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LEARN THE GROUNDBREAKING CREATIVE FILMMAKING PROCESS OF DIRECTOR ZACK SNYDER WITH FOUR EPISODE NETFLIX FILM CLUB YOUTUBE SERIES 'SNYDER SCHOOL' Netflix has released the first episode of a four episode series called 'Snyder School', where Army of The Dead director Zack Snyder will open a window into his groundbreaking creative process as a filmmaker - from writing and storyboards, all the way through color and editing. The series, which will be available exclusively on the Netflix Film Club on YouTube, will look at how he built the world of Army of The Dead and many of the other films that he has brought to life. Also delving into the lessons he's learned in terms of craft, this is the ultimate Zack Snyder film school. The first episode on how Zack Snyder approaches opening title sequences is now live, with the remaining episodes going live in the coming weeks. The full 'Snyder School' release schedule: 'Snyder School' Episode 1 | Opening Titles | May 24, 2021 Release Zack Snyder explores how he approaches opening title sequences, as a way to establish the tone and world of a film 'Snyder School' Episode 2 | Lights, Camera, Action | May 27, 2021 Release How Zack Snyder uses cinematography, and how he approaches choreographing and shooting action scenes 'Snyder School' Episode 3 | Making the Cut | June 1, 2021 Release Zack Snyder explains how he uses editing, color, music and sound design in his films 'Snyder School' Episode 4 | World Building | June 7, 2021 Release All of Zack's films have involved an alternate universe, whether it's superheroes, zombies, or a comic book reality. How does he approach building a cinematic universe? Presented by Netflix Film Club, 'Snyder School' is the first series in what will be an ongoing initiative of Netflix filmmaker deep dives, called 'How to Make Movies'. Images courtesy of Netflix from ARMY OF THE DEAD Directed By, Cinematography by | Zack Snyder Story By | Zack Snyder Written By | Zack Snyder, Shay Hatten, Joby Harold Produced By | Deborah Snyder, Wesley Coller, Zack Snyder Cast | Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana De La Reguera, Theo Rossi, Matthias Schweighöfer, Nora Arnezeder, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Garret Dillahunt, Tig Notaro, Raúl Castillo, Huma S. Qureshi, Samantha Win, Richard Cetrone, Michael Cassidy

For "Movies and a Meal" St Patrick's Day edition we decided to pair two of our favorites: Shepherd's Pie and The Boondock Saints. Boondock Saints (2000), stars Norman Reedus, Sean Patrick Flanery and Willem Dafoe. Irish Catholic twin brothers, The Conners, become vigilantes in an over zealous quest to rid the streets of Boston of crime, killing one gangster after another whilst alluding FBI agent Smecker (Willem Dafoe). The film became a cult hit and spawned a sequel. After Norman Reedus achieved mega stardom thanks to his portrayal of fan favorite, Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead there has been renewed enthusiam for The Boondock Saints and thanks to streaming it has found a wider audience. It is action packed, bloody damn bloody, a bit campy and loads of fun. The Boondock Saints is available free to stream for Amazon Prime members. To savor the nuances of this quirky favorite flick, our very own Jake Essoe of The Harold and Maudecast has created a new spin on an old Irish classic thanks to our own Cutter Stevens (host of True Field Test) for supplying the secret ingredients from his line of Ghetto Gourmet yummies, Bacon jam and Beton Black Mustard. Jake's Guinness Ghetto Gourmet Shepherd's Pie Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef (can be substituted w/turkey) 3 large potatoes 1 small can of corn 1 small can of peas and carrots 1 large Onion 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 1/4 cup Guinness 1 tablespoon Gourmet Ghetto Beton Bacon Mustard 1 tablespoon Gourmet Ghetto Bacon Jam 1 1 stick butter 1/4 cup milk 8 ounces of beef stock Salt and Pepper Preheat oven to 400 Sauté the onion, when slightly brown add other veggies Sauté beef separately, brown then add beef stock, Guinness, Bacon jam and Mustard Separately, simultaneously boil the 3 potatoes, mash with butter and milk Add the veggies to the beef pan before layering an ungreashed casserole pan Layer mashed potatoes on top (Optional: add cheddar cheese to taste) Cook on 400 for 25 mins

“Pitter patter. Let’s get at’er.” Have you ever watched the first episode of a series and thought to yourself, “What the eff did I just watch?!” Yes? Did you then proceed to watch another, then another, then all of the sudden you’re left alone and uncomfortable because you’ve finished the series? Nowhere to turn, no comfort left in the world? That’s how I felt the first time I watched Letterkenny, a Hulu series. I then proceeded to get all of my people addicted to it as well. Dig deep, my friends. There is a lot out there that is waiting to be watched. Letterkenny was originally a series of YouTube videos before it's release in 2016 on Crave TV in Canada, later to be picked up by Hulu in 2018. The series recently released its 9th season on Hulu in December 2020, coming to a total of 54 episodes. This Canadian cult hit was created by and stars Jared Keeso (Elysium) and developed by and stars Jacob Tierney (The Trotsky). Creator Jared Keeso loosely based the show on his own small-town of 7000 people. Letterkenny is a series that is based in a rural Canadian town that initially seems to be mocking "hicks", “degens”, “skids”, fighting, drinks, religion (that includes a didgeridoo), dating, hockey, and community. That is merely skimming the surface of this series so PAY ATTENTION! There is a lot of backstory lurking in the beginning. Resist the urge to stop the stream after 10 minutes or reach for your phone. Letterkenny touches on subjects like feminism, homophobia, sexism, and anti-bullying in a progressive and almost slapstick form. It can be uncomfortable at times, but in a palatable way that actually makes you think. The characters are all over the place in a perfect sort of menagerie of diversity. Season One is so very different from Season Nine, you will feel ALL of the feelings through this journey that I’m encouraging you to take. There are some moments that you will absolutely relate to and others that will make you so cringingly uncomfortable that you can only laugh. This will happen over and over again. I mentioned that since I’ve been hooked on Letterkenny, I’ve managed to get other people stuck on it as well. It’s an interesting sort of compatibility test -- “Are you friend/boyfriend/girlfriend material?” I’d recommend this method to anyone, but you HAVE to find that unknown series that resonates with you first. Again, dig deep. “I look forward to seeing Wayne and the guys beat up whatever degen happens to cross their path.” said Zachary B. The fight scenes only get better as the series evolves. I think these scenes are when I first started to notice the patterns and reticulation that makes this series so addicting. You’ll start saying them. You’ll start doing them. You won’t be able to help yourself. And with these sayings and mannerisms, you’ll find your people. My friends moved from Los Angeles to Austin and noticed an Ontario license plate at their apartment building. They left a note saying “If you like Letterkenny, knock on our door." They now have a new friend. You find your people. “Any show with that many puns and alliteration catches my attention. It’s a combination of smart, silly, and crass that just works.” said David F. This right here is also key to the catchiness of this series. The conversations can definitely be uncomfortable, but there is a level of wholesomeness that makes it less cringy. Right off the bat, you understand that these characters are extreme examples of humanity which allows you to breathe during the moments of, “OMG WTF?!” Ultimately, this small town is morally driven -- they support and protect each other no matter what they’re categorized as. “Every time I re-watch an episode I notice things I didn’t catch the first time around. You can be laughing your a@# off at the first joke and totally miss the joke that follows it.” said Ashley K. “To be fair…” It does take a moment to zone into the vernacular -- but once you do, it’s almost impossible to stop watching. Not to mention RE-watching. You’ll catch things the second time around that you didn’t at the first watch. I reiterate - PAY ATTENTION! Pandemic aside, this is a show you want to tune-in to. Season Nine was recently released on Hulu December 26th, so now is the time to binge if you haven't already. Personally, I’ve watched all eight seasons a few times over now. I just finished re-watching AGAIN and I’m about to watch S9:E5. If you like smart, fast-paced, hilarious, weirdly diversely scripted shows -- this is your jam. Sometimes you just have to go back to what feels right and “wholesome” these days… and bring your people along for the ride as well. *taptap*

Tiny Anthems Catalogues and Shares the Lives of Everyday People through Detailed Songs Portland, Oregon (November 23, 2020) – Tiny Anthems, a Portland based organization, today announced the official launch of its personalized song service. Founded by musician Mike Long, the organization seeks to catalogue and share the life stories of as many people as possible. Partnering with Friends of Noise, a Portland based youth arts nonprofit, 10% of all revenue from the Tiny Anthems is reinvested into the community to cultivate safe, inclusive opportunities for youth musicians to make music. A Self-described, modern-day Bard, Long started Tiny Anthems to tell people’s stories and bring levity to his community. With details provided by users, Tiny Anthems creates dense, hilarious narratives about ordinary people in their words. "It's a multi-instrumental, colorful way of sharing someone's story,” explained Long. “The songs are like a highwire act. I balance all the details, memories, and anecdotes shared then add my own embellishments and narration style." The process begins with a questionnaire, via the Tiny Anthem’s website, designed to provide details about the subject/person of the "anthem". Once the questionnaire is completed Mike Long responds with a series of clarifying follow-up questions and composes an original "anthem" that musically captures this person. To date, there are over 120 Tiny Anthems and counting. The mission of the organization is to eventually establish a coalition of artists and organizations empowering social change through art. "Commissioned for a couple’s 50-year wedding anniversary, as a gift. The song describes with humor and lightness some of their coming together story, and then each person has a verse where I call out some of the eccentricities that make living with their partner a bit challenging at times." --Mike Long, Founder, Tiny Anthems "The songs are funny, but are ultimately sincere," stated Long. “I think everyone wants to see their life story played out in a much bigger, grander stage. I jokingly say that the songs are a way to ‘live forever’, but having a piece of art that celebrates your story, like a photograph that captures a picture of you, really does do that.” At this critical time, Tiny Anthems is donating 10% of all proceeds from the original anthems into programs that teach and empower youth-of-color to make music of their own. Pricing and information on how you can be immortalized in a Tiny Anthem available on the website, www.tinyanthems.com ### About Tiny Anthems Founded in 2017, Tiny Anthems is an artist’s undertaking to have ordinary citizens be immortalized in song. Using actual biographical information from actual strangers, Tiny Anthems composes, records, and sends users dense, detailed, and fleshed-out musical odes celebrating their loved ones. With over 120 sprawling, genre-spanning “anthems” composed, Tiny Anthems has the sole goal of telling the stories of our time in song. For more information visit www.tinyanthems.com

