Movies I should watch?
June 21, 2011 9:25 AM Subscribe
Recommend movies and TV shows for me, from Netflix Instant and Amazon Prime.
I have Amazon prime, which allows instant free viewing of som 2500 titles, and, sucked in by that, I've also gotten Netflix instant (but NOT the Netflix DVD by mail service -- all movies will be watched on my laptop).
I also have a reluctance to watch movies: movies that I find I enjoy if I happen upon them and am too lazy to change the channel, I won't actively seek out.
I tend to prefer movies (and TV shows) that have strong plots; action for the sake of action tends to bore me, as do most horror, kung fu, or animated films. I do like works that are strongly atmospheric, or are period pieces, or politically themed.
Please recommend movies, again, limiting them to what's available from Netflix Instant and Amazon Prime. Adding a brief explanation of why your recommendation is worth watching will help a lot.
I have Amazon prime, which allows instant free viewing of som 2500 titles, and, sucked in by that, I've also gotten Netflix instant (but NOT the Netflix DVD by mail service -- all movies will be watched on my laptop).
I also have a reluctance to watch movies: movies that I find I enjoy if I happen upon them and am too lazy to change the channel, I won't actively seek out.
I tend to prefer movies (and TV shows) that have strong plots; action for the sake of action tends to bore me, as do most horror, kung fu, or animated films. I do like works that are strongly atmospheric, or are period pieces, or politically themed.
Please recommend movies, again, limiting them to what's available from Netflix Instant and Amazon Prime. Adding a brief explanation of why your recommendation is worth watching will help a lot.
Here is a hugely useful website that lets you sort movies and shows instantly available on Netflix by genre, year, Rotten Tomato rating, Netflix rating, popularity, NYT critical acclaim, etc.
posted by halogen at 9:36 AM on June 21, 2011 [20 favorites]
posted by halogen at 9:36 AM on June 21, 2011 [20 favorites]
Arrested Development is on Netflix. So is the first season of Glee.
posted by Gilbert at 9:42 AM on June 21, 2011
posted by Gilbert at 9:42 AM on June 21, 2011
jon1270: "Downton Abbey"
Agreed, I think this hits the nail on the head for you. As would the Red Riding Trilogy, which is a series of British telemovies about a serial killing investigation in the 70's and 80's. I've heard good things about the recent miniseries Carlos, about Carlos the Jackal, but haven't gotten around to it yet.
posted by mkultra at 9:49 AM on June 21, 2011
Agreed, I think this hits the nail on the head for you. As would the Red Riding Trilogy, which is a series of British telemovies about a serial killing investigation in the 70's and 80's. I've heard good things about the recent miniseries Carlos, about Carlos the Jackal, but haven't gotten around to it yet.
posted by mkultra at 9:49 AM on June 21, 2011
If you haven't seen the BBC Miniseries Sherlock yet, then you are missing out. Tense, great atmosphere, clever, and so addicting.
Letters from Iwo Jima is on Netflix instant, although Flags of our Fathers is not.
Unfortunately, the rest of my instant queue is pretty much the exact opposite of your taste.
posted by specialagentwebb at 9:53 AM on June 21, 2011
Letters from Iwo Jima is on Netflix instant, although Flags of our Fathers is not.
Unfortunately, the rest of my instant queue is pretty much the exact opposite of your taste.
posted by specialagentwebb at 9:53 AM on June 21, 2011
I came to suggest Downton Abbey as well, but since that's been done, I'll give you a few others from my netflix history.
Two movies:
The Sting
Harold and Maude
And a documentary:
Ken Burns: The Civil War
posted by fings at 10:04 AM on June 21, 2011
Two movies:
The Sting
Harold and Maude
And a documentary:
Ken Burns: The Civil War
posted by fings at 10:04 AM on June 21, 2011
If you like foreign films, I just watched Delicatessen on Netflix instant.
It was very unique, hard to describe, and mesmerizing to watch. It is veeeery atmospheric.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 10:24 AM on June 21, 2011
It was very unique, hard to describe, and mesmerizing to watch. It is veeeery atmospheric.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 10:24 AM on June 21, 2011
Series that I give 5 stars to that we have been watching for either the history or cultural insight:
Garrow's Law
Justified
Sons of Anarchy
The Good Wife
posted by cda at 11:09 AM on June 21, 2011
Garrow's Law
Justified
Sons of Anarchy
The Good Wife
posted by cda at 11:09 AM on June 21, 2011
Baghdad Cafe, definitely atmospheric. A little indie gem, mysterious, charming, sweet.
The Wings of the Dove. Gorgeous costumes and interiors.
Don Juan DeMarco. A very silly and not great movie, but if Johnny Depp makes you go weak in the knees, you won't want to miss this.
Moulin Rouge. Atmospheric, visually stunning sets and art direction. Fun dance numbers with hit songs of the 70s and 80s anachronistically set in Montmartre at the turn of the last century.
