As lockdown in the UK looms, even those who thought they’d still be in work are looking at potentially 12 weeks in isolation.
You thought spending a week with some family members at Christmas was bad? This potentially could be a whole lot worse. So put a good film on and escape from what’s going on in every day life.
Netflix, has a wide-range of films, varying from god-awful horrors, award-winnings dramas and some great and not-so great original content.
We’ve all seen Birdbox, we’ve all seen Bandersnatch, but here’s five films I’m hoping some of you haven’t got around to seeing just yet.
Period Drama: On Chesil Beach (2018)
Director – Dominic Cook – 110 minutes – Age Certificate: 15
Based on the Ian McEwan novella – an excellent read if you’re after a book recommendation – On Chesil Beach looks back on the relationship of newly-weds Edward Mayhew (Billy Howle) and Florence Ponting (Saoirse Ronan).
Essentially, Florence doesn’t want to have sex with Edward on their wedding night, electing to wait a little bit longer. After an argument, Florence runs off onto the beach, adjacent to the hotel they’re staying in. The film skips between past and present as we learn how the couple originally meet, Edward’s tough family life and Florence’s parents’ dislike of her working-class partners’ background.
On Chesil Beach never received a huge cinematic release, but it’s a pleasant watch and set in the gorgeous 1960s English countryside. As a form of escapism, a period drama is a must-watch.
Guy Movies Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
LGBTQ+: Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Director - Luca Guadingo - 132mins - Age Certificate: 15
Another film based on a book of the same title, Call Me By Your Name helped propel the spectacular Timothee Chalamet into the spotlight. Chalamet has since become more of a household name after appearing in Little Women, Lady Bird and The King.
This romantic-drama, set “somewhere in Northern Italy”, is a visually spectacular film, and will give you serious FOMO (fear of missing out), if like many of us; your summer holiday is set to be cancelled.
The film circulates around 17-year-old Elio (Chalamet) and 24-year-old Oliver (Armie Hamer), a graduate student who has come to assist Elio’s architect father during the summer months. Elio and Oliver soon find a romantic connection and spend their summer swimming, dancing and going for long walks together.
Call Me By Your Name was nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture, and won Best Adapted Screenplay in 2018. Some may find it slow in places, but is held together by a great soundtrack and wonderful scenery and you’ll be booking a trip to Italy once COVID-19 is all over.
Guy Movies Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Give It A Chance: Fighting With My Family (2019)
Director - Stephen Merchant - 108mins - Age Certificate: 12
I have two rules when it comes to watching films, no dodgy horror films and no films that star Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson in, but I decided to give this film a go last year at the cinema and loved it.
Fighting With My Family is based on the true story of Saraya-Jade Bevis (the superb Florence Pugh), or as World Wrestling Entertainment fans know her as – Paige. Growing up in Norwich with wrestling-mad parents, Julia (Game of Thrones’ Lena Headey) and Patrick (Nick Frost), Paige and her brother dream of going to America and being part of the WWE.
Directed by Stephen Merchant, with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson hilariously playing himself and Vince Vaughn plays a tough-talking WWE selector, it’s got all the A-List acting talent and hilarity you’re after. Even if you’re not a wrestling fan, Fighting With My Family is a comedy about family and hard work – watch it, you won’t be disappointed.
Guy Movies Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Award-Winner: Boyhood (2014)
Director - Richard Linklater - 165mins - Age Certificate: 15
The concept of this film is unique. Filmed across a 12-year period between 2001 and 2013, Boyhood explores the process of growing up from child to adolescent, as you sit and watch all the cast members age 12 years in two and a half hours.
From elementary school to falling in love and trying drugs for the first time, Boyhood perfectly surveys life growing up as a millennial child. Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette star as Mason’s (Ellar Coltrane) divorced parents, with Lorelei Linklater (director Richard Linklater’s daughter) playing Mason’s older sister.
As well as being a great watch, it’s also a chance to reminisce the noughties as Linklater hits the nail on the head with the fashion and song choices throughout the picture. The only downside about this film is the ending, but moan about it with me after you’ve watched it.
Guy Movies Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Go Rogue: I Lost My Body (2019)
Director - Jeremy Clapin - 81mins - Age Certificate: 12
“Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.” – Bong Joon Ho, the director of 2020’s Best Picture-winner; Parasite.
Yes, this film is French, and yes, some of you may not want to ‘read a film’, but give it a try. Once you’re about five minutes into a subtitled film, you actually forget that the subtitles exist.
Anyway, I Lost My Body is a French animation that was nominated in this year’s Best Animated Feature category at the Academy Awards, and also became the first animated film to win Nespresso Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
It’s strange and has two storylines, one of a rogue hand on a journey into the unknown and the other focuses on Morocco-born Naoufel, a pizza delivery driver, who is regularly criticised by his boss for being late.
At 81 minutes, it really is a quick watch. I want people to just try something different and explore new ways to watch and discover films.
Guy Movies Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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