The 20th Annual Screamfest LA Horror Film Festival will be held at two Southern California Drive-in theaters, Calamigos Ranch, Malibu and Regency Plant, Van Nuys, from October 6-15th, 2020. The entirety of the festival will be held at the Regency Plant Drive-In at the Plant Shopping Center in Van Nuys, California with the exception of the opening night premiere of Hulu’s BOOKS OF BLOOD which will be screened at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, California. The festival is the largest and longest running horror film festival in the United States. Considered the “Sundance of Horror,” this year the festival has moved entirely to drive-in screenings with a lineup of ten back-to-back nights of fright, each showcasing a feature film paired with a number of shorts. Screamfest LA will kick off on October 6 with the Opening Night screening of BOOKS OF BLOOD, based on Clive Barker’s acclaimed and influential horror anthology Books of Blood. The feature from director Brannon Braga and executive producer Seth MacFarlane is slated to premiere as a Hulu original film on October 7.  The film will screen under the stars at the stunning opening night location of Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, CA, and will take audiences on a journey into uncharted and forbidden territory through three uncanny tales tangled in space and time.  The feature stars Britt Robertson, Rafi Gavron, Anna Friel, Yul Vazquez, and Freda Foh Shen. The majority of the festival will be held outdoors at the Regency Plant Drive-In in Van Nuys October 7-15. Highlights from this year’s program include the LA premieres of: THIRST, the first ever Icelandic gay splatter vampire flick; SANZARU, a captivating ghost story from filmmaker Xia Magnus; and THE BRAIND THAT WOULDN'T DIE, a Frankenstein story with a retro twist. Australian psychological horror SWEET RIVER, from director Justin McMillan, will make its North American debut, as well as Damian McCarthy’s feature film debut CAVEAT. US premieres include, Adam Stovall’s imaginative paranormal romance A GHOST WAITS (currently at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes), French writer/director Baptiste Rouveure’s ANONYMOUS ANIMALS, Australian apocalyptic dinner party AN IDEAL HOST and, social media teen slasher INITIATION from Screamfest alum John Berardo, which was recently acquired by Saban Films. Here are the details on the festival: WHEN:       Tuesday October 6, 2020 - Thursday October 15, 2020 WHERE:    Calamigos Ranch in Malibu (October 6 only) Regency Plant Drive-In at the Plant Shopping Center in Van Nuys (October 7-October 15) TICKETS:     Can be purchased at https://screamfestla.com/ ABOUT SCREAMFEST HORROR FILM FESTIVAL Formed in August 2001 by film producer Rachel Belofsky, Screamfest Horror Film Festival is a female-run 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that gives filmmakers and screenwriters in the horror and science fiction genres a venue to have their work showcased in the film industry. Among the numerous films that have been discovered and/or premiered at the festival include “Tigers Are Not Afraid.”, “The Wretched”, “We Summons the Darkness”, “Pledge”, “The Master Cleanse’, “Tragedy Girls”, “American Mary”, Paranormal Activity,” “30 Days of Night,” “Trick ‘r Treat” and “The Human Centipede.”  Screamfest hosts monthly screenings year-round such films include “Mom and Dad” starring Nicolas Cage and Selma Blair and many retrospective screenings. ABOUT 2020 SCREAMFEST PARTNERS Screamfest is sponsored by Birns & Sawyer,  ELMA, HorrorPack, Deadly Grounds, Simple DCP, Screenplay.com and InkTip. Screamfest is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Department of Arts and Culture. Screamfest is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs. This activity is supported in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency. Learn more at www.arts.ca.gov.

Today would have been the 50th birthday of actor River Phoenix who tragically died at just 23 years old Oct 31, 1993. Here are two of his 13 films that are often overlooked but I highly recommend watching: RUNNING ON EMPTY (1988) and DOGFIGHT (1991). In RUNNING ON EMPTY, Phoenix plays Danny Pope, a teenager on the run with his fugitive parents, Arthur (Judd Hirsch) and Annie Pope (Christine Lahti). The film begins with the family, which includes Danny's younger brother Harry, starting a new life with a new identity. They have been on the run since Danny was two due to his parents role in an anti-war protest bombing of a napalm laboratory in the 1970s. When Danny's exceptional talent as a pianist catches the attention of his new music teacher, Mr. Crowley (who begins to pry into Danny's personal life), the Popes decide they must run again. Between Crowley's urging for Danny to audition for Juliard and Danny's new found love for Crowley's daughter Lorna (Martha Plimpton), he begins to question whether he wants to remain with his family or forge his own life. Phoenix earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his incredible layered, intense yet sensitive handling of a teenager trying to find his own voice under extreme life circumstances. In the hands of any other actor this entire film would not have worked. The film was directed by the great Sydney Lumet (12 ANGRY MEN, DOG DAY AFTERNOON) and written by Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal (mother of Jake and Maggie) who was nominated for an Oscar for Best Screenplay and won the Golden Globe for her script. RUNNING ON EMPTY is currently streaming on HBO Max and can be rented on Amazon Prime for $1.99. DOGFIGHT, tells the story of a young marine named Edie Birdlace (Phoenix) on his last night before he is shipped out to Vietnam. The film begins on November 21, 1963 (the day before JFK was assassinated) as Eddie and his military buddies arrive in San Francisco from where they are set to deploy. Eddie and his friends plan to attend a cruel bar party called a "dogfight," which requires Marines to bring unattractive dates who will be judged for their ugliness. After several potential dates reject Eddie, he ducks into a coffee shop where he encounters a shy waitress, Rose (Lili Taylor) as she akwardly plays a folk song on her guitar. Rose accompanies Eddie to the dogfight and quickly discovers the cruel intentions of the event. Rose explodes at Eddie and his friends, storms out, Eddie runs after her, the night progresses and what began as a cruel game ends in a sweet love story. This is one of Lili Taylor's (MYSTIC PIZZA, THE CONJURING) finest performances. The film is so unexpected in its emotional impact: The backdrop of San Francisco in the folk era, the last night of innocence for the country (remember its set the night before JFK was assassinated), and the thoughtful, effortless way Phoenix masters the character arc of this role is astounding. It is a sad reminder of what we lost with him and, what could have been. The film, directed by Nancy Savoca (IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK) had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival. The soundtrack is fantastic featuring prominent 60s artists including, John Fahey, Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger and Malvina Reynolds. The film was adapted into an award winning stage musical in 2012 by Second Stage Theatre in NYC. DOGFIGHT is available to rent for $1.99 on Amazon Prime.

Hollywood, Calif. - August 19, 2020 - Netflix announced today the cast of Academy Award® winner Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming stop-motion animated musical feature Pinocchio. Newcomer Gregory Mann will star as Pinocchio with Ewan McGregor as Cricket and David Bradley (Harry Potter franchise, Game of Thrones) as Geppetto. Other cast includes Academy Award® winner Tilda Swinton, Academy Award® winner Christoph Waltz, Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things), Academy Award® winner Cate Blanchett, John Turturro (The Batman), Golden Globe winner Ron Perlman (Nightmare Alley), Tim Blake Nelson (Watchmen), Burn Gorman (Enola Holmes). Drawing on the classic Carlo Collodi tale, this stop motion musical follows the extraordinary journey of a wooden boy magically brought to life by a father’s wish. Set during the rise of Fascism in Mussolini’s Italy, del Toro's Pinocchio is a story of love and disobedience as Pinocchio struggles to live up to his father’s expectations. The film is directed by del Toro and Mark Gustafson (Fantastic Mr. Fox). Del Toro and Patrick McHale wrote the script. The song lyrics are by del Toro and Katz, with music by Academy Award® winner Alexandre Desplat who will also write the score. Gris Grimly created the original design for the Pinocchio character. The film’s puppets are being built by Mackinnon and Saunders (Corpse Bride). Pinocchio is produced by del Toro, The Jim Henson Company’s Lisa Henson, ShadowMachine’s Alex Bulkley and Corey Campodonico, as well as Exile Entertainment’s Gary Ungar; it is co-produced by Blanca Lista of The Jim Henson Company and Gris Grimly. Other credits include production supervisor Melanie Coombs, co-production designers Guy Davis and Curt Enderle, animation supervisor Brian Hansen, puppet supervisor Georgina Hayns, director of photography Frank Passingham, art director Rob DeSue, and animatic editor Ken Schretzmann. A lifelong passion project of del Toro, the film is set to debut in theaters and on Netflix. Principal photography began last Fall at ShadowMachine’s Portland, Oregon studio, and production has continued uninterrupted during the pandemic. “After years of pursuing this dream project, I found my perfect partner in Netflix. We have spent a long time curating a remarkable cast and crew and have been blessed by continuous support from Netflix to quietly and carefully soldier on, barely missing a beat. We all love and practice animation with great passion and believe it to be the ideal medium to retell this classic story in a completely new way,” says del Toro. ABOUT GUILLERMO DEL TORO Guillermo del Toro is one of the most innovative filmmakers of this generation. Consistently breaking creative ground with every project, del Toro continues to blur the lines with increasing frequency and ease between film and television, live action and animation. Del Toro has been an executive producer on some of the most beloved and successful animated films including the DreamWorks Animation feature films Puss in Boots, Kung Fu Panda 3, and The Rise of the Guardians. His movies include 2018’s The Shape of Water (winner of four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Production Design and Best Score), three time Academy Award winner Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy, Hellboy II, Crimson Peak, Pacific Rim and The Devil's Backbone. ABOUT THE JIM HENSON COMPANY The Jim Henson Company has remained a leader in family entertainment for over 60 years and is recognized as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics, and digital animation. Henson’s most recent television credits include Fraggle Rock: Rock On! for Apple TV+, and the critically-acclaimed Netflix Original series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. The Company is currently in production on the upcoming series Harriet the Spy for Apple TV+, Earth to Ned for Disney+, Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio for Netflix, and a reboot of Fraggle Rock for Apple TV+. ABOUT SHADOW MACHINE ShadowMachine is a world renowned, award-winning production studio specializing in world-building and comedy-craft, co-founded by producers Alexander Bulkley and Corey Campodonico. With full studio facilities in Los Angeles and Portland, OR dedicated to 2D, 3D, VR immersive, and stop-motion animation, ShadowMachine’s credits include the critically-acclaimed, award-winning shows BoJack Horseman, Tuca & Bertie, and Robot Chicken. ABOUT GARY UNGAR/EXILE ENTERTAINMENT Gary Ungar is the founder of production and management company Exile Entertainment. Throughout his career, Ungar has focused on discovering and supporting unique cinematic voices. His film and television production credits include The Strain, Gothika, and Modigliani. His current projects include the anthology series 10 After Midnight for Netflix and series at HBO, Searchlight Television, Quibi and Sony Studios. He has worked with Guillermo del Toro since director’s first feature, Cronos. ABOUT NETFLIX Netflix is the world's leading streaming entertainment service with 193 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.