The Right Stuff. Interesting movie about the personalities of the first generation of astronauts.
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. For awhile, it was a great TV show with smart dialogue, compelling characters. One of the most exciting pilot episodes ever.
Body Heat. Steamy, sultry, sexy.
posted by marsha56 at 11:11 AM on June 21, 2011
The Wings of the Dove. Gorgeous costumes and interiors.
Don Juan DeMarco. A very silly and not great movie, but if Johnny Depp makes you go weak in the knees, you won't want to miss this.
Moulin Rouge. Atmospheric, visually stunning sets and art direction. Fun dance numbers with hit songs of the 70s and 80s anachronistically set in Montmartre at the turn of the last century.
The Right Stuff. Interesting movie about the personalities of the first generation of astronauts.
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. For awhile, it was a great TV show with smart dialogue, compelling characters. One of the most exciting pilot episodes ever.
Body Heat. Steamy, sultry, sexy.
posted by marsha56 at 11:11 AM on June 21, 2011
nthing instantwatcher. I can't stand looking for streaming movies on netflix.com after using instantwatcher.
Here are some shows I like...
Swamp People
Microcosmos
Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena
Party Down
BraveStarr (ah, memories)
Popeye (I mean the cartoons)
Masters of Horror (showtime series...each episode is a mini-movie by a famous horror director)
posted by ian1977 at 11:34 AM on June 21, 2011
Here are some shows I like...
Swamp People
Microcosmos
Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena
Party Down
BraveStarr (ah, memories)
Popeye (I mean the cartoons)
Masters of Horror (showtime series...each episode is a mini-movie by a famous horror director)
posted by ian1977 at 11:34 AM on June 21, 2011
had a long list before i accidentally closed FF, so here's the short:
-City of Lost Children
-City of God
-Serial Experiments Lain (anime, but headfucky cyberpunk shit, not action - not for everyone, but give it a try maybe?)
-Oldboy (very violent, but also a lot of plot, and pretty headfucky)
-The Host (Korean Horror - action, humor and family dynamics/emotional bonding)
-Legends of the Fall (kinda "girly" but still a good movie, IMO - 3 sons and their cantankerous father during various periods of history WWI, Prohibition, Politician Sleeze and more...)
posted by symbioid at 11:45 AM on June 21, 2011
-City of Lost Children
-City of God
-Serial Experiments Lain (anime, but headfucky cyberpunk shit, not action - not for everyone, but give it a try maybe?)
-Oldboy (very violent, but also a lot of plot, and pretty headfucky)
-The Host (Korean Horror - action, humor and family dynamics/emotional bonding)
-Legends of the Fall (kinda "girly" but still a good movie, IMO - 3 sons and their cantankerous father during various periods of history WWI, Prohibition, Politician Sleeze and more...)
posted by symbioid at 11:45 AM on June 21, 2011
Lots of horror/action, but they are a little different than the usual which is why i rec'd them, btw.
OH! Kurosawa's Dreams, and Kurosawa's IKIRU are mandatory! And 2001 of course.
posted by symbioid at 11:47 AM on June 21, 2011
OH! Kurosawa's Dreams, and Kurosawa's IKIRU are mandatory! And 2001 of course.
posted by symbioid at 11:47 AM on June 21, 2011
The Third Man. A film noir about a hack writer in post war Europe. It's a great film with a strong plot and a real sense of darkness and corruption.
(on preview)Akira Kurosawa's: Dreams. It's several short films from director Kurosawa(a legendary Japanese director). Its' very atmospheric. Touches on themes of humans and nature.
The Good German It received mixed reviews, but I liked it. It's Steven Soderbergh's modern interpretation of The Third Man.
Syriana is a good movie with a strong plot.
Also. nth Studio 60, Arrested Development and Downton Abbey.
posted by hot_monster at 11:50 AM on June 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
(on preview)Akira Kurosawa's: Dreams. It's several short films from director Kurosawa(a legendary Japanese director). Its' very atmospheric. Touches on themes of humans and nature.
The Good German It received mixed reviews, but I liked it. It's Steven Soderbergh's modern interpretation of The Third Man.
Syriana is a good movie with a strong plot.
Also. nth Studio 60, Arrested Development and Downton Abbey.
posted by hot_monster at 11:50 AM on June 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
Shows:
-Mr. Show
-Trailer Park Boys
-Sealab 2021
-Office (US and UK)
-Arrested Development
-Supernatural (though I've not watched the last few seasons)
posted by symbioid at 11:51 AM on June 21, 2011
-Mr. Show
-Trailer Park Boys
-Sealab 2021
-Office (US and UK)
-Arrested Development
-Supernatural (though I've not watched the last few seasons)
posted by symbioid at 11:51 AM on June 21, 2011
Response by poster: I had found instawatcher proir to this question.
Also, I should note that I didn't have a TV for most of the 90s, and I didn't have cable before 2005. And for most of the last four years, I had whatever cable my current hotel had.
