Ok my friends, I need your help.
You see, my Netflix queue is running dry, and rather than picking randomly, I am coming to you for your recommendations. Comment me your favorite offbeat movies...that is, maybe not the blockbusters that many of us have seen repeatedly, but the sleepers that you thought were fantastic pieces of cinematic expertise. Or didn't suck.
I will start you off with one of my fav movies since its release back in 1998...Return to Paradise. I will say that I have seen this movie probably 20 times, and I have never gotten to the final scenes and not been choking up. There is some amazing acting by Joaquin Phoenix, hints of Vince Vaughn's sense of humor and gift of gab, and if you can put the weirdo-Celestia-factor of Anne Heche aside for 112 minutes, she may impress you with her range as well. Mostly, it is the interaction between Joaquin and Vince that cripples me each time...Friendship and sacrifice.
Anyway, this is no romantic comedy, obviously...and if you enjoy being emotionally challenged, I think you will be pleased.
Now what do you have for ME??
If anyone says Titanic, you are running the risk of turning your own blog into a no-fly zone.
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Big Night (nannette reminded me. one of my all time FAVS).
The Savages (just saw it... darkly funny and sad for any of us that have aging parents and weird sibling relationships).
The Princess Bride (i could watch it right this minute and smile).
Pride (i'm a swim mom, what can i say? plus it satisfies any need for inspiration).
i've got a ton more.
I agree with you about Return to Paradise, but apparently for different reasons. See, I liked it because it was Vince Vaughn pretty much at the peak of his cuteness (before he got tired and bloated; not that there's anything wrong with that...who didn't get tired and bloated?).
If you like sci-fi, you must rent Firefly (the series) and finish it off with Serenity, the feature film made to appease all the angry viewers when Firefly got canceled (STUPID tv execs!).
Also Galaxy Quest. Sam Rockwell's hilarious as the plucky comic relief.
Cactus Flower (that's an oldie).
I'm with Debbie on the Princess Bride; we own it and wear it out on a regular basis. "You keep using that word...I do not think it means what you think it means."
"Usual Suspects" - one of my all-time Top 10. It didn't get much attention at the Box Office, but it is a fabulous thriller. I think it has found another life in rentals though.
"Memento" - make sure you have a nap and drink a lot of caffeine. The whole movie runs in reverse time. Pay attention!
"Transformers" - no laughing. I totally made fun of Dear Hubby when he brought it home, but it is a good popcorn flick that our age group might overlook. The computer graphics that will leave you in awe.
"Under the Tuscan Sun" - Another personal Top 10. You once claimed to be "girly" in the most masculine way. Prove it.
Em
I too was going to recommend The Usual Suspects.
Good Will Hunting is one of my all time favs.
Oh my gosh I HATED titanic. I hated the music even more.
Um I'm a sucker for Foreign films and netflix is perfect for that obsession....
The Red shoes or running shoes or something, Iranian movie about two little kids sharing these shoes and he runs a race...and I cried.
My Name Is David. Little boy escapes a concentration camp, makes his way to Denmark, amazing story, not sure if it was semi-true...and I cried.
And a Brazilian one I forget the name of? About a boy in a train station who is orphaned and a lady who sells 'writing letters' takes him home intending to sell him or something...and I cried.
Crap. I cry in commercials.
Oh wait. In America. Have you seen that one? Not foreign, well the people are from Ireland, but takes place in NYC. Oh my gosh I LOVED this one. And yes. I cried my eyes out in this one, and it's a happy one dang it! (but I was pregnant at the time...nuff said)
Enjoy.
i'm new to netflix. so far all i've "rented" is the office. (the tv series)
as far as films, how about a classic? charade with cary grant and audrey hepburn in one of my faves.
So many favorites, so little time. Here's one that I never tire of....of course, Maggie never bores me in any capacity. http://tinyurl.com/4ehd5w
Some of my all time favorites are:
~Primal Fear. If you are an Ed Norton fan you will LOVE this flick
~Man on Fire. Denzel KILLS it in this one and Dakota Fanning is destined to be one of the greats if she keeps it up.
~Cape Fear. You have probably seen it, but its a great thriller
Honorable Mentions: Fight Club and Requiem for a dream.
:) Have a fun movie night(s) :)
Steel Magnolias
Grease
Grease 2
Kicking and Screaming
Big Daddy
I agree with "The Mom" and her suggestion of Kicking and Screaming--it is HILARIOUS!!
I was also going to suggest The Usual Suspects--but it looks like some people beat me to the punch!!