For over 50 years Steve Martin, the Texan born, California raised, comedian, actor, musician, writer, filmmaker, has been making us laugh, cry, think, read, and yes, swoon. Asking someone to list their favorite Steve Martin "moment" is a bit like asking, "Who's your Bond?" His career literally has something for every generation. So who's your Steve Martin? Ask me (I'm a GenXer) and I would say, "Those aren't pillows!" ask my older brother he would say, "King Tut", ask my colleagues they'd enthusiasticly say, "Clouseau!" Sorry millennials Peter Sellers is Clouseau. You could ask my baby boomer cousins and they'd gush about the crush they had on Steve Martin as Meryl Streep's love interest in IT'S COMPLICATED, and my GenZ nieces would ask, "You mean that old guy in BILLY LYNN'S LONG HALFTIME WALK?" Yup that guy. And my mother, a member of the Greatest Generation, would no doubt recall her love for Steve Martin's hilarious physical comedy in so many movies. Martin has been decorated with every imaginable entertainment award including, The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, The AFI Life Achievement Award, the American Comedy Award's Lifetime Achievement, the 30th Kennedy Center Honors, the International Bluegrass Music Association's Entertainer of the Year, an Emmy, five Grammy Awards, an Honorary Oscar, and countless others including a Tony nomination (watch out EGOTS he's comin for y'all). Now 75, the comic, writer, movie star, novelist, children's book writer, playwright, pianist and banjo player, seems determined to write himself into the history books as the ultimate Renaissance Man of the 20th and 21st centuries. And he's also good at Twitter. Martin began his show business career working at the Magic Shop at Disney's Fantasyland, honing his skills as a magician, juggler, and balloon animal artist. He enrolled at Long Beach State College to study philosophy, but soon transferred to the theater program at UCLA. Martin began working in television in 1967 writing for the Smothers Brother's Comedy Hour, for which he won an Emmy. After establishing himself as one of the most sought after comedy writers in television, Martin hit the road as a stand-up comedian which is where fame found him. In an interview with famed rock, pop scribe, Paul Morley for Blitz magazine, Martin characterized his style: “With me, I would deny the punchline, and just keep going, so that the tension would just build and build so much that they would have to start laughing. They would find their own place to laugh, rather than laughing at the place where you told them to laugh.” Being able to find ones own place to laugh sparked the collective nerve of post-Vietnam, post-Nixon era America. Steve Martin's innovative approach to stand-up: Slapstick blended with physical comedy, music and his unique let them find the punchline approach was the validation American audiences needed to laugh again. Martin built a loyal, enthusiastic following across America performing stand-up in small clubs and venues. Spotlight-stealing appearances on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson helped grow his audience from 300 to 40,000 as he became one of the first comics to sell out stadiums. Discovering that large arenas obstructed most audience members from seeing him on stage, Martin started wearing a white suit so everyone could see him. The white suit shined like a beacon and a signature fashion statement was born. In 1977 Martin released his first comedy album, Let's Get Small. The album went Platinum (1m copies sold) and earned him the first of his five Grammy Awards. Let's Get Small contained the comedy bit, "Excuse Me", which became a national catchphrase, Martin's comedy was now part of the lexicon of American pop-culture. His follow up album was titled, "A Wild and Crazy Guy", named for his character Georg, one of the Czech Festrunk Brothers that he and Dan Aykroyd made famous on SNL. The album won a Grammy for Best Comedy Album, reached number two on Billboard's Pop Album Chart and was certified Double Platinum (2m+ copies sold) thanks to his now iconic SNL performance of the album's track, "King Tut". In 1981 after one of the most storied careers in stand-up comedy history, Steve Martin quit the medium forever. His autobiography Born Standing Up, (which I highly encourage everyone to read), explains, as he states, "why I did stand-up and why I walked away". In 1979 Steve Martin asked beloved comedian/writer/director Carl Reiner to direct his first feature film, THE JERK. Martin credits Reiner with teaching him how to make movies. Martin paid tribute to his friend and mentor in a recent New York Times article: "I was a novice film actor-writer wannabe, and I got lessons right away," wrote Martin. "My goal as a co-writer of the script was a joke on every page; Carl’s was too, but all through the process he stressed and bolstered the tangential romance that was in the early drafts until it was in the forefront. Carl’s most valuable contribution to the movie was its emotional center, and I suspect it was those heart tugs that made the film a success. After production ended on THE JERK, Martin and Reiner spent the next five or six years having lunch together every single day. They remained extremely close until Reiner's death June 29, 2020. THE JERK made Steve Martin crazy famous and proved him to be a great investment for Hollywood--the film earned $100m at the box office on a $4m budget. Though rooted in comedy, Martin's film career has been as free-flowing as his stand-up. He has infused his deliciously madcap physicality into romantic comedies like ALL OF ME co-starring Lily Tomlin, ROXANNE with Daryl Hannah and HOUSESITTER alongside Goldie Hawn. He became America's Dad in films like PARENTHOOD and two franchises, FATHER OF THE BRIDE and CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, and flexed his dramatic skills in David Mamet's THE SPANISH PRISONER and Lawrence Kasdan's Oscar contender GRAND CANYON. In John Hughes 1987 holiday classic, PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES, Martin played opposite John Candy as Neal Page, a man trying to overcome the insanity of holiday travel to get home to Chicago to be with his family for Thanksgiving. In his nuanced performance Martin showed a sensitivity and appreciation for "average" American life previously mocked and under-appreciated in films. Full List Steve Martin film credits Steve Martin the author, (one of his many side hustles), has been equally successful with a robust portfolio of screenplays, articles (many for The New Yorker), novellas, books, children's books, plays including the Tony nominated musical Bright Star, co-written with singer/songwriter Edie Brickell. He has adapted several works: 2005's SHOPGIRL which Martin co-starred in with Claire Danes (Homeland) and adapted from his book Shopgirl: A Novella and, Martin's script for the 1994 film A SIMPLE TWIST OF FATE was loosely based on George Eliot's novel Silas Marner. In 2002 Martin wrote the most recent adaptation of the 1910 German farce Die Hose by the playwright Carl Sternheim. The play originally ran Off Broadway at Classic Stage Company and is still being produced around the world today. At age seventeen Steve Martin started playing the banjo, a staple of his stand-up career. And before I continue let's be clear: Martin doesn't just play the banjo he is one of the world's best pickers. In his final stand-up comedy album, The Steve Martin Brothers, one entire side of the album featured Martin performing bluegrass music on his banjo. In 2009 he released his first all-music album, The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo featuring performances from Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Earl Scruggs, Tim O'Brien, Tony Trischka and Mary Black. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album. Martin made his first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry the same year. Martin has been touring and collaborating with American bluegrass band, The Steep Canyon Rangers since 2009. They've recorded several albums together including two that feature singer Edie Brickell. For now you can only experience the delights of Martin performing with the Steep Canyon Rangers, virtually but when the pandemic is over, go see them live. You are in for a night of toe-tapping fun and endless smiles. Another Steve Martin side hustle I should mention, hosting. Martin hosted The Academy Awards three times, twice alone and once with Alec Baldwin. Martin's legendary appearances hosting SNL (15 times, just one shy of Baldwin's record) supercharged his early screen acting career and left a legacy of some of the most memorable television sketches and characters of all time -- "The Festrunk Brothers: Two Wild and Crazy Guys", "Theodoric of York, Medieval Barber", “Dancing in the Dark” with the late Gilda Radner and of course, "King Tut". If you're wondering who the real man is behind all these intimidating albeit impressive, over-achieving skills, look no further than Martin's long enduring friendships to reveal his character. Martin Short first met Steve Martin in 1986 when they begin working on THREE AMIGOS! kicking off 34 years of friendship and a whole lotta yucks and fun for all of us. Short said of their friendship, “Some people you work on a film with and then they disappear. I think we both made a conscious decision, ‘We're not letting this one go.” Spawned from their long-lasting friendship, the two-man stage show, Steve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life which the duo performed across the country. It became a special for Netflix in 2018. Despite his many appearances on screen as a Dad, Martin himself did not become one until the age of 67 when he and his wife Anne Stringfield welcomed their baby girl. Martin said he named her "Conquistador" to avoid "those Weird Hollywood Names". Her name is Mary. So on this 75th birthday of our Renaissance Man, Steve Martin, I salute you! I look forward to many more side hustles and a lot more laughter, music and prose. I will end with this-- Martin's message of hope for when the pandemic is all over. A banjo song he wrote called "Jubilation Day". Take it away Steve! Bonus! Steve Martin Movies you can stream now on Amazon Prime

