đWhat to Watch, #2
A look at what is new, expiring and not worth your time on Netflix and Amazon Prime
Hi! From agoodmovietowatch.com, this is Bilal sending you the second edition of our newsletter. If you ever wonder what to watch on Netflix or Amazon Prime, this new weekly service âweâre calling it âFilm Nerds vs. Algorithmsâ â is meticulously handcrafted for you, like a house-blend espresso.
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What do you do right after you watch an amazing movie?
I grew up with three younger brothers. Up until I was 18, I had my eldest brother watch it again with me. Then if the film was really that good, Iâll grab my second-eldest brother, and then in extreme cases of otherworldly perfection, the third. For ten-year-old me, that movie was Gone in 60 Seconds. Each of my three brothers had to re-watch it me.
In adulthood, things are a little more rational (and I no longer live with my brothers). But now I can reach out to you and introduce you to my favourite films. Hell yeah.
This week, I have to tell you that I absolutely loved 99 Homes, and we think you will too.
Our 3 Top Picks of the Week
99 Homes
Andrew Garfield plays a single father living with his own single mother in their family home. In the aftermath of the financial crisis, they find themselves evicted from their home by a businessman, Michael Shannon. That character is no less intriguing than Gordon Gekko in Wall Street, if not more. Desperate for work, Garfieldâs character starts working for Shannonâs character, ultimately helping him evict other people from their homes.
It is a star-packed, gritty and sobering tale on capitalism and on the lengths to which weâre ready to go to save face â while at the same time risking our most important relationships. It is beautifully directed by Ramin Bahrani, an Iranian-American genius.
đ° The New York Times called it âstunningly effectiveâ and âa scolding look at a society gone astray, it is also a minor masterpiece of suspense, as tightly wound as Sicario.â
đș on Amazon Prime; đ rating: 92%
The Invisible Guest
This movie is like thriller-candy.
It is full of twists, it is very atmospheric, and in nicely predictable fashion it will deliver that excitement rush we (most of us) love. Accused of murder, a wealthy entrepreneur hires the best witness preparation expert he can find. They have three hours before the trial to come up with the most solid, plausible defence. But đ±, a new witness surfaces.
Donât expect anything overly original, but expect to be entertained.
đ° Average rating on IMDb:Â 8.1/10. One user on Rotten Tomatoes said he âshook the entire time.â So thatâs good.
đș on Netflix everywhere; đ rating: 63% (weirdly high # of critical Spanish reviews)
Searching for Sugar Man
This is the story of an almost unknown musician of the 60âs and early 70âs, known as Rodriguez.
He was shunned in his native U.S., but beloved in the most unlikely of countries, Apartheid-era South Africa. His bootleg albums circulated widely among his fans there, propelling him to extreme levels of fame. But he had no idea. This is a feel-good production that can also be sharp-witted when it needs to be.đ° The New York Times called it âa hugely appealing documentaryâ and added: âthereâs too much sincerity in Searching for Sugar Man, too much love and enduring human mysteryâ. Average rating on IMDb: 8.2/10. It won an Academy Award.
đș on Netflix USA, Germany, and Japan; đ rating: 94%
Readersâ picks
The đ goes to The Cider House Rules, which was added to Netflixâs catalogue this week. It stars â OK, get this â Charlize Theron, Michael Caine, Tobey Maguire, and Paul Rudd. And it was nominated for four Oscars.
On Amazon Prime, The Disaster Artist gets the đ. It features the Franco brothers and Alison Brie. Itâs SO much fun, I donât remember laughing out loud this much over a movie in some time.
New titles worth your time
On Netflix: If you spent the last few months on a secluded island, hereâs what you need to know: Elon Musk is no longer cool and Black Panther is on Netflix. Ignore Muskâs tantrums, and go stream the movie. American Vandal: Season 2 becomes available today. The parody show about penis drawings actually won a Peabody award. BoJack Horseman: Season 5 is also going up. And if youâre into comics, today is a good day, because the Japanese live-action movie Bleach will become available.
On Amazon Prime: Not that weâd recommend it, but Darren Aronofskyâs Mother! with Jennifer Lawrence has been added to the catalogue. The Good Shepherd will be made available on Sunday. It stars De Niro, Matt Damon, and Angelina Jolie. Itâs rather formulaic, but good fun.
Great titles that will soon expire
On Netflix: Moonrise Kingdom will expire on Sunday (at least in the U.S.). Iâll definitely watch that one again, probably for the 100th time. The Imitation Game, with Benedict Cumberbatch playing Alan Touring, is expiring Sept. 28 (again in the U.S.).
On Amazon Prime: Richard Linklaterâs Everybody Wants Some!! expires on Sunday. Leo DiCaprioâs Shutter Island will expire on Sept. 23. It really should have won an Oscar.
The weekly rant (on titles you can skip)
Please stay away from Sisters (marketed as Step Sisters outside the U.S.). Think of the most generic dance scenes from High School Musical, throw in a half-assed race theme (black girl trying to prove something to white sorority girls), add in horrible direction: if it had taken this movie $5 to be made, its makers should have used that money to subscribe to this newsletter instead. But Netflix spent $10 million on this. Go figure. Donât let them jam it down your throat to justify that expenditure.
Who watches Quantico? Donât be that person. I canât believe they have made three seasons already. The latest is now on Netflix. Go watch Wild Wild Country, Mindhunter or Evil Genius instead. Letâs stop getting hooked on lame, engineered shows.
Thatâs it for this week.
I hope thereâs something in there for you. We are not funded by anyone except for our subscribers, so please consider forwarding this newsletter to your friends and tell them to sign up. Theyâll listen to you.
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The next edition will be in your inbox on Friday, Sept. 21.
Until then,
Bilal