Netflix Gems for that Quarantine Life
Just some films to keep your mind off things.
As we take shelter in our homes amidst the coronavirus pandemic, I thought I’d give some recommendations for films I feel are worth checking out. With all this free time, I managed to catch up on some films I’ve been meaning to watch for a while now. All of these are available on Netflix, so if you have a subscription, and if you’re looking for ways to cope in this crazy moment that we’re living in, then check out some of these gems that might’ve flown under the radar.
Under the Skin
This was such a bizarre, yet hypnotizing movie. It puts you in a constant state of unease as this alien (Scarlet Johannsen) stalks lonely men in Glasgow. The film goes for a realistic approach that uses hidden cameras to capture genuine human behavior — well, at least for some of the scenes. It really adds to the sense that these people are being watched by this creature. The scenes that actually do include real actors are pretty noticeable since they demand more elaborate performances. But one of the aspects that takes the film to a whole different level is its incredible score. It creates this otherworldly atmosphere where our fears are intensified as we try to make sense of what is happening. There are so many things that aren’t spelled out for the viewers. We can only observe to try to get a grasp of what is actually happening. I mean, we don’t even know why the aliens are even doing this for. We’re just watching this alien that appeared out of nowhere while it studies and preys on the human species. It’s an interesting watch and one of the most creative movies I’ve seen in a while.
A Ghost Story
This film was like an exercise in patience. I’m not even sure if I should recommend it, but for some reason, I feel like more people should know about it. It’s one of those films that leaves you with more questions than answers. It focuses on the house of a married couple: the wife (Rooney Mara) and the husband (Casey Affleck). The husband turns into a ghost and proceeds to loom over the household for the rest of the film. And that’s pretty much it. I mean, there is some dialogue (and you’ll definitely notice it when it becomes somewhat unbearable). But, for the most part, it’s just this ghost observing the events that take place in this house. It’s like this weird experiment that makes you an active participant in the passing of time in the film (as well as in real life). It touches upon concepts like time, death, and the legacy we leave behind — and if it all even matters. It’s pretty pretentious at points, but it still managed to keep my attention, even with its bizarre concept, and it’s definitely an experience that I won’t soon forget.
Good Time
Before the Safdie brothers found mainstream success with Uncut Gems, they released another thriller that was just as stressful. It focuses on two brothers: Nick Nikas (Benny Safdie), who is mentally handicapped, and Connie Nikas (Robert Pattinson), a bank robber that pulls Nick along for his schemes. The first thing I noticed was the genuine connection between the brothers that’s established in the first scene. The rest of the film is just Connie trying to get his brother out of the situation he’s in — by any means necessary. There are so many moments that just leave you guessing where the story’s gonna go next, and just when you think you can breathe for a minute, the film just throws another curveball at you. It’s incredibly engaging and stylized, with a score that matches its sporadic nature, and synths that will stay in your head long after the movie. It’s just an anxiety-inducing ride from beginning to end and easy to recommend to anybody.
20th Century Women
This film has such a wonderful collection of characters. They feel like real people with all the history and emotional baggage we all carry with us. The film takes place in 1979 and centers around the intersecting lives of people in a boarding house. The mother (Annette Benning) asks the two women (Greta Gerwig & Elle Fanning) to help raise her son (Lucas Jade Zumann) since she’s having trouble connecting with him in his adolescence. There are a lot of interesting choices in the film’s presentation, from montages of historical photos to a blurry look that makes you feel like you’re in a dream. The film also features these tender voice-overs that describe a character’s backstory — and even their future.
You can feel that these people really care about each other and want to help each other out, but the communication between them sometimes gets muddled along the way. The different eras they were born in seem to be a factor in their constant miscommunication, especially with the mother and son. It’s very much a snapshot of this moment in their lives. It’s very honest and genuine in how it shows everyone’s struggles as they try to be who they want to be. I feel like the main thing I took from this is that everybody’s going through something, and even if you can’t really help solve the things that are eating away at them, sometimes it helps to just be there for them.