Legendary Italian film composer Ennio Morricone died today at his home in Rome. He was 91. In a career that spanned over 70 years, "Maestro" as he was so dubbed, produced some of the most memorable movie sounds of all time including his iconic scoring of Sergio Leone's "Spaghetti Westerns". Morricone collaborated multiple times with Leone who once said of his friend and classmate, "The music is indispensable, because my films could practically be silent movies, the dialogue counts for relatively little, and so the music underlines actions and feelings more than the dialogue," explained Leone. "I’ve had him write the music before shooting, really as a part of the screenplay itself.” Clint Eastwood starred in three of Leone’s films that Morricone scored, A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS (1964), FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE (1965) and THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY (1966). In 2007 Eastwood presented Morricone with an Honorary Oscar which he accepted through a translator as he never became fluent in English. He also never wanted to move to Hollywood despite being offered villas by the studio. He preferred to stay in his native Italy. Despite overwhelming peer consensus of his genius and, five Oscar nominations, he did not win his first competitive Oscar until 2016 for his scoring of Quentin Tarantino's THE HATEFUL EIGHT (2015). Tarantino was a big fan of Morricone and used several of his compositions in his other films. Morricone was set to score INGLORIOUS BASTERDS (2009) but had to back out because he had not quite finished another project and was steadfastly committed to completely work to perfection. Morricone did not like the term "Spaghetti Western" and insisted his work in the genre was only a fraction of his career. Too true as he scored many other popular films of the past 40 years: LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (1978), John Carpenter’s THE THING (1982), Roman Polanski’s FRANTIC (1988). Morricone's ability to evoke emotions with his sounds was second-to-none: The heart- wrenching scene at the end of CINEMA PARADISO (1989) when the now-grown "Toto" watches the kiss montage, the hauntingly beautiful and serene sound of Gabriel's oboe underscoring the horrific destruction of life in THE MISSION (1986), relief and triumph after a long-bloody battle to take down Al Capone in Brian de Palma's THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987). In 1984 the U.S. distributor of the film ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA failed to submit the paperwork for Morricone's score to be considered for an Oscar, depriving him of what many believe would have been his first win. Stanley Kubrick was also a huge fan of Morricone. Kubrick asked Mr. Leone, who was working with Morricone on his film DUCK YOU SUCKER (1971) if Morricone could take time to score his film, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. Leone insisted Morricone was too busy. He wasn't. The Maestro said he would regret missing out on the opportunity till his dying day. Morricone scored over 500 films, the last, THE CANTERVILLE GHOST, an upcoming animated adaptation of Oscar Wilde's classic story. Morricone is survived by his wife, Maria Travia and four children, Andrea, Giovanni, Alessandra and Marco.

Southern California drive-in theaters are open for business and now the City of Ontario, Ontario International Airport (ONT) and Street Food Cinema have a deal for you – a series of free drive-in movies, displayed on two 50-foot screens with digital sound fed directly into your vehicle via FM radio signal. “Drive-In Movie Nights at Your Airport” will take place over four different nights through July at Lot 5 on the northeast corner of the airport property. The series will premiere on Friday, June 19, with – appropriately enough – “Ford v Ferrari,” a major portion of which was filmed at ONT. It will be followed by a showing of “The Sandlot” on July 3, “Princess Bride” on July 17, and “Napoleon Dynamite” on July 31. Showtime for all four nights is 8:30 p.m. Reserve Update 6/12/20: Ford v Ferrari has sold out. Follow this post for updates on Reservations for the other film showings. More information at Drive-in Movie Nights Time Out Los Angeles put together a list of all the Drive-in theaters in Southern California. Here's everything you need to know - Southern California Drive-ins

Criterion, the premier boutique cinema company preserving, restoring and curating collections of important classic and contemporary films, announced on Thursday, June 4, 2020 that it would offer a selection of films by and about Black voices for free. Criterion Statement: This has been a powerfully emotional time. The disproportionate toll that COVID-19 has taken on communities of color; the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Tony McDade; and the casually lethal racism of the Central Park dog walker who called the cops on bird-watcher Christian Cooper have once again thrown into sharp focus the inescapable reality of systemic racism in our society and the many kinds of violence it inflicts on black Americans every day. Black Lives Matter. The anguish and fury unleashed all across the country are rooted in centuries of dehumanization and death. This pattern must stop. We support the protesters who have taken to the streets to demand justice, and we share their hopes. We are committed to fighting systemic racism. We’ve met as a company and a community to talk openly about the work we need to do to build a better, more equitable, more diverse Criterion, beginning with education and training for our ownership and our staff. We are also committed to examining the role we play in the idea of canon formation, whose voices get elevated, and who gets to decide what stories get told. Today we are establishing an employee-guided fund with a $25,000 initial contribution and an ongoing $5,000 monthly commitment to support organizations fighting racism in America, including bail funds, community organizations, legal defense funds, and advocacy groups that address police reform. If you follow us on Twitter or Instagram, we’ll keep you informed of the organizations we’re supporting. We are also using our streaming platform, the Criterion Channel, to highlight films that focus on Black Lives, including works by early pioneers of African American Cinema such as Oscar Micheaux; classics by Maya Angelou, Julie Dash, William Greaves, Kathleen Collins, Cheryl Dunye, and Charles Burnett; contemporary work by Khalik Allah and Leilah Weinraub; and documentary portraits of black experience by white filmmakers Les Blank and Shirley Clarke. We’ve taken down the paywall on as many of these titles as we can, so even if you aren’t a subscriber you can watch them for free. We are grateful for your continued support and hope that you will join us in speaking out and making a meaningful commitment to battling systemic racism in our country. On the company’s streaming service, a collection of films highlighting Black Lives are available to stream for free, without a subscription. In addition Criterion has established an “employee-guided fund” with an initial contribution of $25,000 and an additional $5,000 monthly to support organizations “fighting racism in America.” These include bail and legal defense funds, community organizations, and advocacy groups. These films include titles from all across film history. Below is the list of movies: Body and Soul – A 1925 silent film from a true pioneer of African American cinema, Oscar Micheaux. Micheaux was the first Black filmmaker to produce a feature film and became one of the most prolific and important directors of the era. This movie, starring the legendary Paul Robeson, follows a malevolent and sinister minister who corrupts the community. The Watermelon Woman – Cheryl Dunye’s 1996 film about a young, Black lesbian filmmaker (Dunye) who probes the life of a 1930s actress who played “mammy” stereotypes. My Brother’s Wedding – Charles Burnett’s 1983 indie about a struggling man who has to be the best man at his lawyer-brother’s wedding to a well-to-do woman. Black Mother – The 2018 documentary about Jamaica and its people, from filmmaker Khalik Allah. Portrait of Jason – The 1967 documentary about Black gay prostitute Jason Holliday. Suzanne, Suzanne – The 1982 documentary short about Suzanne Browning, a substance abuse teenager, and the downward spiral of her family. Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One – William Greaves’ fascinating 1968 pseudo-documentary about the making of a student film and the behind-the-scenes drama of making that film. Black Panthers – A 1968 documentary short from the legendary Agnes Varda. Shakedown – Leilah Weinraub’s 2018 documentary chronicling explicit performances in an underground lesbian club in Los Angeles. Down in the Delta – The 1998 family drama directed by Maya Angelou in her feature directorial debut. The film stars Alfre Woodard, Al Freeman, Wesley Snipes and the hreat Esther Rolle in her final film appearance before her death. Cane River – Horace Jenkins’ 1982 drama about the romance between two people from very different class backgrounds. Losing Ground – Kathleen Collins’ 1982 comedy-drama about a college professor and her painter husband spending a summer out of the city, straining their already rocky relationship. Daughters of the Dust – 1991 drama from writer-director Julie Dash about the Gullah culture in the sea islands off the coast of South Carolina. Criterion said they have endeavored to take the paywall down for as many of these titles as possible. They have also provide a list of ways for you to take action after watching some films exploring the Black experience.

