Need a break between the political machine and the Olympics? No worries. Netflix has your back.
Sort of.
Nothing must see, but a handful of classic pics that are sure to help build on your personal cinematic knowledge with films featuring Paul Newman, Doris Day, and Clark Gable, as well as a bunch of insightful docs.
Also this month, Netflix offers a selection of pics from the Norwegian Slow TV movement, which is perfect for folks who wish the annual yule log was year round. And longer.
AUGUST 1
The American Side (2016)
Set in Niagra Falls, a second-rate gumshoes discovers a decades-long conspiracy involving Nikola Tesla.
An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
Al Gore’s attempt to spread the truth about global warming that inspired many a folks to counter with, “But it’s so cold this winter!”
APEX: The Story of the Hypercar (2016)
Documentary follows gearhead Christian von Koenigsegg has he attempts to build a “mega” car that can go from 0 to 200 MPH
Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure (2011)
Dog’s still do the darndest things…
Big Daddy (1999)
Adam Sandler finds a kid and opts to use said kid as a tool to get back with girlfriend. As with many of these Sandler plots, implications in the real world would often result in arrest.
Black Widow (1987)
Debra Winger plays a fed on the hunt for a serial killer who plays Fuck, Marry, Kill IRL, but all with the same guy.
Critical Condition (1987)
Richard Pryor is a con man who pretends to be a doctor. Chaos ensues.
Deadfall (2012)
Brother-sister thieves Olivia Wilde and Eric Bana are on the run after a casino heist. After splitting up, Wilde makes goo-goo eyes at former boxer Charlie Hunnam, who is also on the run.
Destination: Team USA (2016)
Get ready for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games with this docu on five athletes.
Funny or Die Presents: Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal: The Movie (Netflix Original)
Johnny Depp plays presidential wannabe Velveeta Jesus in this satire of Trump’s 1987 best seller.
The Family Man (2000)
Before Nicolas Cage went off the deep end, he was still a bankable star that was occasionally cast in romantic comedies. But this was directed by Brett Ratner, so you can see the decline before the fall.
The Fast and the Furious (2001)
Paul Walker and Vin Diesel team for the first time in this street racing franchise. Watch it and admire they they were just babies when they made this.
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)
No Vin. No Paul. This time it’s Lucas Black and he’s in Japan. Cheesy, yes. But a personal favorite in the guilty pleasure series.
Final Destination 3 (2006)
More pretty teenagers die in really cool ways.
From the Terrace (1960)
Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward star in this drama about a WWII vet turned exec who builds his entire life on revenge against his wealthy pops. All goes well in his shallow existence until he falls in love for reals.
Holding the Man (2015)
Love story about a 15 year relationship between two men who met when they were teenagers.
How To Win The US Presidency (2016)
Apparently, it’s not that hard…
In the Shadow of the Moon (2007)
Brit doc about the American manned missions to the moon, beginning with the Kennedy administration and following the achievement to Neil Armstrong’s moon walk.
ISIS: Women Unveiled (2016)
A stirring look at the terrorist organization and the women who survive within it.
Masha and the Bear (Season 2, Netflix Original)
Russian animated series about a little girl and her BFF, a bear.
Memoria (2015)
Based on James Franco’s ‘Palo Alto Stories’, pic follows lad named Ivan who struggles with teen angst in the Californian suburb.
The Naked Prey (1966)
Sort of a precursor to Cannibal Holocaust, a safari guide takes a group of assholes out into African wilderness where they immediate insult a local tribe. After killing the tourist group, the tribe give the guide a head start as he becomes prey in their hunt.
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NCIS (Season 13)
Really? 13 years? Good on them.
Pay It Forward (2000)
Before Haley Joel Osment became the new Kevin Smith “It Boy,” he was an adorable kid actor. Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt co-star in this saccharine sweet drama.
Roseanne Collection: Third Season
Former “Domestic Goddess” Roseanne in the original series that made her a household name. Watch this and not the horrible jumped-the-shark final season of the show.
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Tim Burton and his boycrush Johnny Depp star in the quirky retelling of The Legend of Ichabod Crane. Featuring a black and white palate, a Danny Elfman soundtrack and Winona Ryder temporary replacement Christina Ricci.
