Author Archives: Brock Winspear
35 Best Independent Movies on Netflix Watch Instantly January 2014
35 Best Independent Movies on Netflix Watch Instantly January 2014
Often times, independent, low budget movies can be far superior to mainstream big budget films. If you are trying to find a good independent movie to watch on Netflix Watch Instantly, then you probably should not look much further than this list. After searching through all of the independent movies that are currently available on Netflix Watch Instantly, the movies on this list are the best ones, in my opinion.
I have not reviewed all of the movies that are on this list, but if a title is highlighted, then simply click on the title for a trailer, movie pictures, my rating, and my full review of that movie. If you like what you see, check out the rest of my website. As I review more films, I will add more links to this list.
Netflix actually has a very good selection of independent movies in their watch instantly library. Here is the list of the Best Independent Movies that Netflix Watch Instantly currently has to offer:
The Pianist (2002)
Memento (2000)
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993)
American Psycho (2000)
Donnie Darko (2001)
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Pulp Fiction (1994)
He Was a Quiet Man (2007)
Poolhall Junkies (2002)
Detachment (2011)
Dead Man (1995)
Beautiful Girls (1996)
King of New York (1990)
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)
Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead (1995)
The Gift (2000)
Fargo (1996)
Following (1998)
Extract (2009)
Arbitrage (2012)
Clerks. (1994)
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
The Other Woman (2009)
Compulsion (2013)
Powder Blue (2009)
The World’s Fastest Indian (2005)
Swimming with Sharks (1994)
Hard Eight (1996)
Pi (1998)
Henry’s Crime (2010)
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Saved! (2004)
If you enjoyed this list, check out the rest of my Netflix related material by clicking on the Netflix Related icon towards the top of your screen. I’ll continue to add new lists, and of course, more movie reviews, so check back often at www.brockingmovies.com Movies are what I do.
45 Best Action & Adventure Movies on Netflix Watch Instantly January 2014
45 Best Action & Adventure Movies on Netflix Watch Instantly January 2014
If you are trying to find a good Action & Adventure movie to watch on Netflix Watch Instantly, then you probably should not look much further than this list. After sifting through all of the Action & Adventure Movies that are currently available on Netflix Watch Instantly, the movies on this list are the best ones, in my opinion.
I have not reviewed all of the movies that are on this list, but if any of the titles are highlighted, then simply click on the title for a trailer, movie pictures, my rating, and my full review of that movie. If you like what you see, check out the rest of my website. As I review more films, I will add more links to this list.
Some of these movies are more action-packed than others, but according to Netflix, they are all classified as Action & Adventure. Here is the list of the Best Action & Adventure Movies that Netflix Watch Instantly currently has to offer:
Warrior (2011)
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Equilibrium (2002)
Face/Off (1997)
The Italian Job (2003)
Narc (2002)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
The Grey (2011)
Dances with Wolves (1990)
Dead Man (1995)
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
The Score (2001)
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Seeking Justice (2011)
Escape From Alcatraz (1979)
Red Dawn (1984)
Haywire (2011)
The Expendables 2 (2012)
Ip Man (2008)
Shaft (2000)
xXx (2002)
48 Hrs. (1982)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Breakdown (1997)
The Untouchables (1987)
The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Tears of the Sun (2003)
The Eiger Sanction (1975)
The Crow (1994)
Get the Gringo (2012)
Parker (2013)
If you enjoyed this list, check out the rest of my Netflix related material by clicking on the Netflix Related icon towards the top of your screen. I’ll continue to add new lists, and of course, more movie reviews, new movie trailers, and everything movies, so check back often at www.brockingmovies.com Movies are what I do.
20 Best Psychological Thriller Movies on Netflix Watch Instantly January 2014
20 Best Psychological Thriller Movies on Netflix Watch Instantly January 2014
If you’re like me and you like movies that make you think or mess with your mind, then you might enjoy some of the movies on this list. Of all of the so-called Psychological Thrillers that are currently available on Netflix Watch Instantly, the movies on this list are the best ones, in my opinion.
I have not reviewed many of the movies that are on this list, but if any of the titles are highlighted, then click on that title for a trailer, movie pictures, my rating, and my full review of that movie. If you like what you see, check out the rest of my website. As I review more films, I will add more links to this list.
These movies are mind-benders. They are mysterious, twisted, and darkly intense. Some are much better than others, but all will keep your mind entertained as you piece together what is happening on screen.
