As we head into another weekend of self-quarantine, shelter-in-place, and all-around isolation, it’s the perfect time to find yourself in front of the TV watching the best offerings on Netflix. Of course, when it comes to Netflix, one of the biggest hurdles is sifting through all the choices available to you. But worry not, the Cinemast staff has our weekly picks of the best movies on Netflix that you should be checking out. Stop scrolling until you give up and just decide to binge-watch The Office again! Try one of these staff picks out and let us know what you think!
MUTE
Directed by: Duncan Jones
Starring: Alexander Skarsgard, Paul Rudd, Justin Theroux
Synopsis: After his partner goes missing, a mute bartender goes up against his city’s seedy underbelly of gangsters in order to discover the truth about what happened.
Why It’s Worth A Watch: Duncan Jones’ fourth film was unfairly dismissed as a narrative mess. This isn’t true. Critics missed the boat in this gritty noir set in Berline in 2035. This tense film is drenched in neon atmosphere, seedy thugs, sex robots, and kidnapping. It’s Jim Thompson by way of Phillip K. Dick. — Jeffery Sanders
THE PLATFORM
Directed by: Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia
Starring: Ivan Massagué, Zorion Eguileor, Antonia San Juan
Synopsis: A man being held in a verticle prison learns a great deal about the origins of his whereabouts from his creepy cellmate in this assured feature directorial debut from Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia.
Why It’s Worth A Watch: A lot is going on in this often grim Spanish import and while there’s nothing particularly subtle about the numerous themes at play here, to simply call The Platform provocative would be a gross understatement. It’s like a fusion of Snowpiercer, Parasite, Cube and Saw. While well acted and extremely well crafted, particularly the sound and production design, it should be noted that this will not be a movie from everyone. I’m not going to lie; given the current state of the world, The Platform tends to be a bit unnerving and uncomfortable to watch. Still, this dark and thought-provoking allegory is highly recommended. — Adam Mast
BETHANY HAMILTON: UNSTOPPABLE
Directed by: Aaron Lieber
Starring: Bethany Hamilton
Synopsis: In this incredible documentary, Bethany Hamilton refuses to give up on her dream of becoming a professional surfer, despite the challenges thrown her way after losing her arm to a tiger shark.
Why It’s Worth A Watch: This incredible true story of Bethany Hamilton is inspiring and powerful. After losing her arm to a tiger shark while surfing with her friends, Bethany takes the challenges she is faced with and turns them into a positive message about overcoming difficult and sometimes impossible struggles. Without a doubt, this film will leave you with motivation and determination to be like Bethany and be unstoppable. — Briana Pugh
FRANCES HA
Directed by: Noah Baumbach
Starring: Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner, Adam Driver
Synopsis: A young woman struggles with life in New York City as she runs headfirst into difficulties with everything from living arrangements to her career, to friends and her love life.
Why It’s Worth A Watch: The film, co-written by Gerwig is one of those films that you can’t help but smile through, making it the perfect movie for a weekend movie night in quarantine. As Frances struggles with nearly every aspect of her personal life, her attitude and energy are infectious. She is funny even in the direst of her mundane day-to-day circumstances and her experiences of loneliness in one of the most populated cities in America is portrayed with perfectly balanced comedic melancholy (if there is such a thing). How does one in their late-20s find their place when seemingly everyone else around them seems to be finding it first? How does one put down roots when the world feels like it’s passing you by at a mile a minute? How does one find joy in life when everything seems to be going wrong? Let Frances show you the way. — Brandon Treadway
THE DEATH OF STALIN
Directed by: Armando Iannucci
Starring: Jason Isaacs, Steve Buscemi, Jeffrey Tambor
Synopsis: After Joseph Stalin’s death in 1953, his political cronies break alliances with one another and devolve into a power struggle for ultimate control of the Soviet Union.
Why It’s Worth A Watch: From the director of In the Loop and the upcoming Personal History of David Copperfield comes a dark comedy about a political power grab that is lush with historical absurdity. Although stacked with funny dialogue and gags, at times filled with biting wit, the story is also scary and real in many respects — leaving the viewer with a sense of the disturbing realities of totalitarianism and the rule of Stalin. Overall, the film is an entertaining black comedy from start to finish. If you’re free to watch something this weekend, this should be it! — John Pugh
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