Now obviously, I'm not able to go as much to the movies every single day, but I still want to get reviews out as often as I can on this blog. So I figured, "Why don't I review some movies that happen to be on my Netflix list that many have not heard of before?"
With that said, welcome to the first installment of Netflix Picks, where I pick a couple of films that I feel should warrant more attention. With the year winding down, let's take a look at two of 2014's most underrated films.
SNOWPIERCER
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Screenplay: Bong Joon-ho, Kelly Masterson
Starring: Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell, and John Hurt
In the last few years, we have seen the dystopian future society genre been done to death, particularly with the younger crowd. We've seen numerous adaptations for young adults be adapted for the big screen, such as The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Giver to name a few. With Snowpiercer, not only do you have a dystopian future movie for adults, but also a brilliant one at that.
(NOTE: I know the film was released in Korea in 2013, but it just came out in America this past July so I'm counting it as a 2014 release).
The plot is rather simple: In the year 2031, after an experiment to counteract global warming fails and throws the entire planet into a new ice age, most of the human race has perished. The ones who remain survive on the Snowpiercer, a massive motion engine train that spans the entire globe in order to keep its inhabitants alive. The train is divided into sections; the rich and wealthy live in the front while the poor live in the tail end section. One of the leaders of the tail section, Curtis (Chris Evans), has had enough of the living conditions and instigates a coup. Now Curtis and his followers must fight their way through the massive train in order to get to the front, all while fighting followers of the train's creator, Wilford.
This is such a simple basic concept: get from point A to point B. And yet that's one of the things that makes it work so incredibly well is that simplicity. Yes the film does have subtle commentary on the class system as well as comments made about global warming. But the film's plot almost feels as if it's something out of an 80s action movie, which is due in part to the great directing done by Bong Joon-ho. He handles the actions scenes with great detail and intensity. It's just enjoyable to watch from start to finish.
The acting is very well done, with Evans turning in a very commanding lead performance. Outside of playing Captain America, Evans really hasn't been in much else as of late. Seeing him outside of Marvel is rather refreshing, as his character, Curtis, is likable and commanding, but with a dark past. When the dark past is revealed, Evans is at his most vulnerable. The rest of the supporting cast is great to watch, especially a near unrecognizable Tilda Swinton.
Overall, Snowpiercer was one of the surprise films of the year and easily one of the best. If you haven't gotten a chance to see it, I highly, highly recommend you give it a watch.
Grade: A
STRETCH
Director: Joe Carnahan
Screenplay: Joe Carnahan
Starring: Patrick Wilson, Chris Pine, Ed Helms, Jessica Alba, and James Badge Dale.
Stretch has had a strange history in getting released. Originally supposed to come out this past March, Universal Studios scrapped the film two months before its release and allowing producer Jason Blum to shop the project to other studios. Universal ended up getting the film back anyway, and decided to release it directly to DVD and Video on Demand outlets.
Now, when the studio moves a film from theatrical to direct to video release, that usually says the film is so terrible that it no longer warrants being seen in theaters.
So it's rather strange as to why Stretch was released straight to video, as it's actually a very enjoyable, almost self-knowingly goofy film to watch.
The film follows a man simply known as "Stretch," (Patrick Wilson), who works as a limo driver for a living in LA after a failed career in acting. After his girlfriend unceremoniously dumps him, Stretch decides to start turning his life around. Before he can do that, he must drive around mysterious client Karos (Chris Pine), who offers to pay off Stretch's gambling debt of $6,000 if he does everything Karos asks him to without question. Karos must also deal with rival driver "The Jovi" as well as federal officers.
Joe Carnahan, to me, is one of the most underrated action directors working today. Smokin Aces and The A-Team are incredibly underrated action movies and The Grey is a great, tense thriller. With Stretch, this feels much more like a throwback to Smokin Aces, as Stretch is one of the most gonzo and bizarre films Carnahan is made.
If Birdman takes a biting satirical look at fame and trying to be famous, whether as a comeback or not, then Stretch is essentially the violent and bloody Looney Tunes take of that tale.
Carnahan directs every scene with such kinetic energy and moves so briskly that you feel you're along on this crazy and insane ride. That's also in part to the cast he has assembled. Wilson is likeable as the everyday Joe just trying to make a living and get by in life. Of course, he has to deal with some insanity every day, but you still root for him by the end. Jessica Alba is also very good as his friend and assistant in the limo service, as she shows genuine concern for Wilson's character. Alba has improved greatly since coming onto the scene in 2005.
But the two big standouts are Ed Helms and Chris Pine. Helms, playing a limo driver who committed suicide in front of a customer and is a figment of Stretch's mind, serves as the big comic relief in the film and gets some of the best lines. Helms chews scenery in every scene that he shows up in. The same goes for Pine, looking completely unrecognizable as Karos. This is Pine at his absolute nuttiest, as he takes the dial and cranks it up to 20 in a drug fueled rampage. His character is so odd and unique that all thoughts that Pine can just play Captain Kirk are gone. He's just a blast to watch.
I will say that the first maybe 20-30 minutes are extremely tough to get through, but if you can hang on until after that time, you will have an absolute blast with Stretch, as it just gets nuttier and crazier from that point on. This was one of the surprises of the year. Get a bunch of friends together and bask in the insanity.
Grade: B+
Got any Netflix Picks of your own? Go ahead and recommend any film you've watched in the comments below!
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