Last week, I had a bit of a movie binge and sat down to watch some 'big-screen' entertainment from the comfort of my own cosy sofa.
It's a bit unusual these days for me to actually sit and watch without having my iPad or laptop perched on my lap. I've become one of those people who needs to be doing multiple things at once, even if it isn't overly productive. The enjoyment of just focusing on a single story has been lost as of late, by which I mean the past few years. Maybe it's my ADHD flaring up or maybe it's just been another way for me to hide away and distract myself from my overthinking mind. Anyway, it was nice to simply sit and get lost in a few movies for a few hours—something I need to do more often.
All these movies are currently available to view on Netflix UK.
Rating:
5 popcorn buckets - Excellent. Thoroughly recommend.
4 popcorn buckets - Enjoyed it. Worth a watch. 3 popcorn buckets - Not bad. Enjoyable enough but it didn't thrill me.
2 popcorn buckets - Watchable, but not great.
1 popcorn bucket - What was that? It's a no from me.
WARNING: THE BELOW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
NYAD (2023) - 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿
My mum recommended this one to me after she and my dad sat and watched it one night. It's not a movie I would usually gravitate towards, long-distance swimming doesn't exactly excite me but I was partly sold to give it a go because it has Jodie Foster—who doesn't love Clarice Starling (Silence of the Lambs) after all. However, I am glad I gave it a go and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone. There is always something fascinating about a movie based on a true story, which is what NYAD is. It makes it more real, especially when it would seem almost absurd a movie plot if it wasn't.
The movie is based on a marathon swimmer who is nearing 60 and yearns to become the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida non-stop. It was a feat she had tried when she was a lot younger and one she failed. A feat everyone deemed impossible. I won't spoil it for you but I will say the woman's tenacity is something else. I found myself glued to the screen and cheering alongside her as she swam. It's certainly something I highly recommend taking the time to sit down and get lost in.
The Highwaymen (2019) - 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿
When this one popped up on Netflix it was an immediate 'one to watch' for me. I've always loved a good period crime drama, especially one based on a true story. The Highwaymen is set in the 1930s during the time of Bonnie and Clyde. It focuses not on the notorious American outlaws, but on the two Texas Rangers who came out of retirement to bring them down. It's the side of the story that no one gets to hear.
It was one of those Hollywood-style movies with high-end cinematography, cracking set design and top-notch actors with Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson taking on the roles of the Rangers. What was a pleasant surprise (as I hadn't looked into the film before watching) was to see Kathy Bates—she's another one of those actresses whose movies I am drawn to.
This was a film I thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend to anyone who loves a bit of history and crime. Gone Girl (2014) - 🍿🍿🍿
This was a second time watch for me. I couldn't quite remember exactly what happened other than the husband was set up and after watching the Netflix documentary 'American Nightmare', I knew I needed a rewatch. 'American Nightmare' tells the story of a young couple who are hounded by the media and police after the woman goes missing and then reappears a short time later. Because of the similarity of the case to the movie they weren't taken seriously. Gone Girl follows a husband who reports his wife missing and he quickly becomes the prime suspect in her disappearance. It soon emerges that she staged her disappearance and framed him for her suspected murder.
I found the film a little OTT and for me neither the husband nor the wife were engaging enough or likeable enough to make it great. In fact, I found the wife, played by Rosamund Pike to be a horrible character. She's one of those female characters that I really grew to despise, and I don't say that all too often, but that in itself shows the excellent acting performed by Pike. A small warning, there is a bit of violence and a little gore in this movie, so if that isn't for you then I would avoid it.
All in all, it wasn't bad, it just wasn't a big thumbs up for me.
True Spirit (2023) - 🍿🍿🍿
After watching NYAD I had got a bit of a bug for inspiring true stories and came across this one. True Spirit follows the journey of a 16-year-old Australian who seeks to become the youngest person to solo circumnavigate the globe. It was enjoyable and certainly an inspiring story, but after NYAD I felt it lacked a little something. It was however an easy watch and if you are after something easy, inspiring and true then it's worth a go.
Brian Banks (2018) - 🍿🍿🍿🍿
Another film based on a true story. And it was another one my mum recommended. There was a bit of a theme for me this past week. This one is an 'innocence project' based story and I do love a story like such.
Brian Banks is an NFL football player who had his dreams bashed when he was wrongfully convicted of rape as a teenager. He spent several years in prison and further on parole before he was able to clear his name and have his conviction overturned.
These stories grip me and frustrate me at the same time as they show just how broken the American legal system is. Yet that's also a reason why we should watch movies such as this, to help educate and open our eyes to the injustice that occurs when people don't do their jobs properly.
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