Hey all!
Last post I ran down the quantitative data regarding my addiction to Netflix. Today, I want to take a look at some of my favorite movies and TV that I watched last year. Rather than pure analysis, this is more of a "Top 10 of 2010" kind of thing. Clearly some patterns will emerge, but I'll let you draw your own conclusions (Conclusion 1: Dennis loves terrible films). Keep in mind, this is 10 films from over 350 possible choices, meaning that I really liked them, so don't think that I'm being overzealous in my reviews, these are the best of the best Netflix has offered me. Secondly, don't be turned off by the obscurity of these choices That's one of the great things I love about Netflix, it introduces you to films and television you might never have watched without it.
Below are numbers 10-6 of the best films and TV that Netflix gave me in my first year. I highly recommend you take a look at some of them, clearly, they are much more for ME than for everyone else, but if you like my recommendation or share my sense of humor/curiousity/mental illnesses, these might be for you (most of them are still streaming on Netflix, so give them a try!). They are an eclectic bunch of comedy, romance, documentary, drama, action, television, movies, old, and new, I think between the 10, there is at least one for everyone.
10.) Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
One of only two movies that I had seen before I saw it on Netflix, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is hands down my favorite animated film of all time. Cloudy adapts a great children's book into an incredibly entertaining children's/adult who refuses to grow up's film. Bill Hader (who is continuously underrated on SNL) voices Flint Lockwood, a young man with dreams of being a great scientist and nightmares about disappointing his father who wants him to follow in his fisherman footsteps. When Flint invents a machine capable of turning water into food and launches it into the sky, all of a sudden things are sunshine and lollipops (quite literally). Yet, when the machine starts to go haywire, things take a turn for the worse.
Cloudy is more than a good children's movie however, it has key elements that make it a must watch. Number one, Bruce Campbell who plays a great villian. While I admit I have a soft side for this B movie actor, I never thought he would make it on the list via a children's movie. Secondly, Cloudy is a visual masterpiece. When it was in theaters, it really made the best of 3D technology. Even on regular television, Cloudy's depiction of spagetti tornados and Jello palaces are phenominal. Third? The writing. Cloudy's script reads in many ways like a 2 hour episode of 30 Rock. The film is fast paced, humorous, and filled with one liners that if you blink you might miss (especially by Hader and a great supporting Benjamin Bratt). Lastly, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs delivers a great family movie with great messages about pursuing your dreams and the relationship between father and son.
Great for: Families, fans of snappy dialogue, and anyone who loves Bruce Campbell.
9.) Dead Reckoning
Given my love of Film Noir, it was pretty obvious that a Bogart film was going to make the cut. What is more interesting is the selection itself. As I said previously, what I love about Netflix is that it introduces you to films you never would have seen on tv or in the video store (do those still exist?). Released in 1947, Dead Reckoning follows Captain "Rip" Murdock (Bogart) as he tries to untangle what has happened to war hero and friend Johnny Drake, after he disappears mysteriously. The result is a hard boiled mystery with Bogart diving into a world of murder, blackmail, and deceit to uncover the truth.
Dead Reckoning is a through and through suspense film, filled with twists and turns enough to keep you guessing. The film also makes excellent use of Lizabeth Scott (who I had honestly never heard of before) and the enigmatic "Dusty" Chandler, a true femme fatale. Bogart and Scott fill the screen with dialogue that seethes with tension and undertones. In addition, the film serves as an interesting time capsule, preserving some of the less endearing parts of the mid 20th century. The films portrayal of African Americans as well as its attitude towards women, have not exactly aged well (which is probably why it is not on AMC all the time). Bogart and Scott's banter about women coming in pill form is especially noteworthy (Bogart: "You know, the trouble with women is they ask too many questions. They should spend all their time just being beautiful"). In the end, Dead Reckoning is a brass knuckles picture which has all the parts of a great 40's/50's film noir: darkness, dames, danger and of course, Bogart.
Great for: Old movie buffs, mystery lovers, people who like films named after nautical terms but have nothing to do with the ocean.
