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 searching. 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

“Tucker & Dale vs. Evil” (2010)

A group of happy, preppy college kids go to a cabin in the woods for some rest and relaxation. During their drive they come across (what appears to be) two dirty, questionable looking rednecks. Following the beliefs of their polo-clad leader, the college kids suspect that these are no ordinary country bumpkins but are in fact homicidal killers that only they can stop. Alan Tudyk (Firefly) and Tyler Labine (Reaper) make a great comic duo, and their chemistry really sells “Tucker & Dale vs. Evil.” The laughs are sudden, and often at gruesome expense — this is not a comedy for the faint of heart.  A sequel is currently in the works. Hopefully it can live up to its funny, dark and very original predecessor.

Drama

“The Intouchables” (2011)

“The Intouchables” is a French film that is an adaption of a stirring true story. In it, an unlikely bond forms between Phillippe, a wealthy man who is confined to a wheelchair, handicapped by a paragliding accident and the death of his beloved wife, and Driss, a tough-talking, good-humored kid from Paris’s urban projects. This film is a nod to themes of racial divide and physical disability; it remains respectful to reality all throughout, yet never fails to entertain. It has a great soundtrack and nuanced acting performances. The brilliant directing of Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano bring it all together. This film attests to the degree to which a bit of humor and empathy can uplift us, even at our very lowest. “The Intouchables” will strike a chord in anyone with a pulse.

Action

“The Fifth Element” (1997)

“The Fifth Element” is weird—the French kind of weird that involves poorly bleached hair, a blue, opera-singing alien smuggling magic stones in her intestines, and Chris Tucker as an outrageous, gender-bending diva. Think “Blade Runner” on molly. Set in the 23^rd century, it follows a taxi driver and former Special Forces major played by Bruce Willis and a mysterious human clone of the titular Fifth Element (Milla Jovovich) as they, obviously, save the Earth from imminent destruction.

The ridiculous sci-fi plot of “The Fifth Element” is a little tongue-in-cheek, but it offers undeniably awesome action sequences and brilliant visual effects. This star-studded cult classic is worth a watch for anyone looking for some unforgettable and, at times, hilarious alien warfare.

Independent

“Fargo” (1996)

“Fargo” is a flawless blend of hilarity, violence, originality and feministic victory (as far as a film created and directed by men can be considered feministic). Hailed by even Roger Ebert, the 1996 film is considered one of the Coen Brothers’ greatest masterpieces. Following a 7-month-pregnant police chief’s investigation into a slew of Minneapolis murders, this movie proves that horror and humor are far from mutually exclusive as it portrays a vast array of human behavior, from senseless violence to baffling bravery and honor.

The claustrophobic, snowy backdrop provides a perfect canvas for the action’s bloody progression in an artful manner that has paved the way for the new FX series featuring Billy Bob Thornton. Noah Hawley directs the series while the Coen brothers serve as executive producers, and certainly does the movie justice. Just be sure to watch the film first!

Documentary

“The Science of Sex Appeal” (2009)

What attracts us to each other, and why? We may ask ourselves this question when it comes to our significant other, the cutie we can’t stop staring at in class or that obnoxious individual that is attractive in spite of  their personality flaws. Maybe sex appeal has a bit more to do with science than we thought. In this Discovery Channel documentary, we learn how attraction can be directly linked to the symmetry of one’s face and the femininity or masculinity one exudes. What happens in the womb that lays the foundation for how we appear to the outside world later on? Why do people prefer to look at a face with more symmetry? We find out all this, and more, in “The Science of Sex Appeal” — a great and revealing documentary for anyone interested in learning more about the laws of attraction. You’ll never have to question someone’s allure again.

Thinker

“Timecrimes” (2008)

This Spanish science fiction thriller begins with a simple act of voyeurism before launching us into a time-bending series of events. A wealthy homeowner explores the woods near his estate and finds a murdered woman. A masked mad man wielding a pair of scissors chases after him through the thicket. The homeowner stumbles upon a science research facility where an engineer attempts to “hide” him from the mysterious killer. However in doing so the man is sent back in time and realizes that he might be able to prevent the woman’s death. Written and directed by Nacho Vigalondo, “Timecrimes” takes stylistic beats from classical suspense invoking a feeling of Hitchcockian thrills while telling an airtight, well thought out time travel story. Its nerve wracking score by Eugenio Mara (who just directed the impressive Hitchcock/DePalma-style thriller “Grand Piano”) adds a thick layer of intensity to the already twisted tale.

Stinker

“Sharknado” (2013)

The best way to sum up Sharknado is by comparing it to “Troll 2.” It’s so bad and over the top that it’s awesome. A tornado full of sharks destroys California and kills off its citizens in ridiculous and just plain stupid fashion that will have you laughing at how oddly creative this movie is. It’s littered with horrible acting (see: Tara Reid) and dialogue that will make you laugh in between cringing. At the end of the day, though, it has fantastic kills and absolutely hilarious and ridiculous plot elements that will make you appreciate its awfulness.

Classic

“Manhattan” (1979)

This Woody Allen film is the black-and-white lovechild of “Annie Hall” and “Midnight in Paris,” featuring all of the director’s classic touches: romantic montages of big city life, dating woes, a jazzy soundtrack and Diane Keaton. The story follows the recently divorced Isaac Davis, played by Allen, as he navigates a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old and a budding love for the woman his best friend is cheating on his wife with. The film is a light, witty snapshot of the lives of four very confused, highly intertwined 40-somethings who still haven’t quite managed to figure everything out. It’s a short, charming watch, perfect for those whose sense of humor is of the self-deprecating variety.

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