My Octopus Teacher (2020)

I vividly remember one summer of many years ago — I was probably in my early teens — when I would spend my mornings watching nature documentaries, and I absolutely adored ocean-related ones. I remember learning about the existence of scorpionfishes and being fascinated by them, just as I was fascinated by every other single sea creature shown in those documentaries. So it really didn't come as a surprise when, a week ago, I sat down to watch the Netflix documentary and now Oscar winner My Octopus Teacher and ended up loving every second of it as it is a stunning, captivating, heartwarming, and moving documentary. 

The Forty-Year-Old Version (2020)

Despite the fact that I spend many hours a day on Netflix — either watching stuff or adding films to my endless watchlist — I would have never watched nor heard of Radha Blank's The Forty-Year-Old Version if it wasn't for Dell who praised it during Girl Week. And it would have been such a loss on my part as it turned out to be such an honest, intimate, and funny semiautobiographical dramedy.

If Anything Happens I Love You (2020)

I was about to watch yet another Brooklyn Nine-Nine episode when Netflix played the trailer to If Anything Happens I Love You. I had never heard of it before so, before venturing into another dreadful film, I googled it. While the score was high — 8/10 on IMDb —, it was the storyline that convinced me I should have given this short animated feature a chance. And I'm glad I did because it's one of the saddest and heartbreaking and yet beautiful and touching shorts I've ever seen. 

The Life Ahead (2020)

There's a scene around the 30-minute mark where Sophia Loren is sitting in the rain, completely petrified, looking like she is there but she also isn't there. The kids are making faces and laughing to get a reaction from her, but she doesn't bat an eye. Her still facial expression, however, delivers tremendous grief and pain, and it's beyond heartbreaking. That's when I knew Edoardo Ponti's latest film, The Life Ahead (Italian: La vita davanti a se), would end up being one of my favourite of the year. 

The Devil All the Time (2020)

I always get a little bit excited when a Marvel actor — Tom Holland in this case — decides to work on something more serious and demanding as it goes to show whether he/she has talent or not. Netflix's latest original, The Devil All the Time, doesn't only star Holland; Robert Pattinson, Haley Bennett, and Eliza Scanlen are also in it, three additional reasons I couldn't possibly overlook the film despite the underwhelming reviews. And if like me, the cast is the pretty much the only reason you want to see the film, you're in for a treat as, while the film itself is a bit tedious, the actors are downright terrific. 

Lost Girls (2020)

I was very reluctant when Netflix's latest original, Lost Girls, popped up on my homepage last Friday. I, however, was very intrigued by its cast — specifically Amy Ryan and Thomasin McKenzie — and, after a brief survey on Twitter, I decided to give it a chance. And I'm glad I did as it turned out to be an absorbing and intriguing, although by the numbers, true-crime drama.

Marriage Story (2019)

While many directors, actors and producers blame streaming services for slowly killing cinema as we know it, it's yet again a Netflix original most people are praising these days. The film in question is Noah Baumbach's latest, Marriage Story, which is a realistic, raw, emotionally poignant and draining essay on divorce — a heart-wrenching film that left me in pieces.

Klaus (2019)

Every year, a new Christmas animated film sees the light of the day. And every year, although the story is different, the substance doesn’t really change and hence it feels like opening the same present only with a different wrapping paper. Netflix’s first original animated feature, Klaus, shies away from it as it is as refreshing and unique as it is heartwarming and emotional — arguably 2019’s best animated film. 

Alles ist gut (2018)

When dealing with a subject as sensitive as rape, films usually go for the unexpected act of extreme violence followed by its devastating and dramatic consequences, and that usually leaves room for little else. Thankfully, that's not the case with Eva Trobisch's Alles ist gut (All good), a restrained debut that provides an interesting, rather unique and compelling perspective on sexual abuse and its psychological effects; a film Netflix can finally be proud of. 

Murder Mystery (2019)

The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) probably being the only exception — I haven't seen his entire filmography —, Adam Sandler movies are usually downright terrible. It's pretty much the same when it comes to Jennifer Aniston; there are some exceptions here and there but most of her films are just not that good. Because of this, it didn't seem like a particularly good idea to spend my free Friday morning to watch Netflix's latest original, Murder Mystery, which stars both. Surprisingly, the film exceeded my expectations as it is a quite enjoyable combination of comedy, mystery and romance. 

Tallulah (2016)

"Yet another Netflix original with a great cast to lure you into watching it" was my first thought we Tallulah's popped up on my homepage. I do love Ellen Page and Allison Janney too much though so I couldn't just ignore it. And I'm glad I didn't because this is one of those small gems more people need to watch.

Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond (2017)

I was wandering through the documentary section on Netflix when I stumbled upon Chris Smith's Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond. I couldn't believe there was a documentary about Jim Carrey so, of course, I ended up watching it. 

The film is about the making of Milos Forman's Man on the Moon, the biopic of comedian Andy Kaufman, and focuses on how Jim Carrey prepared, actually, how he essentially became Andy Kaufman for the role in the film. 

The Ruthless (2019)

Modern Italian cinema and I don't get along very well so, unless it has Alessandro Gassmann, I make sure to stay away from those movies But then the other day, and by the other day I mean April 19, The Ruthless (Italian: Lo spietato) popped up on my Netflix homepage and since it stars Riccardo Scamarcio — I have a crush on him since I waw thirteen —, and I read many positive reviews, I checked it out. 

