More Netflix Ideas! (Enjoy Movies Without Having to Sell a Kidney…)

I like movies.  I like the escape they offer, I like being told good stories, and I like the post-film discussions they prompt over steaming hot chocolate.  What I do not like is how much they cost.  Believe me, I understand the occasional splurge to see Avatar in IMAX 3D for $17, but let’s face it, if I saw all the movies I wanted to see in the theaters, I wouldn’t eat.

As we are entering the time of the year I like to refer to as the doldrums, I’m planning on bunkering down and catching up on the hundreds of wonderful films I have yet to see.  Just like many of you are planning on doing, right?  Last week Laura, our Spendthrift Scribe, shared four of her favorite Netflix films with us.  And I have a few additional suggestions to add to the list.

We all know that Netflix has been paving the way for at-home, impersonal movie watching for the past few years, however, they’ve taken it to a new level with their new online streaming deal.  Not only do you receive your unlimited movie(s) in the mail, but with your monthly fee, you can also instantly access a database of over 10,000 movies and TV shows and watch as many as you’d like with no extra charge.  Crazy.  So here are a few extra movies to get you through the dark, chilly evenings.

The Cove

A 'œSave the Whales' type documentary that inspires political action while excites like the Bourne Identity.  What’s not to love?  This true-life spy flick exposes an annual dolphin slaughter taking place in the small, but heavily guarded, Japanese fishing town of Taiji.  Centered around dolphin trainer-turned-activist, Rick O’Barry, The Cove introduces us to a modern day line-up of superheroes who attempt the dangerous and near impossible task of filming what is really going on in Taiji.  Riveting, beautiful, and eye opening, this film introduces audiences to the dolphin in a new way and explores the possibilities of protecting this species for the future.

Let the Right One In

Sorry, I’m not one for scary films.  I hate them in fact.  Get me far, far away from the blonde protagonist who runs up the stairs when she hears a freaky sound.  But Let the Right One In is a different kind of scary movie.  It’s a vampire film that crosses genres and surprises horror film fanatics (and otherwise) with a beautiful, simple love story between two kids '“ one of whom happens to be a Vampire.  You still got your guts '˜n gore and jump-out-of-your-seat scary moments, but you also have a Swedish snowy landscape and some low-budget charm.  See the original now before the American re-make comes out next year.

The Brothers Bloom

This under-recognized heist film, starring Adrian Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rinko Kikuchi, and Rachael Weisz, is quirky, surprising, and witty.  Plus Adrian Brody is super hot in it.  (The kind of hot that makes me want to watch him and my boyfriend want to be him!)  The two Bloom brothers are out to execute the perfect caper, and in the process, meet Weisz’s odd-ball-heiress character who takes their plan on a surprising new path.  A wonderful story, great acting by the entire cast, and excellent cinematography make The Brothers Bloom the kind of classic crime film you don’t get to see all too often anymore '“ with a touch of some Wes Anderson-esque vibes.

Moon

Directed by David Bowie’s son, Duncan Jones, and starring Sam Rockwell, Moon is a strange and fascinating film about a man working alone in a space station and discovering that things are not as he initially perceived.  Creeping into the sci-fi realm without leaving reality completely, this film is more psychological and compelling than I expected from the trailers.  Plus, a robot with the voice of Kevin Spacey as Rockwell’s only space companion is a damn great touch! I can’t tell you much more so as not to give anything away, so rent it and discover for yourself.