Sliding Doors (1998)
Before she was known as an out-of-touch rich lady who offered useless tips to housewives via a condescending blog, Gwyneth Paltrow was an indie darling and a Miramax muse. Here she stars in a movie that tracks two “what-if” scenarios in dual storylines.
Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)
Chaos ensues after Picard and the gang try to negotiate peace with Romulans. Also: Double Datas, Riker returns to his career path and tie-ins to Voyager.
Teacher’s Pet (1958)
Clark Gable plays a newspaper editor who first fights then falls for a journalism teacher played by Doris Day.
The Verdict (1982)
Paul Newman and Charlotte Rampling star in this drama about an alcoholic lawyer who ends up taking on the church.
The Wedding Planner (2001)
Before the recent McConaissance, Matthew McConaughey starred in more romantic comedies than you can possibly imagine. In this one, he falls of Jennifer Lopez who is his wedding planner. Shocker.
What Women Want (2000)
Mel Gibson movie with a title that now reads as total irony.
He can read the minds of women and give them what they want, because an honest relationship with a guy who isn’t sleazy was super hard to figure out before.
Young@Heart (2007)
Docu about a senior citizen choir who cover modern day rock covers as part of their act. Beyond adorable and perfect to watch with grandma.
AUGUST 3
Beat Bugs: Season 1 (Netflix Original series)
Netflix tries to bring the golden tunes of the Beatles to a new generation through adorable animated insects.
AUGUST 5
David Cross: Making America Great Again (Netflix Original)
Because this is what America needs right now: a ranting David Cross.
Ever After High: Epic Winter (Netflix Original)
Teen kids of classic princesses, princes and bad guys all go to highschool together in an attempt to get you to crack open your wallet for your kids.
The Little Prince (Netflix Original)
“When an overscheduled girl befriends an eccentric aviator, he regales her with tales about the adventures of an unusual boy who lives on an asteroid.”
Punk’s Dead: SLC Punk 2 (2016)
Punk’s not dead. It just needed a 20 year nap.
The original pic was great little indie movie that brilliantly featured a punk slice-o-life in Utah. While this sequel is not nearly as good as the original, it is fun to find out where favorite characters have ended up.
Slow TV: National Firewood Evening (2016)
Slow TV: National Firewood Morning (2016)
Slow TV: National Firewood Night (2016)
Slow TV: National Knitting Evening (2016)
Slow TV: National Knitting Morning (2016)
Slow TV: National Knitting Night (2016)
Slow TV: Northern Passage (2016)
Slow TV: Northern Railway (2016)
Slow TV: Salmon Fishing (2016)
Slow TV: The Telemark Canal (2016)
Slow TV: Train Ride Bergen to Oslo (2016)
So, what is Slow TV?
This is a Norwegian concept of a long-form TV program that runs the length of the activity/event.
Let’s put it this way: Did you think that season four of Game of Thrones was a little long in the tooth? Than this might not be the program for you…
For some it is relaxation. For other’s, it’s torture. To each his own.
AUGUST 6
The Confirmation (2016)
Clive Owen plays a carpenter who takes his young son on an outing to catch the thieves that stole his toolbox. Bonding ensues.
AUGUST 9
Real Husbands of Hollywood (Season 4)
Because being shallow and vain shouldn’t be limited to just housewives in the suburbs of major cities.
T-Rex (2015)
Teen Claressa ‘T-Rex’ Shield dreams of escaping Flint, Michigan and becoming the first woman to win gold in Olympic boxing.
AUGUST 10
St. Vincent (2014)
Bill Murray plays a crotchety old curmudgeon who befriends the kid of his single-mother neighbor and proceeds to give an an alternative education.
AUGUST 11
Flight of the Butterflies (2012)
Docu about the study of migration patterns of monarch butterflies.
No Country for Old Men (2007)
The Coen brothers take hold of Cormac McCarthy captivating novel and turn it into gold.
Josh Brolin plays a man who finds a fortune in the ruins of a gunfight, but becomes the prey of a cold-hearted killer played by Javier Bardem (who won an Oscar for his efforts).
