Winchester '73 (1950)

Featuring: Jimmy Stewart, Shelley Winters, Dan Duryea, Tony Curtis, Rock Hudson. Director: Anthony Mann.

Warning: This movie is only supposed to be available for streaming until Dec 29th. Act fast!

As some of you may know, Jimmy Stewart is one of my favorite actors of all time. He had a presence like none other and had more acting chops than I think a lot of people give him credit for. They think of him just as sweet George Bailey and forget how many diverse roles he was in. However, until a couple of westerns showed up on Netflix streaming, I had never, ever pictured Jimmy Stewart being in a western. It just seemed like a strange fit that would never work. Then I saw Destry Rides Again and realized it could work very well in a western with a lighter tone.

Winchester '73, however, has a much more serious tone. Jimmy Stewart plays a man who likes guns and is out for revenge. I kept thinking of George Bailey. I couldn't help it. Stewart gave a good performance, the supporting cast was excellent and the story was decent. I just couldn't get past the fact that Mr. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was determined to murder someone. That's just my own bias though. This is a solid western, and if you enjoy the genre I recommend it. Just don't spend the whole time wondering if a devil gets his horns every time you hear a gunshot and you'll enjoy it more than I did.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 12/29/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Jimmy Stewart.

Is it artsy? No.

What stood out the most to you? Jimmy Stewart being driven by revenge.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Looking to get your western fix.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars.

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Man in the Shadow (1958)

Featuring: Jeff Chandler, Orson Welles. Director: Jack Arnold.

Warning: This movie is only supposed to be available for streaming until Jan. 1st. Act fast!

Orson Welles is probably the most interesting figure in the history of the silver screen. He directed what is widely considered the greatest movie of all time and is also acclaimed by many as one of the best actors of all time. He was larger than life and the legacy he left behind was even greater. I think it is perfectly fair to consider him a genius.

The trouble with geniuses, however, is that they see things before the rest of us do. Insert your favorite "ahead of his time" cliche here. Today, directors like Scorsese can produce some of their best work late in their careers. When Welles got started, the term "filmmaker" wasn't something that carries the weight that it does now. The movie going-public today (or at least a segment of it) is more educated and interested in risk taking in the cinema. Sadly, Welles' failures at the box office left much of his career's potential untapped. Instead of crafting masterpieces, he was relegated to acting in b-movies such as this one. That makes me sad, but such is life.

Don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad movie. It features Welles as a plantation owner out west who is the lord over all of the migrant workers at his establishment. Welles character is charming and slimey all at once and the protagonist (Chandler) does a good job playing a straight arrow of a sheriff who is determined to get to the truth no matter how powerful the toes that he is stepping on may be. This is a decent movie with political undertones that are very relevant today, but it still makes me sad. Mostly because instead of directing his version of The Departed, he was acting in a b-movie with a predictable plot. Such is the curse of genius.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 1/1/12. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Pretty much anything with Orson Welles is in my queue.

Is it artsy? No.

What stood out the most to you? That conditions for Mexican immigrants have only marginally improved in the last 60 years.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? You should be an Orson Welles aficionado. It isn't his best work, but he's still interesting.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars.

Sorry, couldn't find a trailer for this one. 

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Happenstance (2000)

Featuring: Audrey Tautou, Faudel. Director: Laurent Firode.

Warning: This movie is only supposed to be available for streaming until Dec. 31st. Act fast!

As some of you may know, I'm completely in love with Audrey Tautou. It leads me to watch movies I would never normally watch just to see those big brown eyes and that enchanting smile. Movies like Happenstance.

Now don't get me wrong, Happenstance isn't by any means a bad movie. It just isn't my kind of movie. This is  one of those movies with intersecting stories about romance that the French seem to be so good at making. That sort of movie must be rather hard make. You bounce around from character to character and nothing ever seems very cohesive. However, this director, Laurent Firode, pieced together enough interesting vignettes to keep me interested even if the overall story wasn't that compelling.