The film tells the story of Santo Russo (Riccardo Scamarcio), the son of a former member (Angelo Libri) of the 'Ndrangheta who. Moved with his family in Milan at the age of sixteen, one New Year's Eve, Santo (Lorenzo De Iullo) makes the foolish mistake of disobeying his overbearing father and, although innocent, he ends up spending four months in prison. During his stay, he has his first encounter with Milan's underworld and befriends another Calabrese teenager, Slim (Damiano Lauria). The story then jumps years forward and follows Santo as he makes a name for himself. 

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile (2019)

I've been really looking forward to seeing Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile because serial killers have always fascinated me and Efron's performance received a lot of praises from critics.

The film is based on Elizabeth Kendall’s memoir The Phantom Prince: My Life with Ted Bundy and follows Ted Bundy (Zac Efron) mainly during the 1970s. The first part focuses on his relationship with former girlfriend Liz Kloepfer (Lily Collins), the second on his trails as he’s charged with multiple first-degree murders.

Mirage (2018)

I loved Oriol Paulo's The Invisible Guest which is why I've been putting off Mirage (Spanish: Durante la tormenta) for the past month, afraid that the film would not meet my high expectations. 

The story begins on November 9 1989, the day of the fall of the Berlin Wall, during a storm. Twelve-year-old Nico (Julio Bohigas) hears noises from next door, he investigates and discovers his neighbour, Ángel Prieto (Javier Gutiérrez), standing over the dead body of his wife with a knife. Nico runs away but he's hit by a truck and killed in the process. Twenty-five year later, on November 9 2014, the same storm occurs, and Vera (Adriana Ugarte), who has recently moved with her husband, David (Álvaro Morte), and daughter, Gloria (Luna Fulgencio), into Nico's old house, is connected to Nico through an old analogue TV and has the chance to save his life. The next morning, Vera wakes up in an unrecognizable reality where her daughter was never born, and sets out to go back to her life.

Someone Great (2019)

There's something about Gina Rodriguez that I don't like. It's not her fault, it's just that she reminds me of a person I know and don't like much and that person basically ruined Gina for me. She is a great actress though — I loved her in Jane the Virgin — so, despite me not being the biggest fan of romantic comedies and the trailer basically screaming "I'm a terrible movie", I checked out Netflix's newest original film, Someone Great. 

Set in New York, the story focuses on Jenny (Gina Rodriguez), a nearly 30-year-old music journalist who has just landed her dream job as a writer for Rolling Stone magazine in San Francisco. Not even contemplating the idea of a long distance relationship, her boyfriend of nine years, Nate (Lakeith Stanfield), breaks up with her. To nurse her broken heart, she decides to have one last, outrageous night in New York City with her two best friends, Erin (DeWanda Wise) and Blair (Brittany Snow).

The Silence (2019)

Four months after the release of Bird Box, the disappointing horror starring Sandra Bullock, comes another horror from Netflix where the characters can no longer do something. That film is The Silence and stars another big name, Stanley Tucci, the reason I decided to check this out.

The story follows Ally (Kiernan Shipka), a 16-year-old who has lost her hearing at the age of 13, and her family as they try to survive after a team of explorers accidentally released an unknown, primaeval species who start killing everything and everyone in their paths as long as they make noise.

The Incredible Jessica James (2017)

Scrolling through Netflix and adding movies and TV series to my watchlist is something I love doing. Putting them off is another thing I love doing. Watching them, not so much. So, if it wasn't for Brittani's review, I probably would have never checked out The Incredible Jessica James. 

The story follows Jessica James (Jessica Williams), a struggling playwright living in New York. She has recently broken up with her boyfriend of two years, Damon (Lakeith Stanfield) and just can't get over it and keeps stalking his Instagram. Essentially forced by her best friend, Tasha (Noël Wells), she goes on a blind date with Boone (Chris O'Dowd), a newly divorcé who is also obsessed in a stalker-like way with his ex (Megan Ketch). Despite both of their disinterest in a new relationship, they establish an instant bond.

Private Life (2018)

I've been meaning to watch Private Life since it released as I love Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti but I kept putting it off because of the plot. Now that I'm finally working on my best and worst of 2018 post, I figured it was time for me to check this out. 

The story follows Richard (Paul Giamatti) and Rachel (Kathryn Hahn), a couple in their forties who are desperately trying to have a kid by any means possible. Just when they think they are out of options, a new opportunity presents itself, to use an egg donor. While Richard is fine with it, Rachel struggles with the idea of using some stranger's eggs but when Sadie (Kayli Carter), the stepdaughter of Richard's brother, Charlie (John Carroll Lynch), drops out of college and stays with them in New York, they decide to ask her.

Triple Frontier (2019)

I'm not even going to pretend that I was interested in seeing Triple Frontier for its plot. I didn't even know what it was about because I just didn't care. Four hot and talented men —and unfortunately Ben Affleck— were a strong enough motivation to sit through Netflix's latest film.

Just in case you are not as shallow as I am, the story follows five Special Forces friends, Santiago "Pope" Garcia (Oscar Isaac), Tom "Redfly" Davis (Ben Affleck), William "Ironhead" Miller (Charlie Hunnam), his brother Ben (Garrett Hedlund), and Francisco "Catfish" Morales as they reunite in South America to rob a drug lord (Reynaldo Gallegos).