Labor Day weekend is over, and many of us are feeling the post-holiday blues. Some might seek solace in the highly anticipated sequel to the 1988 comedy hit, ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.’ Others prefer the comfort of their homes and the vast selection available on streaming platforms. If you fall into the latter camp and have a Netflix subscription, then this list is for you. Here are three films that offer a variety of quality entertainment to suit any mood, all waiting for you on Netflix.
First Man (2018)
Often considered criminally underrated, ‘First Man’ deserves a second look. Despite being a prime Oscar contender in late 2018, its mediocre box office performance and lack of universal acclaim overshadowed its true merit. This film tells the true story of Neil Armstrong’s (Ryan Gosling) journey to the moon in 1969, delving into the grueling training, physical demands, and psychological impact of the mission. ‘The Crown’s’ Clare Foy delivers a remarkable performance as Armstrong’s first wife, Janet, and the film is graced by some of the best character actors working today, including Ciarán Hinds, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Corey Stoll, and Shea Whigham. The film’s realistic visual effects won it an Oscar, and it’s a film that should have garnered Gosling his long overdue award for Best Actor.
Legends of the Fall (1994)
While ‘Legends of the Fall’ may fall short as a grand movie epic, it excels as pure melodrama. This sweeping tale of three brothers who fall in love with the same woman before, during, and after World War I lacks the depth and cinematic magic of other similar films like ‘Doctor Zhivago.’ However, the film’s strengths lie in its captivating visuals and strong performances. Brad Pitt (in his mid-90s prime), Anthony Hopkins, Aidan Quinn, and Julia Ormond bring their unique talents to the film, creating compelling characters. John Toll’s stunning cinematography, which earned him an Oscar, captures the beauty of a Depression-era America, with its golden heartland filled with sunlit fields and stormy skies. If you enjoy heartbreaks, tragic deaths, and Brad Pitt with long, flowing blond hair, then ‘Legends of the Fall’ is a worthwhile watch.
The Mustang (2019)
Amidst the plethora of great films released in 2019, ‘The Mustang’ often gets overlooked. A poignant exploration of rehabilitation and redemption, the film takes place in a remote Nevada prison. Roman Coleman (a phenomenal Matthias Schoenaerts) serves a sentence for a violent assault he committed twelve years earlier. Haunted by his past, Roman pushes away his pregnant teenage daughter and isolates himself from fellow inmates. In an attempt to reintegrate him into society, he’s placed in a rehabilitation program where prisoners train wild horses for auction. Paired with the surly mustang, Marquis, Roman forms a bond that could potentially save them both. While the story may sound sentimental, ‘The Mustang’ avoids clichés, delivering a deeply moving narrative. The bittersweet, yet inevitable ending honors Roman’s journey with Marquis while acknowledging the sins he continues to grapple with.
