We all know the feeling – you sit down to watch something on Netflix and before you know it, you have spent so much time exploring Netflix’s vast library of titles that you realize that you’ve eaten all the popcorn you made and that you’re not really in the mood for a film anymore. Well, not to fear, We The Nerdy is here! Welcome to our “What’s On Netflix” segment where, every month, we’ll be updating you on what we’ve been watching and passing on our recommendations to you, our fine readers. So, sit back, enjoy and hopefully find something to keep you entertained.
I’ve already spoken about Locke in my previous review and have sung its praises to nearly everyone I know, telling them to check it out and with it being added to Netflix recently, there really is no excuse. Locke is a tour de force of film. It packs enough emotional punches to knock out Mohammed Ali, it is visually beautiful and is, put simply, stunning in every possible way. How it was filmed was incredibly interesting, too. Filmed in one location (a car) and inreal time, it is interestingly and perhapsriskily made, but it pays of so well in the end, with the fixed location helping the audience really get transported to the car with Ivan and fully immersed in the experience. You can’t try to talk about Locke without talking about the intense, subtle and genuine performance given by Tom Hardy, as he really was the force that carried this film on. Watching this film is an experience, and one not to be missed.Redemption/Hummingbird
Yes, the second film directed by Steven Knight on this list. While Redemption wouldn’t be as high on the list of Knight films to be seen as Locke, it certainly is worth a watch. It follows the story of an ex-marine who goes AWOL, finds himself homeless and then gets a chance opportunity to rebuild his life bit by bit, helping others from his pasy as he does so. This film has more than a few problems, but there is just as much good as there are problems. The cinematography is very good and it has a great neon tone to it, with some shots looking incredible. The acting is pretty stale, but it’s a Statham film, so what can you expect? All in all, an interesting premise and the visual style keeps you interested throughout Redemption.
A phrase we encounter countless times each day. But what does it actually mean? What are we agreeing to when we click that little box that clearly states that we have read and understood the terms and conditions? That’s what this documentary sets out to investigate. Along the way, we realize what we have signed up for and by the time the credits roll, we are left feeling naked, vulnerable and aware that we have more than likely put up more personal info than we realize on the internet. It’s a scary thought, and although this mightn’t be the most well made documentary out there, it really delves into how companies deal with our information and how many people and companies actually have your name, address, phone number and other personal details. Needless to say, we should really review what we’re putting out there.
The Den
Check it out: The first movie that demands to be watched on your computer. The Den, a fine horror movie built for the 21st century, focuses on a grad student who conducts social sciences research on a Chatroulette-esque website called The Den. At first she’s not finding much, but after she stumbles across a horrific feed of a girl being beaten, things begin to go terrible wrong in all aspects of her life. The mechanics of The Den are nothing new to the horror genre. But the manner in which they’re presented, as if it were found footage mostly taken from the computer on which our young student researches, is an experience to stream from your laptop. The OS adds a new level of intimacy and immediacy, as if we were the ones escaping a dreadful fate. Few horror movies are as intoxicating as The Den. It’s the definition of an experience.
Juice
It’s always good to expand our horizons and make time for films that we wouldn’t otherwise think to see. Director Ernest R. Dickerson’s Juice is a forgotten gem. A refreshingly unique Black American film, it’s a coming of age story focused around four teenagers (Omar Epps and Tupac Shakur included) who battle their fates on the streets of New York City. With bold colors that illuminate the backgrounds, and dark shadows cast over the foreground, Juice is an expressionist à la street lens fixed on the problems only black youth encounter. It’s compelling, energetic, and relevant to this day.
Young Ones
With Elle Fanning, Nicholas Hoult and Michael Shannon cast you can’t go wrong. Young Ones, a newer addition to Netflix Streaming, finds a sublty post-apocalyptic world in which drought ravages the earth. Michael Shannon must turn to his son to protect the estate from his daughter’s boyfriend who’s hatched a diabolical scheme to steal their arid land and turn it into an irrigated plantation. Second-time director/writer Jake Paltrow’s Young Ones is less post-apocalyptic than it is a dystopic, vengeful relationship melodrama. The scenery is desolate, but nonetheless beautiful. And Shannon & co. turn out intense performances, despite a somewhat uneven story. It’s a better-than-mediocre treasure buried in Netflix’s less-than-mediocre catalogue.
Chef
a disgraced Hollywood chef named Carl Casper who quits his uptight cooking job after a confrontation with a famous food critic. Trying to figure out a new path in life, Casper travels to Miami with his ex-wife and son, only to buy a food truck from Iron Man. This purchase leads to a cross-country road trip in the truck with Casper, his son, and a fellow chef played by John Leguizamo. Along the way, Casper and his friends meet a bunch of unique characters and sell a bunch of appetizing food. Chef may start out as a more serious movie, but it quickly turns into a hilarious, and occasionally sentimental, movie about food and family connections. This movie explores different areas of the country including New Orleans, Miami, and Austin, providing different viewpoints on food and culture. Plus, Chef is porno for people who love eating food. Seriously, I break out in cold sweats every time I watch Jon Favreau cook grilled cheese.So, that about wraps up our first monthly “What’s On Netflix” segment from We The Nerdy. We hope you enjoyed it and feel free to leave any comments you may have below. What have you been watching? What would you recommend to us? Let us know. Until the next time, thanks for reading.
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