Netflix Notes
Netflix Notes – “Oscar Bait” Edition
With this latest batch, I’m all caught up again. Although, as I write this, I’ve got Valkyrie staring me down meaning the circle continues.
Here’s a helpful hint for any of you employing Netflix to feed your film habit. I’ve found that if you mail a movie out on Monday, you’ll almost aways receive that week’s new release by Wednesday. See, as long as you are close enough to a distribution facility, Netflix should get your return on Tuesday – the day new releases hit the market. And as long as you have a new release listed at the tippy-top of your pile, you’ll get it sent to you that day. If you are off by one day, get ready to join the “Very Long Wait” crowd.
So far it’s paid off wonderfully, which is how I go... Continue reading »
Netflix Notes – “When In Bruges…” Edition
Now that all of that nagging TV is done, I’m back to provide some frequent updates from the world of cinema. It seems my Netflix queue stays at a constant 100 – despite my best efforts to watch 2 – 3 flicks per week. Dammit – If only Hollywood would go on strike or something – I could finally get this list whittled down to a respectable number.
Anyway, as is par for the course, I plan on giving you the rundown on the latest flicks I’ve seen. I try not to structure these as traditional reviews but I will slap my Ebert head scale on them so you can eyeball the score and decide if you want to give the flick a chance or not. And if you have seen any of these, let us know what you thought in the Comments below.
Roll film.
1. In Bruges
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Netflix Notes – ‘Nordic Nightmare Edition’
I’m back with another run of Netflix Notes – having spent the last few weeks catching up on some more flicks from my queue. I seem to be averaging 2 – 3 flicks a week, and yet my backlog always seems to hover in the 90’s. Either I’ve got to stop adding films to the queue or Hollywood has to stop making them.
Anyway, this week’s installment hits all over the place. I have Stifler, B-Movie horror, feel-good family fantasy and Norwegian vampires represented. You can’t get this kind of courage anywhere else – only in Ed’s Head.
Enough jabbering. Roll film.
1. Let the Right One In
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Netflix Notes – “The Life of Reilly” Edition
With this piece, I’m all caught up. Although in the time it took me to write and publish the last 4 posts, I’ve got enough of a back log to get right back on the horse again. A Blogger’s work is never done.
If there’s a theme in this last batch of flicks, it has to be the crowning of John C. Reilly as an unlikely comic genius. Two of the 4 flicks on this list feature trusted character actor Reilly in a decidedly lighter tone and the suit fits. It’s a great find when you see a dramatic actor flash his comedic chops – akin to the great comedic performer Alec Baldwin has become over the last few years.
First up…
1. The Rundown
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Netflix Notes – “Man Crush” Edition
As this decade of enlightenment comes to an end, mankind has made one final mark to show that we’ve come a long way from the starched, buttoned up white collar wastelands of a quarter-decade past. Nowadays, every straight dude is in a Bromance or holding hard to a Man Crush and completely fine with it.
For some it’s a beloved sports figure – with studs like Rocco Baldelli or Tom Brady currying favor with the dudes. Others look to the world of television and share a bizarre infatuation with Zach Braff, who is so femme that I’m not sure it rates as a Man Crush. (I’m not naming names here).
Me? I fixed eyes on the greatest action import of the last 10 years and fell head-over-heels. Read on to find out more.
1. W.
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Netflix Notes – “Over the Top” Edition
This installment of Netflix Notes has absolutely nothing to do with good ol’ Sly and that big hunka’ cheese he served hungry fans salivating for cinematic arm-wrestling at long last. Still, I couldn’t resist running with the pic (in the same manner that I kicked off my 28 Days Later posts with a pic of sweet Sandy Bullock.
But the title makes absolute sense for two of the flicks that appear on this list. Buried within are two absolutely insane action movies that defy all sense of physics, logic and good taste and yet end up remarkably compelling – if you’re into their sort of thing.
First up…
1. Burn After Reading
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Netflix Notes – “I Hope the Smoking Man’s in This One” Edition
After a long winter’s nap, I’m back with some more thrilling installments of Netflix Notes – the riveting recurring series where I let all of you lucky bastards sneak a peak at the flicks that have drifted across my peepers. In essence, I see a movie and then write about it.
Well, more to the point, I try to provide a little bit of background about the flick and whether I recommend it or not but I make a point to not actually review the film. I had enough of that when I was holding the reigns as co-film critic at UMASS Amherst and here on this Blog, I like to divorce myself from the standard form and structure inherent to film criticism. Too dry and dusty.
I call it Netflix Notes because the lovely people at Netflix are the ones who send me the films – for a price, of course. If... Continue reading »
Netflix Notes – ‘The Fruity Pirate’ Edition
Longtime readers of this site know that once upon a time, I was captured in a photo alongside one fine, upstanding individual who went out for Halloween dressed as a manly scalawag only to find himself dubbed “The Fruity Pirate” when the pic surfaced on these pages. Of course, it didn’t help his cause that I ran the photo directly below a shot of me strolling down the avenue with a camera bag slung over my arm that looked suspiciously like a purse. After that it was all argyle sweaters for this Ed Wood.
Well, proving there are no more original stories to tell, I have finally come across a film that features “The Fruity Pirate” in a pivotal part and played against type by probably the last actor you would expect to grab that role.
And with that, we’re on with the show. (As always – Pl... Continue reading »
Netflix Notes – “Bring Out Your Dead” Edition
This was a weird crop of movies. When I made my initial queue way back, I just kept adding movies as I recalled I hadn’t seen them. Essentially, I would just wrack my brain, saying “OK – What else haven’t you seen?” and then just add them as they popped in my head. Since then, I’ve done my best to randomly shuffle the list so I never know what’s coming next. To date, I haven’t bumped one movie to the top. I just watch them in the order they show up and I try my best not to peek and see what’s coming next.
So, I was a bit surprised to see that 3 out of these 4 share one common theme. Specifically, they revolve around death. And while the odd man out doesn’t actually feature a death, it does feel like one could happen at any moment.
The final unifying factor. There isn’t a bad one in this... Continue reading »
Netflix Notes – “Directed By…” Edition
After the last installment, with all those “28” titles, I toyed with actually reviewing the original 28 Days flick, but then I thought better of it. Sandra Bullock has always bothered me. Not in the same way that one second of Dane Cook instantly injects me with the Rage Virus but there is something about Sandy that just rubs me the wrong way. Hey, we all have those actors that drive us nuts. Ask Joe about Forest Whitaker some time.
If there is a consistent theme to the films listed below, it has to be ‘Directors’. I chose each of these films primarily by their directors. I’ll explain further as I work through each one.
On with the show (and as always – Please comment below).
1. The Kingdom
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The Ed Zone and EdHumphries.com is maintained by Ed Humphries - a man with a tenuous grasp on the nature of narcissism.
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