Part 1 of the Pandemic Movie Series Life as we know it has paused, for how long, we do not know. Everyone is on edge. This morning I saw two women physically fighting over a carton of strawberries. Many of us who work in the gig economy or as contract workers, part-time, seasonal, etc etc are terrified as we do not qualify for unemployment, have no sick pay, and have no idea how we are going to pay our rent. I get it, and I'm right there with you. Those of us who are storytellers need to do it now more than ever--in whatever medium you can do it in. I've been writing about movies for 25 years. So here's what I offer up to lighten the load -- 25 great movies that you can stream right now for free with your Amazon Prime or Netflix account. Let me say this, I hate list based articles. This is a thoughtfully curated list, fully vetted with explanations for why I chose the films, trivia and fun facts. Most of the films on the list are not easily found on Netflix and Amazon Prime's promotional rotations. They are hidden gems, iconic and classic films you didn't realize were streaming. There is something for everyone, in every genre, for all ages. They are in no particular order. Click the images to go directly to the films. Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments and perhaps turn this list into a viewing club. I will be back with 25 more films in Part 2 of the Pandemic series. Stay safe and healthy and enjoy! Disclaimer: At the time of publication, March 20, 2020, all of these films were streaming for free on either Netflix or Amazon Prime. Take note, several of the films are leaving free streaming March 31, 2020, and are marked as such. 1. The Court Jester Musical, Comedy, Classic, 1955 Amazon Prime Director: Melvin Frank, Norman Panama Starring: Danny Kaye, Glynis Johns, Basil Rathbone, Angela Lansbury, Cecil Parker Synopsis: Hawkins, a kind-hearted entertainer, who disguises himself as the legendary king of jesters, Giacomo, infiltrates the court of the evil villain Sir Ravenhurst but when a sorceress hypnotizes him, royal chaos ensues. The Pitch: This classic movie is comedy gold and is the perfect respite from our over-stimulated, CGI based virtual world. Danny Kaye (White Christmas) leads an all star cast of classic actors including, Glynis Johns (Mary Poppins), a very young Angela Lansbury (Murder She Wrote), Cecil Parker (The Lady Killers) and the great Basil Rathbone who, long before Benedict Cumberbatch made Sherlock Holmes a household name appearing in over 14 films as the character. The most expensive comedy ever made, at the time ($4m), The Court Jester bombed at the box office. But over the years the film became a matinee classic with now famous exchanges: "Get it?" "Got it." "Good!" and "The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle; the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true!" Kaye's Golden Globe nominated performance is chicken soup for the weary soul. 2. Three Days of the Condor Mystery, Thriller, 1975 Amazon Prime Director: Sydney Pollack Starring: Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Max Von Sydow, Cliff Robertson Synopsis: A mild mannered CIA researcher paid to read books, returns from lunch to find all of his co-workers assassinated. "Condor" must find out who did this and get in from the cold before the hitmen get him. The Pitch: Three Days of the Condor is a member of the elite class of great action/drama films produced in the 1970s. Robert Redford, in his prime flexes more than his good looks in this smart spy thriller. The opening sequence will unnerve you in 60 seconds or less after Max Von Sydow creeps into the scene. Swedish actor Max Von Sydow is extraordinary as hitman, Joubert. A methodical and charming killer, every moment he's on screen sends a chill up your spine. It's a somewhat cerebral thriller exploring the many layers of good and bad, through the inner antics of the CIA. Directed by Oscar winning director, Sydney Pollack (Tootsie, Out of Africa), Three Days of the Condor is one of seven films Pollack and Redford did together. The screenplay was written by Lorenzo Semple Jr and David Rayfiel based on the novel by James Grady. Pollack's use of long running sequences down narrow hallows and staircases is effective at rattling you, keeping you on the edge of your seat.All but one of the cast members are Oscar winners; Redford (Ordinary People), Faye Dunaway (Network), Cliff Robertson (Charly), John Houseman (The Paper Chase), Von Sydow was nominated but never won. Sadly Von Sydow died March 8 at 90. 3. Big Night Comedy, Drama 1996 Amazon Prime Director: Stanley Tucci and Campbell Scott Starring: Stanley Tucci, Tony Shalhoub, Ian Holm, Minnie Driver, Isabella Rossilini Synopsis: Two brothers run an Italian restaurant. Business is not going well as a rival Italian restaurant is out-competing them. In a final effort to save the restaurant, the brothers plan to put on an evening of incredible food for singer Louis Prima who they’ve been conned into believing his coming to their restaurant by a rival restaurateur. The Pitch: This unbelievably charming film is one of my favorites from the 90s. It made stars out of actors Stanley Tucci (who also directed the film) and Tony Shalhoub and has one of the all-time greatest funny fight scenes: Italian brothers and restaurateurs Primo (Shalhoub) and Secondo (Tucci) have lost all hope for saving their restaurant and blame each other. Screaming at each other in Italian, their verbal fight turns into a hysterical tumble on the beach. Set in New Jersey in the 1950s, there is so much to love about this film. They pulled off an A-level quality production on a very small budget ($4.1m). It has a fabulous ensemble cast with now famous actors you will be happily surprised to see, stunning costume design, production and set design, the music is...well, Louis Prima! And one of the best screenplays of the era which took home the prestigious Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the Sundance Film Festival. 4. Macbeth Drama, History, War, 2015 Amazon Prime Director: Justin Kurzel Starrring: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Paddy Considine, Sean Harris Synopsis: Macbeth, the Thane of Glamis, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself. The Pitch: This adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth is powerful and in my opinion, one of the best Shakespeare adaptations. Oscar nominated actor, Michael Fassbender's (12 Years a Slave), is captivating in the title role making it impossible to turn your attention away from the screen. What I particularly love about this film is the combo of Fassbender and Sean Harris who plays MacDuff. Harris has become a popular movie villain of late, starring opposite Tom Cruise as the villainous Solomon Lane in two of the Mission Impossible films. Watching Harris and Fassbender throw down is like watching battle acting. Marion Cotillard is equally enthralling as Lady MacBeth and Paddy Considine (In America), also getting his star on most recently in HBO’s The Outsider, delivers a powerful performance as Banquo. It’s in Shakespearean tongue yet this adaptation is far more accessible and easy to follow. Brilliant battle sequences for those who dig those. 5. No Way Out Action, Suspense, 1987 Amazon Prime - Leaving 3/31/20 Director: Roger Donaldson Starrring: Kevin Costner, Gene Hackman, Will Patton, Sean Young Synopsis: Navy Lt. Tom Farrell meets a young woman, Susan Atwell and they share a passionate fling. Farrell then finds out that his superior, Defense Secretary David Brice is also romantically involved with Atwell. When the young woman turns up dead, Farrell is put in charge of the murder investigation. He begins to uncover shocking clues about the case, and becomes a suspect as well. The Pitch: Kevin Costner, fresh off his success playing Elliott Ness in The Untouchables, was on the verge of becoming one of the biggest stars in Hollywood when No Way Out came out in 1987. It is a fast, exciting, edge-of-your seat thriller with twists and turns that will misdirect you until the very last scene. The film is based on the 1946 novel The Big Clock by Kenneth Fearing. It was a modest hit, debuting number two at the box office (Stakeout was number one) and has often been overlooked over the years as it doesn’t frequently pop up on cable or network lineups like other similar movies of the era. Gene Hackman is, as always, the perfect foil as bad-guy Secretary of Defense, David Brice to Costner’s earnest do-the-right-thing Commander Tom Farrell. but the real star of this film is character actor Will Patton (Armageddon, The Postman) who delivers one of his career best performances. Sean Young briefly co-stars and as does model/actress, Iman, veteran character actor George Dzunda (Basic Instinct, Crimson Tide) and former US Senator Fred Thompson in the early days of his successful acting career (The Hunt for Red October, Law and Order). The music is super 80s, don't hate, part of its charm. No Way Out is one of my favorites from the era. It does not disappoint. 6. Train to Busan Action, Horror, International, 2016 Netflix Director: Sang-ho Yeon Starrring: Yoo Gong, Yu-mi Jung, Dong-seok Ma Synopsis: While a zombie virus breaks out in South Korea, a Dad and his daughter struggle to survive a harrowing journey on the train from Seoul to Busan, the only safe city from the outbreak. The Pitch: All eyes on South Korean cinema after Parasite made history as the first-ever international film to win a Best Picture Oscar. But South Korea has been producing phenomenal films for years particularly in the horror and action genres. Train to Busan is a perfect example of their mastery of the horror genre and is one of the best zombie films in years. Train to Busan, which debuted at the Cannes International Film Festival in 2016, is the first live-action film for writer/director Sang-Ho Yeon who rose to prominence as an animated feature film director. The movie was a huge box office hit, the highest grossing film of the year locally. It is frantic, gory (in the best way), and thrilling. The story is simple but illustrates how less is more works when told well (e.g. there’s a shark, eating people, gotta kill it.) The train is a perfect vehicle, pushing the story forward literally and metaphorically. We meet characters along the way who we do not want to see die particularly, Lead, Yoo Gong, the father fighting zombies to keep his daughter safe. He was a classically trained actor and model known for playing romantic leads--which is conveniently paradoxical. Fans of the zombie genre rates this amongst the greatest. If you’re not a fan, but you’re game, it is the wildest right on screen. 