As the season of snow days and sick days makes its annual return, binge-watching does as well. Netflix has over 247 million paid subscribers, making it the most popular streaming service in the world. Plans range from $6.99/month to $22.99/month. Here are six films and series worth a Netflix subscription.
Gran Turismo (rated PG-13) is a movie based on the real story of Jann Mardenborough, British professional racing driver. The film is a sport and action movie released in 2023 by Sony, directed by Neill Blomkamp. The cast includes Archie Madekwe as Jann Mardenborough, David Harbour as Jack Salter, and Darren Barnet as Matty Davis. Jann Mardenborough was a teen Gran Turismo video game player who was invited to a Nissan competition for a spot in the competitive world of racing. The film set out to prove the accuracy of modern racing games and highlight the inequalities in professional motorsports. Gran Turismo is an underdog’s story of success, keeping the viewer on the edge of their seat. The film incorporated acting with real footage from Mardenborough’s career. Overhead and drone shots brought perspective to the movie. The soundtrack was able to accurately capture the emotion in the scenes—including “Wash” by Bon Iver and “Pepas” by Farruko & Tiësto. Recommended for motorsport fans, Gran Turismo gamers, and adrenaline-lovers, this film is a heartwarming watch.
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (rated TV-14) is a Netflix original animated series based on the comic book series by Bryan Lee O’Malley. The rom-com show was released in November 2023 with eight 30-minute episodes, directed by Abel Góngora, Bryan Lee O’Malley, and BenDavid Grabinski. The cast features Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim, Kieran Culkin as Wallace Wells, Brie Larson as Envy Adams, and Chris Evans as Lucas Lee. The anime-meets-comic animation style paired with excellent scene coloring creates a unique experience. The fighting video game elements resemble Street Fighter, recalling the book’s origin as a comic book. Love triangles, affairs, and complex friendships make the series what it is. Scott’s loveable yet cringeworthy character makes him easy to root for in the various fights that he takes on. Comic book readers, anime watchers, and gamers alike should view this series.
Leave the World Behind (rated R) is a controversial drama-horror movie directed by Sam Esmail for Netflix and released in 2023. The cast highlights include Julia Roberts, Mashershala Ali, and Ethan Hawk. The storyline follows a family on vacation on Long Island which is soon disrupted by a collapsing society. The film seems to theorize how a country could take over the United States: blackouts, down wireless and radio systems, and plane crashes were only the beginning of the terror. Racial, gender, and class conflicts break out in the family and community. The film emphasizes the inherent differences between generations—the youngest of the family only seems to care about watching the next episode of Friends while the eldest members are concerned about long-term survival, acting selfishly to protect themselves and their families. The film builds up in ‘acts’ to add to the heightened tension. Innuendos and subtle comedy break the tension from time to time, making it a more enjoyable watch. Excellent camera work and light balancing contribute to the artistic appeal of the film. The storyline hits close to home because the characters are situated 30 miles away from Indian Hills. Though the movie features stunning cinematography, analyzes current world issues, and utilizes great foreshadowing, it has a slow build-up, poor CGI, and the storyline often doesn’t feel believable. Those who enjoy apocalyptic movies may enjoy this film.
VICE (rated R) is a 2018 movie directed by Adam McKay about Dick Cheney, with a focus on his government roles. The cast includes greats like Christian Bale as Dick Cheney (former US Vice President), Steve Carell as Donald Rumsfeld (former US Secretary of Defense), and Sam Rockwell as George W. Bush (former US President). The movie starts with a scene of Dick Cheney trying to manage the immediate effects of 9/11, then jumps to his youth. The documentary highlights his troubles with drinking and violence in his early 20s. He was able to change his path by interning with Donald Rumsfeld on Capitol Hill, landing him as President Gerald Ford’s Chief of Staff in the early 1970s and Wyoming Representative shortly after. The documentary exposed the controversial work Cheney did in his vice presidency, claiming he was the brains behind George W. Bush’s presidency, pushing for the war in the Middle East and contributing to corruption in the capitol. The film incorporates real footage of Dick Cheney with actor clips, as well as impressive CGI of airstrikes and bombings, great colorization and balance of shots, excellent makeup and wardrobe, and glimpses of comedy, all of which make the movie worth watching. One comedic moment that stood out was when Cheney broke the tension of an important discussion with his wife with mouthwash gargling. The film heavily uses symbolism. Water made a consistent appearance throughout the film, representing Cheney’s connection to the people he cared for. Additionally, during his heart transplant, his heart came out of his body covered in black spots between clips of nationwide tragedies—opioid overdoses, school shootings, and gang violence. It is worth noting that narrator Jesse Plemons frequently inserts his own opinion into the film. This movie is a must-watch for history geeks and drama lovers.
Don’t Worry Darling (rated R) is a 2022 thriller-drama film directed by Olivia Wilde. Florence Pugh stars as Alice Chambers, Harry Styles as Jack Chambers, Olivia Wilde as Bunny, and Chris Pine as Frank. The story takes place in the utopian experimental town of Victory, where the men all work on a top-secret project. Alice, a young 1950s housewife, starts to notice strange things—her eggshells have no egg in them, a woman killed herself and came back to life, and a plane crashed in the mountains, leaving no trace. Alice starts to go crazy and confronts the owner of the town with her fears. Victory is reminiscent of Los Alamos, where the Manhattan Project was forged. The movie has a stellar soundtrack, including “Where or When” by The Benny Goodman Sextet, “The Oogum Boogum Song” by Brenton Woods, “Tears On My Pillow” by Little Anthony & The Imperials, and “Sing Sing (With a Swing)” by The Benny Goodman Orchestra. The repeated symmetry in film shots gives off an eerie déjà vu feeling. Several unexpected twists and turns keep the viewer eager to continue watching.The Imitation Game is a 2014 thriller and war film directed by Morten Tyldum, adapted from the book Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges. In this film, Benedict Cumberbatch was cast as Alan Turing (adult), Keira Knightley as Joan Clarke, and Alex Lawther as Alan Turing (teen). The movie tells the true story of Alan Turing cracking the German Enigma code in World War II. The film begins in 1939, when Turing was initially hired to begin working on breaking the Enigma. He became the leader of the effort, appointed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill. After sending out a crossword puzzle to the country and testing the best respondents, he invited Joan Clarke onto his team. Between clips of him working on the code-cracking machine, the film flashes back to moments from his childhood when his love of coding and math began. The movie is unique because it uses the actual historic locations (like Bletchley Park) instead of sets. The clothing, makeup, and props accurately represent the time period. It should be noted that Cumberbatch’s depiction of Turing (straightforward, unwilling to take a joke, and poor social skills) is controversial due to debates over whether Turing was autistic or had other conditions. Unexpected twists throughout the film and new insight on the war were exciting elements. This complex storyline is worth the watch.