Here is the list of the Best Psychological Thrillers that Netflix Watch Instantly Has to Offer in January 2014:
Memento (2000)
American Psycho (2000)
The Ninth Gate (1999)
The I Inside (2004)
Unknown (2006)
The Gift (2000)
Side Effects (2013)
The Good Son (1993)
The Lady Vanishes (1938)
Hannibal (2001)
Nightwatch (1997)
Following (1998)
Kalifornia (1993)
Breakdown (1997)
Compulsion (2013)
Deception (1993)
Mother’s Boys (1994)
Pi (1998)
If you enjoyed this list, check out the rest of my Netflix related material by clicking on the Netflix Related icon towards the top of your screen. I’ll continue to add new lists, and of course, more movie reviews and trailers, so check back often at http://www.brockingmovies.com to see what’s new. Movies are what I do.
Wrecked (2010)
Wrecked (2010)
Wrecked is a low budget independent film that may have exceeded expectations if given the proper opportunity.
Before watching this movie, I knew nothing about it except for the fact that Adrien Brody was the main character. I have been a big fan of Brody ever since I saw the film The Pianist (2002). He acted his heart out in that movie and I quickly came to find out that he usually does in all of his films. It’s no wonder that he received an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in The Pianist.
Wrecked is about a man (Adrien Brody) who awakes to find himself badly injured in a mangled car wreck in the middle of a densely wooded area at the base of a mountain in the middle of nowhere. He has no memory of how he got there, who he is, or who the dead passengers nearby are. He is stuck inside of the car and is forced to try to survive as he contemplates his past and how he got into his current situation.
The film was directed by Michael Greenspan and the rest of the noteworthy cast includes Caroline Dhavernas, Ryan Robbins, Adrian G. Griffiths, Adrian Holmes, and Jacob Blair.
I listed the rest of the noteworthy cast, but in reality Wrecked is a one-man show. The vast majority of the movie is Adrien Brody acting alone. The movie has some similarities to 127 Hours (2010), All is Lost (2013), The Edge (1997) and Unknown (2006).
It takes a highly talented actor to make a film like this watchable, let alone entertaining. Brody was up for the challenge and he was a superb choice for this role. The pain that his character felt in in the movie appeared genuine in every way. You feel for his character as if the events that are happening to him on screen are actually happening.
The film is pretty gruesome and intense. There is a bit of language throughout, but it all serves to make the story more realistic.
Unfortunately, I think that this movie is underrated and under watched. It didn’t get the chance that it deserved in theatres.
The movie grabs on to you in the very beginning and keeps you guessing what will happen next. It is slow at times, but that is to be expected when there is basically only one person in the film. The suspense holds your attention throughout as Adrien Brody’s character is injured in the wild and facing what the wilderness has in store for him.
I rate this movie an 8 on a scale of 1-10.
Buy, rent, or run? Buy.
If you liked Wrecked, then you will probably enjoy the following films:
127 Hours (2010)
The Edge (1997)
Unknown (2006)
Buried (2010)
Brake (2012)
The Book Thief (2013)
The Book Thief (2013)
The Book Thief is a heartbreaking and heartwarming story of innocence, stolen.
I’ve always been drawn to stories about World War II. Movies about WWII have a tendency to be very powerful films if done correctly. I think that this is because it was such a hard and troubling time in the world when Hitler was in power.
The movie is based off of the novel with the same name by Markus Zusak. The film is about Liesel (Sophie Nelisse), a young girl without a family in Nazi Germany during WWII. She gets taken in and adopted by a couple who also hide a Jewish boy under their stairs. With all of the terrible things going on around her, Liesel takes comfort in learning how to read. She begins to read whatever books that are available to her. Eventually she starts stealing books and sharing them with her new family.
The film was directed by Brian Percival and the rest of the noteworthy cast includes Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson, Ben Schnetzer, Joachim Paul Assbock, Kirsten Block, Roger Allam, Nico Liersch and Sandra Nedeleff.
The film was slower, but a true drama. It depended solely on acting and story to get its point across. Don’t expect an action-packed war movie. However, a story about Nazi Germany during WWII is intense enough. Although the story is pretty serious, I liked how there was a bit of humor thrown in to cut the tension and make it more enjoyable.
The Book Thief had some similarities to the movie The Pianist (2002), except that it was not as intense.
I will admit, the touching story made me shed a few tears. The movie does a great job of making you care about the characters. The acting draws you into the story.
Geoffrey Rush and Sophie Nelisse both deliver genuinely heartfelt performances. The presence of Rush was what was needed to make everyone act on a higher level. He was the glue that held the movie together.
The set was a work of art. Germany during the late 30s and early 40s was duplicated very believably. That task could not have been a simple one.
The only thing that I thought was a little weird about the movie was the way that it was narrated. The only explanation that I can think of as to why it was done the way that it was is maybe that was how it was narrated in the book. Regardless, it comes off as a little odd. The narration style does not seem to fit the type of film that The Book Thief is.
I applaud the filmmakers for getting a movie like this one made. In a movie world so consumed with special effects, action, sequels, superheroes, and unoriginality, The Book Thief is the type of film that we need more of. It’s a genuinely refreshing story that takes plenty of risks.
