THIS WEEK I’m listing films mainly from Amazon Prime. It is cheaper than Netflix, its selection is just as good, and it has a really good collection of classics movies. So, if you feel you have worn out your Netflix account, maybe switch over for a month.
Blow The Man Down: Fried Green Tomatoes meets Fargo, set in a fishing village in Maine, with a Greek chorus of fishermen singing sea shanties. Throw in esteemed character actress Margot Martindale and tell me that's not an incredible pitch for a film?
Rear Window: I don't know why I’m surprised when I see a Hitchcock movie and it holds up. It feels as relevant and fresh today as it did when it came out in 1954. The sets are just what makes this one so special and I would advise (if you have Disney+ ) to follow it up with the incredible Simpson's parody The Bart of Darkness, season 6 episode 1.
Under The Skin: I was pleased to see this film top so many 'best of the decade' lists last year. It was largely ignored on its release, including by myself, but Jonathan Glazer’s disturbing, low budget, sci-fi has aged well. Starring Scarlett Johnassan, she plays an alien who preys on men in the Scottish highlands. I know, I know, but trust me it is a lot better than it sounds.
The Intern: The most recent film directed by great Nancy Meyers. It has a naff, outdated, slightly sexist, plot but like everything she does, she makes it work so exceptionally well. Helps that her two leads are Anne Hathaway and Robert DeNiro. This is the very definition of feel good cinema.
Hunt For The Wilderpeople: Another feel good family movie, this one a little more punchy than most, with some bad language, but it is absolutely hilarious and has a genuine personality. This is the great Kiwi director Taika Waititi's best film so far, and, speaking as someone who really didn’t like Jojo Rabbit, I hope he goes back to these kinds of films soon. There's an edge to this that reminds of some of the great movies I grew up with like War Of The Buttons and Stand By Me.
10 Cloverfield Lane: This is the pandemic pick of the week. Michelle leaves her abusive boyfriend and while driving away hears of blackouts in major cities on the radio and suddenly her car is struck. She wakes up in a doomsday preppers bunker with her leg chained to the wall. He explains that the end of the world has commenced but lucky for her she’s safe in his bunker. Things are not what they seem and she plots her escape. An incredible performance from John Goodman in which he channels his great role as Walter in The Big Lebowski.
