September is here. Which means summer winding down and cozy season is almost upon us. It’s time to swap out tank tops for sweaters and passionfruit cocktails for pumpkin spiced everything.
Since you’ll likely be spending more time indoors these coming months, we decided to search through Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, and Disney Plus to dig up some worthwhile flicks you may want to check out.
Netflix: Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
Before Taika Waititi became the master of Marvel blockbusters, he directed some pretty spectacular indie flicks. The best of the bunch just might be Hunt for the Wilderpeople. It’s the perfect combination of everything that has made Waititi one of the most beloved filmmakers of his generation. The comedy is emotionally grounded, the characters are humanely flawed but lovable nonetheless.
The relationship between Sam Neill’s Hec and Julian Denninson’s Ricky Baker is what holds the story together. Denninson’s performance has “breakout star” written all over it. Neill provides the necessary gravitas for Denninson to play off of. Their odd couple dynamic drives everything forward and keeps you invested until the very end.
I miss Waititi’s smaller scale movies. They showcase his skillset so much more than anything he’s made in recent memory. Until he does return to his previous form, we can continue to revisit Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
FOR FANS OF: JoJo Rabbit; Little Miss Sunshine; Moonrise Kingdom
Prime Video: Mother (2010)
Before Bong Joon-ho made a splash amongst Western audiences by taking home five honors at the 92nd Academy Awards, including Best Picture, he made some other pretty damn good movies. Among those awesome flicks is Mother, a wild thriller about the lengths one mother will go to protect her son. Bong Joon-ho’s command of the genre is on full display here. The seeds of what would make Parasite an international sensation are scattered throughout.
While some audience members might be reluctant to turn on movies that require subtitles, I can assure anyone with reservations that Mother is a worthwhile watch. As Bong Joon-ho eloquently stated in one of his Oscar acceptance speeches “once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.” So do yourself a favor and fire up those subtitles and get ready for a kick-ass viewing.
FOR FANS OF: Parasite; Se7en; Prisoners
HBO Max: Under the Skin (2013)
Few movies will blow you away like Under the Skin. The first time I saw it, I decided to watch it a second time within a week because I couldn’t fully believe what I had seen. It remains one of the most fascinating experiments and exercises in filmmaking I’ve witnessed. The whole movie feels like a complete deconstruction of film.
Jonathan Glazer’s filmmaking appears to be influenced heavily by the great Stanley Kubrick. However, he takes many of the great Kubrickian motifs and makes them uniquely his own. This is easily Scarlett Johansson’s strangest performance and probably her strongest. You will be sure to be at the edge your seat the entire film, shaking your head in disbelief, and in full awe of a truly singular cinematic experience.
FOR FANS OF: 2001: A Space Odyssey; Ex Machina; Eyes Wide Shut
Hulu: Palm Springs (2020)
Movies about “time” can be pretty hit or miss. It’s easy to get muddled in the mechanics of the science and the plausibility of what is being presented. However, sometimes it’s much easier to focus on the emotional substance and let the science fiction portion figure itself out. This is exactly what Palm Springs does and it works perfectly.
The obvious comparison here is Groundhog Day, which popularized the time loop sub-genre. In Palm Springs, we are immediately dropped into Andy Samberg’s Nyle’s time loop and the movie simply keeps going from there (side note: why are there not more “time loop” movies?). As the story reveals itself, my emotional investment in the characters grew without me even fully releasing.
The movie’s ultimate philosophy on life and its meaning is surprisingly heavy for a movie starring faces as charming as Christina Milioti and Andy Samberg, but it’s still great. It’s a wild ride; one that you won’t regret getting on.
FOR FANS OF: Groundhog Day; Hot Rod; Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Disney Plus: West Side Story (2021)
Why Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story is streaming on Disney Plus, I do not know. But what I do know is that I’m quite happy about it. This was easily one of the best movies of last year and it still hasn’t gotten the love it deserves.
Remakes are typically a hard sell. At times they can feel superfluous or unnecessary; rarely adding to or updating anything from the original for the purposes of a new reading. Spielberg’s West Side Story breaths new life into an otherwise familiar tale. It feels simultaneously familiar and groundbreaking.
It’s also great to see Steven Spielberg choose to dip his toes into a new genre and completely knock it out of the park. Truly a legendary move. But what else would we expect from the king.
FOR FANS OF: West Side Story (1961); La La Land; In the Heights
Alas! Five awesome flicks to add to your watchlist for the month. Make sure to add these to your queues and check back in next month. Until then, happy streaming!
What’s the best hidden gem you’ve streamed recently? Share in the comments and help us expand the list!