7. A Little Princess Family, Based on Books, Drama, 1995 Netflix Director: Alfonso Cuarón Starrring: Eleanor Bron, Liam Cunningham, Liesel Matthews Synopsis: When her father, fighting in World War I, goes missing, a young girl is relegated to servitude at a boarding school by a headmistress determined to stifle her self-worth. The Pitch: Based on the Frances Hodgson Burnett classic children’s book, A Little Princess is one of those kid’s movies that adults will appreciate. The film marks the first feature film directed by 4x Oscar winner, Alfonso Cuarón (The Revenant, Gravity). Cuarón gave up his first offer to direct a feature, Addicted to Love starring Meg Ryan and Matthew Broderick, to direct A Little Princess instead. Although it wasn’t a big box office hit, it was critically acclaimed and sent him on his way to being one of the most sought-after and awarded directors of the 21st century. This info is critical to my reason for listing this film as its beauty lies with Cuarón’s genius. He is an incredible storyteller whose respect for the source material shines all the way through the film. This is the first feature film collaboration for Cuarón and 3x Oscar-winning cinematographer, Emmanuel Lubezki (The Revenant, Birdman, Gravity). A Little Princess was nominated for two Oscars including one for Lubezki and for Production and Set Design. The artistry and craftsmanship of this film is what sets it apart from other children’s movies and adaptations. Game of Thrones fans will be happy to catch a glimpse of Sir Davos (Liam Cunningham) as the little princess’s father. 8. Bernie Biography, Comedy, Crime, 2011 Amazon Prime Director: Richard Linklater Starrring: Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey Synopsis: In small-town Texas, an affable mortician strikes up a friendship with a wealthy widow, though when she starts to become controlling, he goes to great lengths to separate himself from her grasp. The Pitch: Bernie is based on the crazy true story of Bernhardt "Bernie" Tiede, who was convicted for the murder of Marjorie "Marge" Nugent, a wealthy 80-year-old widow, in Carthage, Texas on November 19, 1996. Jack Black is fantastic in the title role, pushing the limits of his comedy comfort zone. He was nominated for a Golden Globe and frankly could have been nominated for an Oscar. Also great, Shirley MacLaine in the least amount of dialogue she’s ever had on screen and Matthew McConaughey in the midst of his 2.0 phase pumping out indie films with meaty Oscar-worthy roles. The film is produced, written and directed by Richard Linklater well known for the Ethan Hawke starring Before trilogy (Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Before Midnight) and his Oscar winning groundbreaker, Boyhood. Linklater, who had previously worked with Black on School of Rock, handpicked him for the the role. Linklater spent an exorbitant amount of time researching the story and had multiple visits with Bernie in jail. The two became friends fact in 2014, Linklater and original prosecutor, Danny Buck (portrayed by McConaughey), led the charge to get Bernie out of jail after new evidence came to light. For a short period of time Bernie lived in a property owned by Linklater in Austin. In 2016 Bernie returned to jail after being sentenced to 99 years. Linklater, a master at character study, examines the question, can the nicest guy in the world commit such a heinous act? The answer and the film will surprise you. 9. Harold and Maude Biography, Comedy, Crime, 1971 Amazon Prime Director: Hal Ashby Starrring: Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort, Tom Skerritt Synopsis: Harold is young, rich and obsessed with death. Maude is a lovable a fun-loving 80-year-old eccentric. When the two meet at a funeral and develop a deep bond, they must reconcile their disparate beliefs about the meaning life. The Pitch: On every critics top movie list, Harold and Maude is a timeless gem. And I'm not just saying that because it's the inspiration for our podcast (The Harold & Maudecast). If you haven’t seen Oscar winner Ruth Gordon (Rosemary’s Baby) in action, this role is the one to see first. Every moment of Gordon on screen will add 10 years to your life. At its core, this is a love story, proving that the heart sees only love not age, or class, or any societal-driven barrier. The film’s director, Hal Ashby is the darling of film students everywhere, having directed some of the most critically acclaimed and iconic films of the 70s, The Last Detail, Coming Home, Shampoo and my personal favorite Being There (see later in list). Written by comedy legend, Collin Higgins, who was responsible for pretty much every hilarious movie from the era, Foul Play, Silver Streak, 9 to 5. Harold and Maude was based on Higgin’s thesis for the UCLA screenwriting MFA program. He sadly died too young at 47 in 1988. In addition to the brilliant script, direction and Gordon’s performance, the film’s songs were composed and performed by Cat Stevens including the wonderful, If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out. There’s something for everyone in this film, hilarity, oddity, romance, drama. Any fan of laughing and smiling needs to put this on their list. 10. Monty Pythons's Life of Brian Classic, Comedy, British, 1979 Netflix Director: Terry Jones Starrring: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones Synopsis: Born on the original Christmas in the stable next door to Jesus Christ, Brian of Nazareth spends his life being mistaken for a messiah. The Pitch: Just over 40 years ago when Monty Python’s biblical satire, Life of Brian was set to be released several religious groups protested the film as blasphemies and countries including, Ireland and Norway banned it outright. The controversy over the film may be one of the best case studies for no publicity is bad publicity as it went on to be an unexpected huge box office hit. John Cleese offered to send the protestors a crate of champagne for making him rich. The film almost didn’t happen at all until George Harrison, a friend of the troupe, stepped in to arrange funding after EMI Films withdrew as financier. Collectively written by the entire group, Chapman, Cleese, Gilliam, Idle, Palin and Jones, and directed by Jones, Life of Brian is one of the funniest movies of all time. Ridiculous and silly-- everything we love about Monty Python and more. The end scene (one of the most controversial and hilarious), Brian and a group sing "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" while tapping their dangling feet in unison to the beat. The song, written by Eric Idle has become a classic in its own right, a regular sing-a-long at public events and football matches all over the UK. In addition to Life of Brian, Netflix is currently streaming Monty Python and the Holy Grail and their entire Flying Circus television series 11. Arctic Adventure, Drama, Suspense, 2019 Amazon Prime Director: Joe Penna Starrring: Mads Mikkelsen, Maria Thelma Smáradóttir, Tintrinai Thikhasuk Synopsis: A man stranded in the Arctic after a plane crash must decide whether to remain in the relative safety of his makeshift camp or to embark on a deadly trek through the unknown. The Pitch: Danish film actor, Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal, Doctor Strange) proves why he is one of the best actors of his generation in this intense survival story. The film is quiet, slow, and has very minimal dialogue as Mikkelsen spends much of the time alone. Despite the pacing it is not boring at all. In fact, it is captivating thanks to Mikkelsen’s Oscar-worthy performance and Brazillian writer/director Joe Pena’s thoughtful, purposeful direction. Unlike other survival stories where the protagonist does everything wrong, Mikkelsen’s character does everything right, a refreshing change. He is a pilot who clearly has survival training which becomes fascinating in itself--watching a trained survivalist take command yet still ultimately be helpless against the elements. The film was shot in Iceland, home to director of photography, Tómas Örn Tómasson whose stunning cinematography is an essential component to the narrative. Artic premiered at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival at the midnight screening. It received a 10 minute standing ovation and was sold the next morning. Pena was nominated for a Golden Camera award at the festival. Watch this when you're prepared to tune in with no distractions. 12. Some Like it Hot Comedy, Crime, Romance 1959 Amazon Prime - Leaving 3/31/20 Director: Billy Wilder Starrring: Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, Marilyn Monroe Synopsis: When two male musicians witness a mob hit, they flee the state in an all-female band disguised as women, but further complications set in. The Pitch: In the height of the conservative Eisenhower era, making a farce about two musicians, Joe (Tony Curtis) and Jerry (Jack Lemmon) dressing up as women to escape from gangsters, starring the most popular sex symbol of the era as singer Sugar Kane (Marilyn Monroe), was a bold move. Only six time Oscar winning director and writer, Billy Wilder, could pull it off, and pull it off he did. Some Like it Hot, has endured as one of the greatest films of all time and the blueprint for comedies. The story was inspired by an obscure 1951 German film, Fanfaren der Liebe, that was a remake of an even more obscure 1935 French film, Fanfares D’Amour. Co-written with Oscar winning screenwriter, IAL Diamond (The Apartment), the script is peppered with razor sharp witted dialogue, and the best use of double entendres--brainy not cheesy. Wilder felt that in order for the reveal to work, the film needed more of a sense of urgency. Setting the story in the Roaring ‘20s, having the men witness one of the most brutal events in history, the St Valentine’s Day massacre, raised the stakes to life and death perfectly setting up the punchline Jack Lemmon delivers taking off his wig, “I’m a man”. Wilder was a master caster handpicking silent movie stars and actors from the 30s whose careers had been sidelined (Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard see next), something mirrored decades later by Quentin Tarantino (John Travolta in Pulp Fiction). In Some Like it Hot Wilder cast veteran 30s comedian Joe E. Brown, in the career reviving role as Osgood Fielding III. It was Brown who uttered the infamous last line, “Well, nobody’s perfect.” Also cast was iconic movie gangster George Raft (Scarface) as wise guy “Spats” Colombo and Wilder even found a cameo for Edward G. Robinson (Little Caesar, Key Largo) as mob boss, Johnny Paradise. The big band music is fun as is every moment of this delicious film. 13. Sunset Boulevard Drama, Crime, 1950 Amazon Prime Director: Billy Wilder Starring: Gloria Swanson, William Holden, Erich von Stroheim Synopsis: An aging silent film queen refuses to accept that her stardom has ended. She hires a young screenwriter to help set up her movie comeback. The screenwriter believes he can manipulate her, but he soon finds out he is wrong. The screenwriters ambivalence about their relationship and her unwillingness to let go leads to a situation of violence, madness, and death. The Pitch: Nominated for 11 Oscars, winner of three, Sunset Boulevard is oft considered a masterpiece. In the ultimate art imitating life role, Director Billy Wilder chose aging silent movie star Gloria Swanson to play aging silent movie star, Norma Desmond. Swanson’s memorable performance was nominated for an Oscar. Swanson and fellow nominee Bette Davis (All About Eve) were famously furious for losing the Best Actress Oscar to a comedic performance by Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday. Wilder penned the Oscar winning script with writers Charles Brackett and D.M. Marshman, Jr. I thought a lot about whether to include this film in the #MeToo era. Though it was meant to mock Hollywood and its intolerance of aging with a the cartoonish portrayal of Desmond, pitiful and grotesque, leaning into her old age (50, really?) as the reason. When in fact her isolation is why she has lost contact with reality. When young writer, Joe Gillis (William Holden) enters her estate it is hard to miss the parallel to Pip’s first visit to Miss Habersham’s in Dicken’s Great Expectations. And the infamous line, “I’m ready for my close up Mr. DeMille,” as Norma descends the staircase in clownish makeup, again emphasizing her age as a character flaw. That said, the film’s significance in cinema history is undeniable and the story, though shackled by the stereotypes of the era, is well worth examining. The movie was adapted into a Broadway musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber after Stephen Sondheim abandoned his plans to adapt it. Over its many Broadway runs several stars took on the Desmond role including Glenn Close who won the Tony for her portrayal in 1995. 