Spring is in the air and with it the promise of sunshine, laughter and a bunch of other stuff that’s supposed make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. But even with all that goodness on the horizon, your movie nights may still need a little help.
Each month, I pick a short-list of under-the-radar titles waiting to be unearthed from the algorithms of Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and the like. Because movie nights are important and life’s too short to watch the wrong stuff.
Here are a few wonderful movies that will upgrade your “To-Watch” list in true 2020 fashion this March.
Girl Most Likely (2012)
Listen, Kristen Wiig will absolutely win an Academy Award for Best Actress someday and when that day comes y’all will regret giving me those unbelieving squinty eyes and that high pitched, “Are you sure?” retort. The woman can do anything and do it better than anyone else not named Viola Davis or Amy Adams. Period. More importantly, it’s high time we started paying more attention to the incredible range she has put on display through her cinematic choices.
Now, that being said, I’ll be completely honest in saying Girl Most Likely doesn’t crack Ms. Wiig’s Top 5, but it’s endearing, incredibly human, and more worthy of a movie night than half the junk in your queue. So there’s that. It’s also incredibly hilarious while cracking your heart just a smidge. Dramedy at its finest held together by one of the 21st Century’s best at finding the humor in despair. And then, of course, there’s the rest of the cast of Annette Benning, June Diane Raphael, Natasha Lyonne, Matt Dillon, Darren Criss, and, yes, Bob Balaban himself. A terrific troop of talent to round out the New York City tale of failed dreams, imperfect art, and fractured relationships. Girl Most Likely may not have gotten Wiig an Oscar, but it showcases her acting chops alongside some top-tier talent and packs plenty of enjoyable laughs along with a few astute discoveries. This one will meet you where you’re at and leave you pleasantly surprised.
PLATFORM: Hulu
FOR FANS OF: Brittany Runs a Marathon; Funny People; The Skeleton Twins
Hairspray (2007)
Springtime is fast arriving and we all need more musicals in our lives. So, I’m prescribing a gloriously fun, yet confusingly under-appreciated, dance-a-thon to kick-off the new warm season.
Why?
Because one movie gave us Queen Latifah, Nikki Blonsky and Michelle Pfeiffer throwin’ pure heat for two hours; one movie gave us the uncomfortably handsome Zac Efron with a single heavy curl; one movie gave us the perfect opening scene in Good Morning Baltimore; one movie gave us Alison Janney mothering Amanda Bynes; one movie gave us pure joy AND Walken serenading Travolta!
Hairspray is one of the most fun re-watchables this century has given us. It deserves better, y’all.
PLATFORM: Netflix
FOR FANS OF: Grease; La La Land; Pitch Perfect
Love & Mercy (2014)
It’s a crime that Paul Dano doesn’t have an Oscar yet, and it’s just plain cruel the Academy hasn’t even tossed a nomination his way. The guy is a true chameleon and champions uncharacteristic humanity better than most of his counterparts. In the same light as There Will Be Blood, Little Miss Sunshine, Prisoners and Swiss Army Man, when granted the chance to take center stage Dano delivers in rare, unforgettable fashion.
This time around he tackles Brian Wilson. Yes, that Brian Wilson. And he shares the role with John Cusack. Yeah, it’s weird…but it’s also perfect. Love & Mercy is more than a Hollywood-ized character study of a familiar face; it’s a true celebration of raw creativity and daring vision. Unflinching in scope but firm in authentic heart, this one defies the conventional biopic label. Told thru the mythic sessions of recording Pet Sounds, we see the world thru Wilson’s eccentric lens; we hear what we heard; see what he sees; and feel the thickness of betrayal and paranoia. All the while treasuring Wilson’s massive contributions to rock history with Dano delivering yet another award-worthy performance. As a whole, the film is euphoric, jarring, and tender in all the right ways.
PLATFORM: Hulu
FOR FANS OF: High Fidelity; Rocketman; Walk the Line
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
Because coconuts. Because the Black Knight scene. Because the Knights Who Say Nee. Because the best political rant modern cinema has ever seen. Because the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch is hallowed, powerful and unmatched.
Cult classics earn that status for a reason. They have staying power because they enrich our lives with the glorious, unkempt awesomeness of random humor and niche idiosyncrasies. And not many top the utter brilliance of Monty Python’s universal hit. So, it may not be the most inspired choice but admit it–you need a little more castle tower insults in your life.
PLATFORM: Netflix
FOR FANS OF: Austin Powers; The Princess Bride; The Return of the Pink Panther
Primal Fear (1996)
Remember when adult thrillers were all the rage? Ah, yes, the 90s. A time of wild courtroom dramas, twisted characters and deeply unsettling truth. Times were simple then…well, maybe not simple, but at least they served up some grade A, edge-of-your-seat drama headlined by bonafide movie stars. And no capes. Just great scripts, strong performances, and the right amount of “holy crap!”.
As far as thrilling prestige drama is concerned, Primal Fear sets the standard of procedural mind-benders. Focusing on the brutal murder of a high-ranking Catholic Cardinal, the narrative follows Richard Gere as a hot shot lawyer exploring the underbelly of urban organized crime, corrupt clergy, and an utterly fascinating suspect. A rollercoaster ride checking all of the boxes including a breakout performance from Edward Norton in delivering one of the decade’s best twist endings. Truly one of the few films that’ll make you wish you could watch it for the first time again…but still incredibly re-watchable.
PLATFORM: Amazon Prime
FOR FANS OF: The Game; Insomnia; Philadelphia
Bloated queue? Don’t worry about it. Add some of these hidden gems to your list and save your next movie night. If nothing else, no excuses on finding something to watch when there’s a Christopher Walken and John Travolta duet is right there. Go watch something!
What’s the best hidden gem you’ve streamed recently? Share in the comments and help me expand the list!