Given my love of Film Noir, it was pretty obvious that a Bogart film was going to make the cut. What is more interesting is the selection itself. As I said previously, what I love about Netflix is that it introduces you to films you never would have seen on tv or in the video store (do those still exist?). Released in 1947, Dead Reckoning follows Captain "Rip" Murdock (Bogart) as he tries to untangle what has happened to war hero and friend Johnny Drake, after he disappears mysteriously. The result is a hard boiled mystery with Bogart diving into a world of murder, blackmail, and deceit to uncover the truth.
Dead Reckoning is a through and through suspense film, filled with twists and turns enough to keep you guessing. The film also makes excellent use of Lizabeth Scott (who I had honestly never heard of before) and the enigmatic "Dusty" Chandler, a true femme fatale. Bogart and Scott fill the screen with dialogue that seethes with tension and undertones. In addition, the film serves as an interesting time capsule, preserving some of the less endearing parts of the mid 20th century. The films portrayal of African Americans as well as its attitude towards women, have not exactly aged well (which is probably why it is not on AMC all the time). Bogart and Scott's banter about women coming in pill form is especially noteworthy (Bogart: "You know, the trouble with women is they ask too many questions. They should spend all their time just being beautiful"). In the end, Dead Reckoning is a brass knuckles picture which has all the parts of a great 40's/50's film noir: darkness, dames, danger and of course, Bogart.
Great for: Old movie buffs, mystery lovers, people who like films named after nautical terms but have nothing to do with the ocean.
8.) Unhitched
The only "rom-com" on the list, Unhitched (also known as The Best Man) is a British film about Olly (Stuart Townsend), a lovelorn and failing writer who is asked to be the Best Man in his somewhat wild friend's wedding. However, when Olly meets the bride to be (Amy Smart), he finds himself conflicted between his duties as best man and his duties to his heart. Throw in Seth Green as his mischevious roommate and you have your traditional romantic comedy.
Yet where many other romantic comedies films are formulaic and poorly acted (at least to me), Unhitched really shines. Townsend plays Olly as a man truely conflicted between his idealist notion of true love (driven by his writing background) and the promise to the groom (who throughout the film becomes more and more of a jerk). Throughout the film, Townsend's inner narration rides a fine line between waxing philosophically on love and being incredibly humorous. Its a wonder really that Townsend hasn't "made it" in Hollywood, he seems to be an actor that in my personal opinion always does a great performance. Seth Green plays Olly's flatmate as well as the devil on his shoulder (as he has no problem trying to break up the marriage). In this respect, his antics aren't your typical "tacky sidekick" but rather do a good job of breaking up the film so its not too melodramatic. Perhaps the only odd thing is getting past his fake British accent, which while quite good is still odd to hear from "the Napster". Throw in Amy Smart who radiates through the film and Steve John Shepard as the less than perfect groom, and you have a romantic comedy that I'm not afraid to say, I'd definitely watch again.
Great for: Couples, hopeless romantics, people who like to hear strange accents.
Yet where many other romantic comedies films are formulaic and poorly acted (at least to me), Unhitched really shines. Townsend plays Olly as a man truely conflicted between his idealist notion of true love (driven by his writing background) and the promise to the groom (who throughout the film becomes more and more of a jerk). Throughout the film, Townsend's inner narration rides a fine line between waxing philosophically on love and being incredibly humorous. Its a wonder really that Townsend hasn't "made it" in Hollywood, he seems to be an actor that in my personal opinion always does a great performance. Seth Green plays Olly's flatmate as well as the devil on his shoulder (as he has no problem trying to break up the marriage). In this respect, his antics aren't your typical "tacky sidekick" but rather do a good job of breaking up the film so its not too melodramatic. Perhaps the only odd thing is getting past his fake British accent, which while quite good is still odd to hear from "the Napster". Throw in Amy Smart who radiates through the film and Steve John Shepard as the less than perfect groom, and you have a romantic comedy that I'm not afraid to say, I'd definitely watch again.
Great for: Couples, hopeless romantics, people who like to hear strange accents.