14. Murder on the Orient Express Crime, Drama, Mystery, Book Adaptation, 1974 Amazon Prime Director: Sydney Lumet Starrring: Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery, Vanessa Redgrave, Anthony Perkins, David Niven Synopsis: Having concluded a case, detective Hercule Poirot settles into what he expects will be a relaxing journey home aboard the Orient Express. But when an unpopular billionaire is murdered en route, Poirot takes up the case, and everyone on board the famous train is a suspect. The Pitch: The 1974 version of This 1974 adaptation of Agatha Christie’s classic is one of the best. Albert Finney (my personal favorite Poirot) leads one of the all time great ensemble casts, 8 Oscar winners including, Ingrid Bergman, who took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Fantastically creepy and genuinely scary, and far superior to Kenneth Branaugh’s fun but flawed 2017 remake, this is a must-see for mystery fans. The great Sydney Lumet (Network, Dog Day Afternoon, The Verdict), helms and veteran spy screenwriter Paul Dehn (The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, Goldfinger) penned the script adapted from Christie's 1933 book. C’est magnifique! 15. The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert Comedy, Amazon Prime - leaving 3/31/20 Director: Stephan Elliott Starring: Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce Synopsis: When drag queen Anthony agrees to take his act on the road, he invites fellow cross-dresser Adam and transsexual Bernadette to come along. In their colorful bus, named Priscilla, the three performers travel across the Australian desert performing for enthusiastic crowds and homophobic locals. But when the other two performers learn the truth about why Anthony took the job, it threatens their act and their friendship. The Pitch: If you’re looking for total escape and never-ending pure raucous fun that will make you wanna dance and sing for the entire 1:44min run-time, look no more you are home! This Australian movie, written and directed by Stephen Elliott, is a tender, witty story dressed up as a wacky, over-the-top musical. The costumes design alone, winner of the Best Costume Design Oscar for Lizzy Gardiner and Tim Chappel, is worth the watch alone. Veteran British character actor, Terence Stamp (Superman II) beat out David Bowie, John Cleese, Tim Curry, Tony Curtis and John Hurt for the role of aging drag queen, Bernadette. The performance earned Stamp a Golden Globe nomination. The film also skyrocketed into stardom the careers of co-stars, Hugo Weaving (The Matrix, Lord of the Rings trilogy) and Guy Pearce (The King's Speech, Iron Man 3). Priscilla, the trio’s bus, not a drag queen, is the star of the film, carrying them and their fabulous frocks across the Australian outback. Their journey begins in Sydney before they venture out to the desert--the gorgeous backdrop against the spectacular costumes are some of the greatest visuals in cinema history. Because so much of the film takes place on the road, in a bus too small to fit the crew, many scenes have crew members in the shot, hiding under clothes and other props. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was a surprise box office hit becoming a cult classic in Australia and around the world. It was the basis for the theater adaptation, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, which opened in Sydney in 2006 before landing on Broadway. You will get your nostalgia on as you sing along to all the Abba songs and more. Run don’t walk to your couch to watch this heavenly cinematic jewel. 16. Ladies in Lavender Drama, Romance, British movies, 2004 Amazon Prime Director: Charles Dance Starrring: Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Daniel Bruhl Synopsis: Aging spinster sisters Ursula and Janet discover a young man near death on the beach by their home in a small Cornish fishing village. Taking him in, they discover that he is Andrea, a violinist from Krakow, Poland, who had been swept off an ocean liner on which he was sailing to a fresh start in America. The Pitch: This sweet film will warm heart and make you a little sad. Don't worry it ultimately leaves you at peace. The film marked the first English-language role for German actor Daniel Brühl (Rush, Captain America: Civil War) and the directorial debut from Game of Thrones alum, Charles Dance (who plays Tywin Lannister). Oscar winners Smith and Dench are lovely, particularly Dench whose moving performance will tear ya up. Dance also wrote the screenplay, adapted from a short story by William J. Locke. It was shot on a shoestring budget in the space of a month at the gorgeous Cornish coast. The story explores aging while single in such a sensitive way yet honest way. Resist the temptation to say, "Ok Boomer", this is a beautiful little film. 17. Nighthawks Action, Crime, Thriller 1981 Netflix Director: Bruce Malmuth, Gary Nelson (uncredited) Starrring: Sylvester Stallone, Rutger Hauer, Billy Dee Williams, Lindsay Wagner Synopsis: Conservative street cop Deke DaSilva reluctantly agrees to terminate an international terrorist who has demanded media attention. But DaSilva's "at-home" tactics are very much put to the challenge. The Pitch: This early 80s suspense thriller starring Sly Stallone is so often overlooked but is one of the best B movies of the era. Stallone is great as DaSilva, a pre-franchised career role. Rutger Hauer, who we sadly lost in 2019, gives one of the greatest villain performances ever rivaled only by his own performance in Blade Runner which came out the year after Nighthawks was released. Nighthawks refers to the men and women street cops of the New York City Crime Unit who patrol the city at nighttime. In costume and style, it feels a lot more like some of the great 70s street movies, Mean Streets, The 7 Ups, The French Connection. Fun fact, Stallone reportedly spent hours running up and down stairwells to prepare for the exciting scene where DaSilva chases Reinhardt (Hauer) through the subway. But in take after take, Hauer outran Stallone. In addition to some incredible chase scenes, the film has one of the coolest stunts when Stallone hangs from a cable-car atop a mountain. The star has said of the stunt that it was one of the most dangerous he’s ever done because it was untested. He was asked to hold a folding knife in hand so if the cable were to snap, and he survived the 230-foot fall into the East River with its ice cold eight-mile an hour current, he could cut himself free from the harness so not to sink. Not sure he would have survived the fall but gee thanks for the knife? The end scene, though yes, hokey, (as is the movie a bit) delivers great justice and will surprise you and make you laugh. 18. Empire Falls Drama, Book Adaptation, 2005 Amazon Prime Directed by: Fred Schepisi Starring: Paul Newman, Ed Harris, Robin Wright, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Helen Hunt, JoAnne Woodward Synopsis: A decaying New England town is the backdrop for its unique citizens, led by unassuming restaurant manager Miles Roby. The Pitch: HBO’s Empire Falls, technically a two-part miniseries not a movie, was adapted from Richard Russo's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. Filmed in Waterville, Maine, the story follows Miles Roby (Ed Harris), manager of the diner in a once-thriving, small blue-collar town that never recovered from the shut down of its shirt factory. Despite the star power that filled the streets of Waterville for the production including Paul Newman, his wife JoAnne Woodward, Helen Hunt, Aidan Quinn, Robin Wright and Philip Seymour Hoffman, the story was a little too close for comfort. At the time, Waterville, like many other Maine towns, was itself recovering from massive losses of manufacturing jobs. Russo, who adapted the script himself, wrote the novel while living in Waterville and teaching at Colby College. Russo takes the responsibility of sharing Waterville and other similar towns' plight very seriously, resisting cliché portrayals of the working class. Miles Roby (Harris) is an incredibly relatable character haunted by his own childhood memories which are used throughout the series as clues to uncovering a mystery. The film is Paul Newman’s last live action screen appearance and a big reminder of why we all love Newman. Same applies for Harris, who in my view is one of the most unsung actors of his generation. The gorgeous fall foliage and Maine scenery will make you wanna plan your post pandemic trip. 19ic . Hush Thriller, Horror 2016 Netflix Director: Mike Flanagan Starring: John Gallagher Jr., Kate Siegel, Michael Trucco Synopsis: A deaf and mute writer who retreated into the woods to live a solitary life must fight for her life in silence when a masked killer appears at her window. The Pitch: This indie horror film from writer/director Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep, Ouija: Origin of Evil) will scare the pants off of you, literally. I couldn’t sleep for a week after watching it, and that’s my best selling point. It’s one of the smartest slasher films ever made. I hesitate to even call it that because it’s more Hitchcockian in script and tone, unexpectedly terrifying and thrilling. It is reminiscent of another great thriller, the 1967 classic Wait Until Dark starring Audrey Hepburn as a blind woman terrorized inside her apartment by killer played by Alan Arkin. Flanagan and his wife/writing partner, Katie Siegel, (who also stars in the film as Maddie) wrote an incredibly clever script using the isolation of both Maddie’s deafness and the woods to raise the stakes. The budget was relatively tiny, $1m and they shot it in essentially one location, a house in the woods with only five actors, two of which got all the screen time. The film was released exclusively on Netflix, and thanks to its critical acclaim and success streaming, led to Netflix producing Flanagan's adaptation of Stephen King's Gerald's Game (2017). Flanagan went on to direct another Stephen King story, 2019’s Doctor Sleep, an adaptation of King’s 2013 novel