On this holiday weekend, you may need a quick recovery for your food coma. Or, you might not be able to move and you need something to pass the time until you can. For either scenario, our contributor’s have a cornucopia of savory recommendations to fill your movie watching gullet. Enjoy their heaping helpings of streaming goodness and have a happy movie watching Thanksgiving weekend everyone!
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via The Film Avenger
Creed (Amazon Prime) – This was my favorite movie of last year – a triumphant return to the world of Rocky. I must admit that I questioned the need for this film since Rocky Balboa had wrapped up the series so well. But when I saw it, I was so on board for this story. It’s a Rocky for a new generation, shot with the same gritty urban style as the first film. Director Ryan Coogler gives new life to the familiar Rocky format (the first fight was shot in one take and is awesome). Michael B. Jordan is exceptional as the son of Rocky’s one-time rival and friend, Apollo Creed. But it’s Sylvester Stallone that gives the performance of his career as an aged Rocky – a little slow, but still as charismatic as ever. I still believe he was totally robbed of the Oscar.
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via Blake Collier
Burn After Reading (Netflix) – In an interview, back in 2008, the Coen Brothers were asked about the origins of the narrative in Burn After Reading and they said they had happened upon the question of where the intersections between bureaucracy and fitness would be. The results of that thought experiment became one of the Coen Brothers’ most unhinged and often maligned films. However, the characters are proverbial heirs to the hall of fame of Coen characters. Malkovich’s bull-headed obliviousness, Clooney’s fool-hardy paranoia, Pitt’s lovable idiot and McDormand’s fastidious attention to her physical imperfections created a world of Shakespearean proportions with a healthy dose of dark comedy and blunt violence.
Burn After Reading still holds my #1 spot in the Coens’ filmography much to the chagrin of many. However, the sheer crisis of picking “the best” film by the Coens is folly as each film provides its own existential dread and darkly-tinged humor. In a nearly perfect filmography, it seems to me that championing, perhaps, the most foolish of all is exactly what the Coens would do. Not to mention that the film is infinitely re-watchable and the sparse violent moments still come as an abrupt shock to an otherwise outlandish comedy.
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via Alexis Johnson
Jonathan and Lisa know how to tell a story. Their writing is mastery level in terms of suspense, subtlety, complexity, and raw emotion. I also really appreciate that, with the exception of a few scenes (and some non-sexual nudity), they keep things tame and centered on the mysteries of the world. I really expected this show to be over-the-top in the graphic department (like most HBO shows), but Nolan’s influence keeps it focused and artful. Considering the series is a place where you can give into your most carnal desires, I’d say that’s quite a feat!