I rate this movie an 8 on a scale of 1-10.
Buy, rent, or run? Buy.
Man of Tai Chi (2013)
Man of Tai Chi (2013)
Keanu Reeves returns ruthlessly with a vengeance. Not only is he a star in this film, but he also made his directorial debut.
The fact that this is a martial arts movie was intriguing to me because after watching Keanu’s fighting skills in The Matrix (1999), I was thirsty for a little bit more of his flying jump kicks and karate chops. It’s just a bit of a shame that he waited so long after The Matrix Trilogy to showcase his combat expertise. He is probably a little more known for his slow-motion bullet dodge than his actual fighting skills, but he has proved that either one can be sufficiently entertaining. The bottom line is, Man of Tai Chi is Reeves in a fighting movie.
The film is about wealthy businessman Donaka Mark (Keanu Reeves), who discovers uniquely talented fighters who he then convinces to fight for him in underground and illegal fighting matches in China. His most recent fighter, Tiger Chen (Chen Lin-Hu), has a special and virtually one-of-a-kind style of hand-to-hand combat with a Tai Chi base. Tiger Chen needs the money, and the fights pay, but once he is in the game, Donaka Mark makes it difficult to stop.
The rest of the noteworthy cast includes Iko Uwais, Simon Yam, Karen Mok, Silvio Simac, and Jeremy Marinas.
The movie goes back and forth between spoken English and Chinese with subtitles. It’s a foreign film with American and Chinese actors. I believe that the joining of the two cultures in the film works to successfully portray the mix of each cultures’ fighting style.
The martial arts in Man of Tai Chi is depicted gracefully and eloquently. The choreography is amazing. The movie has some of the best fighting scenes that I have seen since The Raid: Redemption (2011). Each move seemed so intentional that it almost felt like the fighters were dancing, but the dance was a work of art.
The film’s soundtrack helped to give what was happening on screen a deeper, more intense feel.
The movie started off impressively and this continued until probably the last quarter of the film. It certainly had potential to be better, but I felt like the ending fell short. This was pretty disappointing because it was so good up until that point.
Iko Uwais, who became famous for his role in The Raid: Redemption, was way underused in the movie. If his character was given the chance to show what he was made of, the film could have reached the same caliber as The Raid: Redemption. Instead, his part was cut far too short.
Man of Tai Chi was certainly crammed with action-packed goodness. If it weren’t for the ending, I would give the movie a higher rating. Even though the film was a bit of a letdown towards the end, it was still fun to watch. Keanu did his job well, but his martial arts skill unfortunately didn’t add up to the rest of the fighters in the movie.
I rate this movie a 7 on a scale of 1-10.
Buy, rent, or run? Rent.
Teaser Trailer For The Expendables 3 (2014)
Expendables 3 (2014)
Sylvester Stallone is at it again. He has gathered his Expendables for another go-round. The Expendables (2010) was good, The Expendables 2 (2012) was even better. Will this third time be the charm? The teaser trailer doesn’t reveal enough of anything, except for the fact that the boys are back and hopefully better than ever.
The movie was directed by Patrick Hughes and the noteworthy cast includes Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Mel Gibson, Antonio Banderas, Wesley Snipes, Dolph Lundgren, Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terry Crews, Kelsey Grammer, Randy Couture, and Robert Davi.
I especially like the addition of Gibson and Ford.
I think viewers will be in for an overload of blood, guts, and bullets.
The film is set to release on 08/15/14.
Lone Survivor (2013)
Lone Survivor (2013)
You will laugh, and you will cry. They live, they fight, and they die.
I was very excited to see Lone Survivor. When I learned of the movie months ago, I knew it would be one that I had to see. Recently, I heard from numerous people that the film was amazing, and that just made me want to see it more. These days, if Mark Wahlberg is in a movie, you can basically expect gold.
The film is based on the book with the same title which was written by Marcus Luttrell and is based on his true story. It’s about a group of Navy SEALS on a covert operation in Afghanistan that goes horribly wrong. Four SEALS are left severely outnumbered and outgunned and behind enemy lines. Unable to make radio contact, they are forced to stand together as one and try desperately to fight the local Taliban for their survival.
The movie was directed by Peter Berg and the noteworthy cast includes Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Ben Foster, Eric Bana, Emile Hirsch, Yousif Azami, Ali Suliman, Alexander Ludwig, and Jerry Ferrara.
I had vaguely heard of the mission that was portrayed in Lone Survivor, but ultimately, I hardly new any of the details before watching the film. I’m not sure how much of the story went by the book, and what was fictionalized for pure entertainment purposes. I have not read the book, but it would be interesting to see how it differs from the movie.