Locke
This is another film with a simple concept, but the execution is handled so well that it’s actually one of the more engaging titles on this list. The concept of the film revolves around a series of phone calls as the main character, Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy), drives towards his destination. It’s literally just him, in a car, talking for 85 minutes. The film relies entirely on Tom Hardy’s performance, as a soon-to-be father dedicated to being present for the birth of his new child. He’s just so captivating and really keeps your eyes glued to the screen. It makes for an interesting character study as we learn more about who he is through these calls. I’m a sucker for dialogue-driven movies, and this film exceeded my expectations. But make no mistake, this isn’t a self-indulgent film that’s just trying to be different, it actually has a good story that is driven by the main character and his relationship to others — just like most other movies. The only difference is: we only see him, so the only thing we can do is enjoy the ride as the film peels the layers of Ivan Locke.
My life as a Zucchini
This surprisingly mature animated film was such a breath of fresh air. It tackles some pretty adult stuff, like trauma, but it’s seen through the eyes of a nine-year-old kid, Ikar, who demands to be called Zucchini, as he accommodates himself in an orphanage. It’s an enjoyable film with some subtle nuances that will connect with adults and a pleasant, childlike tone that will be fun for kids. The film doesn’t really have any of the fantastic elements that you would expect from a stop-motion animated feature. It really just focuses on the life of these kids that have been through so much already, and, honestly, that’s enough. The stories that occur in the everyday life of these kids just remind me how everyone’s life is a story, and sometimes a tragic one at that — especially at the age of these kids. But even though the film deals with such heavy subjects, it’s still incredibly heartwarming seeing how these kids find solace with each other in their new home.
Quién Te Cantará
This is a Spanish film with a pretty interesting concept. The film focuses on a famous singer, Lila Cassen (Najwa Nimri), that loses her memory after a near-death experience. When she is told who she is, she doesn’t really know how to handle it. I mean, imagine being told that you’re this idol, but you can’t even begin to live up to that image of yourself? It also involves a karaoke singer, Violeta (Eva Llorach), that can perform Lila’s songs as if they were her own. She’s hired to help Lila be the star that she used to be. It almost feels like Lila really did die; she’s not the person she used to be and she can’t understand who she is right now, either. It touches upon concepts like identity, perception, and even parenting. And though it can be melodramatic and drawn out at times, the film’s exploration of self and passionate musical performances made it well worth a watch.
We the Animals
This was a pretty mesmerizing film. It’s presented in a way where the scenes just feel like they’re flowing, sort of ethereal; like you’re peeking into someone’s mind as they reminisce on childhood memories, sprinkled with all the little details that make those moments that much more vivid. The film focuses on a family of three brothers and their dysfunctional parents. The acting in this film is so natural, you almost forget that you’re watching a movie at times. It really captures the state of mind of a child that’s just trying to make sense of everything. It also features some incredible animated sequences in the style of pencil-like drawings. I really admire films that can convey a certain mood. Growing up is confusing. Things are happening all around you and you have no control over it. You don’t really understand what your parents are going through since you’re still figuring things out for yourself. And this film beautifully conveyed the wonder, curiosity, and confusion of what it’s like to be a kid.
Okja
Before Bong Joon-ho took the world by storm with Parasite, he released another film called Okja. It focuses on the bond between a teenage girl and her adorable mutant pig, Okja. It’s an incredibly entertaining movie that also touches on some pretty dark subject matter. I mean, some scenes are just downright disturbing, but this should come to no surprise if you’re familiar with Bong Joon-ho’s work. Like some of his recent films, he uses the medium to place a magnifying glass over real-world issues. It makes some blunt commentary on animal abuse, corporate greed, and the meat industry.
I mean, if you switch the mutant pig with any other livestock, it’s hard not to be disgusted by the horrific practices of something that’s so commonplace by now. I also appreciate how Okja interacts with the environment, and how everyone reacts to her whenever she’s on the screen; it just makes it seem like this creature is actually there, which is something I can’t say for most CGI creatures. And while there are some performances that are pretty over the top, the relationship between the girl and her pig is so heartwarming that it’s hard not to get invested in them. It’s definitely worth checking out.
