What's On NETFLIX Now?: May Expiration Watch: Breaking It Down (2014)

An interesting mix of titles are expiring this month, which I'll group loosely into three categories:

Not Charlie's Angels

1. GOING TO EXTREMES

In the mood to have your mind bent, broiled, or otherwise contorted into a WTF curlicue? Any one of these films will leave you variously scratching your head, choking on your popcorn, or considering life in a monastery.

Bad Lieutenant (1992)

Abel Ferrara directs Harvey Keitel in this intense tale of a New York cop battling his inner demons in the original Sin City (i.e., NYC in the early '90s).

Deadly Blessing (1981)

Gorgeous 1970s actress Maren Jensen (Athena in the original Battlestar Galactica) in one of only two movies she starred in before leaving showbiz. This one, a creepy horrorfest directed by Wes Craven, co-stars a young Sharon Stone and an old Ernest Borgnine sporting a Quaker beard. (For trivia buffs, Jensen's other starring role was in the even more obscure Beyond the Reef., a.k.a. Sharkboy of Bora Bora.)

The Lair of the White Worm (1988)

Kinky horror madness from the king of extreme himself, director Ken Russell (Tommy, Altered States, Women in Love). Featuring the unlikely cast of Amanda Donohue, Hugh Grant, and (Holy '80s, Batman!) Catherine Oxenberg.

Lust in the Dust (1985)

Not Starsky & Hutch

Cult B-movie actor/director Paul Bartel's musical-western spoof, starring a who's who of equally cultish performers including Divine, Tab Hunter, Lainie Kazan, and Henry Silva.

Over the Top (1987)

Sylvester Stallone arm wrestles. Really. That's the pitch: Sylvester Stallone. Arm wrestles. Oh, yeah—from the director of The Apple. What could possibly go worng?

There Will Be Blood (2007)

Paul Thomas Anderson directs this dark, brutal tale starring a mesmerizing Daniel Day Lewis (who won that year's acting Oscar). I wasn't a fan of this one, but a lot of other people were. I also didn't like No Country for Old Men. Or Gone with the Wind. So sue me.

Wild Things (1998)

Denise Richards, Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell, Theresa Russell, and Kevin Bacon all go to 11 in this smart, steamy, funny noir that's as good an argument as any for pulpy trash as art. Kudos to director John McNaughton for keeping tongue firmly in cheek without sacrificing genuine tension and surprise.

2. THE GOOD STUFF

Depending on your mood, any one of these quality flicks should hit your sweet spot.

A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

This post-Monty Python farce from writer/star John Cleese probably doesn't need a shout-out here, but it's brought me so much pleasure over the years I couldn't let it leave without a mention. Chock full of comic delights, not the least of which is Kevin Kline's imbecilic Otto sputtering and punching his way through situations well out of his control ("Don't call me stupid!").

Michael Palin with fries up his nose, Kevin Kline stalking a fish

Lost in Translation (2003)

Many still consider this director Sofia Coppola's best film, and with good reason. Others—especially those with less sympathy for lost souls trying to find meaning amid faraway urban climes, dreamy visuals, and Euro-inflected pop tunes—may soon lose patience. But there's much pleasure to be had in the quiet rapport and slow-burn comic moments between Scarlett Johannson's searching twentysomething and Bill Murray's equally lost, washed-up actor.

Mistress (1991)

There have been a lot of Hollywood satires made over the decades, with only a handful deserving classic status. This may not be one of them, but memory tells me it was among the more entertaining. If you liked State and Main, Swimming with Sharks, and Get Shorty, this one's also worth a look. Unless I'm completely wrong. (Has it really been 23 years since I saw this flick? Holy crap.)

Paquin, Hunter

The Piano (1993)

Jane Campion's epic feminist fairy tale, with Oscar-winning turns from Holly Hunter and 11-year-old Anna Paquin, in her first film role. Harvey Keitel is also excellent. By turns haunting and beautiful, the film may not be to everyone's taste, but it's hard not to be impressed by its gothic otherworldliness—or by such a pure and artful expression of one filmmaker's sensibility.

Young Adult (2011)

Under Jason Reitman's subtle, wry direction, Charlize Theron toes a tricky line between funny and squirm-inducing in a performance that doesn't just risk unlikability, it flat-out embraces it. It's the kind of multi-dimensional leading role that's all too rare for women in Hollywood movies, and proof that Theron doesn't need to wear body padding and ugly makeup (a la Monster) to show off her acting chops. The monster inside the beauty couldn't be more obvious—or deadpan funny. Comedian Patton Oswalt more than holds his own opposite the former Oscar winner.

Theron and friend

3. WHAT'S GONE BEFORE

All of the following titles have been recommended in previous posts (see linked reviews)—and all are still worth watching. So if you've continually put off giving them a shot, now's your chance before they return to the Netflix limbo from whence they came.

Roman Holiday

Another Day in Paradise (1998) - Review
8 Million Ways to Die (1986) - Review
Planet of the Apes (1968) - Review
Roman Holiday (1953) - Review
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) - Review

Which reminds me, I'm well overdue for a rewatch of Planet of the Apes... Happy streaming!

5/30 UPDATE: Spider-Man (2002) and Men in Black II (2002) have unexpectedly found themselves on the chopping block. I wasn't crazy about the latter, but the former is a faithful, entertaining take on the original comic (despite some creaky CG effects).

May 20

Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters (2012)

May 21

Love the Beast (2009)

May 25

Hugo (2011)

What's On NETFLIX Now?

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Wednesday, May 28, 2014

May Expiration Watch: Breaking It Down (2014)