Netflix Friday - Volume 60

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 Outpost (2019)
A small team of U.S. soldiers battle against hundreds of Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.
 

Drama: The Pianist (2002)
A Polish Jewish musician (Adrien Brody) struggles to survive the destruction of the Warsaw ghetto of World War II.

Comedy: Fatherhood (2021)
A father (Kevin Hart) brings up his baby girl as a single dad after the unexpected death of his wife, who died a day after their daughter’s birth.
 

Animation: How to Train You Dragon (2010)
A hapless young Viking (Jay Baruchel) who aspires to hunt dragons becomes the unlikely friend of a dragon himself, and learns there may be more to the creatures than he assumed.
 

Romance: Blue Jay (2016)
Meeting by chance when they return to their tiny California hometown, two former high-school sweethearts (Mark Duplass, Sarah Paulson) reflect on their shared past.
 

Horror: Happy Death Day (2017)
College student Tree (Jessica Rothe) must relive the day of her murder over and over again, in a loop that will end only when she discovers her killer’s identity.
 

Science Fiction: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
When their relationship turns sour, a couple (Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet) undergoes a medical procedure to have each other erased from their memories.
 

Crime: Sicario (2015)
An idealistic FBI agent (Emily Blunt) is enlisted by a government task force to aid in the escalating wat against drugs at the border area between the U.S. and Mexico.
 

Thriller: Split (2016)
Three girls are kidnapped by a man (James McAvoy) with a diagnosed 23 distinct personalities. They must try to escape before the apparent emergence of a frightful new 24^th.
 

Documentary: Sophie: A Murder in West Cork (2021)
The documentary follows the investigation of Sophie Toscan Du Plantier, a French film and TV producer who was killed while at her isolated holiday cottage in West Cork, Ireland, in 1996.
 

Family: Dennis the Menace (1993)
When his parents have to go out of town, Dennis stays with Mr. and Mrs. Wilson. The little menace is driving Mr. Wilson (Walter Matthau) crazy, but Dennis is just trying to be helpful. Even to the thief who’s arrived in town.

Netflix Friday - Volume 44

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

Action: Salt (2010)
A CIA agent (Angelina Jolie) goes on the run after a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy.
 

Drama: Flight (2012)
An airline pilot (Denzel Washington) saves almost all his passengers on his malfunctioning airliner which eventually crashed, but an investigation into the accident reveals something troubling.
 

Comedy: The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
Goated by his buddies, a nerdy guy (Steve Carell) who’s never “done the deed” only finds the pressure mounting when he meets a single mother (Catherine Keener).
 

Animation: The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013)
Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter and his wife, a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady. The mysterious young princess enthralls all who encounter her, but ultimately she must confront her fate, the punishment for her crime.
 

Romance: Love, Rosie (2014)
Rosie (Lily Collins) and Alex (Sam Claflin) have been best friends since they were 5, so they couldn’t possible be right for one another.. or could they? When it comes to love, life and making the right choices, these two are their own worst enemies.
 

Horror: 47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2019)
Two sisters diving in a ruined underwater city quickly learn they’ve entered the territory of the deadliest shark species in the claustrophobic labyrinth of submerged caves.
 

Science Fiction: Jurassic World (2015)
A new theme park, built on the original site of Jurassic Park, creates a genetically modified hybrid dinosaur, the Indominus Rex, which escapes containment and goes on a killing spree.
 

Crime: Sicario (2015)
An idealistic FBI agent (Emily Blunt) is enlisted by a government task force to aid in the escalating wat against drugs at the border area between the U.S. and Mexico.
 

Thriller: Death Sentence (2007)
Nick Hume (Kevin Bacon) is a mild-mannered executive with a perfect life, util one gruesome night he witnesses something that changes him forever. Transformed by grief, Hume eventually comes to the disturbing conclusion that no length is too great when protecting his family.
 

Documentary: Night Stalker (2021)
This documentary tells the true story of how one of the most notorious serial killers in American history was hunted down and brought to justice.
 

Family: Zathura (2005)
Two young brothers (Jonah Bobo, Josh Hutcherson) are drawn into an intergalactic adventure when their house is hurled through the depths of space by the magical board game they are playing.
 

