What movie should I watch on Netflix streaming TONIGHT
August 9, 2018 1:52 PM   Subscribe

What movie should I watch on Netflix streaming TONIGHT?

For the first time in a long time I'm home alone tonight and I am VERY excited about the prospect of parking myself in front of the TV with a cocktail, firing up Netflix, and watching a movie. But what movie?

I'd like to watch a movie that's A) very good, B) I should have seen (I have big gaps in my film viewing history, and haven't seen very many of the AFI 100, for instance), C) isn't too brutal (no Dancer in the Dark) D) isn't terribly scary (nothing scarier than, say, Alien) and E) isn't insanely long. Documentaries are generally disfavored but I'll consider anything.

Given those parameters, what would you recommend that's currently available to stream on Netflix in the US?
posted by saladin to Media & Arts (49 answers total) 58 users marked this as a favorite
 
The Florida Project
posted by Beardman at 1:53 PM on August 9, 2018 [13 favorites]


Boogie Nights
posted by phunniemee at 1:59 PM on August 9, 2018 [1 favorite]


The Florida Project is spectacular.

But if you're willing to stretch the parameters a little, I cannot recommend Hanna Gadsby's 1 hour stand-up special called 'Nanette' enough. One person on Twitter said that if Netflix deleted its entire library and left Nanette, it would still be worth the monthly subscription cost. I watched it alone one night, and then immediately had to watch it again.
posted by ohyouknow at 2:00 PM on August 9, 2018 [25 favorites]


Disney/Pixar's Coco. Beautifully animated, great music, made me sob like a baby.
posted by capricorn at 2:00 PM on August 9, 2018 [22 favorites]


(or if it's too long for what you're looking for, at least make sure Philip Seymour Hoffman is in whatever you choose)
posted by phunniemee at 2:00 PM on August 9, 2018 [1 favorite]


Some choices I've enjoyed:
-The Dark Knight
-Her
-Shrek, if you're open to great kids films (also Coco in the same vein)
-Spotlight
-Lincoln
posted by mosst at 2:01 PM on August 9, 2018 [4 favorites]


Having just filled the gap in my viewing history, via Netflix, a couple days ago: The Truman Show
posted by brook horse at 2:02 PM on August 9, 2018 [1 favorite]


If you watch The Florida Project, make sure your tv isn’t set on Hi Def bc it looks like shit.
posted by greta simone at 2:03 PM on August 9, 2018


Ex Machina
posted by Flannery Culp at 2:04 PM on August 9, 2018 [2 favorites]


Oops I'm sorry I missed your note about the length, probably disregard Lincoln and The Dark Knight
posted by mosst at 2:05 PM on August 9, 2018


Of what I can see on Netflix right now:

"Hot Fuzz" - Simon Pegg & Nick Frost. Turns the buddy cop genre on its head.
"Tucker and Dale vs. Evil" - Comedy of errors meets cabin in the woods, or something. Funny, comic gore.
"Seven" - suspense, some gore/blood. If you haven't seen it, you should.

Also, generally, Netflix's movie selection these days is... meh.

To those recommending "The Florida Project" ... I'm not seeing it available.
posted by jzb at 2:05 PM on August 9, 2018 [4 favorites]


"St. Vincent" was also good, and it apparently leaves Netflix on the 10th. According to this page The Florida Project is not on Netflix in the U.S.
posted by jzb at 2:08 PM on August 9, 2018


The Departed is...actually the only movie that I know, that I see on Netflix Streaming, that I think meets your criteria. Well, that and Ex Machina.
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 2:20 PM on August 9, 2018 [1 favorite]


I asked my cinephile buddy this exact question the other day and he recommended Enemy. It's pretty good, a little dark, not too long, and a little weird.
posted by rossination at 2:25 PM on August 9, 2018


Frances Ha, Tucker and Dale vs Evil, Carol, Boyhood, Boogie Nights, The African Queen, Touch of Evil, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Marie Antoinette, Coraline, Dead Poets Society, Train to Busan (zombies, so gore, but so good).
posted by zoetrope at 2:34 PM on August 9, 2018 [2 favorites]