Sadly, that also means you only get so much Audrey Tautou and that was my biggest disappointment with this movie. Yes, the arc of the story centers around her but she wasn't on screen nearly enough for me to be satisfied. Then again, that's just my own strange crush thing and not something you should worry about. If you like movies like this and have already seen Paris, Je T'aime one too many times, then go ahead and give this one a try.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 12/31/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I want to have Audrey Tautou's babies.

Is it artsy? Not really, but its sort of romantic and it is in French.

What stood out the most to you? The creepy guy that is always lying.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Wanting to show your girlfriend that you have a sensitive side.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars.

 Sorry, I couldn't find an English version of the trailer.
 

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Continental Divide (1981)

Featuring: John Belushi, Blair Brown. Director: Michael Apted.

Warning: This movie is only supposed to be available for streaming until Dec. 31st. Act fast!

John Belushi is one of the comedic gods of the last half century. His life was cut tragically short, but his comedic genius has influenced countless others that followed him. He was the wild card that made SNL edgy and interesting early on. Without his influence it probably wouldn't still be around today. Unfortunetely, his own intensity and excesses are the reasons  he isn't with us anymore.

In Continental Divide we see Belushi's attempt at going mainstream in a romantic comedy that plays out to mixed results. The plot is completely ridiculous, but I'm pretty sure that is standard fare for romantic comedies. Blair Brown plays an outdoorsy type woman who studies bald eagles way up in the rocky mountains and Belushi plays a rough around the edges Chicago journalist who is doing a story on Brown's character. The movie would be completely awful if "rough around the edges Chicago guy" wasn't the character that Belushi played best.

Despite the problems with this movie, having Belushi involved makes this a pretty decent romantic comedy. He packs in enough good jokes and puts on just enough of that Belushi charm to make this a worthwhile view. Don't go into this expecting Animal House or the Blues Brothers, but if you're a big  Belushi fan (as you should be), then check this one out.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 12/31/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? John Belushi is one of my heroes. We share a love of excess.

Is it artsy? No, it follows the standard Hollywood format.

What stood out the most to you? Little gems that Belushi would sneak in there from time to time.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? A little romance Belushi style.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars.

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The Constant Gardener (2005)

Featuring: Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Danny Huston. Director: Fernando Meirelles.

Warning: This movie is only supposed to be available for streaming until Dec. 15th. Act fast!

The Constant Gardener is one of those movies that has been stuck in my queue since I had a queue. I knew it was supposed to be good and that it features an Oscar winner (Rachel Weisz), but I only just watched it last night because it is set to expire in a few weeks.

I think it took me so long to check it out because anytime I hear a movie is supposed to be good and is set in Africa I automatically assume it is going to be f****** depressing. Mostly because good movies set in Africa always are. The last movie I remember being set in Africa that didn't make me completely sad was The Lion King and I don't really think that counts. I understand (and commend) that filmmakers that want to expose to the world all the shitty things that are going on in Africa because a lot of that is happening and needs to be talked about. But, despite their noble intentions, I think that Africa as a place has been stereotyped in movies as hell on earth. Maybe I'm not watching the right movies, but I would like to see a story set in Africa that isn't completely tragic. A little hope might help. In the worst conditions you can find some of the happiest people. Yes, I'm randomly ranting here, but it's a trend in film-making I'm growing tired of. We might have gone from portraying Africans only as savages to portraying them only as victims - but a negative stereotype still exists. Rant over, back to review.

Now that I've gotten that out of my system, I would like to say that this is a good little thriller filled with love, international intrigue, scandal, and the battle between loyalty to ones country and standing up for what is right. The story follows an excellent Ralph Fiennes as a stuffy British diplomat that falls in love with a fiery revolutionary (Rachel Weisz) looking to take down some pretty evil drug companies (if I hadn't already gone off on a rant I'd talk about how corporations are the bogeyman in the millennium here). He gets sucked into her conspiracy and all sorts of things start to happen. The real bright spot for me, however, was Danny Huston. He was creepy, bad and I found the scenes featuring him to be the most grabbing apart from a few intense and very sexy scenes featuring Weisz.