Netflix Friday - Volume 2

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

Action: John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019)
John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is on the run after killing a member of the international assassins’ guild, and with a $14 million price tag on his head, he is the target of hit men and women everywhere.

Drama: The Zookeeper’s Wife (2017)
Keepers of the Warsaw Zoo, Antonina and Jan Zabinski (Jessica Chastain, Johan Heldenbergh), must save hundreds of people and animals during the Nazi invasion in WWII Poland.

Comedy: The Nice Guys (2016)
In 1970 Los Angeles, a mismatched pair of private eyes (Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling) investigate a missing girl and the mysterious death of a porn star.

Animation: Early Man (2018)
Set in the dawn of time, then prehistoric creatures and woolly mammoths roamed the earth, we meet Dug (Eddie Redmayne) and his sidekick Hognob, as they unite his tribe against a might enemy Lord Nooth (Tom Hiddleston) and his Bronze Age City to save their home.

Romance: Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
After a stint in a mental instituation, former teacher Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper) moves back with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a mysterious girl with problems of her own.

Horror: Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
The centuries old vampire Count Dracula (Gary Oldman) comes to England to seduce his barrister Jonathan Harker’s (Keanu Reeves) fiancée Mina Murray (Winona Ryder) and inflict havoc in the foreign land.

Science Fiction: Mad Max (1979)
In a self-destructing world, a vengeful Australian policeman (Mel Gibson) sets out to stop a violent motorcycle gang.

Crime: Sicario (2015)
An idealist FBI agent (Emily Blunt) is enlisted by a government task force to aid the escalating war against drugs at the border area between the US and Mexico

Thriller: A Cure for Wellness (2016)
An ambitious young executive (Dane DeHaan) is sent to retrieve his company’s CEO from an idyllic but mysterious ‘wellness center’ at a remote location in the Swiss Alps, but soon suspects that the spa’s treatments are not what they seem.

Documentary: Behind the Curve (2018)
Meet Flat Earthers, a small but rowing contingent of people who firmly believe in a conspiracy to suppress the truth that the Earth is flat.

Family: The Land Before Time (1988)
An orphaned brontosaurus teams up with other dinosaurs in order to reunite with their families in a valley.

Top 10: Favorite Movies of 2015

It’s that time of the year. Ranking all the movies from 2015 that I saw. Off course I cannot see every single movie, so there are probably some films you will be missing. And some movies that I know I will love, like “The Revenant”, “Spotlight”, “The Hatefull Eight” and “Creed” aren’t on this list because they haven’t been released yet in The Netherlands. This list is based on the Dutch theatrical releases, which also explains why there are possibly movies on the list that officially came out in 2014. Here are my 10 favorite films of 2015 (also check out my honorable mentions)!

10. Inside Out

Okay, just when we thought Pixar and Disney were running out of ideas, they brought us “Inside Out”. A smart and bold movie, with a great message. Exploring the inner emotions of a child combined with a race-against-time adventure. Great!

 

 

9. The Martian

“The Martian” is a movie I had expectations for, but I got even more than I expected. It was heartfelt, interesting and really funny. Matt Damon gives away a great performance and Ridley Scott finally directed another great film.

 

 

8. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2

This movie is probably on the list because I’m a fangirl, I love the books. And this final chapter gave me exactly what I wanted. This is my second favorite film of the franchise and a good ending to the movie series.

 

 

7. The Lobster

It’s a weird story: single people are taken to a hotel, where they have to find a partner within 45 days. If they fail, they are turned into an animal. Colin Farrell’s character choses a lobster. And it’s exactly this unconventional story that I love. Farrell is an actor I either love or hate in a movie and in “The Lobster” he is phenomenal. Definitely not a movie for everyone, but at least give it a try.

 

 

6. Ex Machina

I can best describe “Ex Machina” as a mix of “Blade Runner” and “Her”, but then I would still not do it justice. It’s such a strong film, with only three characters. Oscar Isaac and Domhnall Gleeson are great, but Alicia Vikander is the star. This is a movie where you expect one thing and get something completely different.

 

 

5. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

The movie we’ve all been waiting for. We were all afraid that it was going to be bad, but it was AWESOME! J.J. Abrams found the perfect balance between nostalgia and a great new story with both old and new characters. Off course Han, Leia and Chewbacca, but also newbie heroes Rey, Finn and Po, droid BB-8 and villain Kylo Ren. And that scene on the bridge…… Nooooooo!