Not technically a movie, but it is one hour and 16 minutes long: USS Callister, season 4 episode 1 of Black Mirror.
posted by ejs at 2:40 PM on August 9, 2018 [4 favorites]


I stumbled onto Mojave last night and loved it. Even though it's from 2015, it's well and truly a 70's movie in look and feel. Kind of sparse and lean and slow and weird. Looks gorgeous.
posted by biscotti at 2:40 PM on August 9, 2018


Tallulah
posted by soelo at 2:44 PM on August 9, 2018


Best answer: Out of Sight
posted by vunder at 2:47 PM on August 9, 2018 [5 favorites]


The aforementioned Boyhood was a lovely film. Really unique, great performances, and some really gorgeous cinematography. Now that I know it's on Netflix, it may be time for a rewatch.
posted by lunasol at 2:47 PM on August 9, 2018 [6 favorites]


Boyhood
posted by vunder at 2:48 PM on August 9, 2018


Like Water for Chocolate
Y Tu Mama Tambien
posted by vunder at 2:58 PM on August 9, 2018 [2 favorites]


Best answer: If Out of Sight is available, as vunder suggested, try it. That's a fantastic movie with George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez in a sexy crime story written by Elmore Leonard and directed by Stephen Soderbergh at the height of his powers.
posted by tacodave at 2:59 PM on August 9, 2018 [3 favorites]


Turbo Kid!
posted by rodlymight at 3:10 PM on August 9, 2018


City of God
posted by vunder at 3:51 PM on August 9, 2018 [2 favorites]


Gods Own Country
posted by Grandysaur at 3:59 PM on August 9, 2018 [1 favorite]


I'm going with Stripes, because I just realized it's on Netflix US and oh man I want to watch it right now.
posted by General Malaise at 4:05 PM on August 9, 2018 [1 favorite]


Hateful Eight (latest from Quentin Tarantino, and one of his best)

Clerks is an absolute classic if you haven't seen it. (Kevin Smith)

Moonrise Kingdom is sweet, beautiful, and well made

The Reader is tragic, romantic, and wonderful.

Cube is a suspenseful, very interesting movie.

Schindler's List is a classic that I still haven't gotten myself to watch

Amelie is French, quirky, and fun.

Y Tu Mama Tambien is a Mexican coming-of-age story
posted by hydra77 at 4:42 PM on August 9, 2018 [1 favorite]


I'm looking at my list of activity on Netflix and here's stuff I recommend:

Thor: Ragnarok
It's an extremely fun, funny, and intellectual romp

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Moana

Marie Antoinette (watch it in French it's much better that way)

(Not that many, I mainly watch their series apparently)
posted by bleep at 4:53 PM on August 9, 2018 [1 favorite]


Faces Places is a documentary but so charming and fun. Follows legendary French new wave director Agnes Varda and a young photographer on a road trip around the French countryside where they hang with locals, and then put up public art installations based on what they find.
posted by veery at 4:58 PM on August 9, 2018 [1 favorite]


Just noticed Obvious Child is on Netflix and I absolutely adore that movie.
posted by greta simone at 5:07 PM on August 9, 2018 [5 favorites]


Speed Racer
Out of Sight
City of God
Magic Mike
posted by rhizome at 5:07 PM on August 9, 2018


Available AFI 100s include:
The Godfather (I and II)
To Kill A Mockingbird
The African Queen

I vote for The Godfather.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 5:15 PM on August 9, 2018 [2 favorites]


Touch of Evil
posted by rhizome at 5:30 PM on August 9, 2018


Came to rec Spotlight, found it already recced.

+1 Spotlight.

Also this is a genius ask. Thank you. Making my own list.
posted by tzikeh at 5:37 PM on August 9, 2018 [2 favorites]


Heck, go with things from the 1001 movies to see before you die lists. The list gets updated to include things from more current years, and you can defiitely find something from the most recent editions.

