In my last list, I gave you 5 TV shows you should be watching. In this new list, I will be giving you 5 movies I’ve recently watched that I highly recommend. While some movies I mention you may have already seen, I’m sure there will be a few you have not. It can be a really hard decision when you sit down to watch a movie and don’t have any clue what to choose. This list is specifically related to what I’ve seen recently and is in no particular order. I hope this helps the next time you decided to relax and watch a good movie! And don’t worry, this list will be spoiler free!
5. 'The Lost City of Z'
Starring Charlie Hunnam and Robert Pattinson, "The Lost City of Z" follows the true story of British explorer Percy Fawcett (Hunnam) as he goes in search of a mysterious city in the Amazon during the 1920’s. Initially tasked with surveying the land surrounding Bolivia and Brazil, Fawcett comes across many clues of a lost city deep in the jungle. Accompanied by his fellow explorer Henry Costin (Pattinson) the two make several attempts to find this lost city. All the while, Fawcett must take care of his family back home and deal with the impending war.
While this film was not a box office success, it sure was amongst the critics, gaining widespread praise for its visuals and stellar acting.
If you like being set back in time while going on a mysterious yet dangerous mission this movie is exactly that. Knowing this movie was based on a true story makes it that much more engrossing. While there are times of slow dialogue, it’s made up for by the fantastic acting across the board. A true stand-out in this movie is Sienna Miller, who portrays Nina Fawcett, the wife of Percy.
What this movie gives you is a well-crafted, well-acted, visually stunning performance across the board. You can now stream "The Lost City of Z" on Amazon Prime.
4. 'Hell or High Water'
Starring Chris Pine, Ben Foster, and Jeff Bridges, "Hell or High Water" tells the story of Toby Howard (Pine) and his ex-con brother Tanner Howard (Foster) as they resort to a dangerous bank robbing scheme in order to save their family’s West Texas ranch.
Soon to be retired Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton (Bridges) is tasked with tracking down the men responsible for robbing the banks.
Another terrific movie that didn’t exactly crush it at the box office, "Hell or High Water" is one of the most critically-acclaimed movies in the past few years. This movie is the definition of a heist film mixed with a true modern-day western feel. The acting is superb as are the main action sequences. My biggest take away from this movie was how well done the story was. You have these three men, two of which are committing criminal acts and the other your typical lawman. Obviously, you should take the side of the lawman but not in this case.
This film often leaves you rooting for every character involved which makes for excellent storytelling.
While I didn’t quite love it as much as other critics may have, I still thoroughly enjoyed it and clearly would recommend it to anyone. "Hell or High Water" can be streamed on Showtime On Demand.
3. 'Get Out'
Starring Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams, "Get Out" follows young African-American Chris Washington (Kaluuya) and white girlfriend Rose Armitage (Williams) as they visit her parents in their secluded estate. While Chris is there, he starts to notice some truly odd behavior which leads to a nightmarish discovery. This movie is the opposite of my last two choices. While starting out as a small-time film, this movie gained a huge critical response which led it to become a major box office success.
It is the classic definition of a horror/thriller, but it was the way it was done that truly made this movie something special. The acting across the board was great but Kaluuya really stood out amongst them all. Never does this movie really give you the typical jump scares a normal horror/thriller would but haunts you with its terrifying plot. The only negative I could point out was the story became a little predictable at times but that never took me out of it. If you enjoy a truly well-made horror/thriller, look no further. "Get Out" can be streamed on HBO GO and On Demand.
2. 'Looper'
Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis, "Looper" takes place in the year 2074 where time travel has been invented but outlawed.
A Kansas City crime syndicate takes advantage of this, using it to dispose of bodies. Joe (Levitt) works as a hired gun, also known as a “Looper," taking out targets that are sent through time. They are considered contract workers, so when their contract is up they must kill their future self to prevent any connection to the syndicate. Willis plays the future version of Levitt’s character. While that might sound extremely confusing, it’s not at all.
Everything about this movie works, from the crazy story to the way it all unfolds. Initially, I was confused but writer/director Rian Johnson does a fantastic job putting all the pieces together. Levitt and Willis play off each other extremely well.
Another stand-out in this movie is Emily Blunt. While she was only in the last half of the movie, she did a fantastic job. I kept my description of this movie short because the smallest details could give things away. It’s one of those movies you just need to sit down and watch. You will be happy you did. "Looper" can be streamed on FX Now.
1. 'Interstellar'
Starring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway, "Interstellar" takes place in the near future where humans are struggling to survive on Earth. In order to survive humans must find another habitable planet. A group of astronaut’s venture through a wormhole in search of a new home for humanity. While this may be the most well-known movie on my list, it is hands down my favorite.
Somehow "Interstellar" flew over my radar when it first came out and I never got around to seeing it. Finally, though, I have.
For someone like myself who is extremely intrigued by anything related to space and time, this movie is perfect. The science behind the story can sometimes leave viewers confused but as long as you pay close attention throughout, it shouldn’t be a problem. Between the incredible acting from a loaded cast and the way the story throws you for a loop, I can’t recommend this movie more. Not only is the story engaging but it makes you ponder time and space immediately after watching it. I know a lot of people have seen this already but if you somehow missed it like me, please set aside a few hours to watch this incredible movie. "Interstellar" can be streamed on FX Now.