Lone Survivor is a superb depiction of the camaraderie and brotherhood that is commonly found in the Navy SEALS. The actors walked the walk, and talked the talk. They were large, bulky instruments that were trained to kill and trained to survive. They fight like soldiers and they curse like soldiers. This film does not edit itself for a lighter rating. It’s as real as I’ve ever seen. Prepare yourself to be shocked.
This movie has some of the most insanely realistic and severely intense battle scenes that I have ever seen in a film. Although I knew that I was in a theatre watching a film, it was as if I was watching real footage of actual soldiers at war, and not actors pretending for a camera.
Lone Survivor is a trip into hostile territory. The movie reminded me of how I felt about Saving Private Ryan (1998) when I saw it for the first time. It’s an epic achievement. The film changes the way that you look at the war movie genre. It raises the bar and leaves huge shoes to fill for any future war movie. It’s a game changer. I have a feeling that this movie will be hard to beat for years to come. The genre has now been reestablished.
The cast was a force to be reckoned with. Everyone was awesome. Wahlberg stood out above the rest and he continues to add to the arsenal of reasons why I like him. He has become one of my favorite actors. He is a consistent entertainer in the movie world and that is a rare thing in this day and age.
This movie should be an Oscar contender. It would be a crime if it didn’t win something. It would be an excellent way to honor all of the Navy SEALS that fought for their brothers standing next to them.
I rate this movie a 9 on a scale of 1-10.
Buy, rent, or run? Buy.
Note: Lone Survivor could deserve a higher rating, but it has to live up to the test of time before it gets one from me.
There was a bit of a disturbance in the densely populated theatre where I watched this film. A man in the same row as mine was yelling obscenities during the first half of the movie. He started to violently strike the seats in front of him before he was finally removed from the premises. I was unable to give my full attention to the first part of the movie because of this distraction. It was unfortunate, but when I watch the movie for a second time, my rating could possibly change.
Trailer for Bad Words (2013)
Bad Words (2013)
Almost always funny man Jason Bateman is at it again. This time, he doesn’t only star in this new film, but he also makes his feature film directorial debut. He has had some directing experience with TV shows, but Bad Words is the first movie that he has directed.
The film is a comedy about a kid who loses a spelling bee. When he grows up and becomes a man, he (Jason Bateman) finds a flaw in the system and enters the spelling bee as an adult in order to try to win.
The rest of the noteworthy cast includes Kathryn Hahn, Allison Janney, Rachael Harris, Ben Falcone, Judith Hoag, Philip Baker Hall, and Beth Grant.
As the title suggests, I think we’re in for some foul-mouthed humor which Bateman is becoming known for. The movie will probably be pretty funny.
Bad Words is set to release on 03/28/14.
Getaway (2013)
Getaway (2013)
I was very skeptical about whether or not I would like Getaway before watching it. I normally enjoy Ethan Hawke’s films, and recently he has made some good choices, i.e. Sinister (2012) and The Purge (2013). However, Getaway appeared a little sketchy to me. I held off seeing the movie in theatres because I was very unsure about it, but I had to at least give it a chance on DVD.
The film is about an ex-racecar driver (Ethan Hawke) whose wife has been kidnapped. In order to try to get her back, he is forced by the kidnappers to drive and do whatever he is told while leaving a trail of destruction and evading cops all over the city. He is given missions with time limits attached. Along the way, he gets caught up with a young woman whose car he was required to steal. The two of them are in for a wild ride that will hopefully help him get his wife back.
The movie was directed by Courtney Solomon and the rest of the noteworthy cast includes Jon Voight, Selena Gomez, Rebecca Budig, Paul Freeman, and Bruce Payne.
The film gets your attention immediately. It sort of has a Taken (2008) meets The Transporter (2002) feel to it, at first, but that quickly diminishes. The high-speed car chases start out flashy and exciting set to the tone of dramatic car chase music. Eventually the whole movie turns into one big car chase that will not end soon enough.
Getaway is actually pretty decent until the appearance of Selena Gomez. Her character enters and the movie slams on the breaks and crashes. Gomez brought nothing to her role in the film except for very poor acting skills and utter annoyance. I found myself quickly hoping that her character would just die off. However, I’m not even sure if her poor performance was her fault. Everything about the character that she played seemed unbelievable. The writers really dropped the ball when they came up with her part in the story. This sort of had a snowball effect.
The whole movie spun out of control. It stopped being fun and entertaining. Instead it just felt tacky and fake. The car chases were nothing new and the story stopped making sense. Things became too far out and predictable. Even though he still was, it felt like Hawke was no longer in the driver’s seat. There was nothing that he could do to steer the film into the right direction.
I thought that Getaway would at least be a fun ride to get distracted on for a little while. Instead, I wanted to get off before the ride was over.
I rate this movie a 4 on a scale of 1-10.
Buy, rent, or run? Run.
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