This list from Letterboxd is a master list that includes everything that has ever been in any edition of the book ever, so it's as comprehensive as you can get; if you look at the list in the "release date - newest first" order, it'll put all the newest movies at the top, and those are the ones that are most likely to be on Netflix. This is the perfect chance to catch up on "oh hey, I meant to see that last year".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:47 PM on August 9, 2018


I'll second Thor Ragnarok. So good. So funny.
posted by onebyone at 7:28 PM on August 9, 2018


Response by poster: Thanks for the recommendations, folks. I watched about 15 minutes of Thor:Ragnorok but found it incomprehensible (having seen basically no Marvel movies in the last 5 years) but switched to Out of Sight and enjoyed it a lot (although maybe the sexual politics were bad? I need to mull that one over). I think I'll take a crack at either Spotlight, Boyhood, or Ex Machina tomorrow night. Can't thank y'all enough!
posted by saladin at 7:43 PM on August 9, 2018 [2 favorites]


Response by poster: Also, for anyone else turning to this thread for movie advice I'll second the recommendation of Nanette, especially if you're a straight white guy like me. It should be required viewing.
posted by saladin at 8:01 PM on August 9, 2018 [7 favorites]


I just finished watching Lupin the III : The Castle of Caligostro. It's Hayao Miyazaki's directing debut and he also was a co-writer. Fantastic, funky, enchanting 70s vibe with a lot of Miyazaki touches with an absolute hilarious mix of heist, fantasy Europe, political intrigue and a little bit of science fiction. One of the best movies I have seen in a while. Beautiful hand drawn animation as well, since it was made in 1979. It's considered canon watching for Pixar animators.

Also, Dangal (2016) is a dang good movie too. Aamir Khan always pulls it off. Contains a lot of magic that Hollywood is missing, really.
posted by yueliang at 11:09 PM on August 9, 2018 [1 favorite]


Also I hate Ex Machina with a passion. It's full of shitty plot holes, flat characterization, fake deep, sexually exploits its characters for the male gaze, poor understanding of feminism, and outdated Sci fi with Asian women exoticisim and fetishism. Do not get the praise for it.
posted by yueliang at 11:13 PM on August 9, 2018 [3 favorites]


switched to Out of Sight and enjoyed it a lot (although maybe the sexual politics were bad? I need to mull that one over).

On FanFare
posted by rhizome at 11:25 PM on August 9, 2018 [1 favorite]


For future reference, the recommendations from A Good Movie To Watch are always spot on. That's how I wound up watching the surprisingly touching and heartfelt UFC (!!) film Warrior, which I loved, and the very moving and not as gruelling as it looks Short Term 12.

Edited to add: 'Set It Up' is a basically perfect and flawless romcom that we all need to watch so that Netflix makes more basically perfect romcoms.
posted by nerdfish at 2:23 AM on August 10, 2018 [2 favorites]


Do you like crying? Shame with Michael Fassbender.
posted by ihaveyourfoot at 6:30 AM on August 10, 2018


To those recommending "The Florida Project" ... I'm not seeing it available.

It's available (free if you have Prime) via Amazon's streaming videos.
posted by belladonna at 6:45 AM on August 10, 2018 [1 favorite]


Best answer: Just popping in to recommend Just Watch so you can easily search a title and see which services have it available. No account required unless you want to create a watchlist (still free, though). Has information for 32 countries.
posted by acidnova at 12:20 PM on August 10, 2018 [3 favorites]


You MUST watch "Coco" immediately. It is superb. I had an existential crisis after watching it and my husband was lost for words afterwards. Pure magic.

"Ex Machina"... what an incredible film. I know you'll love it.


But also, the movie "Hunt for the Wilder People" is a MUST MUST MUST MUST see. It's absolutely spellbinding.

And if you like that, then "What we do in the Shadows" is by the same director and is also hilarious.
posted by JenThePro at 1:23 PM on August 10, 2018 [4 favorites]


> JenThePro: "And if you like that, then "What we do in the Shadows" is by the same director and is also hilarious."

So is Thor: Ragnarok, which is like 70% of what makes it so awesome.
posted by signal at 3:44 PM on August 10, 2018


I was in the same boat as the OP and went with Nanette. Thanks so much for the recommendation; I really liked it. Add me to the ranks of folks recommending.
posted by RikiTikiTavi at 10:20 PM on August 10, 2018 [1 favorite]


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