If you're looking more in the vein of "early-90's, nobody's ever really seen them but somehow they're still amazing" movies, I'm pretty partial to a movie called "Dying Young" with Julia Roberts. (Or who knows, it came out when I was only a wee one so it could be a huge hit) There's also "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken" (don't judge) or you could turn to the old school "Black Beauty" for a little family time.
Little Children, Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Volver (the last 2 are subtitled- but great stories and well worth it)
I don't know about Netflix. But we saw "Ghost Town" in the theater this last weekend. SO FUNNY. I highly recommend it
I'm LOVIN your recommendations here...
Deb- Gonna have to try all these...I trust you...except Princess Bride...I've seen it 413,228 times.
"Have fun stormin the castle!"
Ann- I LOVED Firefly...LOVED IT. If I had known about it BEFORE it got canceled, I would have picketed and protested along with them!!
Em- Memento, not so much. It was too much work. But I STILL havent seen transformers, totally on my list, thanks.
Kristina - Absolutely loved GWH..everything except the crying scene..thought it was WAY overdone, and badly executed by Matt. Otherwise, FANTASTIC.
How do you like them apples?
Carissa- Already replied directly to you, but I think My Name is David will make my list...I am a HUGE fan of all films/themes WWII.
Rychelle - thanks for the oldie, never been much for Cary Grant, but I may try this after all...can I trust you??
Nannette - I LIKE where your head is at. you're part dude, aren't you?
Carolyn - I LOVE Primal Fear, and Norton...did you like American History X? Disturbing role by him...
Mom - Oh boy...the first to pull out Grease.... Please see me in my office... ;-)
Jillene - I Liked Ususal Suspects, but coulnt decide if I REALLY likedit...that make sense? That might limit my credibility with you... ;-)
Yo Daily - Great idea on the Black Beauty...my daughter might be ready to sit thru taht...nice one.
Tena- Theres always one subtitle lover...I grew up with subtitles in Europe, so I am gonna try these...dont steer me wrong!!
Whitney - I have 2 young kids, and an extremely short leash. I have HEARD of movie theatres, but never actually set foot in one... ;-)
movies -- yes --
bottleshock - so fun and about wine
children of heaven - one of my all time favs
office space - quirky a must if you have ever worked in a cubicle
the island - different sci fi in the vain of logan's run
Well, I will NOT recommend the new Indiana Jones movie because I thought it sucked eggs.
Did you see SuperBad? I think everyone needs to see SuperBad.
Thanks for stopping by my blog and saying hello. I LOVE Barefoot Foodie, one of my favorite blogs!
Anyway, speaking as a person whose Netflix queue is MAXED out (do you know how many that is? FIVE HUNDRED! That's how many.) I would like to suggest one I saw recently called In Bruge with Colin Farrell and uh, I forgot who else. Anyway, great characters, great story, wonderful location. It's one of those movies where the location is one of the characters. I'm not a Colin Farell freak and I'm not an action movie freak, but this one - I really liked.
I also enjoyed:
Following
Lars And The Real Girl
Snow Cake (but then I'm biased toward Alan Rickman)
Deadwood (series)
The Wire (series)
oops. (forgot to click the email box on that last comment)
Ohhh man! I have plenty! If you have never seen The Burbs with Tom Hanks, you are losing out! And Noises Off with Carol Burnett and Michael Cane is hilarious. Deliver Us from Eva with LL Cool J and Gabrielle Union is SO funny, I love it!
And Joshua with Tony Goldwyn is just a a beautiful movie, I was impressed. The Five People You Meet in Heaven was good too! The Orphanage by Guillermo del Toro...yes it is in Spanish, but it is still crazy amazing. And The Fall with Lee Pace is so visually interesting!
Ans Mindhunters if you never saw it, was an awesome thriller. And Connie & Carla is hilarious, made by the people who gave us My Big Fat Greek Wedding...how's that to start??
I loved 'Everything is Illuminated' so much! But, I lived in Ukraine, so maybe that's why it 'spoke' to me so much. I think you'll love it though!
I'm cheating by writing down suggestions that I want to see.
My husband and I didn't catch "Arrested Development" until it was canceled and out on DVD. If you were smart enough to watch the show, good for you!
If you missed it, like we did, I HIGHLY recommend it.
American History X is SO distrubing, I agree...but so good. He is my favorite actor. :)
Oh my. Our NetFlix list currently has just under 200 dvds in the queue. We'll never catch up. Lately we've been using it to watch the HBO shows we've missed by not having HBO. We watched all of Six Feet Under, Deadwood, and Carnivale. Now we're watching Rome.
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