Jump to content

Movies and TV shows (general recommendation thread)


Liberty

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 214
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Get Shorty (the show not the movie)

Silicon Valley is excellent

Humans (UK show)

Viking is in my opinion the best show on television

Black Mirror

Planet Earth 2 and Blue Planet 2

First season of True Detective

House of Cards (UK version)

Yes, Minister (this is the greatest political comedy ever)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Movies:

Get Out - Pscyhological Thriller that is so Intelligent - the twist at the end is a neat surprise worth waiting for

Imitation Game - biography of Alan Turing - using math and computers to solve encryption in war time; role of homophobia in recent history

 

TV Series:

Breaking Bad - Plot of a generally good, very bright individual trying to help his family that crosses a fine line and evolves into another character; great exposure to societal price of illicit drugs and effects on young, old, men and women; good musical score; Worth watching entire series second time

True Detective - Season 1 - Takes about 10 episodes to solve the crime - so not all neatly tied up in 1 hour like a usual TV series. Season 2 is completely different story and not in the same Class. The redeeming feature of Season 2 is the music of Leonard Cohen.

Silicon Valley - Comedy/Drama of life as a start up company in Silicon Valley

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you liked Get Out (as I did) and Lakieith Stanfield (as I do) - he's in 'Get Out' and hilarious in 'Atlanta' - you might enjoy a movie we saw over the holidays called "Sorry to Bother You." 

 

Written and directed by Boots Riley, a first time filmmaker, it is pretty entertaining for a debut.  It's not polished like 'Get Out' though.

 

My Brother-in-law is one of those voting/nominating members for the film awards shows, so our family holidays have become a kind of mini film festival with 20-30 academy screeners to watch over a few weeks time.  Really great to see stuff I wouldn't otherwise get to the theater to see.

 

Movies:

Get Out - Pscyhological Thriller that is so Intelligent - the twist at the end is a neat surprise worth waiting for

Imitation Game - biography of Alan Turing - using math and computers to solve encryption in war time; role of homophobia in recent history

 

TV Series:

Breaking Bad - Plot of a generally good, very bright individual trying to help his family that crosses a fine line and evolves into another character; great exposure to societal price of illicit drugs and effects on young, old, men and women; good musical score; Worth watching entire series second time

True Detective - Season 1 - Takes about 10 episodes to solve the crime - so not all neatly tied up in 1 hour like a usual TV series. Season 2 is completely different story and not in the same Class. The redeeming feature of Season 2 is the music of Leonard Cohen.

Silicon Valley - Comedy/Drama of life as a start up company in Silicon Valley

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. 9/10

 

I saw that at the recommendation of a friend.

 

I thought it had some flashes of a really good movie, some really good scenes and characters, but that overall it didn't quite gel together and wasn't entirely satisfying.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just binged Netflix' Russian Doll.  Dang that was far better than I'd expected.

 

I agree.  When I started watching it I was thinking that there was a 80% chance it was going to be stupid and I wouldn't get through 2 episodes.  I'm glad I gave it a chance, it was a pretty good show.  Like groundhog day only darker with a better story.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey all:

 

if you like crime thrillers & action movies, I've got two recommendations:

 

A). "HEAT", absolutely the best bank heist movie ever made, bar none.  Also, probably the best gun battle ever filmed.  A+ list actors, just incredibly well done all the way around.

 

B). "The Usual Suspects", great acting, engaging story line.  An incredible plot twist at the end.  Very well done!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks for the rec on Russian Doll - I enjoyed it and never would have checked it out otherwise

 

I just binged Netflix' Russian Doll.  Dang that was far better than I'd expected.

 

I agree.  When I started watching it I was thinking that there was a 80% chance it was going to be stupid and I wouldn't get through 2 episodes.  I'm glad I gave it a chance, it was a pretty good show.  Like groundhog day only darker with a better story.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I saw the 2016 sci-fi movie Passengers. It wasn't my pick and I had very low expectations, which probably explains why I was pleasantly surprised.

 

I was expecting a 6/10 and it was something like a 7.3/10, so I'm not saying it's great, but there are so few decent sci-fi films and series that I'm mentioning it anyway.

 

It basically felt like a short-story from the 1950s. Passenger wakes up early from cryo-sleep on a long interstellar flight. What to do next?

 

I can easily imagine how someone seeing it with high expectations could not like it, though, so be warned. It's not deep or anything, but it's decent entertainment.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just binged Netflix' Russian Doll.  Dang that was far better than I'd expected.

 

I agree.  When I started watching it I was thinking that there was a 80% chance it was going to be stupid and I wouldn't get through 2 episodes.  I'm glad I gave it a chance, it was a pretty good show.  Like groundhog day only darker with a better story.

 

Watched Russian Doll - it draws you in - but what the hell happened at the end? Didn't understand how they got out of the death spiral. Thought the ending was a let down.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

I recommend the 'Eleven Madison Park' episode (#2) of the documentary series '7 Days Out' on Netflix.

 

I thought it was really good, showing some of what it takes to be the best; the attention to detail, going above and beyond, and constantly solving unexpected problems.

 

https://www.netflix.com/ca/title/80207124

 

Update: great podcast interview with the restaurant's owner:

 

https://overcast.fm/+BgXD0aAaA

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The_Young_Pope.png

 

I recommend The Young Pope on HBO (which you can get through Hulu). It's about an agnostic pope who's not particularly innocent. The series is directed and written by Paolo Sorrentino, who also directed and wrote one of my all-time favorite foreign-language films:

(Italian language, but still enjoyable with English subtitles).
Link to comment
Share on other sites

There's a line in 'Bridges of Spies' that I still think about once in a while. A soviet spy and his lawyer, telling him about the possibility of the electric chair. Spy doesn't react. Lawyer says: "You don't seem alarmed." He replies... "Would it help?"

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

That makes sense.  I generally thought it was a lot more serious than what one might expect from a black comedy film.  Viewers should calibrate their expectations going in - because it isn't another Dr. Strangelove.

 

That's correct. I was also surprised (I didn't know much about it going on), but it actually increased my enjoyment because I think it's important that we get reminders once in a while of just how vile these regimes were. Historical distance and the death of first-hand victims is making it all more fuzzy over time...

 

"The Death of Stalin" was banned in Russia ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Death_of_Stalin ). People in power there don't want any reminders.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just finished "Unauthorized Living"  it is a Netflix original based in Spain.  You can set the audio to English, so you don't need to turn on subtitles.  It was excellent.  The best show I've seen lately.

 

Just finished it. I watched it because of your post and I totally agree with you! Great recommendation.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just finished "Unauthorized Living"  it is a Netflix original based in Spain.  You can set the audio to English, so you don't need to turn on subtitles.  It was excellent.  The best show I've seen lately.

 

Just finished it. I watched it because of your post and I totally agree with you! Great recommendation.

 

No problem.  Another Spanish show on Netflix that was pretty good (although not as good as Unauthorized Living) is "Fugitiva", it's worth watching.

 

I'm watching the Amazon original "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" now, it's a little silly at times, but it is funny and worth watching as well.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Netflix - Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage

 

I wore out 2112 when I was a kid & have liked them ever since.

 

This documentary shows a trio of unique & amazing musicians who are also great guys.

 

Very down to earth & no overblown egos.

 

What a body of work too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now



×
×
  • Create New...