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Get Your January netFIX…
LATEST NETFLIX RECOMMENDATIONS

As we boldly enter the year 2014 and come to peace with the 30th anniversary(?!) of Gremlins, Ghostbusters and Beverly Hills Cop, I thought I’d pick out some of the best movies of 2013 currently streaming on Netflix.

2013 was a great year for documentaries, indie films and, frankly, Netflix in general.

With their original television series gaining attention, the company announced the acquisition and production of their own documentary movies, in fact.

While Hollywood films tend to have longer windows to their premiere on Netflix, there are still plenty of titles launching close to their DVD release, in HD no less.

FRANCIS HA
starring Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner, Adam Driver
directed by Noah Baumbach

I have to admit that I avoided this one in its theatrical run, mainly because its marketing and buzz gave me Girls vibes.  As in HBO Girls.  Not a fan.   

Francis Ha, however is the real deal.

It’s an efficient indie film, centered around a free-spirit main character in New York City.

But Greta Gerwig is someone to fall in love with in her portrayal of Frances.  I also found it laugh-out-loud funny at times, with its all-knowing dialogue and a ego.

There’s a moment halfway through the film where Frances dances her way through the busy streets of Manhattan to David Bowie’s Modern Love.  Shot digitally in beautiful black and white, it’s one of the year’s most perfect sequences.

directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite

Eye opening and completely shocking at once, Blackfish manages to educate through the dark back-story of how SeaWorld brought Shamu to the public, altered the public perception of a deeply complex animal and continues to turn a blind eye to a multitude of documented attacks (not to mention inhumaine practices).

It’s required viewing for anyone who has ever sat through a “Killer Whale” show at any theme park.

COMPUTER CHESS
starring Patrick Riester, Wiley Wiggins, Myles Paige
directed by Andrew Bugalski

An incredibly controlled, and generally hysterical mockumentary that plays like a high-brow “Revenge of the Nerds.”

The entire film is a loving tribute to an awkward time, and it knowingly plays with its setting through vintage camera cinematography, awkward editing techniques and a score straight out of EPCOT’s Future World circa 1982.

Given its Austin, Texas connection, I’d put this together on a double bill with Zero Charisma, also one of last year’s best movies.  It’s now available on demand and iTunes.

ROOM 237
directed by Rodney Ascher

Maybe I recommended this one already.  Maybe technically it was on my list of best of 2012 (as it was released in some markets then).

Nevertheless, it’s now on Netflix, and any fan of Kubrick or just The Shining must come and play with it.  Room 237 is a hot mess of a “documentary” that works because its conspiracy theories on the aforementioned mentioned film go from quirky to bat-shit-crazy fast.  If nothing else, it’s a blast to watch, especially if you’re a Cinema Studies student in need of a semiotics paper subject.  Go crazy.

starring Elijah Wood, Nora Arnezeder
directed by Franck Khalfoun

Again, I saw this in 2012, but technically it finally got a theatrical release in 2013, and luckily made its way to Netflix in time to scare the bejesus out of Netflix subscribers.

It’s both a remake and tribute to the cult horror film of the 80s, and actually an improvement.  It is gory and gritty, with a POV style that goes beyond gimmick.

It’s also fiercely devoid of comic relief and brutal to watch at times, getting under your skin from the start.  What more could you ask from a Horror film these days?

In the mood instead for some classic rewatchable movies on Netflix?  The following geek-approved titles will be available to stream starting January 1, 2014…

  • American Psycho
  • Amelie
  • Big Trouble In Little China
  • Bull Durham
  • The Day the Earth Stood Still
  • Death Race 2000
  • Play it Again Sam
  • Spaceballs
  • Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Note: Above titles available to WATCH INSTANTLY on Netflix as of January 2014 and are subject to studio licenses. It is recommended to watch before the month ends!

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In many cases free copies of media and merchandise were provided in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. The opinions shared on Forces of Geek are those of the individual author.

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