Netflix Friday - Volume 83

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

Action: The Harder They Fall (2021)
When an outlaw discovers his enemy is being released from prison, he reunites his gang to seek revenge in this Western.
 

Drama: The Power of the Dog (2021)
Charismatic rancher Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch) inspires fear and awe in those around him. When his brother (Jesse Plemons) brings home a new wife (Kirsten Dunst) and her son (Kodi Smith-McPhee), Phil torments them until he finds himself exposed to the possibility of love.
 

Comedy: Clockwise (1986)
An obsessively punctual comprehensive school headmaster (John Cleese) sets out to give an important speech at the annual Headmasters’ Conference.
 

Animation: Klaus (2019)
A simple act of kindness always spark another, even in a frozen, faraway place. When Smeerensburg’s new postman, Jesper (Jason Schwartzman), befriends toymaker Klaus (J.K. Simmons), their gifts melt an age-old feud and deliver a sleigh full of holiday traditions.
 

Romance: Sense & Sensibility (1995)
Rich Mr. Dashwood (Tom Wilkinson) dies, leaving his second wife and her three daughters poor by the rules of inheritance. The two eldest daughters (Kate Winslet, Emma Thompson) are the title opposites.
 

Horror: Bumperkleef (2019)
A cocksure, road-raging family man (Jeroen Spitzenberger) finds himself pursued and terrorized by the vengeful van driver he chooses to tailgate.
 

Science Fiction: Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020)
Once told they’d save the universe a time-traveling adventure, 2 would-be rockers from San Dimas, California find themselves as middle-aged dads still trying to crank out a hit song and fulfill their destiny.
 

Crime: Jack Reacher (2012)
A homicide investigator (Tom Cruise) digs into a case involving a trained military sniper wh shot five random victims.
 

Thriller: Official Secrets (2019)
The true story of a British whistleblower (Keira Knightley) who leaked information to the press about an illegal NSA spy operation designed to push the UN Security Council into sanctioning the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
 

Documentary: Being Elmo (2011)
The Muppet Elmo is on of the most beloved characters among children across the globe. Meet the unlikely man behind the puppet – the heart and soul of Elmo – Kevin Clash.
 

Family: Jumanji (1995)
When two kids (Kirsten Dunst, Bradley Pierce) find and play a magical board game, they release a man trapped in it for decades – and a host of dangers that can only be stopped by finishing the game.

Best Alan Rickman Performances

I honor of Alan Rickman, who passed away January 14th 2016 at the age of 69, I decided to make a list of his best performances. Here are Alan Rickman’s best roles, in no particular order.

Sense and Sensibility

In the adaptation of Jane Austen’s brilliant novel “Sense and Sensibility”, Rickman portrays Colonel Brandon. That makes him part of the love triangle for Marianne’s affection, putting him in competition with John Willoughby. Rickman’s performance is one of measured restraint. It’s a more warm role then we’re used to seeing him in.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

The very best actors have range and don’t back away from a musical either. Okay, singing might not be Rickman’s strength, but his character Judge Turpin is one to remember. Just a supporting role, but Rickman’s the man you remember.

Love Actually

“Love Actually” is a collection of loosely linked stories, set a few weeks before Christmas. One of the stories involves Harry and Karen (Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson), a husband and wife with a fractured relationship. This segment works because of the actors.

Harry Potter

Across eight films, Alan Rickman had a chance to develop the character of Severus Snap into someone far greater that the outright villain that he initially appears as in the Harry Potter story. The trick to his performance as Snape is that, in both his heroic and darker moments, he never lets us really like him that much.

Galaxy Quest

Alan Rickman does have a real flare for comedy as well and his performance in “Galaxy Quest” is there to proof that. “Galaxy Quest” is the film where a bunch of actors from a once-popular television series are doing the convention circuit. Where they encounter real aliens. Rickmans’ character gets a catchphrase, which he spits out with weary reluctance. That Rickman’s character continues to get pissed off by this more and more as the film progresses only adds to the comedy. Proof?

 

Die Hard

No matter how many sequels this franchise will have, there will never be a villain like Hans Gruber. The antagonist was perfectly portrayed by Alan Rickman and is without a doubt one of the best villains in movie history. An intensely clever man.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

This movie holds a special place in my heart. I’ve seen this movie so many times I’ve lost count. And the reason I love it so much, is partly because of the awesome villain role played by Alan Rickman. I think in fact the main reason people are still talking about this movie is because of Rickman. “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” is brilliantly entertaining and Rickman steals the show with his overly dramatic acting as the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Top 5 Thursday: Female Double-Acts

It’s all about the girl now, because sometimes it takes two strong women to carry a movie. Here are my favourite female double-acts in movies.

5. Marianne and Eleanor in “Sense and Sensebility”
Two sisters, completely different, but they have a strong bond.

4. Jess and Jules in “Bend it Like Beckham”
Two pretty girls who are awesome at soccer! Jess and Jules both come from a different background, but they click right from the start and share one passion: soccer. Oh, and they are both in love with their coach Joe.

3. Annie and Lillian in “Bridesmaids”
They have been best friends since childhood and they are more like sisters. When Lillian is getting married, Annie realizes that she is losing her. Annie does everything to not let that happen.

2. Rose and Nora in “Sunshine Cleaning”
Two sisters, totally different, decide to start a crime scene clean-up business. But what they are actually cleaning up is their messed up lives.

1. Nina and Lily in “Black Swan”
We don’t really get them, because this is a thin line between reality and fantasy here. And also love and hate. Nina is the good girl, she wants to be perfect, and Lily is a gate crasher, an average dancers and ruins everything for Nina.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Thelma and Louise in “Thelma and Louise”

Top 5 Thursday: Jane Austen Novels

I’m an avid reader and I love all sorts of books. My favorite classics are definitely the Jane Austen books. So sad she only wrote six of them. Here is my top 5.

5. Emma
This book, and “Northanger Abbey” which didn’t make it to my top 5, is the only one that I didn’t rate with 5 stars. I did love “Emma”, but I didn’t connect with the characters as much as I did in the other books.

4. Sense and Sensibility
The most beloved Austen novel, together with “Pride and Prejudice”, is only on my number 4 spot. My favorite aspect of this story is the two completely different Dashwood sisters. Great character development.

3. Persuasion
This was Austen’s final completed novel. “Persuasion” is beautifully written and I love that this books is about second chances.

2. Mansfield Park
It’s Austen’s most controversial novel, but like all the other books she wrote this was again a true delight. Fanny is undoubtedly one of Austen's less assertive characters, although she does mature into a woman who knows what she wants and will accept no less. I loved Fanny and her honesty.

1. Pride and Prejudice
This was easy to pick, because “Pride and Prejudice” is my all-time favorite novel. I can read it over and over again and never get bored. This is such a good book, with one of the best female leads ever. This is just a masterpiece of wit and style.

They almost made the top 5: Northanger Abbey