establishing Hanks’ brand identity.

17. The Money Pit

Anna and Walter bought a beautiful house, but when they move in they find out there is lot that needs to be done there. This film has a lot of physical comedy, for both Tom Hanks and Shelly Long. And I have always loved this comedy.

16. Philadelphia

Andrew Beckett is a successful lawyer, who is fired shortly after his promotion. Is it because he messed up a case, as his bosses claim to be, or was he fired because they found out he’s gay and has AIDS? Andrew hires an attorney to contest his dismissal. The story grabs you and the performance by both Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington are unforgettable.

15. You’ve Got Mail

Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly have the most wonderful conversations online, but in real life they can’t stand each other since they run rivaling bookstores. Strangely enough I always preferred “You’ve Got Mail” over “Sleepless in Seattle”. It’s one of the few romantic comedies I can watch without having to vomit. Maybe because it doesn’t feature teenagers or tweens, the story isn’t sugar sweet and the characters aren’t the most beautiful people with the most dreamy jobs and apartments. Is this movie without clichés? No, but this film is so lovely. Not timeless, since the way they communicate is a bit outdated. But I still watch this movie with the biggest smile on my face.

14. That Thing You Do

The film follows the starting band ‘The Wonders’, who become an overnight sensation with the hit song ‘That Thing You Do’. Tom Hanks plays their agent Mr. White. Hanks’ most important role in this project was directing it, since his role is fairly small. But this is a great feel-good film, even though the song is played SO MANY TIMES.

13. Toy Story

Andy’s big toy collection comes to life, whenever he’s not around. This was the first Pixar film and the first fully computer animated film by Disney. Tom Hanks voices cowboy Woody, together with Tim Allen as his astronaut pal Buzz Lightyear. This is a movie that made history.

12. Apollo 13

“Apollo 13” tells the story of the 3^rd mission to the moon on April 11^th 1970. The flight starts flawless, until it goes wrong: an oxygen cylinder explodes and damages the spacecraft. Tom Hanks plays astronaut Jim Lovell and embodies the most modest hero: tough, resourceful, pragmatic and a true leader.

11. Road to Perdition

This is one of the few films that has Tom Hanks play the crook. The crime film is based on a graphic novel and is set in 1930s Chicago. Hanks plays Michael Sullivan, a criminal who tries to keep his son out of trouble after his wife and other son were killed. Even though Hanks plays a bad guy, you root for him since the men that are after him are even worse. A truly beautiful father and son tale.

10. A League of Their Own

Tom Hanks delivered a classic line in this baseball film: “There’s no crying in baseball”. He plays a grumpy former baseball player, and is now given a comeback by coaching a female baseball team. This is probably the only time Hanks fully inhabits an unsympathetic role, but we love him anyway!

9. Catch Me If You Can

A young master crook (Leonardo DiCaprio), who pretends to be a pilot, lawyer and doctor at several points in his life, commits one scam after another. However, he is in the sight of the FBI, whose team is lead by Carl Hanratty (Hanks). It becomes a true cat-and-mouse game. The film is so good because of this element and the mutual hate end respect between the two leads.

8. Cast Away

Chuck Noland works for FedEx and crashed on an uninhabited island during a transport flight. He has to survive on his own. His only friend is a volleyball he names Wilson. A perfect on-man-show by Tom Hanks, what a wonderful performance. It’s just him and he captivates u from start to finish. Tom Hanks, the only man that made us cry over a volleyball.

7. Captain Phillips

When American freighter MV Maersk Alabama is attacked by pirates just off the Somali coast, Captain Phillips must do everything to protect his crew. He gives himself up as a hostage, to save his crew. The film is based on actual events and is very intense. Hanks’ performance is amazing, just that emotional scene at the end is reason enough to check it out.

6. Saving Private Ryan

During WWII, it is discovered that two soldiers killed in battle are brother of each other. Then there appears to be a third brother, who has dropped somewhere in France. Captain Miller is assigned to the task to find this soldier. “Saving Private Ryan” is one of the best WWII movies and has one of the most impressive opening scenes in a movie ever.

5. Toy Story 3

Andy is getting ready for college, which means he is all grown up. His toys Woody, Buzz and all their friends realize they had their best time. They are donated to a kindergarten. But when they think they found the best place to live, they are wrong. This is the best film in the “Toy Story” franchise, love everything about it. And Tom Hanks is again voicing Woody wonderfully.

4. The ‘Burbs

It might be surprising that this film is in my top 5, but “The ‘Burbs” is a brilliant comedy. Hanks plays Ray Peterson, a nosy neighbor who loves nothing more than spying on his neighbors. While on a break from work, he decides to investigate his new neighbors, who seem suspicious and he suspects them to have killed one of his neighbors. This is probably Tom Hanks’ most underrated film and a comedy everyone should see. I can quote this film and it had a special place in me and my family’s hearts.

3. Big

Josh is a 13-year-old boy who wants to be an adult. He makes a wish at a fair and the next morning he wakes up in the body of a 30-year-old man. Tom Hanks played a 13-year-old boy trapped in a grown man’s body and he nails it. It’s one of Hanks’ best performances.

2. The Green Mile

Tom Hanks plays Paul Edgecomb, a prison guard working with prisoners who are on death row. Here he meets John Coffey, a big and strong man, with a fear of the dark and special powers. One of the many movies that makes me sad, but “The Green Mile” really made me weep like a little child. It’s a long movie, but you never feel its length because of the amazing story and great performances.

1. Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump isn’t the smartest person you will ever meet, but he is not limited by his low IQ. Forrest manages to play an important role in 30 years of American history: as a Vietnam veteran, as owner of a shrimping boat, a football hero and meeting the American president, twice. It’s a film that can be both funny and sad, but in the end is a perfect feel-good movie. “Forrest Gump” is Tom Hanks’ best film and one of the best performances in movie history.

Top 5 Thursday: Amy Adams Movies

Amy Adams is one of my favorite actresses and she has been in so many great films. Just look at 2016 alone! Here are my five favorite Amy Adams films.

5. Her
“Her” is one of the most unconventional and unusual movies I have seen over the past years, but it really stole my heart. I really loved it, maybe because of the weirdness.

4. Catch Me If You Can
Amy Adams is so endearing in this film. “Catch Me If You Can” is a movie I rewatch a lt, directed by one of my favorite actors and starring one of my favorite actors. Amy Adams fits perfectly here.

3. Nocturnal Animals
Very stylish, creepy, haunting. This movie gets under your skin and keeps your mind occupied for a while after you see it. Amy Adams is really good in this film, so is Jake Gyllenhaal. The movie had a great ending, although for me not completely clear still…

2. The Muppets
Totally different than “Nocturnal Animals”, a cheery, fun, musical that can brighten my day anytime. I love “The Muppets”, in any setting.

1. Arrival
Director Denis Villeneuve has a flawless resume so far. This is such a fantastic sci-fi film, so different from the rest. And Amy Adams performance is so good, because of the timid nature of her character. This film blew my mind.

They Almost Made the Top 5: American Hustle, Leap Year, The Fighter, Julie & Julia, Doubt, Sunshine Cleaning, Enchanted, Junebug