7.) Mystery Science Theater 3000
In the not too distant future, Mike Nelson, Tom Servo, and Crow T. Robot, find themselves trapped on a spaceship and forced to watch terrible movies while an evil scientist monitors their minds. What? I haven't hooked you yet? MST3K ran on the Sci Fi Channel (I refuse to call it SyFy) for over a decade. The simple genius of the show was three guys watching terrible movies and making fun of them the entire time. And the 2 hour long show lasted for ELEVEN YEARS, by comparison, Arrested Development still hasn't made its movie yet.
I remember watching MST3K with my dad as a kid, so obviously there is some sentimental value there. However, the truth of the matter is that even after being off the air for a decade, MST3K is still some of the funniest content out there. It hasn't aged like other material that tried to be hip or topical (I'm looking at you Adam Sandler and Friends). MST3K has achieved a sort of timeless quality. The jokes are fast paced and wide ranging (from "shut up you!" to debating Kant's take on The Beast of Yucca Flats) and the movies themselves are ripe for parody. From Night of the Blood Beast to Swamp Women/Swamp Diamonds (which I'm pretty sure the Cummings family actually watched without the Mystery Science Theater treatment once) Mike, Tom, and Crow skewer them with impunity. Mystery Science Theater 3000 is nostalgic and must watch.
I remember watching MST3K with my dad as a kid, so obviously there is some sentimental value there. However, the truth of the matter is that even after being off the air for a decade, MST3K is still some of the funniest content out there. It hasn't aged like other material that tried to be hip or topical (I'm looking at you Adam Sandler and Friends). MST3K has achieved a sort of timeless quality. The jokes are fast paced and wide ranging (from "shut up you!" to debating Kant's take on The Beast of Yucca Flats) and the movies themselves are ripe for parody. From Night of the Blood Beast to Swamp Women/Swamp Diamonds (which I'm pretty sure the Cummings family actually watched without the Mystery Science Theater treatment once) Mike, Tom, and Crow skewer them with impunity. Mystery Science Theater 3000 is nostalgic and must watch.
Great for: Sci Fi buffs, fans of random comedy, people from Minnesota
6.) The House of Cards Trilogy
Rounding out 10-6 is the House of Cards Trilogy (House of Cards, To Play a King, and The Final Cut). The House of Cards follows the notorious machinations of Francis Urquhart as he fights to become Prime Minister and remain in power at all costs. This BBC miniseries is part Richard III, part West Wing, and part something all its own.
Ian Richardson single handedly delivers a stunning perfomance as Urquhart, a villian that you can't help but root for. Much like Richard III or Iago in Othello, Urquhart delivers asides directly to the viewer detailing his machinations, outlining his plans, and giving you insight into his justifications and beliefs. Whether it is climbing to power, silencing a king, or orchestrating a war, Urquhart spins Westminster like his own little web, while the supporting cast, be it Kings, rivals, or reporters with Electra complexes can't help but get tangled. Admittedly, each miniseries is never as good as the one before it, but all three are riveting pieces of political intrigue.
Great for: People who like a good villian, Anglophiles, people who like the guy in "that Grey Poupon commercial".
Ian Richardson single handedly delivers a stunning perfomance as Urquhart, a villian that you can't help but root for. Much like Richard III or Iago in Othello, Urquhart delivers asides directly to the viewer detailing his machinations, outlining his plans, and giving you insight into his justifications and beliefs. Whether it is climbing to power, silencing a king, or orchestrating a war, Urquhart spins Westminster like his own little web, while the supporting cast, be it Kings, rivals, or reporters with Electra complexes can't help but get tangled. Admittedly, each miniseries is never as good as the one before it, but all three are riveting pieces of political intrigue.
Great for: People who like a good villian, Anglophiles, people who like the guy in "that Grey Poupon commercial".
Rather than make some inferences from the data, I'm just going to leave it at that. If there's one thing I've learned from my "research" classes and scientific friends, its that while qualitative data is fun, it's scientific value is suspect at best.
That's the first five, check around later for the last five.
Comments? Recommendations? Have you seen these movies/tv?
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