Netflix Friday - Volume 16

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

Action: Kick-Ass (2010)
Dave Lizewski (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) is an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan who one day decides to become a superhero, even though he has no powers, training or meaningful reason to do so.

Drama: Rescue Dawn (2006)
A U.S. fighter pilot’s (Christian Bale) epic struggle of survival after being shot down on a mission over Laos during the Vietnam war.

Comedy: Hail, Caesar! (2016)
A Hollywood fixer (Josh Brolin) in the 1950s works to keep the studio’s star in line.

Animation: Whisper of the Heart (1995)
A love story between a girl (Brittany Snow) who lives reading books, and a boy (David Gallagher) who has previously hjecked out all the library books she chooses.

Romance: The Age of Adeline (2015)
A young woman (Blake Lively), born at the turn of the 20th century, is rendered ageless after an accident. After many solitary years, she meets a man (Michiel Huisman) who complicated the eternal life she has settled into.

Horror: Child’s Play (2019)
A mother (Aubrey Plaza) gives her 13-year-old son a toy doll for his birthday, unaware of its more sinister nature.

Science Fiction: Divergent (2014)
In a world divided by factions based on virtues, Tris (Shailene Woodley) learns she’s Divergent and won’t fit in. when she discovers a plot to destroy Divergents, Tris and the mysterious Four (Theo James) must find out what makes Divergents dangerous before it’s too late.

Crime: The Bourne Identity (2002)
A man (Matt Damon) is picked up by a fishing boat, bullet-riddled and suffering from amnesia, before racing to elude assassins and attempting to regain his memory.

Thriller: Panic Room (2002)
A divorced woman (Jodie Foster) and her diabetic daughter (Kristen Stewart) take refuge in their newly-purchased house’s safe room, when three men break-in, searching for a missing fortune.

Documentary: Audrie & Daisy (2016)
A look at the effects that online bullying has on the lives of teenagers and their community.

Family: The Cat Returns (2002)
After helping a cat, a seventeen-year-old girl (Anna Hathaway) finds herself involuntarily engaged to a cat Prince in a magical world where her only hope of freedom lies with a dapper cat statuette (Carey Elwes) coming to life.

Top 5 Thursday: Movie Sidekicks

A great hero is nothing without its sidekick. Here are my five favorite movie sidekicks.

5. Cato Fong (“A Shot in the Dark”)

He is the man-servant of Inspector Clouseau. Cato Fong basically has one rule he must live by: constantly and unexpectedly attacking Clouseau to keep his wits sharp.

 

 

4. Hit Girl (“Kick Ass”)

Call her a sidekick and she will probably kick your teeth in. This mini superhero is handy with all sorts of weaponry and has a really smart mouth.

 

 

3. Garth (“Wayne’s World”)

Garth is terrified of girls, but his priorities lie win strumming to the key of rock with fellow music fan Wayne. And he has a permanent grin on his face.

 

 

2. Cosmo Brown (“Singin’ in the Rain”)

He is silent film star Don Lockwood’s best friend. His ditty musical number “Make ‘em Laugh” made him win me over!

 

 

1. Danny (“Hot Fuzz”)

Danny is a bumbling good-heart small-time cop with small-time deals. Everyone loves Danny!

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Spock (“Star Trek), Short Round (“Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”), Dr. Watson (“Sherlock Holmes”), Bubba (“Forrest Gump”), Harry Dunne (“Dumb & Dumber”), Donkey (“Shrek”), Buzz Lightyear (“Toy Story”), Goose (“Top Gun”), Ron and Hermione (“Harry Potter” series), Dr. Emmett Brown (“Back to the Future”), Chewbacca (“Star Wars” series), Dory (“Finding Nemo”) Wilson (“Cast Away”)

Top 5 Thursday: Amazing Kids in Adult Movies

I work with kids and I know how awesome they can be sometimes. They are always very honest. I came up with this list and here are some great kids in adult movies.

5. Chloë Grace Moretz in “Kick-Ass”
Lets face it, she is the star of the film. I know it’s supposed to be about the wannabe hero Kick-Ass, but Moretz steals the show as Hit Girl.

4. Natalie Portman in “Léon”
Although she was only 12 or 13 years old while shooting “Léon”, she acted very mature. Normally it sounds funny when a kid uses the f-word, but she’s serious!

3. Haley Joel Osment in “The Sixth Sense”
Unfortunately Osment never really did anything memorable after this movie, everyone was mesmerized by his performance. He even got an Academy Award nomination.

2. Christian Bale in “Empire of the Sun”
I’m so glad Bale wasn’t just another child star. He is the leading actor and he carries this movie, just like he does now as an adult. Fantastic performance.

1. Abigail Breslin in “Little Miss Sunhsine”
Don’t you just love Olive? Well, I do and no one other than Abigail Breslin could have done it. She is adorable and loveable.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Elliot in “E.T.”

Top 5 Thursday: Scene Stealers

Everybody knows this: supporting actors or actresses that just happen to steal practically every scene they’re in. Here are my five favorites.

5. Chloë Grace Moretz in “Kick-Ass”
As Hit-Girl, Chloë Grace Moretz gives away a classic scene stealing performance. Coolest hero without superpowers ever!

4. Emily Blunt in “The Devil Wears Prada”
I think everybody stole all the scenes away from leading lady Anne Hathaway in this movie. Poor Anne. Most people prefer Meryl, but I’m team Emily! Great role, perfect scene stealer.

3. Jack Black in “Orange County”
I simply love this movie, but Jack Black’s character is just unforgettable. He steals all the scenes, especially the ones where he is in his undies.

2. Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Bastards”
Let’s be honest, Christoph Waltz made this movie. What a wonderful performance, by an actor that we didn’t know at that time. A real scene stealer.

1. Tim Robbins in “Mystic River”
Tim Robbins knows how to steal a scene. His performance is so amazing and I just felt for him. He got an Oscar for this role and he totally deserved it.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Kevin Spacey in “Se7en”, Melissa McCarthy in “Bridesmaids”, Robert Carlysle in “Trainspotting”, Michael Clarke Duncan in ‘The Green Mile”,Louis Gossett Jr. in “An Officer and a Gentleman”, Sean Penn in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”, Brad Pitt in “Twelve Monkeys”, Christian Bale in “The Fighter”, Mark Wahlberg in “The Departed”, Christoph Waltz in “Django Unchained”