Weekend Streaming Recommendations: Drinking Buddies, The Apartment, American Psycho, & More

By @BJ_Boo
Weekend Streaming Recommendations: Drinking Buddies, The Apartment, American Psycho, & More

With the slew of movies Netflix cut at the close of 2013 (BrickRequiem For a DreamBeing John Malkovich especially hurt to see go, though there were many others), and an influx of equally awesome films rushing in to fill in the gap, I’ve decided to highlight four of the best ones added to the streaming service for the new year. And as an added bonus, I’ve listed the rest of Netflix’s New Year’s additions at the bottom of the page. You lucky dog, you.

The Apartment

The Apartment movie

Billy Wilder’s blueprint for countless star-vehicle dramedies that followed, The Apartment is a near-flawless picture that speaks to audiences in 2014 just as well as it did in 1960. Jack Lemmon is irresistibly likable as doormat office worker C.C. Baxter, and Shirley MacLaine puts every subsequent manic-pixie-dream-girl that followed her to shame as quick-witted elevator operator Fran Kubelik. The film is sweet, intelligent, and perfectly casted (Fred MacMurray is incomparable as Lemmon’s boss). Everything about Wilder’s masterpiece fits like a glove, and if you haven’t seen it, hurry up and do yourself a solid–it’s a movie you’ll treasure for years. – Watch the trailer

Stream it on: Netflix, Amazon, Redbox Instant

Play it Again, Sam

Play it Again, Sam film

Written by and starring Woody Allen (though oddly, he didn’t direct; Herbert Ross took the helm), Play it Again, Sam, based on Allen’s Broadway play of the same name, is perhaps one of his funniest works. The film follows Allan Felix (Allen), a neurotic (surprise), hopelessly unattractive (surprise, surprise), recently divorced film critic on his hopeless quest to find a new mate. He’s aided by married friends Diane Keaton (wonderful) and Tony Roberts, and his idol and imaginary mentor, Humphrey Bogart (played by Jerry Lacy). While the plot is admittedly predictable and uninventive, Allen’s classic dialog (“I could use a three-foot bandaid”) and anxious tics still make me laugh until my ribs ache. – Watch the trailer

Stream it on: Netflix, Amazon, Epix

American Psycho

American Psycho movie

It may be a little difficult in 2014 to separate Christian Bale from his recent string of turns as the growling Dark Knight Gotham, but Mary Harron’s wickedly wacky (and bloody disturbing) 2000 adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ novel is an excellent reminder of the breadth of Bale’s talent. Embracing the same nuttiness Jack Nicholson embraced in The Shining, Bale holds nothing back (remember the bicep flex mid-coitus!?), keeping our nerves on high alert throughout the film’s duration. An über-smart satire that looks great, still feels fresh, and harbors the coolest chainsaw death scene EVER (I’ll defend that with my fists, if I have to), American Psycho should perk your ho-hum weekend right up! – Watch the trailer

Stream it on: Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Crackle, Xfinity

Drinking Buddies

Drinking Buddies movie

Drawing terrific performances out of some previously less-than-terrific actors, Joe Swanberg’s casual dramedy (hey…that’s four for four! American Psycho counts, right? Right?!) utilizes his razor-sharp sensibilities to overwhelming success. Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson, and Anna Kendrick shine brighter than they ever have before, exuding an effortless naturalism likely imbued by the “Mumblecore King” himself. Swanberg has the rare gift of being able to make the most ordinary moments and smallest conversations more interesting than most other movies’ climaxes. He’s as grounded to earth as filmmakers get, and this is arguably his best picture (Dustin loved it). WARNING: Before viewing, you’re gonna want to grab a cold one or two out of the fridge. Trust me. – Watch the trailer

Stream it on: Netflix, HitBliss

Raging Bull (1980)
Thelma And Louise (1991)
West Side Story (1961)
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
Big Trouble In Little China (1986)
Breakfast At Tiffany’s (1961)
Bull Durham (1988)
Red Dawn (1984)
Mouse Hunte (1997)
Spaceballs (1987)
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
The Chinese Connection (1972)
Amelie (2001)
Grapes Of Wrath (1940)
Planes, Trains, And Automobiles (1987)
Children Of A Lesser God (1986)
Scrooged (1988)
Days Of Thunder (1990)
The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951)
The Talented Mr Ripley (1999)
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)
Death Race 2000 (1975)
Ghost (1990)
Good Burger (1997)

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