AUGUST 12
Ask the StoryBots: Season 1 (Netflix Original)
“Five curious little creatures track down the answers to kids’ biggest questions, like how night happens or why we need to brush our teeth.”
The Get Down: Part 1 (Netflix Original)
“Told through the lives and music of a ragtag crew of South Bronx teens, The Get Down is a mythic saga of the transformation of 1970s New York City.”
Project Mc2: Season 2 (Netflix Original)
“Teenage spy McKeyla teams up with three other super-smart girls to become secret agents who use their science and tech skills to save the day.”
AUGUST 13
13 Cameras (2016)
The usual trials and tribulations that follow the first year of marriage are put through a grinder when a young couple’s landlord keeps track of their day-to-day through hidden cameras.
AUGUST 15
Louis CK: Live at the Comedy Store (2015)
The title says it all.
AUGUST 16
Let’s Go to Prison (2006)
Dax Shepard plays a convict looking for revenge on the judge that sentenced him through his son, played by Will Arnett.
Our Last Tango (2015)
Docu on world famous Argentinian tango dancers María Nieves Rego and Juan Carlos Copes.
AUGUST 17
The Curse of Sleeping Beauty (2016)
Dark and gothic take on the classic tale of Briar Rose.
The Last Heist (2016)
Bank robbers find that their latest target is a bit more arduous when they discover that one of the hostages is actually a serial killer (played by Henry Rollins).
Puffin Rock: Season 2 (Netflix Original)
“Life is sweet on beautiful Puffin Rock, where puffling Oona, her baby brother Baba and their pals learn about nature, friendship and family.”
AUGUST 19
Bottersnikes and Gumbles: Season 1 (Netflix Original)
“Based on the much-loved books, three young Gumbles bounce and play while they avoid getting tin-canned by their grumpy neighbors, the Bottersnikes.”
Fearless: Season 1 (Netflix Original)
“On a journey from Brazil to the Las Vegas championships, professional bull riders risk it all to earn money, respect and titles.”
I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead (Netflix Original)
“Before the biggest show of his career, DJ Steve Aoki examines his influential father, Benihana founder Rocky Aoki, in an exciting, moving documentary.”
AUGUST 21
Maz Jobrani: I’m Not a Terrorist, But I’ve Played One On TV (2015)
Based on the funny memoir by Jobrani about growing up Iranian in the U.S.
AUGUST 22
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: The Seventeenth Year
“In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their stories…” DA-DUM x 17 = Yay.
AUGUST 23
Septembers of Shiraz (2015)
Drama based on Dalia Sofer’s 2007 novel about a Jewish family facing turmoil and danger in Iran.
AUGUST 25
The Road (2009)
Adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic novel about an unnamed man attempting to survive the desolate and dangerous landscape of the United States with his young son.
AUGUST 26
Blue Is the Warmest Color (2013)
Cannes winner that follows a true-to-life relationship between an artist and a younger women from beginning to end.
Dawn of the Croods: Season 2 (Netflix Original Series)
“The world’s first family is back for more laughs as they discover sports, sleepovers and other wonders in a world of exotic creatures and adventures.”
Glitter Force: Season 2 (Netflix Original Series)
“Five preteen girls learn they’re a legendary superhero squad known as the Glitter Force. Their mission? To defend Earth from evil fairy-tale villains.”
Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy: We’ve Been Thinking… (Netflix Original)
“Grammy-nominated comedians Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy bring their distinctive brand of humor to a packed crowd in Minneapolis.”
Once Upon a Time (Season 5)
Featuring Evil Emma (aka Dark Swan) as the hero becomes the villain when she takes on the mantel of The Dark One.
XOXO (2016) (Netflix Original)
“The lives of a budding DJ, his loyal pal, a hopeless romantic, a jaded has-been and a troubled couple intersect at an electronic dance music festival.”
AUGUST 27
Rams (2015) (aka Hrútar)
Two brothers who spent the better part of their lives at odds with each other much come together to save their flocks from infection.
Won the Prix Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival.
AUGUST 29
The State of Marriage (2015)
A documentary about the origins of the marriage equality movement.