So yea, if you're like me and have had this in your queue forever go ahead and watch it before it expires. Yes, it is depressing at times and the plot can be a little confusing. But, it is brilliantly acted and worth the liberal guilt you'll feel afterward.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 12/15/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Rachel Weisz won a best supporting actress Oscar for her performance and I just heard it was pretty good.

Is it artsy? No, it's a well made thriller.

What stood out the most to you? Weisz may have been the one winning awards but to me Danny Huston was by far the most interesting actor in the movie.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Willing to pay the price of possible depression to watch a good film.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars.
 

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Hubert Selby Jr.: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow (2006)

Featuring: Hubert Selby Jr, Henry Rollins, Darren Aronofsky, Robert Downey Jr. Directors: Michael W. Dean, Kenneth Shiffrin.

Warning: This movie is only supposed to be available for streaming until Dec. 1st. Act fast!

The purpose of every documentary is two-fold. First, a documentary is supposed to teach you about something you don't already know. Second, it is supposed to motivate you to do something about that subject. This documentary has educated me on the importance of Hubert Selby Jr. as an interesting figure in the history of American literature and it motivated me to order a copy of Last Exit to Brooklyn.

Selby had a pretty unique outlook on life, and while I haven't as of yet read his writing, he seems like the type of man I would respect. He was wild, intelligent, passionate and did things his own way. I can dig that. This isn't a documentary for everyone, but if you're a Selby fan, curious about the profession of writing, or just into people that see things differently, then this one just might be worth your time.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 12/1/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I had heard of Selby before, but I never got around to reading him. I will remedy that now.

Is it artsy? It's about a not-too-artsy guy who spent his life making art.

What stood out the most to you? What a wild man this frail old man was in his younger days.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Looking to be inspired to write and find your own path.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars.

I couldn't find the trailer, so here is the entire documentary:

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Lenny (1974)

Featuring: Dustin Hoffman, Valerie Perrine. Director: Bob Fosse

Warning: This movie is only supposed to be available for streaming until Nov. 20th so act fast!

I really wanted to love this movie. I admire Lenny Bruce and I seem to remember hearing about an up-and-coming actor named Dustin Hoffman who is supposed to be pretty good. It seemed like this movie should have had it all, but throughout the film I kept getting the feeling that something was lacking. The acting was very good and the material was very interesting, but I think what was missing might have been spectacle.

The movie seemed a little too quiet and deliberate for a biopic about a man as controversial as Lenny Bruce. Now, I'm not saying there should have been as much spectacle as there was in The People vs. Larry Flynt, because no one did spectacle quite like Larry Flynt. It is worth making the comparison, however, because the two films (and the lives of their two subjects) did follow very similar paths. Controversy, tragedy, and (justifiable) obsession with the first amendment. Sadly, Lenny Bruce passed away before his fight for  first amendment rights could yield any fruits. Maybe that's the real reason I don't like this movie as much as The People vs. Larry Flynt, there was no vindication, no moment of glory, no spectacle. Just tragedy.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 11/20/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Dustin Hoffman as Lenny Bruce, how could I resist?

Is it artsy? Yes, in that sort of artsy way that is particular to movies from the 70's. Black and white, a ton of close ups.

What stood out the most to you? How much more interesting the second half of the movie was then the first.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Don't expect it to be very funny just because it's about Lenny Bruce, it's actually a pretty depressing movie.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars.

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Following (1998)

Featuring: Jeremy Theobald, Alex Haw, Lucy Russell. Director: Christopher Nolan.

Christopher Nolan is an interesting director and the nice thing about interesting directors is that they can tell a good story with a minimal budget. The other thing about interesting directors that got started in the 90's is that they can't seem to tell stories in sequential order. I've always wondered why that is. Is it the Tarantino effect or do they teach you in film school that telling a narrative from beginning to end is just too mainstream?

