Netflix Rental Mania: PARIS 36, OUTSOURCED, and more
With so many movies available for rental and so many movies available for instant watching on Netflix, I thought I would share a few movies that I watched recently. These are just movies that sparked my interest for different reasons, so here we go.
Easy Virtue – The movie had some good moments and I particularly enjoyed Jessica Biel’s performance. And of course, Kristin Scott Thomas is amazing as always. It’s a nice movie to check out if you want to relax and have fun.
Synopsis: American widow Larita (Jessica Biel) meets John (Ben Barnes), a wealthy young Englishman, in France and impulsively marries him. But when they visit his family at their country estate, Larita receives a chilly reception from her virulent new mother-in-law (Kristin Scott Thomas). As she waits impatiently to move on with life in London, Larita forms a subtle bond with John’s father (Colin Firth) while John falls further under his mother’s spell.
Love N’ Dancing – I’m a big fan of any movie that has any sort of singing, dancing, etc., so of course Love N’ Dancing sparked my attention, and turns out I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected. It’s definitely a fun film worth checking out.
Synopsis: Jessica (Amy Smart) forgot just how much she loved dancing until she meets Jake (Tom Malloy), a deaf swing-dance teacher who inspires her to get back on the floor. Trouble is, Jake’s already got a partner (Nicola Royston), and so does Jessica — her fiancé, Kent (Billy Zane). As Jake and Jessica get closer, their steps and their hearts seem more in synch. But with their eyes on a coveted dancing prize, can they keep their focus?
How to Be – This is such a quirky comedy, but it was a little boring to me. Not sure it’s something I would recommend.
Synopsis: This dry British comedy stars Robert Pattinson as Art, a twentysomething musician who, after being unceremoniously dumped by his girlfriend, moves back in with his parents in order to face the challenges of his quarter-life crisis. Soon, Art enlists the services of a self-help guru to follow him wherever he goes, inspiring a series of hilarious situations — along with some heartfelt discoveries about life and relationships.
Outsourced – This movie was quite a surprise because I randomly decided to watch it and really enjoyed it. If you enjoy romantic comedies, I think you might enjoy this one, it’s really sweet.
Synopsis: When his department is outsourced to India, customer call center manager Todd Anderson (Josh Hamilton) heads to Mumbai to train his successor (Asif Basra), and amusing culture clashes ensue as Anderson tries to explain American business practices to the befuddled new employees. In the process, he learns important lessons about globalization — and life. Ayesha Dharker and Matt Smith also star in director John Jeffcoat’s cross-cultural comedy.
Good Dick – This is another movie I decided to watch randomly because Jason Ritter was in it. It is quite an unusual story, but I will admit that I kind of enjoyed it, a lot. If you’re not turned off by the synopsis, I would say give it a shot.
Synopsis: Habitually isolated in her quiet apartment, a vulnerable girl (Marianna Palka) with a penchant for soft-core porn ventures out to a local video store, where she meets a store clerk (Jason Ritter) who vows to break down her emotional walls and win her affections. But as he pursues her in bizarre fashion, it’s clear that their budding relationship will be anything but conventional. Lead actress and screenwriter Palka makes her directorial debut.
The Puffy Chair – After seeing The Freebie at Sundance, I decide to check out The Puffy Chair. Even though I enjoyed the improv feel of the movie, I have to admit it was a little boring for me, the pace was too slow, but there were some funny scenes.
Synopsis: When Josh (Mark Duplass, whose brother Jay directs) finds the perfect birthday present for his father, he decides to deliver it in person. But with his high-maintenance girlfriend Emily (Kathryn Aselton) and granola brother Rhett (Rhett Wilkins) along for the ride, Josh’s simple road trip turns into a much bigger journey than anyone anticipated. This indie romantic dramedy was an audience favorite at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.
Is Anybody There? – This was such a sweet story and it had such a great cast between Michael Caine, Anne-Marie Duff (who I recently became a fan of after seeing Nowhere Boy), and the adorable Bill Milner. Definitely recommended.
Synopsis: Growing up in a seaside nursing home run by his parents takes its toll on 10-year-old Edward (Bill Milner), but things begin to look up for the lonely boy when a retired magician (Michael Caine) with a zest for life moves in. Set in the 1980s, this poignant tale follows the developing friendship between Clarence — a spirited old troublemaker hiding from his past — and death-obsessed Edward, a youngster unable to live life in the moment.
Paris 36 (Faubourg 36) – Now that was such a beautiful movie. Gérard Jugnot once again brought tears to my eyes. Another movie I recommend you check out.
Synopsis: When a neighborhood music hall closes down, a trio of unemployed friends (Gérard Jugnot, Clovis Cornillac and Kad Merad) vow to bring the business back from the dead by staging a musical they hope will be a hit. If their gamble pays off, they’ll have the money to buy the theater for themselves — and the power to control their own destinies. Christophe Barratier directs this Berlin Film Festival selection set in 1930s Paris.
