It’s late September, and no matter who you are, summer is officially over. School’s back in session for students, vacation days are a distant memory for workers, and if you’re a baby, well, we’re amazed you’re reading this! Weekends still offer a much-needed respite, and what better way to unwind than by settling in with a captivating movie? While these three Netflix picks might not be classics, they deliver a satisfying escape from the everyday worries, even if it’s just for a couple of hours.
Dragnet (1987):
Tom Hanks’ career can be divided into two distinct phases: the movies he made before the iconic *Big*, and the ones that followed. Pre-*Big*, Hanks embraced his goofy side, starring in a string of lowbrow comedies like *Bachelor Party* and *The Man with One Red Shoe*—movies that hold a special place in many hearts. *Dragnet* might not be as laugh-out-loud funny as those, but it still holds its own, thanks largely to Hanks’ performance. He plays second fiddle to Dan Ackroyd, who takes on the role of Detective Joe Friday, made famous by Jack Webb in the 1950s TV series. Together, they investigate a case involving the theft of an entire print run of a pornographic magazine, *Bait*, with a shadowy organization named P.A.G.A.N. as the primary suspect. As they delve deeper, however, both detectives uncover a far more sinister plot lurking beneath the surface. *Dragnet* is available for streaming on Netflix.
The Circle (2017):
The Hanks lovefest continues with *The Circle*, a film released 30 years after *Dragnet*. This time, he takes on the role of Eamon Bailey, the seemingly benevolent CEO of the tech and social media giant SeeChange. In a not-so-subtle parallel to Facebook and Meta, SeeChange is about to unleash a technology that will strip away everyone’s privacy through a social media platform capable of locating anyone in the world within 15 minutes. This secret is known only to a select few, including Mae Holland (Emma Watson), a rising star within the company. But when Mae discovers Eamon’s sinister plan and realizes she must expose it, potentially jeopardizing her career and her family’s financial stability, she faces a moral dilemma: will she make the right decision? *The Circle* might be a bit over-the-top, but it’s undeniably watchable, and Hanks clearly relishes playing the villain for a change. *The Circle* is streaming on Netflix.
The Prince of Egypt (1998):
It’s no secret that Disney dominated the animation industry in the 1990s. The studio churned out one classic after another, leaving competitors like *Ferngully: The Last Rainforest* and *Quest for Camelot* struggling to find their footing. But by the end of the decade, DreamWorks, a bold newcomer, dared to challenge Disney’s reign, and with 1998’s *The Prince of Egypt*, they produced a film that rivaled anything Disney had released in the preceding decade. The movie tells the epic story of Moses, abandoned by his mother, Miriam, as a baby to escape the Pharaoh Seti’s deadly decree. Found floating in a basket down a river, he is ultimately raised alongside Rameses, becoming a prince of Egypt. Yet a higher calling awaits Moses as he answers God’s command to liberate the Hebrews. It sounds heavy, but *The Prince of Egypt* is surprisingly light and engaging, condensing the intimidating biblical text into a captivating two-hour film. The score by Hans Zimmer is magnificently grand, and the voice acting, particularly Ralph Fiennes as Rameses, is outstanding. *The Prince of Egypt* is available for streaming on Netflix.
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