 

 

4. Sicario

After “Enemy” and “Prisoners” I had high expectations for “Sicario”. And director Denis Villeneuve did it! “Sicario” is a terrific thriller, with Emily Blunt as the big star. She is amazing in this film.

 

 

3. Birdman

Unfolding across two hours of backstage theater drama that play as a single take, it’s an almost impossibly complex technical achievement. And then Michael Keaton’s big comeback as actor Riggan, who once played a superhero and is now aiming for something higher. A cinematographic masterpiece.

 

 

2. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

This movie was great for us movie lovers, because of all the pop culture references. But this is also a movie that comes straight from the heart and ends up in our hearts as well. Such an honest, real film that grabbed me and touched me.

 

 

1. Mad Max: Fury Road

When I saw “Mad Max: Fury Road” in theaters it totally took my breath away. More than 30 years after leaving Max in the wasteland, George Miller returns to his signature series. I didn’t expect much at first and I left the theater overwhelmed. “Mad Max: Fury Road” is an incredible cinematic experience. A ride everyone has to take at least once in their life.

 

 

Honorable Mentions: Big Hero 6, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Jurassic World, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Straight Outta Compton

Top 10: Best Movies I Watched for My 2015 Challenge

I had a lot of fun with my movie challenge this year and I’m definitely going to start one in 2016. But first I’m going to share my ten favorite movies that I watched for my challenge. Please note them, because if you haven’t seen them yet, you must. Also check my honorable mentions, the movies that almost made my top 10 list.

10. Sicario

After “Enemy” and “Prisoners” I had high expectations for “Sicario”. And director Denis Villeneuve did it! “Sicario” is a terrific thriller, with Emily Blunt as the big star. She is amazing in this film.

 

9. My Neighbor Totoro

I love the movies by Hayao Miyazak. “Spirited Away” was already amazing, but “My Neighbor Totoro” I liked even more. Such a great animation, especially if you look at it with a creative and artistic perspective like me.

 

 

8. 12 Angry Men

A movie set in only one location and it keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire runtime. This a movie like no other, the don’t make ‘em like this anymore.

 

 

7. Short Term 12

A movie that felt so realistic and honest. I could feel it through my entire body. It’s not a movie for the people who want spectacle, but a small Indie film that touches you and makes you feel.

 

 

6. The Guard

“Hot Fuzz” meets “In Bruges”, what a great crime comedy “The Guard” is. And I loved Brendan Gleeson in this film. He could finally show what he’s made off. His unconventional character, who you should actually dislike, is really hard to hate.

 

 

5. Birdman

Unfolding across two hours of backstage theater drama that play as a single take, it’s an almost impossibly complex technical achievement. And then Michael Keaton’s big comeback as actor Riggan, who once played a superhero and is now aiming for something higher. A cinematographic masterpiece.

 

 

4. Enemy

“Enemy” was a complete mind fuck. What sounded like a standard thriller, is anything but that. The movies leaves you with a lot of questions and chills all over your body. And that final scene scared the bejesus out of me.

 

 

3. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

This movie was great for us movie lovers, because of all the pop culture references. But this is also a movie that comes straight from the heart and ends up in our hearts as well. Such an honest, real film that grabbed me and touched me.

 

 

2. Psycho

An instant classic that I was pretty ashamed of never seeing before 2015. And I can now understand why it’s such an amazing film. What a great horror film by mastermind Alfred Hitchcock. Movies like this are underappreciated nowadays. Not by movie nerds like me by the way.

 

 

1. Mad Max: Fury Road

When I saw “Mad Max: Fury Road” in theaters it totally took my breath away. More than 30 years after leaving Max in the wasteland, George Miller returns to his signature series. I didn’t expect much at first and I left the theater overwhelmed. “Mad Max: Fury Road” is an incredible cinematic experience. A ride everyone has to take at least once in their life.

 

 

Honorable Mentions: Frozen, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Big Hero 6, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Take Shelter, St. Vincent, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Deux Jours, Une Nuit, Mud, Jurassic World, Inside Out, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, Gosford Park, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Funny Games, The Drop, The Conjuring, The Evil Dead, The Martian, Moon, The Lobster, Ex Machina