Every day, millions of people waste countless hours aimlessly scrolling through various streaming services with the hopes of finding a good movie to watch. In order to do what I can to help alleviate some of this unnecessary pain that befalls my fellow man, every month I dig through the options on Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, and Disney Plus to find worthwhile movies for your viewing pleasure.
Yes, it is noble work, but I’m happy to do it. Anyway, here are five movies to check out this month.
Netflix: The Nice Guys (2016)
Anyone who’s seen the nice guys will tell you the same thing – Ryan Gosling is surprisingly funny. As a crime mystery, it’s effective as hell. All of the necessary intrigue and twists and turns are there. However, it’s as a neo-noir dark comedy where it finds its true footing. Gosling’s comedic genius certainly shines the brightest here, but don’t overlook Russell Crowe’s ability to hold his own as a funny man. The two leads have such an incredible chemistry that it doesn’t feel totally insane to ask when we’re getting a sequel to this sleeper hit.
FOR FANS OF: Hot Fuzz; Game Night; Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Prime Video: Inside Man (2006)
Who doesn’t love a good bank robbery movie? And who doesn’t love a good Spike Lee movie? Combine the two and you’ve got Inside Man. It’s also worth noting that this movie has an absolute killer cast. Lead by one of Lee’s frequent collaborators, Denzel Washington, the cast also includes Jodie Foster, Chiwetel Eliofor, Clive Owen (where did he disappear to after 2006?), and Willem DaFoe. Inside Man is one of those movies that you’ll forget rocks, revisit after a few years, and be reminded of just how awesome it is. Some say these are the kinds of movies that make the world go round. I just say it’s the kind of movie to put on your watchlist for this month.
FOR FANS OF: The Town; Heat; Ocean’s Eleven
HBO Max: War of the Worlds (2005)
War of the Worlds is great for many reasons, but high among them is the fact that this features one Tom Cruise’s best on screen runs. Although it’s not his only scene featuring his frantic running in the movie, the first attack/encounter with the martians is a heart pounding, fear inducing sequence that still brings me to the edge of my seat no matter how many times I’ve seen it. Cruise sprints through the streets hoping to find some semblance of safety as Spielberg captures the madness around him with the proper grandiosity and thrilling action that only he can supply. In my humble opinion, War of the Worlds is one of Spielberg’s most underrated flicks. It holds up on rewatch and is still exciting to new viewers.
FOR FANS OF: Independence Day; Signs; Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Hulu: Memories of Murder (2003)
Time to mix in some international film flavor to the watchlist for this month. For that, I’m once again pulling from the filmography of the singularly great Bong Joon-ho. This time around, I’m recommending his breakout hit Memories of Murder. Simply put, this is one of the best crime thrillers you will ever see. If you’re a fan of, or just slightly fond of anything that David Fincher has done, then you’ll love Memories of Murder. Despite the crime mystery at the center of the story, it’s truly the characters that serve as the driving force here. Song Kang-ho, starring as detective Park Doo-man the first of many collaborations with Bong, is stellar as always.
FOR FANS OF: Zodiac; Parasite; Prisoners
Disney Plus: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
Say what you will about the Star Wars prequel trilogy, but there’s a lot to love about this movie. For starters, the podracing scene is one of the most exciting sequences you’ll find in any movie. During a recent rewatch I was reminded of the pure exhilaration that exists within that scene. That scene encapsulates all of the excitement that brings us back to the movies. It’s the highs of moments like the podracing scene and the timelessly badass duel of the fates fight that allows me to forgive much of the silly, bad, and sometimes offensive crap that exists in The Phantom Menace.
FOR FANS OF: Ben Hur; Dune; Star Wars (duh)
Thus wraps our movies to stream for this month. I hope you enjoy. And I hope you’re able to share these movies with family and friends. I’ll catch you here next month for more movie recommendations. Until then, happy streaming!
What’s the best hidden gem you’ve streamed recently? Share in the comments and help us expand the list!