Luckily, Mr. Nolan was, and is, a talented enough storyteller to avoid having this movie become one of those cliches and now his movies have made billions of dollars. Following is the story of a guy who well, follows people. Yes, this movie embraces the creepers of the world. What keeps this movie from becoming a voyeuristic bore is that the people he follows turn out to be even stranger than he is. Considering the low budget, this film has just enough twists and turns to be a pretty good movie. Don't expect incredible acting or many pretty shots. But the story moves well and is unique enough to carry the film. If you're a fan of Nolan, I suggest giving this one a shot.

 Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 11/20/13. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Christopher Nolan has made some interesting movies so I thought it'd be work checking out his early stuff.

Is it artsy? It's an indie and it's in black and white, so yes. Not overly artsy though, more a having no budget kind of artsy.

What stood out the most to you? How much an interesting story can cover up poor production values.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Just don't have a fear of being watched and you'll be fine.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars.

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Abbott & Costello Meet the Mummy (1955)

Featuring: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello. Director: Charles Lamont.

I must be feeling nostalgic lately because as with yesterday's reminisces on classic monster movies, today I'm reviewing another type of movie that makes me think of being a kid. That kind of movie would be any movie featuring the classic comedy team of Abbott and Costello. When I was a kid, the only people in black and white that I found funny were The Three Stooges and Abbott and Costello. In fact, they still crack me up to this day.

As you could probably guess from the title, in this one the two buddies end up in Egypt with mummys walking about and scaring the pants off of our half-brained heroes. As with all Abbott and Costello flicks there is great comedic timing and some kick ass one-liners. Unfortunately, for me anyway, it wasn't as packed with laughs as some of the other movies they made. It might have been because I was on the tail end of an all day movie marathon when I watched it, but it just didn't seem to have the same comedic brilliance many of their other films did.

Don't get me wrong, there were still moments that made me laugh, there just weren't as many. A few times during the movie I wished I was watching Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein instead. If you're an Abbott and Costello fan you'll still enjoy this movie, but if you're just looking to dive into their catalog now I'd recommend starting with one of their other films.

Click here to add this movie to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 1/1/13. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Abbott and Costello are one of the greatest comedic teams in film history.

Is it artsy? Nope, it's old time vaudeville style laughs.

What stood out the most to you? The chemistry between Abbott and Costello (as is to be expected).

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Ready to laugh.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars. 

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The Bat (1959)

Featuring: Vincent Price, Agnes Moorehead. Director: Crane Wilbur.

Well, the time has come for my annual Vincent Price marathon. Nothing gets me in the Halloween spirit more than the man with the creepiest voice in history. First up was the murder mystery, The Bat. One million dollars has turned up missing and there is a murderer on the prowl looking for the stolen loot.

If it wasn't for the killer dressing up like a bat (who ironically has a costume that reminds me more of Catwoman), this would be your standard whodunit murder mystery. And that's not a bad thing, I love old school mysteries like this and with Vincent Price in the lead you can't really go wrong. I enjoyed this one, there were just enough twists and turns to keep it from getting boring. If you like murder mysteries and/or Vincent Price, then give this one a try.

Click here to add this movie to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 3/15/13. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? All available Vincent Price movies are in my queue.

Is it artsy? No, classic mystery.

What stood out the most to you? Vincent Price and a couple of the twists (which I won't mention).

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Looking to solve a mystery. I figured it out before the movie explained it, but I still enjoyed the ride.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars. 

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Dogtown and Z-Boys (2002)

Featuring: Sean Penn. Director: Stacey Peralta

Warning: This documentary will only be streaming until May 18th so act fast!

I never fully realized how much I like watching documentaries on topics I care absolutely nothing about until I started writing this blog. There is something about documentaries that just sucks me in and forces me to watch them. Somehow I become fascinated by topics as mundane as origami and the California bar exam so long as it is presented in a documentary format.

