Your Netflix Picks of the Week

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Searching for a good movie on Netflix Instant is like looking for top shelf liquor at a frat party. You search and search and ask around for way too long and when you finally find a little bit hidden somewhere, you’re ready to ditch the party.

We’ve all been there, and we agree that ain’t nobody got time for all that browsing. So to spare you some time and a lot of agony, we will do the sifting for you and, each week, provide a fresh list of cinematic masterpieces you can find right in your friend’s your Netflix account and watch at a moment’s notice.

Our Netflix Picks of the Week will be the product of eclectic minds coming together to give you the créme de la créme (or what’s made available by the powers that be over at Netflix) of comedies, dramas, independents, documentaries, thinkers and, our very own creation, the stinkers — terrible movies we love to hate. Sometimes we’ll even throw in a good television show.

You’re welcome.

Comedy

“Butter” (2011)

Any film that pits a young, sassy, black girl against a self-absorbed, white, upper-class housewife is guaranteed some hard laughs. Setting the battle within an Iowa State Fair butter sculpting competition is just the strange stroke of genius that turns “Butter” into a legendary comedy goldmine. The entire cast of characters is over the top and self-aware, but none so much as Olivia Wilde’s portrayal of a vindictive punk hooker who gets pregnant once a month and antagonizes the Michelle Bachman-inspired Jennifer Garner. “Butter” is a smart, witty rip on small-town politics, racial tension and the American family that seamlessly weaves ridiculous humor with forceful honesty—and the butter sculptures are actually pretty impressive.

Drama

“Compliance” (2012)

Craig Zobel’s film is an amazing work of subtle drama and quiet, uncomfortable terror. “Compliance” is based on a true story (the Bullitt County McDonald’s strip search prank call scam), and almost nothing in this movie is exaggerated; though the events may be hard to watch and even harder to believe, they are completely true. At its 2012 Sundance Film Festival premiere, the film caused more than a few walkouts, and during my home viewing, I actually had a friend who could not finish watching. If you are ready to indulge in a very heavy dose of reality, “Compliance” is your go-to on Netflix.

Action

“Walker” (1987)

Released during the peak of American “old west” patriotism, “Walker” underperformed at the box office and was, at the time, received poorly by film critics. Skewering both manifest destiny and Reagan-era politics, this Alex Cox-directed film made audiences uncomfortable with its relentless critique of U.S. foreign policy. Described by many as an “acid western,” “Walker” is filled with deliberate anachronisms to help draw comparison between the era the film is set in (1850s) and the era it was released in (1980s.) Cox’s disregard for genre convention and unwillingness to conform to the patriotism of the era led to the commercial failure of “Walker” and his blacklisting in Hollywood, which lasts to this day. Regardless of all of this, “Walker” triumphs in the schizo art scene. The dimensions of this film are, in my belief, widely misunderstood. The action (a.k.a. bloodlust) in “Walker” makes it worth the watch, as well as the ballsy artistic valve Alex Cox takes on.

Independent

“Lost In Translation” (2003)

Sofia Coppola’s “Lost in Translation” is a drama/comedy that portrays an unlikely Tokyo friendship between disgruntled actor Bob Harris (Bill Murray), whose plummeting career has pushed him to appear in a Japanese whiskey commercial, and Charlotte, a recent college graduate who has moved to the city with her photographer husband. Both characters are less than satisfied with their respective roles in the city as well as overwhelmed by the potent culture shock. This common ground allows them to laugh at their surroundings while reevaluating their lives, ultimately forcing them to question whether or not they could be happier with one another.

This is a story about culture, romance and perception that will have you questioning everything you know about endings and beginnings and the relationship between the two.

