“Obscurities and Abject Pandering: What You’re Missing on NETFLIX”

“Obscurities and Abject Pandering: What You’re Missing on NETFLIX”

This week is all about awesome stuff you might have never even heard of. Usually when I do this, it is full of foreign films—I do try to expand your minds by offering you cinema you don’t get to see in North American theatres. This time around, you won’t have to read any subtitles.

YOU’RE WELCOME.

NEW ARRIVALS

Noir/Horror

HE NEVER DIED

(2015, R, 99 minutes, ALTERNATE ENDING STUDIOS)

Henry Rollins (a man of MANY talents) plays “Jack”—aka, Kane. Yes, the biblical one. Jack is immortal, eternally pissed off, and one badass dude. The violence is bloody, the language profound, and the noir-ish feel to it all lends a heavy dose of comedy that you wouldn’t expect in a film of this type. Rollins’ performance is (PUN ALERT!) dead on, as is Kate Greenhouse as the waitress that serves him tea and oatmeal every day. I’ve always thought that Rollins was an underappreciated resource of talent. Watch this film, and you’ll wonder why you haven’t seen him in a lot of other projects. You will also wonder what writer/director Jason Krawczyk is working on now. The story he tells here is subtle yet thoroughly engaging, and this film really should have gotten more attention when it was released at the box office.

Comedy/Drama/Indie/Superhero Film

AMERICAN HERO

(201, NR—probably a healthy “R”, 86 minutes, VERTIGO FILMS)

What makes this superhero film stand out from others isn’t just that it was made for under a million dollars. Nor is it the crafty and wonderful performances by Stephen Dorff and Eddie Griffin. It is the frequent touches of humanity that make this one different, as does the brash hilarity. Also, the movie was filmed in the streets of Louisiana; the neighborhoods, the homes, the people, are all part of a backdrop that serves the film well. Dorff plays “Melvin”, a hard partying slacker that has the power of telekinesis. Melvin wants to see his son again, but his days and nights spent snorting drugs and drinking his dinner are not making that easy for him (see: poor life choices, Melvin). Twenty years ago, this would have been a horror film; but with today’s overly saturated superhero genre, this is a refreshing break from the big-budget showpieces that are frequently shoved down our throats with every commercial break during whatever CSI you happen to be watching. Dorff is perfectly cast in this little slip of a film, but it is Griffin that constantly steals the show. And when the special effects look a little not-so-special, keep in mind that you are watching a very low budget film. Sometimes it takes a little more appreciation of the craft to enjoy a good story than it does to see buildings constantly being demolished.

Drama/Comedy

THE STATION AGENT

(2003, R, 89 minutes, SENART FILMS)

I have told you about this one before, but there has always been a soft spot in my heart for this dramady about a man that inherits a train depot in a rural town. The friendships that develop are wonderful to behold, and the tightly woven script by Thomas McCarthy (he wrote UP, and was acted in about two million things), who also directs, shies away from your typical Hollywood fodder. The giant elephant in the room is that Finn, the man that moves into the abandoned depot, just happens to be a dwarf. Portrayed with more feeling and depth than you could hope to see by Peter Dinklage (ELF, “Game of Thrones”), Finn is a man that expects the worst out of everyone, and puts all of his love and feeling into trains. The supporting cast complements his performance nicely; Patricia Clarkson as the possible love interest, Bobby Cannavale as a possible bestie, and Michelle Williams as the hot librarian, all bring a presence to the story. Their inclusion in the film is an insistence in the life of Finn, one that the viewer appreciates as much as our wayward, angry hero does.

Comedy/Cult Classic

THE PRINCESS BRIDE

(1987, PG, 98 minutes, BUTTERCUP FILMS/20TH CENTURY FOX)

You have either never seen it, or you’ve seen it a hundred times. This classic by Rob Reiner is, in my book, one of the most quoted films of all time. It is dangerous in that it contains so many funny lines and inconceivably laugh-out-loud moments that it borders on unclassifiable. Is it a comedy? A fantasy? A romance? An action adventure? The simple answer is: YES. It is. Whether you are one of the uninitiated (and possibly unemployed, in Greenland) or a returning dread pirate, do yourself a favor and go watch this film NOW. With today’s films of great spectacle and superfluous budgets, sometimes, a classic tale of good versus The Six Fingered Man is a refreshing departure. Just save me a peanut.

-- T.S. Kummelman

You guys have been a little slow, lately…no challenges?!? This is a lot easier than it sounds, kids; Netflix always throws some stupid sounding queues together for you (Quirky Lesbian Movies, Foreign Horror Comedies, etc), so think of something creative and make me hunt this stuff down! Otherwise, I’m binge watching “Sherlock” for the next few weeks…