Netflix Friday - Volume 11

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

Action: Daylight (1996)
Disaster in a New York tunnel as explosions collapse both ends of it. One hero (Sylvester Stallone) tries to help the people inside find their way to safety.

Drama: Scent of a Woman (1992)
Prep school student Charlie Simms (Chris O’Donnell) needing money agrees to ‘babysit’ the blind Frank Slade (Al Pacino), but the job is not at all what he anticipated.

Comedy: Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)
When aspiring musicians Lars (Will Ferrell) and Sigrit (Rachel McAdams) are given the opportunity to represent their country at the world’s biggest song competition, they finally have a chance to prove that any dream worth having is a dream worth fighting for.

Animation: Curious George (2006)
The man in the Yellow Hat (Will Ferrell) is and oddball museum employee who looks after his pet monkey (Frank Welker), an inquisitive and wonderful creature whose enthusiasm often gets the best of him.

Romance: The Notebook (2004)
The poor yet passionate Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) falls in love with the rich Allie (Rachel McAdams), giving her a sense of freedom, but they are soon separated because of their social differences.

Horror: Troll Hunter (2010)
A group of students investigates a series of mysterious bear killings, but learn that there are much more dangerous things going on. They start to follow a mysterious hunder, learning that he is actually a troll hunter.

Science Fiction: Total Recall (1990)
When Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) goes for virtual vacation memories of the planet Mars, an unexpected and harrowing series of events forces him to go to the planet for real. Or is he?

Crime: The Hateful Eight (2015)
In the dead of a Wyoming winter, a bounty hunter (Kurt Russell) and his prisoner (Jennifer Jason Leigh) find shelter in a cabin currently inhabited by a collection of nefarious characters.

Thriller: Miss Sloane (2016)
In the high-staked world of political power-brokers, Elizabeth Sloane (Jessica Chastain) is the most sought after and formidable lobbyist in D.C. But when taking on the most powerful opponent of her career, she finds winning may come at too high a price.

Documentary: Athlete A (2020)
Follow the Indianapolis Star reporters that broke the story about USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar’s abuse and hear from gymnasts like Maggie Nichols.

Family: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore) wins a tour through the most magnificent chocolate factory in the world, led by the world’s most unusual candy maker: Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp)

Movie Review - Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga

Director: David Dobkin
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 123 minutes
Year: 2020
Starring: Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams, Dan Stevens, Pierce Brosnan, Graham Norton, Mikael Persbrandt, Demi Lovato

Description: When aspiring musicians Lars (Will Ferrell) and Sigrit (Rachel McAdams) are given the opportunity to represent their country at the world’s biggest song competition, they finally have a chance to prove that any dream worth having is a dream worth fighting for.

Review: I wasn’t very sad about having to miss the Eurovision Song Contest this year. Even though my country The Netherlands won last year and it was supposed to take place here this year, I was never a fan of this song contest. I merely watch it because I want to laugh at the silly acts and bad songs. The film “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Sage” is a perfect consolation prize for all the fans and I would chose this movie over the actual event any time.
As a straightforward American, comedian Will Ferrell had no idea what the Eurovision song contest was. When his Swedish wife Viveca invited him to watch with her family, his jaw dropped. Nice idea for a film he thought.
In “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga”, Will Ferrell plays singer Lars who has dreamed of performing at Eurovision all his life. Together with his childhood friend Sigrit, played by Rachal McAdams, he forms the Icelandic band Fire Saga, who can participate in the Eurovision Song Contest due to an unfortunate accident. They’re just not well-prepared and they stumble through everything hilariously.
Will Ferrell clearly has been preparing for “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga”. He went behind the scenes of the Eurovision Song Contest to do research and was later allowed to come back with a camera crew to make recordings of the audience. The realism is further enhanced by cameos of a number of former participants and of Graham Norton, the regular British commentator. This makes it a real party that manages to evoke the feeling of Eurovision.
The film couldn’t come at a more perfect time, with the actual event being cancelled. And like I stated before, I prefer this film over the real Eurovision.
It’s hilarious, over-the-top film, with funny performances by both Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams. And it has everything that Eurovision also has, bizarre costumes, silly songs, extraordinary characters. This film shouldn’t be taken too seriously. And if you don’t, “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” is a lot of fun!

Rating: 3,5 / 5