Swingers, Stand By Me & 8 Other Movies You Should Stream
REMEMBER: USE MOVIERANKINGS.NET TO FIND OUT WHAT TO STREAM AND WHERE TO STREAM IT!
MOVIES
1. The Dark Knight - 97/100 - Netflix:
Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker.
2. Stand By Me - 89/100 - Netflix:
After learning that a stranger has been accidentally killed near their rural homes, four Oregon boys decide to go see the body. On the way, Gordie Lachance, Vern Tessio, Chris Chambers and Teddy Duchamp encounter a mean junk man and a marsh full of leeches, as they also learn more about one another and their very different home lives. Just a lark at first, the boys' adventure evolves into a defining event in their lives.
We talked a little bit about this movie on the last episode of The Bracket because my parents decided to make my middle name Gordon because they liked the lead character in this movie. It is such a great slice of life movie that features some of the best kid-actor performances you'll ever see.
3. The Fundamentals of Caring - 86/100 - Netflix:
Having suffered a tragedy, Ben becomes a caregiver to earn money. His first client, Trevor, is a hilarious 18-year-old with muscular dystrophy. One paralyzed emotionally, one paralyzed physically, Ben and Trevor hit the road on a trip into the western states. The folks they collect along the way will help them test their skills for surviving outside their calculated existence. Together, they come to understand the importance of hope and the necessity of true friendship.
This is a very understated, but still very funny role from Paul Rudd. It is a quintessential Dramedy that i think flew under the radar big time when it was released.
4. The Batman Animated Catalogue - HBO Max
One thing that DC really has over Marvel is animated properties. Their Batman ones are awesome in particular. Check out 'Under the Red Hood', 'Mask of the Phantasm', and 'Subzero'.
5. Swingers - 93/100 - HBO Max:
After 6 years together, Mike's girlfriend leaves him, so he travels to LA to be a star. Six months on, he's still not doing very well— so a few of his friends try to reconnect him to the social scene and hopefully help him forget his failed relationship.
This movie is one of the best from both Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau. If you're cooking for solid comedy drama, this is the movie fo you. Also, it's kind of funny in retrospect how director Doug Liman went from this to filming a movie actually in space with Tom Cruise.
6. Pacific Rim - 84/100 - HBO Max:
When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity's resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes—a washed-up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi)—who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind's last hope against the mounting apocalypse.
The sequel to this may have blown chunks, but I still have fond memories of the original. It's an interesting world and it makes the best of it's giant robot/kaiju fights
7.Moon - 91/100 - Hulu:
With only three weeks left in his three year contract, Sam Bell is getting anxious to finally return to Earth. He is the only occupant of a Moon-based manufacturing facility along with his computer and assistant, GERTY. When he has an accident however, he wakens to find that he is not alone.
If you like space movies but want something a little more human and intimate, this is for you. Sam Rockwell is near the top of his game and pays for your non-existent ticket alone.
8. Hustlers - 89/100 - Hulu:
A crew of savvy former strip club employees band together to turn the tables on their Wall Street clients.
This is a smooth, sexy con-woman story that actually has some great depth to it. JLO should have been nominated for best supporting actress cause she CRUSHED it.
9. Brothers - 76/100 - Prime Video:
When his helicopter goes down during his fourth tour of duty in Afghanistan, Marine Sam Cahill is presumed dead. Back home, brother Tommy steps in to look over Sam’s wife, Grace, and two children. Sam’s surprise homecoming triggers domestic mayhem.
It's not a perfect movie at all. But Tobey really gets to a place in this that I don't think he reached in any other movie.
10. Little Miss Sunshine - 90/100 - Prime Video:
A family loaded with quirky, colorful characters piles into an old van and road trips to California for little Olive to compete in a beauty pageant.
This is an awesome, small movie that was one of the earliest exposures I had to Paul Dano, who is now the Riddler.
SHOWS
1. Our. Flag Means Death: This is a new, pirate themed comedy show from Taika Waititi. I only watched the first two episodes so far, but it's pretty good.
2. The Founder - Hulu+: This is the new mini-series on Elizabeth Holmes. I haven't started it yet, but I'm hearing great things.
3. Americans - Prime Video: One of the best and under-appreciated shows in recent memory. Never a dull moment + nonstop intrigue.