which was a sequel to his 1977 novel The Shining. If you are a fan of horror movies, and make no mistake this is a horror movie, you will love it. 20. The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society Drama, Romance, British Period Films, 2018 Netflix Director: Mike Newell Starrring: Lily James, Jessica Brown Findlay, Tom Courtenay, Michiel Huisman Synopsis: In the aftermath of World War II, a writer forms an unexpected bond with the residents of Guernsey Island when she decides to write a book about their experiences during the war. The Pitch: The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society may have popped up on your rotation as it is a Netflix original film based on the New York Time’s best seller. At first glance this looks like a super sweet British period movie, (which may be all you’re looking for), but it’s actually a compelling mystery finding author, Juliet Ashton (Lily James), as de facto detective trying to help a group of residents on Guernsey discover the truth about their missing friend. Director, Mike Newell, (Four Wedding and a Funeral, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), introduces us to the characters on Guernsey in his adept way of blending comedy with intrigue. The film has a great ensemble cast headed by James (Cinderella), Michael Huisman (Daario Naharis from Game of Thrones) and Jessica Brown Findlay (Sybill from Downton Abbey). This is one you could watch repeatedly, and I do. 21. What's Eating Gilbert Grape Drama, 1993 Netflix Director: Lasse Hallström Starring: Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio Synopsis: A young man in a small Midwestern town struggles to care for his mentally-disabled younger brother and morbidly obese mother while attempting to pursue his own happiness. The Pitch: This film is one of the best yet most undervalued films of the 1990s. Johnny Depp, pre-Jack Sparrow gives one of his career-best performances as Gilbert. His character’s arc is the most significant but his performance is upstaged by Leonardo DiCaprio as Gilbert’s younger brother, Arnie. DiCaprio deservedly received his first Oscar nomination for this role. I had a similar feeling about the 1988 Best Oscar Picture winner, Rainman, where Dustin Hoffman (who won Best Actor for his portrayal of Raymond) upstages Tom Cruise who has a more challenging character arc. That said, DiCaprio is truly phenomenal. Watch it more than once and you will notice something new and brilliant in his performance. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape was written by Peter Hodges adapted by his novel of the same name. Director Lasse Hallström (Chocolat, The Cider House Rules) is one of the great slice-of-life storytellers. He pushes his characters, challenging them in difficult ways this film, no exception. On the surface Gilbert seems simple but he’s far more interesting than anyone gives him credit for and you can’t help but root for him. John C. Reilly (Step Brothers, Guardians of the Galaxy), who plays Gilbert’s buddy, Tucker Van Dyke, gives one of the all time, understated comic performances. This film will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. 22. Center Stage Drama, Romance, Dance, 2000 Netflix Director: Nicholas Hytner Starrring: Amanda Schull, Ethan Stiefel, Sascha Radetsky Synopsis: A group of 12 teenagers from various backgrounds enroll at the American Ballet Academy in New York to make it as ballet dancers and each one deals with the problems and stress of training and getting ahead in the world of dance. The Pitch: Tony Winners, Susan Stroman’s (The Producers) and Christopher Wheeldon’s (An American in Paris) delightfully fun choreography drives this feel-good movie about a group of dance students at New York’s famed American Ballet Theatre (ABT). Directed by Nicholas Hytner, (Miss Saigon, The Madness of King George) does an excellent job directing multiple storylines with a relatively unknown group of young actors--most of whom were experiencing their first film role. Zoe Saldana (Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy) makes her feature film debut in Center Stage and oh hell yes, she can dance! She performs one of the film’s most exquisite ballet performances. Before becoming one of the biggest stars in Hollywood Saldana studied at the prestigious ECOS Espacio de Danza Dance Academy where she learned ballet as well as other dance forms. The actress sights Center Stage as her favorite movie to film, particularly a salsa dance scene choreographed by Stroman. One of the story lines features a love triangle between two students and an ABT member/teacher. All three actors were members of prestigious ballet corps. Amanda Schull (Jody), a member of the corps de ballet with the San Francisco Ballet, Ethen Stiefel (Cooper) a Principal with The New York City Ballet and Sascha Radetsky, (Charlie) a member of the corps de ballet with ABT. This is a sweet coming of age story not an intense drama but in it's made-for-TV-movie adjacent way, it examines the systemic problem of body image and eating disorders in the dance world. If the dancing was the only charming thing about this film it would be worth the watch. But it’s also a lovely escape from reality with a predictable yet enjoyable story. 23. Hell or High Water Western, Crime Drama, 2016 Netflix Director: David MacKenzie Starrring: Chris Pine, Jeff Bridges, Ben Foster Synopsis: A divorced father who's trying to make a better life for his son and his brother, an ex-convict with a short temper and a loose trigger finger, plan a series of heists against the bank that's about to foreclose on their family ranch. As the siblings plot their final robbery, they must also prepare for a showdown with a crafty Texas Ranger, weeks away from retirement and not ready to ride off into the sunset. The Pitch: Hell or High Water is one of the best films in the last decade. Nominated for four Oscars including Best Picture and Best Screenplay penned by Taylor Sheridan (Sicario). Set in modern day West Texas, the film is part character driven slow-paced Western, part high-octane bank heist movie. It is fueled by fantastic dialogue and strong performances by the always memorable Jeff Bridges as retiring Texas Ranger, Marcus Hamilton and Chris Pine (Wonder Woman) and Ben Foster (3:10 to Yuma) as the Howard brothers. The chemistry between Pine and Foster is reminiscent of Newman and Redford in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and the film has a similar feel. Scottish director, David Mackenzie, helmed the film. Mackenzie often works with Pine including on 2018’s Outlaw King about Scottish King, Robert the Bruce. If you somehow missed Hell or High Water when it was released in theaters, don’t miss it now. It is shockingly brilliant and full of surprises. 24. Robin Hood Prince of Thieves Action, Adventure, Historical, 1991 Netflix Directed by: Kevin Reynolds Starring: Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Alan Rickman Synopsis: Nobleman and crusader Robin of Locksley breaks out of a Jerusalem prison with the help of Moorish fellow prisoner Azeem and travels back home to England. But upon arrival he discovers his dead father in the ruins of his family estate, killed by the vicious sheriff of Nottingham. Robin mist join forces with a band of outlaws from Sherwood Forrest to save the kingdom from the sheriff's villainy. The Pitch: Nothing beats the Kevin Costner version of Robin Hood! It holds up almost 30 years later because the story is the story. There’s no modernization of Robin Hood, or re-imagining of the plot, it’s straight up Robin Hood and his merry men, stealing from the rich to feed the poor and fighting the Sheriff of Nottingham. And it is delectable. True, Costner’s British accent is ridiculous and fades after the first scene, who cares, he’s a great action star. But the best reason to watch or re-watch this film is Alan Rickman. If you thought his performance as Hans Gruber in Diehard was the best on screen villain, you haven’t seen his Sheriff of Nottingham. Rickman’s evil Sheriff is one of the top 5 bad guy performances ever, maybe Top 3, with also the most spectacular death scene. Rickman is so brilliant in this role you’ll want to re-watch his scenes over and over again. The ensemble cast is solid with Morgan Freeman as Azeem, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Marion and Christian Slater as Will Scarlett. As was the style of the time, there’s some eye-rolling, over-the-top dialogue. When Robin and Azeem catapult over the castle wall Will Scarlett exclaims, “F*ck me he cleared it.” But forgive those minor shortcomings because the action delivers and it is a super fun ride from beginning to end. Don’t run out for that bathroom break too soon cause you’ll miss one of the all time great cameos by Sean Connery as King Richard the Lionheart. 25. Miracle Biography, Drama, History, 2004 Netflix Director: Gavin O'Connor Starring: Kurt Russell, Patricia Clarkson, Nathan West, Noah Emmerich Synopsis: When college coach Herb Brooks is hired to helm the 1980 U.S. men's Olympic hockey team, he brings a unique and brash style to the ice. After assembling a team of hot-headed college all-stars, who are humiliated in an early match, Brooks unites his squad against a common foe, the heavily-favored Soviet team. As the U.S. squad tries to overcome insurmountable odds and win the gold medal, the team becomes a microcosm for American patriotism during the Cold War. The Pitch: It’s unbelievable but it’s been 40 years since the US Men’s Hockey Team achieved the “Miracle on Ice”, against all odds the amateur Olympians beat the world’s greatest hockey team from the then, still, Soviet Union. It feels right for Miracle to end this list as we could all use a little inspiration right now. The film, based on the story of head coach, Herb Brooks and the young Olympians’ journey to gold, is considered to be one of the most accurate depictions of true events, including dialogue. Despite the Disney label, the film is not schmaltzy. Director Gavin O’ Connor’s (Warrior) decision to cast the young hockey players primarily for their hockey skills, (this was the first major film for most of the actors), was smart as it puts the focus on the hockey and the story--which needs no added sugar. Composer Mark Isham’s (A River Runs Through It) beautiful score punctuates the heroics in all the right places. Russell, whose studied, earnest portrayal of Brooks, steadies any melodramatic tendencies as if he’s also coaching the entire crew toward victory. Russell reportedly took a pay cut so the 1000 extras hired to be hockey fans were able to eat a hot meal vs a bag lunch. Sadly Herb Brooks died during principal photography and never saw the film. A caption at the end of the movie over his picture says, “He didn’t see it, he lived it.” Because a little schmaltz will do us good right now, I will leave this with Al Michael’s famous words spoken seconds before the US Men’s Olympic hockey team beat the Soviet Union 4-3 in Lake Placid, New York, February 22, 1980, “Do you believe in miracles!?”. Here's hopin. Sarah Mason is Executive Producer of The HMC Network and a contributing writer for The HMC, Creative COW and The Saturday Evening Post.