A large amount of the picks on Flicks to Stream are well-known movies.
Now, this isn’t because I don’t want to recommend movies that people haven’t seen, the undiscovered gems, as they say.
No, it’s because Netflix Watch Instantly and Hulu weren’t exactly known for getting a lot of well-known material on their servers (especially in the beginning), so letting you know what’s out there in the mainstream is a real focus.
However, this week we’ve gone a little further down the rabbit hole. Oh, be sure that a mid-’90s classic is in store, and a well know international corporate thriller, but the real good ones are the ones you don’t know.
For everyone who had to watch a movie for Spanish class in college, there’s one for you too. I won’t spoil the surprise here, you’ll have to scroll down and check it for yourself.
On with the picks!
Popcorn Movie of the Week
Fired Up
Believe it. B-E-Believe-It. Ah crap, cheerleading movies. They get into your head, man. When you think about all the cheerleading movies out there, the list pretty much boils down to Bring it On, and the subsequent sequels. The original Bring It On wasn’t a bad movie at all. Kirsten Dunst, Gabrielle Union, andEliza Dushku all brought real personalities to the characters, while maintaining a wink and a smile. What’s the point? Well,Fired Up is basically the only other cheerleading movie that’s any good. It should be an extremely idiotic comedy full of bad lines, crude attempts at humor, and a bad imitation of the already bad National Lampoon’s movies like Semester at Sea. It isn’t though. In fact, it’s probably better than any Lampoon’s cheap-laugh-movie ever. Seriously, the amount of good lines will shock you. Don’t think about it, just watch it.
White Squall
Back in the ’90s, Jeff Bridges wasn’t an Oscar winner, hadn’t become The Dude, and was busy teaching Scott Wolf how to become a man. So, times have changed. What hasn’t changed is Jeff Bridges kicking ass on-screen. Not everyone is into water movies, I mean there is only so much The Perfect Storm or Waterworld a man can take. White Squall, thankfully, doesn’t let the water become a character. Obviously, like The Perfect Storm, you know where the plot is headed–towards a white squall–but the build-up isn’t so epic. The characters, their development, and the interplay between them is what drives the story, while the squall is used as a plot device to heighten the bonds formed. Basically, it worked.
The One That Got Away
The International
Remember The Interpreter a few years back? The International has some striking similarities to it. 1) It’s a thriller in the The _____ format. 2) It’s dark, slow, dramatic, and involves a handsomely greying leading man, coupled with a strikingly pretty, blonde leading lady. 3) After a few twists and turns in the plot, there is an action scene or two, though nothing that is particularly exciting, just “thrilling”. 4) After the two or so hours you end up not caring how it ends, disappointed with the lack of action, and frustrating with the amazingly stereotypical plot about Africa or a large corporation trying to do very bad things. So, why am I recommending it? Well, turns out a lot of people don’t agree with #4. As many times as I’ve heard people fell asleep during The Interpreter, I’ve heard the same amount people enthralled and captivated. So, with that in mind… The International might be for you.
The Answer Man (HD)
When an actor can say he played alongside Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber, and played a mystical writer who is supposed to be revered as a saint because of his spiritual self-help book. That’s range. Of course, turns out the “saint” is actually an extremely reclusive, hobbled, and generally disagreeable person. But, when everyone’s favorite Gilmore (Lauren Graham) enters the fold as a Chiropractor, he gets more than his back fixed. Filled with genuinely heartfelt moments, a nice spectrum of characters, and note one cheesy moment, The Answer Man really scores. Jeff Daniels is superb, and Lauren Graham is the least annoying she’s been since Bad Santa.
For the Movie Buff
Wonder Boys (HD)
It’s the kind of movie the critics love. Take a professor/writer who is having difficulty completing his follow up, a young crazy kid who happens to be brilliant, throw in some Robert Downey Jr. to add sexual confusion to the young boy, and poof! Critics love it. As for the other 90% of the view audience, Wonder Boys will provide an entertaining few hours, though it won’t exactly blow you away like it did the critics. Fans of Michael Douglas or Tobey McGuire should definitely check it out, as each put out seemingly easy yet captivating performances. Katie Holmes is a welcome addition, though it’s bittersweet. Remember when she had potential and was cute as a button? What has Tom done?!
The Motorcylce Diaries (HD)
Spanish class requirements aside, The Motorcycle Diaries is a great watch. Anything about Che seems to make people go crazy, and watching or reading anything releated to him makes you seem way more intelligent than you actually are. So, if you are in the mood to impress your hipster friends at the coffee shop (not Starbucks, locally owned of course), take a ride on The Motorcycle Diaries and do something that is a little bit more educational. Plus, I’m serious about impressing your hipsters friends. There is nothing more satisfying that intellectually sparring and winning with a group of people who pride themselves on it.
Sweet Streams. See You Next Week!
All movies this week are available on Netflix unless marked as Hulu.
Past Weeks of Flicks to Steam
Week 22 – The Men Who Stare At Goats, The Hunted, One Last Thing…, Teeth
Week 21 – Dude, Where’s My Car?, Sex and Breakfast, Never Back Down, Multiplicity
Week 20 – X-Men, Airheads, Revenge of the Nerds, Good Will Hunting, Visioneers
Week 19 – Zombieland, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Radio, Pollock, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Week 18- Surrogates, The Sandlot, Jaws, Contact
Week 17 – Law Abiding Citizen, Loser, Syrian, Risky Business
Week 16 -Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, It Might Get Loud, Rudy
Week 15 – The Big Lebowski, Get Carter, Letters from Iwo Jima, Let the Right One In
Week 14 – Up, The Messenger, The Stepfather
Article written by Lee C. Jaster on GotchaMovies.com. Reposted with permission.
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