Dogtown and Z-Boys, for example, is a documentary about skateboarding. I've never really given two s**** about skateboarding, I never really hung around with skateboarders much and the only experience I have on a skateboard came when I was about ten years old. I saved up a bunch of sku's from Kool-Aid packets for about a year and then sent them off in exchange for a skateboard. I got on the skateboard, proceeded to fall on my ass, and never used it again. Now, despite having little interest in the sport I will sit down and watch people talk about it for an hour and a half if it's narrated by Sean Penn. All because it's a documentary and I'm compelled to watch them all.

I think it has something to do with my attraction to passionate people and the only way you'll be featured in a documentary is if you're passionate about something. The Z-Boys were definitely a passionate crew. They were basically a bunch of young punks from Venice Beach (when Venice Beach was still a s***hole) who loved surfing, but since they could only surf for a few hours a day they started skateboarding. While they didn't invent the sport, they pioneered the techniques and style we think of when we think of skateboardering today. As you can imagine they have some pretty damn good stories and some of them even became known as the best skateboarders in the world. It made for an entertaining 90 minutes.

If you're into skateboarding this is a must-see. If, like me, you enjoy watching any sort of documentary or learning about counter-culture movements you should probably consider giving this one a look too. I enjoyed myself.

To add this documentary to your Netflix queue click here.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 5/18/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I'll watch any documentary. Plus, if Sean Penn is attached it must be good.

Is it artsy? Nope, just a bunch of punk kids doing what punk kids do best.

What stood out the most to you? The stories of the various forms of mischief these kids would get into.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Looking to kick back and be a rebel from the comfort of your living room.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars. 

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Nature: Wolverine: Chasing the Phantom (2010)

This movie was a complete disappointment! Instead of being filled with non-stop action and cool mutant powers they just followed animals around. However, once I settled down and figured out it was a program about actual wolverines instead my favorite X-Men character I had an enjoyable enough time.

All kidding aside, this was a pretty cool little documentary about the lives of wolverines. Apparently they are rather understudied. I can't ever recall seeing them in a nature program, and I watch a lot of nature programs. They're a pretty interesting animal, if hard to track down. Plus the way they run looks really funny and that makes me smile.

If you enjoy nature programs from time to time you'll probably enjoy this one. It's also kind of funny to laugh at the researchers because they make studying the wolverine sound completely hopeless. If you feel like getting in touch with nature without leaving your couch, queue this baby up.

Click here to add this documentary to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 1/25/12. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I like nature, even though I never leave the city.

Is it artsy? Nope.

What stood out the most to you? Listening to people who seem to have unhealthy obsessions with wolverines.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Outdoorsy but too lazy to go outside.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars. 

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Brewster's Millions (1985)

Featuring: Richard Pryor, John Candy. Director: Walter Hill.

Warning: This movie will stop streaming on May 11th so act fast!

At some point I think we've all fantasized about what we would do if we suddenly came into millions of dollars. Before I'm even done picking my lottery numbers I usually have most of the money spent in my mind already. It's fun to think of the crazy stuff we would do if we suddenly had unlimited resources. Brewster's Millions is a buddy comedy starring Richard Pryor and John Candy that explores that fantasy.

Pryor stars in this movie as a washed-up minor league baseball player who unexpectedly comes into a huge inheritance with the caveat being that he has to spend 30 million dollars in 30 days to get the full 300 million. Extravagance, hi-jinx and light moral lessons ensue.

This is probably one of Richard Pryor's most consistent comedies and there are laughs throughout the movie. And really, if John Candy is in something you know it's going to be a great time. This is an above average 80's comedy that will have you and your friends sitting around talking about what you would do with 30 million dollars. That's really what is most fun about this movie.

To add this movie to your Netflix queue click here.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 5/11/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Taylor from Netflix Streaming recommended it.

Is it artsy? Nope, it's an entertaining buddy comedy with Pryor and Candy.

What stood out the most to you? How much it made me want 30 million dollars.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Looking for a pleasant comedy that everyone can enjoy.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars. 