Documentary

“20 Feet From Stardom” (2013)

If you watched the Academy Awards this year, you may have heard about a little film called “20 Feet From Stardom.” It won the Oscar for Best Documentary. A tale of the background singers that dominated modern music and cultivated the sound we know as rock ‘n’ roll today, “20 Feet From Stardom” exhibits the high points and, especially. the struggles of the people who would rather sing in perfect harmony than deal with the hustle and bustle of stardom and fame, despite the fact that the voices of the women featured in the film easily put the likes of Beyonce to shame. (Nothing against Beyonce, I’m just not crazy about a cult-like fascination with anybody.).

Although many of the singers featured in the film enjoy not being in the spotlight, preferring careers as background singers to the pressure of taking the spotlight, many simply didn’t have the luck and fortune it takes to be financially successful solo artists in the messed up, muddled up, shook-up world that is the music industry. These were the women that were called in the middle of the night when bands like The Rolling Stones needed a female vocal on a track (Merry Clayton’s isolated vocal on the legendary “Gimme Shelter” is positively bone-chilling). While we may have not known the names of these wonderful voices until now, they’re voices we’ve all heard millions of times and the film is a beautiful homage to those we take for granted.

Thinker

“Memento” (2000)

Disclaimer: Don’t get too stoned before watching. You will get lost and probably scared.

Occasionally having a brain fart sucks, being consistently forgetful is rough but having anterograde amnesia is the fucking worst. For Leonard Shelby, the main character of “Memento,” anterograde amnesia has turned his life into a trippy, lucid nightmare and his only means of recollection is scribbled hand-written notes, tattoos and Polaroid photos.

This neo-noir mystery-psychological thriller (I think I just made up a new genre) follows two different sequences throughout the movie: a black-and-white sequence that is shown chronologically and a color sequence shown in reverse order. Chock full of murder, vengeance, rape and memory loss, “Memento” is a thought-provoking film that is truly one of a kind.

And don’t you forget it.

Stinker

“White Chicks” (2004)

Fuck what the haters say, “White Chicks” is the most important movie you will ever see. The Wayans brothers were obliterating basic white girls long before hashtags and venti lattes took over. If you don’t want to see two grown black men don whiteface drag in the Hamptons, then you need to seriously reconsider your priorities in life. You probably won’t care about the plot—an FBI investigation into socialite kidnappings—but you will care about the couch you just ruined by pissing yourself repeatedly for 110 minutes straight. Nothing tops the Wayans’ misleading explanation of how to use a dildo, their schooling Yo Mama throw down or obscene lactose intolerance-fueled bathroom explosion. Rumors of a sequel have been rolling around for the past decade, but that holy day has yet to arrive.

Classic

“What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?” (1993)

“What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” is an instant favorite to anyone who comes across it. The movie follows Gilbert Grape, played by Johnny Depp, as he tries to balance his newfound love life with taking care of his mentally challenged brother named Arnie, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and their extremely overweight mother. Along the way, Gilbert must fill the void that his father left behind, set priorities for his family and learn how to keep his love affairs under control. While watching this movie, you will most definitely grow attached to the characters (which is probably a bad thing because you’ll probably end up in tears at some point during the movie). This movie is perfect for anyone who appreciates a heartwarming story or anyone who’s a fan of Depp or DiCaprio. DiCaprio was nominated at the Oscars back in ’94 for “Best Supporting Actor” for his performance in this film. You go, Leo.

TV Show

“Twin Peaks” (1990-1991)

“Twin Peaks” began and ended before most of us were even born, but the legacy of the sleepy Washington town with a murderer on the loose still lives on. With its subtle sci-fi elements and detailed, loving focus on the quirks of its numerous colorful characters, it is very reminiscent of 
“LOST.” It was created by David Lynch, so you know it is sure to feel like stepping inside someone else’s dream, and it stars Kyle MacLachlan of “Portlandia” fame, so you know it is sure to have plenty of odd charm. Be sure to load up on coffee and donuts for the inevitable marathon you will be diving into after seeing the pilot episode. Get ready for the psychological whirlwind of a lifetime as you ask yourself who killed Laura Palmer?

Featured photo courtesy of: Filmofilia