What to Stream

While there were plenty of theatrical films released this year, the current market and advances in the internet has opened up a new part of the film industry. For a couple of years now, Amazon and Netflix have led the charge in bringing original content to their streaming platforms, ranging from television shows to films, while also introducing their audiences to lesser-known indies. This year, they brought a noticeable and rich amount of them. Because you, dear reader, are likely to come across one of these or want to see one of these during your late-night binges or "Netflix and Chill" sessions, let's talk about some of them, shall we?

The Fundamentals of Caring (Netflix) (TV-MA for language and sex references)

The Fundamentals of Caring stars Paul Rudd (Ant-Man) as Ben Benjamin, a newly-employed caregiver, and Craig Roberts (Kill Your Friends) as his patient Trevor, an impish teen afflicted with Duchenne muscular dystrophy whose aspirations in life are watching hot women on TV, eating waffles for every meal, and perhaps peeing standing up, if he could. Eventually, the two go on an impossible road trip, coming across rebel without a cause, Dot (Selena Gomez, Wizards of Waverly Place, Spring Breakers), and the quirky and pregnant Army wife Peaches (Megan Ferguson, The Comedians). Occasionally predictable but never terribly sentimental, Caring runs at a relaxed pace that lets its actors shine. All four actors have terrific chemistry, especially Rudd and Roberts. It's a lighthearted comedy-drama with plenty of laughs and emotional moments, emphasizing that true caring is very much putting someone else's needs above your own. A lovely surprise, I highly recommend it. 4/5 Stars


Elvis & Nixon (Amazon) (Rated R for language)

Elvis & Nixon is a hilarious concept stretched way too thin. Based on the famous photograph from the National Archives, the film concocts a story about Elvis Presley (Michael Shannon, Nocturnal Animals) wanting to meet President Nixon (Kevin Spacey, House of Cards) in order to fulfill his patriotic duty to save the youth and stop communism as an "undercover federal agent at large." It's a fascinating idea, but the movie is pretty uninteresting until the much-anticipated meeting at the end. Until then, we get a lot of Shannon doing a questionable Elvis impression, playing up the "Elvis is crazy" schtick, development and backstory for his friend Jerry (Alex Pettyfer, Beastly) which we really don't care about despite the film's best efforts, and not nearly enough of Spacey's immensely satisfying take as Richard Nixon. This is a film that would have worked best as a half-hour short, what we're left with, though, is a visually-good, mostly well-acted movie that's too dull for its absurd premise. 2/5 Stars

True Memoirs of an International Assassin (Netflix) (TV-14 for action violence and language)

Kevin James (Paul Blart: Mall Cop) hopes to make a return to grace with Netflix's original action-comedy, and ultimately it comes up as passable. Director Jeff Wadlow (Kick-Ass 2) directs the action surprisingly well but unexceptionally, but the script hopes the farcical concept of a writer unwittingly getting involved in the schemes of the "Kings of Caracas," with each one of the Venezuelan villains wanting James to assassinate the other--all because a false publishing tactic and too close of an allusion to real life paint him as a real assassin instead of the lowly accountant that he is. It's silly stupidity but extremely cliched. Even though there are some creative transitions, especially in the opening scene, it doesn't make up for the fact that the rogue DEA agent (Zulay Henao) is embarrassingly underdeveloped, dull, and frankly incompetent. I wish the movie was more of a Get Smart than a Zookeeper, but at least it's better than Paul Blart 2! If Netflix puts it out on TV, you won't regret life watching it; but there's better things to watch if you have the choice. 1.5/5 Stars

Sing Street (Netflix) (Rated PG-13 for thematic elements including strong language and some bullying behavior, a suggestive image, drug material and teen smoking)

Sing Street is another music film from director John Carney, who brought us Once and Begin Again, although this film, unlike the previous two, treats music less as a character and more as a plot device. While I love the way Carney deals with music in those films, I didn't mind at all that music took a backseat this time around for the story that is Sing Street. Sing Street is about young Irish student Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, who seems to be channeling Ed Helms's Andy Bernard on more than a single ocassion) who has an awful home life, and how he starts a band with various members of the school in order to win the heart of the enigmatic yet enchanting Raphina (Lucy Boynton, Life in Squares).

This has been a critical darling ever since it premiered, and I admit that this is a most enjoyable film. The best way to describe it is as the best 80s movie to never have been released in the 80s. Throughout the entire film, I was smiling, whether it be the 80s period style or the songs or the relationships between the characters, and most importantly, I was invested. Honestly, this may be my favorite of Carney's films. It isn't as transcendent as Once or as much about the power of music as Begin Again, but it takes the best elements of both and translates it into a real crowd-pleaser with an unbelievably talented young cast. There's an element of innocence to it, too, with these students really not knowing who they are at all--Conor changes his look with every new band his older brother Brendan (Jack Reynor, Macbeth) introduces him to--but they're still ready to take on the world and treat is as their oyster. So if you love great films or music or the 80s, watch Sing Street. Truly, this is the year of the musical film! 5/5 Stars

For now, this will do. I will likely do another one of these before the year is out, because there's still so many to talk about! So tell me: have you seen any of these? Are there any you're looking forward to seeing now? What are some of the best "little" films you've caught on Netflix. Whatever you have to say about me and the movies, comment below!