Weekend Streaming Recommendations: Certified Copy, Pain & Gain, Goldfinger, & More
Welcome to WTI’s Weekend Streaming Recommendations where I recommend 4-5 films that under-watched, under-appreciated, or just plain old personal favorites. My goal is to take the hassle out of deciding which film to stream on the plethora of streaming sites that populate the internet. To make your streaming life easier, I include which platform each film is available on along with a link to the trailer. Now sit back, relax, and click on play!
Certified Copy
Certified Copy is one gorgeous film. It’s filmed in the magnificent, sun drenched Tuscany—that oh so popular tourist destination in the Italian countryside. A British novelist James (played by opera veteran William Schimell) is in Italy on a book tour and just so happens to stumble upon a small shop where he meets a French woman, Elle (the lovely and ageless Juliette Binoche). Elle takes James on private tour of a small Italian town. What begins as a friendly jaunt through the lush vistas of Tuscany soon turns to raw emotion as it becomes clear that the two old souls know each other; but in what way? Are they a long separated couple trying a crack at one last romantic tryst to rekindle something lost? A pair of actors attempting the ultimate stab at method acting? Iranian director Abbas Kiorastami never gets close to answering these questions, nor does he seem remotely interested in doing so. Ultimately it doesn’t matter. Certified Copy isn’t meant to be explored; it’s meant to be experienced. – Watch the trailer
Pain & Gain
Ahhh Michael Bay. Has there ever been a more hated filmmaker in cinema history? Uwe Boll comes close, but the hatred I’ve read that is geared towards the American action auteur (yeah, I’m using that word) seems to reach fever pitch at times. He’s been accused of essentially making the same, loud and obnoxious film over and over again. I seem to be pretty split on him. I think he’s made some horrible films (the Transformers series, Bad Boys) and some great films (The Rock and The Island). Now we have this film, Pain & Gain. I admit it; I love this film. I think its Bay’s best film hands down. Yes, it’s loud. Yes it’s obnoxious. But, as a friend of mine put it so succinctly, “finally Michael Bay makes a film where his characters are as loud and intruding as his films are.”
The film (surprisingly) is based off a true story of some personal trainers in Miami, Florida who decide that, instead of working hard to achieve their dreams, they must steal and kill to get them. The film is typical Bay; bright colors and gorgeous cinematography with over the top caricatures and insane action sequences. Except this time there is a method to his madness. Mark Wahlburg and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson have never been better, both delivering career best performances while Ed Harris, Tony Shalub, Anthony Mackie and Rebel Wilson hand in respectable supporting roles. And how about that memorable montage set to Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise”? Pain & Gain might look like the average Michael Bay fodder, but trust me, it’s not. The divisive action director is back. And this time he’s firing on all cylinders. – Watch the trailer
Muriel’s Wedding
Only the Aussies could make a wild and succulent movie about a woman in her 20’s that spends her dull and lifeless days dreaming about her wedding while she blasts 70s disco royalties ABBA in the background. Toni Collette (in her breakout role), stars as Muriel and because of her it’s easy to see why this film was such a success. She’s fantastic as the quirky girl who seems lost in the sea of love at every corner. Her friend Rhonda, the excellent Rachel Griffiths, is along with her at almost every hilarious situation as Muriel refuses to give up on her dream. Muriel’s Wedding might be predictable fun, but it’s sensationally fun. Also, the film might run a wee bit too long in the end, but that’s about the only downfall. We’ve all heard the disco hit “Dancing Queen”; but you haven’t experienced it with Collette’s big bright smile taking front and center as she leads you on a wild ride that will have you laughing all the way down the aisle. – Watch the trailer
The City of Lost Children
Jean-Pierre Jeunet has made some damn fine films over the years, Amelie, A Very Long Engagement, and Micmacs. Before he hit it big with Amelie, he co-directed two films with Marc Caro. The first was a post-apocalyptic nightmare of a film involving a landlord of an apartment who also killed and cut up his tenants if they happen to be making a ruckus! He followed up that film with this film, The City of Lost Children; another dark and brooding film about a scientist who is dying and decides that kidnapping children and stealing their dreams will help him live longer. Calling the film unique would be an understatement of the highest degree. The film has the production values of Tim Burton’s Batman as if it was designed by H.R. Geiger. One (played by Ron Perlman of all people) is a former whale hunter who is as strong as an ox, whose younger brother is one of the kidnapped. One teams up with young Miette to get back his sibling. The film is funny, unpleasant, sad and unbelievably bleak all at the same time. – Watch the trailer
Goldfinger
Out of all the films that populate the James Bond collection, Goldfinger seems to be the one that everyone can agree on being the best. While it may not be the best film of the 007 canon to recommend for this weekend, it’s possible that this younger generation might forget that Sean Connery once ruled this series as the spy who was a ruthless killer that loved many a woman. In this adventure the mercurial Bond goes after the mysterious Auric Goldfinger, a German gold magnate, who is hell bent on raiding Fort Knox and decimating the world’s economy. The film is of course famous for Goldfinger’s right hand man, Oddjob (the dude who throws his hat to kill people) and of course Pussy Galore; a woman whose name is not at all a pun. And let’s not forget the scene when that bastard Goldfinger covers a beautiful young woman with gold paint. Classic! Goldfinger is an classic action/adventure film that cemented the British spy James Bond in the minds and hearts of action enthusiasts the for decades to come. If you’ve somehow missed this classic film, you owe it to yourself to see it. – Watch the trailer