Which is to say, that I missed most TV shows of the '90s and '00s. (For a select few, like Seinfeld, I'd visit friends' places to watch.)
posted by orthogonality at 12:59 PM on June 21, 2011
Also, I should note that I didn't have a TV for most of the 90s, and I didn't have cable before 2005. And for most of the last four years, I had whatever cable my current hotel had.
Which is to say, that I missed most TV shows of the '90s and '00s. (For a select few, like Seinfeld, I'd visit friends' places to watch.)
posted by orthogonality at 12:59 PM on June 21, 2011
These come from a quick scan of my Watch Again listings at Netflix.
TV:
Firefly
George Gently
24
Friday Night Lights
Damages
Flash Forward
Canterbury Law
Gavin and Stacy
Pillars of Earth
Waking the Dead
There's a ton of great nature docs on there, too, if that appeals, as palette refreshers between dramas… Such as:
Microcosmos, Wild China, Blue Planet, Dogs Decoded…
Movies:
Fresh
Centurion
North and South
Mesrine I and II
Stander
posted by dpcoffin at 1:19 PM on June 21, 2011
TV:
Firefly
George Gently
24
Friday Night Lights
Damages
Flash Forward
Canterbury Law
Gavin and Stacy
Pillars of Earth
Waking the Dead
There's a ton of great nature docs on there, too, if that appeals, as palette refreshers between dramas… Such as:
Microcosmos, Wild China, Blue Planet, Dogs Decoded…
Movies:
Fresh
Centurion
North and South
Mesrine I and II
Stander
posted by dpcoffin at 1:19 PM on June 21, 2011
nthing instantwatcher, it's stupendously awesome
posted by exhilaration at 1:56 PM on June 21, 2011
posted by exhilaration at 1:56 PM on June 21, 2011
Here's a few:
Bullitt (1968)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Lady Vengeance (2005)
Monsieur Hire (1989)
North Face (2008)
Red Riding Trilogy: Part 1: 1974 (2009)
The Sting (1973)
Tell No One (2006)
Terribly Happy (2008)
posted by dgeiser13 at 5:30 PM on June 21, 2011
Bullitt (1968)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Lady Vengeance (2005)
Monsieur Hire (1989)
North Face (2008)
Red Riding Trilogy: Part 1: 1974 (2009)
The Sting (1973)
Tell No One (2006)
Terribly Happy (2008)
posted by dgeiser13 at 5:30 PM on June 21, 2011
If you haven't seen Firefly, that should be near the top of your list, as should Arrested Development.
I'd also recommend Pushing Daisies. At least watch an episode. You will find it either cloying or delightful, but if you like it, you'll love it.
posted by maryr at 6:13 PM on June 21, 2011
I'd also recommend Pushing Daisies. At least watch an episode. You will find it either cloying or delightful, but if you like it, you'll love it.
posted by maryr at 6:13 PM on June 21, 2011
Sorry, I keep thinking of things. Slings & Arrows is also a very fun take on Shakespeare.
posted by maryr at 6:17 PM on June 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by maryr at 6:17 PM on June 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
Seconding Mesrine. Vincent Cassel is disturbing. Relatedly: A Prophet. French. Came out last year. Maybe the best prison movie ever.
The nice thing about Netflix Instant, too, is the accessibility to harder to find stuff. I looked up undistributed movies a month or two ago and found a nice selection of them listed. Like the Puffy Chair. Or Nights and Weekends.
Also I am Love has atmosphere to spare.
posted by vecchio at 7:16 PM on June 21, 2011
The nice thing about Netflix Instant, too, is the accessibility to harder to find stuff. I looked up undistributed movies a month or two ago and found a nice selection of them listed. Like the Puffy Chair. Or Nights and Weekends.
Also I am Love has atmosphere to spare.
posted by vecchio at 7:16 PM on June 21, 2011
politically themed
In The Loop is available for instant viewing on Amazon; it's a scathingly funny and profane look at war and international diplomacy - i.e., right up your alley, ortho.
posted by mediareport at 5:43 AM on June 22, 2011
In The Loop is available for instant viewing on Amazon; it's a scathingly funny and profane look at war and international diplomacy - i.e., right up your alley, ortho.
posted by mediareport at 5:43 AM on June 22, 2011
I stumbled upon David Choe's Thumbs Up and liked it so much I watched all the episodes back to back. Possible side effects include a sudden urge to hop a freight to Vegas or ride an inflatable raft down the Mississippi.
posted by Otis at 8:29 AM on June 22, 2011
posted by Otis at 8:29 AM on June 22, 2011
Definitely worth checking out Doc Martin for atmospheric comedy.
posted by dpcoffin at 10:01 AM on June 24, 2011
posted by dpcoffin at 10:01 AM on June 24, 2011
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However, some TV shows I think are on there now that I really enjoyed:
Dexter
The Tudors
Robin Hood (the 2006 BBC series)
Battlestar Galactica
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
posted by olinerd at 9:28 AM on June 21, 2011