With the unfortunate rise in COVID-19 rates and chilly temperatures outside, there has never been a better time to curl up on your couch and watch a great movie. While the infinite selection of streaming options can be helpful at times, it can also leave you overwhelmed and second-guessing yourself when you have to choose a show or movie to watch. Save yourself the annoyance and watch one of these six great films.
“Jeff Who Lives at Home”
If you are stuck on your couch and looking to immerse yourself in a roughly hour-and-a-half-long escape from reality, look no further than the Duplass Brothers’ fantastic piece titled “Jeff Who Lives at Home.” Jason Segel and Ed Helms light up the screen in this comedic and heartwarming adventure while you follow Jeff (played by Segel) through tribulations of family, depression and the paralyzing fear of living a trivial life. On the surface, this film may not look like much, but inside of it lives one of the most relatable and comforting performances Segel has ever given, the absolute inability to know what lies at every turn and one of the best and most impactful movies I’ve ever had the privilege to watch. This film is available on Amazon.
“Stranger Than Fiction”
If you enjoy Will Ferrell, you must stop whatever you’re doing and go watch “Stranger Than Fiction.” It is not every day we as a society are blessed with Ferrell acting in a semi-serious role with his full range of unrivaled acting abilities on display, but in this 2006 performance, we were given exactly that. Without giving away too much of the spell-binding plot, Ferrell plays Harold Crick, a normal IRS agent who recently discovered he is the protagonist in a famous author’s book and has no control over his life. With the help of Dustin Hoffman, Crick has life-changing revelations about acceptance and living life to the fullest, while the author claws for happiness. If you are stuck in a rut, no matter what rut that may be, this movie will give you the inspiration to dig yourself out. This film is available on Google Play or Amazon.
“Frank”
We’ve all wondered what happens if you put a mentally-ill ego-maniac with a paper mache-face helmet that he never takes off in charge of a band and ask them to make their debut album. Thanks to Lenny Abrahamson’s “Frank,” that burning question has finally been answered. One of the weirdest movies I’ve ever seen, but also one of the most honest. The entire cast shines, from eye-opening performances from Maggie Gyllenhall and Michael Fassbender to an eye-watering performance from the lesser-known Scoot McNairy. If you are looking for intrigue, you’ve found your movie. This film is available on YouTube.
“The Royal Tenenbaums”
With the splendid October release of “The French Dispatch,” Wes Anderson has been all the film industry has been able to talk about, but this buzz is no new feat for the great director. While all of his films are at the level of very few others, it is my personal opinion that he peaked in 2001 when he released “The Royal Tenenbaums,” a star-studded masterpiece that tugs on your heartstrings and will leave you with a different perspective of family as the credits roll. The cinematography is perfect and the plot will give you a full heart, but the soul of the film comes from first-class performances by, but not limited to, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Gene Hackman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Donald Glover and Alec Baldwin on narration. I wish I could say more about the film, but describing it any further would be a disservice to its beauty. This film is available on Amazon.
“Little Miss Sunshine”
Everyone knows how uncommon and insignificant issues between family members are, right? Wrong. In Faris’s and Dayton’s 2006 drama and comedy masterpiece you get a beautiful insight into dealing with those issues and learning how to love your family in spite of them. Steve Carell displays why he’s one of the greats, playing a man who goes on a road trip with his sister, played by the ever-fantastic Toni Collette, and her family after a tragic event. This story is uplifting, tear-jerking and comedic, and will surely bring any family closer together after a watch. This film is available on Amazon.
“Sorry to Bother You”
While “Sorry to Bother You” is undoubtedly the weirdest movie I’ve ever seen, it is also a beacon of honesty and holds a mirror up to a society that is doing everything in its power to look away. LaKeith Stanfield proves once again why he is one of the greatest actors of our generation as he sinks into the character of Cassius ‘Cash’ Green, an African-American telemarketer who flies his way to the top with the use of his “white voice” and shows the harsh reality of capitalism along the way. This film contains astonishing cinematography, gorgeous fashion design, all-star performances from every member of the cast, an electrifying twist and an ending you’ll have a hard time forgetting. It is my best guess that in a few years this movie will age like fine wine so get ahead of the curve and have the experience yourself. This film is available on Amazon.