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Chocolate (2008)

Featuring: JeeJa Yanin, Ammara Siripong. Director: Prachya Pinkaew.

No, this movie isn't a sultry romance featuring Johnny Depp or the most popular documentary on Netflix once a month. Instead, we have a very enjoyable and original martial arts flick that is part stylish, part Kick-Ass, part adorable and completely awesome.

The story centers around a young autistic girl who has the ability to learn any form of martial arts just by watching it once. She's no Bruce Lee, but if she watches a Bruce Lee movie she can pick up all his moves. In fact, I chuckled uncontrollably when she made Bruce Lee style noises in an ice factory (like Bruce Lee did in The Big Boss) which made me like the movie from early on.

The girl's mother had ties to the underworld and when the mother gets cancer the girl and her well-meaning, chubby, childhood friend go about trying to collect from the bad guys that owed her mother money to pay for treatment. This of course leads to lots of opportunities for the young savant to take baddies out. There's something satisfying about watching a little girl beat up a bunch of grown men. Kind of like in that movie Kick-Ass (except this movie is completely different).

Don't get me wrong, a lot of this movie is kind of sad. But, it makes your eyes so damn happy that if you like martial arts movies at all you should really check this one out. This is a solid movie, with good action, a satisfying conclusion and enough uniqueness to make it worth a view. Give it a try, you won't be sorry.

Click here to add this movie to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 7/30/12. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I read the description and my interest was piqued.

Is it artsy? No, but it is subtitled. For some that counts.

What stood out the most to you? The Bruce Lee homage as well as the really awesome fight choreography at the end of the movie.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Looking for some ass-kicking goodness.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars. 

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Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

Featuring: Tom Cruise, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe. Director: Oliver Stone.

Warning: This movie will only stream until May 1st so act fast!

We all know Tom Cruise is a d-bag. I think we can all agree on that. All the Scientology crap, the jumping on couches and the whole closeted homosexual bit just turns people off of him and for good reason. He's a weird little man. All of his eccentricities make it very hard to take him seriously these days. He's not a bad actor though. There was a stretch there when he was a decent leading man and Hollywood's golden boy.  Sure, he's no Paul Newman, but he's not a talentless hack posing as a leading man like say, Warren Beatty, either.

In Born on the Fourth of July everyone's favorite Scientologist  gives one of the best performances of his career as a young man who goes to Vietnam as an idealist and returns a cynic and a cripple. Believe it or not, I thought Cruise was really believable in this role and probably even deserved the Oscar nomination he got for it.

The movie itself seemed a little uneven to me. It seemed to sort of just bounce around and there wasn't nearly enough about his time as a protester. I don't really get the academy's love of Oliver Stone (he won another best director award for this one) in the 80's. I've enjoyed a lot of Oliver Stone movies but he has never seemed to be a master of the craft like say, Scorsese (who was continually snubbed in the 80's). His movies all feel rushed and unbalanced. It's like he won his awards based on how good his movies could have been if he wasn't coked out the entire time he was making them. That being said, this is a good movie and worth watching for Cruise's performance. Yea, I just said that.

Click here to add this movie to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 5/1/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? It's an Oliver Stone movie I hadn't seen yet, it stayed there so long because Tom Cruise was on the cover.

Is it artsy? No.

What stood out the most to you? A surprisingly awesome performance from Tom Cruise.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? In a good mood so the depressing life of a troubled Vietnam vet won't bring you too far down.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars. 

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Slap Shot (1977)

Featuring: Paul Newman, Michael Ontkean. Director: George Roy Hill.

Warning: This movie will only stream until April 30th so act fast!

There aren't many great actors that can do both comedies and dramas. Comedic and dramatic timing just seem to be on different wavelengths. Paul Newman, however, can pull it off. He's always had a sort of mischievous look to him and provided a sense of humor to most of the roles he's played. Plus, it's friggin Paul Newman, he can do whatever he wants.

