Your Netflix Picks of the Week

• Tweet

• Tweet

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

“Brüno” (2009)

Commitment, thy name is Sacha Baron Cohen. Never before have audiences seen someone dedicate themselves so shamelessly and ruthlessly and with so little regard for social norms, but Cohen takes the mockumentary genre to another level. “Borat” was Cohen’s first foray into the genre, and it set the bar high. “Brüno,” released three years, took things to another stratosphere of inappropriate. In the movie, Austrian fashion journalist Brüno Gehard is fired from his own television show, Funkyzeit mit Brüno, and moves to America to try to make it as “the biggest gay Austrian celebrity since Hitler.” Need I go on? Not for the faint of heart or for those with delicate sensibilities, “Brüno” dips its feet into a deep, day-glo pool of obscenity and hilarity. If you can handle a few tasteless jokes and a hefty amount of male full-frontal nudity, you will be awarded with uncontrollable laughter.

Drama

“Mr. Nobody” (2011)

Set in a highly stylized not-so-distant future, Nemo Nobody is, at 124 years old, the last human on earth who will die of old age. A prosthetic decrepit Jared Leto recounts his life to a reporter before his final breath, but the life he tells him really makes no sense. He tells several very different biographies of himself from childhood to adulthood that make you scratch your head until you realize the point of this film. This is a movie with a purpose, closer to a piece of art than a typical film. Every single scene is of the upmost importance to the film and there is no time to check your phone and still follow what’s happening. Mr. Nobody is one of the best made and meaningful movies I’ve seen in a long time.

Action

“End of Watch” (2012)

Written and directed by David Ayer, “End of Watch” differs fundamentally from most police action thrillers, even those also created by Ayer. It has the requisite gunfire, violence and police jargon one expects from a movie about cops, but “End of Watch” focuses not on all the fanfare of policework but on the close bond that inevitably forms when two people work and face danger together as a team. The movie tells the story of LAPD officers Brian Taylor (Jake Gylenhaal) and Miguel Zavala (Michael Peña), partners who, day in and day out, work together to eradicate gang violence in Downtown Los Angeles. However, their valiant efforts to put away dangerous individuals and help those in need takes a turn for the sinister, making for a plot twist nobody can see coming. This movie will keep you at the edge of your seat, and its ability to skim well beneath the surface will, without a doubt, leave you emotionally connected to the characters.

Independent

“Drinking Buddies” (2013)

Olivia Wilde and Jake Johnson play a pair of friends/co-workers who work at a microbrewery in Chicago. The two are in relationships with other people, but a double-date camping adventure leaves them and viewers wondering if there will be something more in the near future. As the story progresses, questions of the possibility and validity of male-female friendships arise, and ultimately the story’s position is an ambiguous one.

If you like Jake Johnson as the loveable albeit a little strange Nick Miller on Fox’s “New Girl,” then you will love his portrayal of Luke in this film. Luke is basically a heavily-bearded, more hipster and slightly calmer version of Nick. Luke contrasts well with Olivia Wilde’s Kate, who is energetic and determined to find a relationship that is worth investing in.

“Drinking Buddies” is an indie comedy that explores the notion of true love in a way that is not overly sentimental, but instead in a way that is more befitting to the  cynical 20- and 30-somethings of today.

Documentary

“Religulous” (2008)

I converted to the Church of Bill Maher years ago, but if you haven’t yet laid down your life for the Lord of political comedy, strap the fuck in for this one. “Religulous” is a no-holds-barred lampooning of moral conservatism, religious brainwashing, illogical beliefs and whack-job spiritual leaders. The title is literally a combination of the words ‘religion’ and ‘ridiculous’ (a portmanteau, for the vocab snobs), and that’s exactly what it gives you. Maher never misses a beat, and he skewers his unwitting guests with the hard-hitting questions no one else has the balls to ask. It is truly beautiful to watch the pundit dismantle everything from the Vatican to Orthodox Judaism and bible-thumping hypocrisy with irreproachable charm and hilarity. It’s safe to say that this film is not for the faint of faith—but if you’re looking to educate a friend and see the God-like comedy powers of Bill Maher, you won’t find a finer flick.

Thinker

“Donnie Darko” (2001)

“Donnie Darko” is a quintessential mindfuck. The eponymous protagonist, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, is a troubled teenager who seems to be suffering from psychotic delusions of a man in a rabbit suit who commands him to commit a series of random crimes.

This film has a fantastic cast and was actually Seth Rogen’s first movie role. The soundtrack is great, which is important because you probably have to watch it more than once to fully grasp the plot and all of its implications.

Without giving too much away, this is a film about reality that negotiates the age-old debate between predetermination and free will. Donnie is supposedly a paranoid schizophrenic, yet his visions seem to be of the utmost importance, forcing the audience to question the meaning of insanity and whether or not it could be the key to understanding reality on a deeper level.

Stinker

“Zeitgeist” (2007)

“Zeitgeist: The Movie” is a documentary-style film by Peter Joseph Merola that targets popular conspiracy theories and encourages viewers to indulge in Jacque Fresco’s Zeitgeist Movement. The movement promotes critical thinking and understanding of the “true world” in which we live in. However, almost all historical references tying to the film’s claims have been proven to be fabricated. Merola’s professional experience is sub-par (he attended art school in New York) and many of his explanations in Zeitgeist cannot be found in any textbook (religious or scientific.) Merola’s indoctrination could have some bearing (his insight into the evils of capitalism, banking and profit are commendable) but there are just too many holes and not enough facts to fill them.
“Zeitgeist: The Movie” is propaganda at its finest, and nothing more, but a nonetheless intriguing look into the mind of someone with too much imagination and insufficient logic.

Classic

“The Breakfast Club” (1979)

Plain and simple: this coming-of-age classic will change your life. Heralded as the greatest high school film of all time, “The Breakfast Club” places five teens from different cliques in a Saturday detention that transforms them beyond stereotype and presumption. The angst-ridden ride is fueled by rebellious teen comedy, touching empathetic bonding and unforgettable self-awakenings. The Brat Pack delivers an emotional ensemble performance that will leave you in tears on the phone with your best friend asking why you never served detention together. “The Breakfast Club” is one of the most influential pop culture icons in cinematic history, and not watching it is a crime against friendship and humanity.

TV Show

“Orange Is The New Black (2013- )

Fans, rejoice. Season 2 of “Orange Is The New Black” was released Friday, and without spoiling it, it’s better than ever. Hop on the bingewatching bandwagon if you haven’t already.

 

Featured photo courtesy of: The Free Cheese