Slap Shot is a raunchy sports comedy about an awful minor league hockey team that is going to fold unless they turn their season around. Really cliched, right? Yea, it's your average underdog sports movie plot, except that they don't start winning because of hard work and stick-to-it-iveness. They start winning because they decide to just start beating the crap out of the other team.

If you're looking for a foul-mouthed sports movie filled with guy humor this is your best bet. This movie wrote the blueprint for movies like Major League and holds up really well. This is still a very funny movie, the only thing dated is all the polyester.

Click here to add this movie to your Netflix queue. 

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 4/30/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Paul Newman.

Is it artsy? Not in the least.

What stood out the most to you? The Hansons. No, not the band.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Looking for crude humor that is very well done.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars. 

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In Search of Beethoven (2009)

Director: Phil Grabsky.

Warning: This documentary will only stream until April 27th so act fast!

Ever since I saw Amadeus, the fascinating movie about the life of Mozart, I've been interested in learning more about the lives of history's great composers. I've always been intrigued by the geniuses that have changed the world. If you can't be one, at least learn to fake it. Since I'm too lazy to do any actual research on Mozart, Beethoven and the like I just scour Netflix for interesting documentaries.

Phil Grabsky is the award winning director of In Search of Mozart, according to Netflix anyway. For some reason Netflix doesn't actually carry In Search of Mozart (even on disc) even though they mention it in the description for this documentary. That annoys me, because while this may not be the most well done documentary I've ever watched, it was still great to learn about the genius of Ludwig van and I would have liked to have done the same with Mozart. Especially considering how closely the story of one impacted the other.

Mozart came first and left a big shadow, one that Beethoven strove to overcome for most of his career. He eventually did surpass Mozart (depending on your opinion) and completely revolutionized the way compositions were structured. What's really incredible is that he did most of it while being either partially or completely deaf. Talk about overcoming a disability. It also made him a very dark person. Imagine not even being able to enjoy the creations you slaved away at? That must have been torture, but he kept going, despite being suicidal. He was a fascinating guy, and while this documentary got a little bogged down at times it is a worthwhile watch just to learn more about the genius of Beethoven.

To add this documentary to your Netflix queue click here. 

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 4/27/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I like learning about geniuses.

Is it artsy? No, but it is about the life of an intense artist.

What stood out the most to you? The contemporary composers they interviewed in this documentary are pretty funny looking people.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? In the mood to hear some great music and learn about how it was created.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars. 

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William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe (2009)

Featuring: William Kunstler. Directors: Emily Kunstler, Sarah Kunstler. 

Warning: This movie will only be available for streaming until April 27th so act fast!

We here at Netflix Stream like documentaries and we like people who stand up for what they think is right - even if no one agrees with them. William Kunstler was an example of the latter and his daughters filmed a documentary about their controversial father. William Kunstler was an activist lawyer who never shied away from tough and unpopular cases. He became the prototype ACLU type lawyer that people love to hate.

His career was remarkable. He rose to fame in the 60's after defending the Chicago Seven and seemed to be involved in every controversial case in America up until his death in the 1990's when he was the lawyer for the defendant in the original World Trade Center bombing in 1993. He also, at various points, defended the Cantonsville Nine, the Black Panther Party, the Weather Underground Organization, and was involved early on in the legal battles over segregation in the south. He was also the key negotiator during the Attica Prison riots and the Wounded Knee incident in South Dakota. He eventually even made it before the U.S. Supreme Court.

In this documentary we look at the controversial Kunstler from the perspective of his daughters. These two girls must have had a crazy childhood. Protesters regularly camped out in front of Kunstler's home (which doubled as his office) and he was under constant FBI surveillance. It gave the documentary a personal touch which made the subject seem all that much more fascinating. This was an intriguing documentary and if you have any interest at all in the radicalism of the 60's and 70's or in U.S. legal history you'll enjoy this film. Love him or hate him, it's hard to deny that William Kunstler kept the system honest and for that I admire him.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming 4/27/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? William Kunstler was a fascinating character.

Is it artsy? No, standard documentary format.

What stood out the most to you? Finding out exactly how many big news stories he was right in the center of.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Looking to learn a bit about history.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars. 

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The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)

Featuring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Juliette Binoche, Lena Olin. Director: Philip Kaufman. 

Warning: This movie is only supposed to stream until April 15th so act fast!

This is one sex-filled movie and not in an exploitative way. There is just a lot of sex, hot sex too. Some combination of Daniel Day-Lewis, Juliette Binoche and Lena Olin goes at it about every fifteen minutes, and this movie is nearly 3 hours long. That's a lot of whoopee.

Another cool thing about this film is that it happens to be the first time Daniel Day-Lewis starred in a leading role and he doesn't disappoint. At some point while watching this movie I realized that Day-Lewis is probably the most intense actor ever if you forget about the genius of Marlon Brando. He's just an incredible talent, and while he's gotten plenty of recognition from the Academy, I don't think he gets the credit he deserves with people that aren't in the industry.

In this film Day-Lewis plays a womanizing doctor in 60's Prague who has the uncanny ability to get any woman to take off their clothes just by staring at them and saying, simply enough, take off your clothes. Seriously, I need to work on my body language and develop an intense stare so that I can get the ladies naked so easily. Then all of a sudden Soviet tanks role in and the movie is sort of political for a while. Then it's about sex again and then it's sort of over.

The plot really sort of held this movie back in my opinion. The acting is all phenomenal, the setting is beautiful and the sex was hot and naughty. The movie seemed disjointed, the ending was disappointing and it ran longer than it needed to. That being said, the great acting and the hot sexin kept me interested enough and it's worth checking out this film just for that.

To add this movie to your Netflix queue click here.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming 4/15/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Daniel Day-Lewis is an acting God.

Is it artsy? Yes, it's too long and you're left wondering what the point is. On the bright side, that means good acting and hot sex.

What stood out the most to you? "Take off your clothes".

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Horny, and preferably watching with someone else who is horny.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars. 

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It Might Get Loud (2008)

Featuring: Jimmy Page, The Edge, Jack White
Director: Davis Guggenheim

Warning: This documentary will only be available for streaming until April 8th so act fast!

The electric guitar is the defining instrument of the last hundred years. The lore behind, and love of the electric guitar has changed the world for the better. There isn't a person in the world that hasn't nodded their head to a song featuring it at least once. The love for the instrument has given us some incredible virtuosos that have given legendary performances.

The documentary It Might Get Loud, pays homage to the electrified ax. It gathers three guitarists, Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin, The Edge from U2, and Jack White from the White Stripes into the same room to basically talk shop. If you aren't a big music fan I can tell you right now you won't appreciate this documentary. If you are, however, you'll probably find it interesting, as I did, to listen to bona fide rock stars talk about their creative process.

The real treat was when they all started jamming though. When Jimmy Page ripped into Whole Lotta Love the look on Edge and White's face was akin to seeing a kid in a candy store. You could see the awe in their eyes from getting to play with one of their obvious heroes.

The coolness of that moment kind of illustrated what I didn't like about this documentary though. While The Edge and Jack White are good guitarists and innovative in their own right, their contributions to the history of music pale in comparison to those of Jimmy Page. Plus, even in his late 60's he's still technically proficient enough to run circles around the both of them. I like Edge and White and they were interesting enough in this documentary but I would have much rather have seen living legends like B.B. King take their place.

I get that selecting The Edge and White was a commercially smart idea for this documentary but I would have liked to have seen some guitarists that can go note for note with Page instead of a couple of admirers. My personal gripes aside, it was still great to see Page play and the other two had some interesting stories to tell as well.

To add this movie to your Netflix queue click here.

According to instantwatcher.com this movie will be streaming on Netflix until 4/6/11.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Jimmy Page is a Rock God.

Is it artsy? No, but it outlines the creative process for a few artists.

What stood out the most to you? Jimmy Page ripping into Whole Lotta Love.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Ready to hear some guitarists talk shop and jam a bit.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars. 

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