Netflix offers some pretty credible titles this February likeThe 40 Year Old Virgin,The Drug KingandPretty In Pinkjust to name a few. There are also original titles which feature the much talked aboutVelvet BuzzsawandHigh Flying Bird. Sometimes it’s hard to choose what to watch and this list aims to make the choice a little easier.
Rather than list out every single new film coming to Netflix over the next 28 days, we have distilled this down to the best new titles. There are going to be some films that you’ve got to see. At the same time others will be mentioned that you’re going to give a hard pass to.
Above all this list aims to make watching movies onNetflixeasier. Sure, it’s awesome to have thousands of movies at your finger tips. At the same time, the embarrassment of riches can often leave users not wanting to commit to one title for fear of missing out on something else. Clear your calendar and get ready to watch some films you can’t see anywhere else but Netflix. At a time when the global box office is up because ticket prices are so high, it’s nice to have a place to stream high quality content for less than $15 a month. One thing is certain, of the 12 titles on this list, you’re bound to find more than a few things to watch.
10Velvet Buzzsaw(Streaming February 1)
Roger Corman’sA Bucket of Bloodwas a send up of the art world. It took great pains to laugh at the pretension and self serious nature of “artists.“Velvet Buzzsawdoesn’t just laugh at this whole creative scene, it chews it up, spits it out, then regurgitates it, only to again heave it into the toilet. Jake Gyllenhaal stars in this film which sees a bunch of paintings get unearthed from an artist that nobody ever knew existed. Suddenly, people who have traded commerce for art find themselves being dealt a very bloody blow by a supernatural entity. Playing an almost Warholian entity himself, Gyllenhaal is aided and abetted by Toni Collette, John Malkovich and Rene Russo in one of the most original films Netflix has ever made.
9About a Boy (Streaming February 1)
The likable and unlikable Hugh Grant is at his best here in Chris and Paul WeitzAbout A Boy. This tale of a delayed adolescent being shown the way to maturity by a man much younger than him, is a certainly a film for today’s generation. The tone of this film begins light but as it edges forward it starts to get deeper and deeper. There’s a humanity to the performances of Hugh Grant, Marcus Brewer, Toni Collette and the rest of the cast that is missing from most mainstream comedies. While there are certainly fluff films on Netflix,About A Boyis a welcome addition to this platform.
8The Edge of Seventeen (Streaming February 1)
Arguably the most underrated film of 2016, Hailee Steinfeld crushes as the star of this coming of age tale. Actually, it’s hard to callThe Edge of Seventeena “coming of age” film. I say that because Steinfeld’s Nadine is both stunted and wise beyond her years. The crux of this film is when Nadine’s best friend starts hanging out with her brother. Nadine deals with this the only way she can which is to say badly. Thankfully she has Mr. Bruner (an outstanding Woody Harrelson) by her side to both support and condemn her.
7Pretty in Pink(Streaming February 1)
Is Netflix doing everything it can to make truly awesome teen movies from every generation available?Pretty In Pinkis essentially Romeo and Juliet without the main characters dying. However, the way the characters treat each other is often a fate worse than death. Basically, Andie (Molly Ringwald) and Blane (Andrew McCarthy) love one another. The only problem is they come from two completely different social stratospheres. Can they be together? Will everything work out? Ultimately, that isn’t even the point of this John Hughes classic. All the characters are so rich that by the end you may’t help sort of loving them all.
6All of theJaws movies(Streaming February 1)
Love them or hate them theJawsfilms are a good time. With Netflix makingJaws,Jaws 2,Jaws 3, andJaws: The Revengeavailable to binge again and again, depending on your tastes, this is either the best or the worst entry on this list. It’s no great secret that afterJawsthe other films in the canon devolved from the Moby Dick tale that kicked this whole thing off.Jaws 2saw the shark electrocuted.Jaws 3was actuallyJaws 3D. If any person reading this remembers how 3-D was in the 1980s, that should tell you all you need to know about that film. As forJaws: The Revengethe shark comes after the family of the police chief that killed the saber-toothed creature in the first two films. Yes, you read that right.
5High Flying Bird(Streaming February 8)
Steven Soderbergh has had more ups and down in his career than your average NBA star. However, he keeps going and withHigh Flying Birdand shows just how cutting edge he still is. This film chronicles the NBA as it is now, just a much business as it is game.High Flying Birdisn’t some nostalgic film meant to glorify the “love of the game.” Taken from the perspective of a sports agent named Ray (Andre Holland), he and his big client are dealing with cash flow issues due to an NBA lockout. Necessity is the mother of invention andHigh Flying Birdshows us just how far people are willing to go when their money is on the line. This Netflix original is classy, current, and the kind of film that’s destined to be mentioned in the “Best Sports Films” conversation at some point.
4Remastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke(Streaming February 8)
One cannot hear the strains of Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home to Me” and not understand that his was talent that was taken from us too soon. So how did he die? More importantly why did this phenomenal singer have to die? Director Kelly Duane de la Vega does everything possible to explore this topic. Clocking in at a svelte 74 minutes,Remastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cookepostulates that there have been much more to his death than meets the eye.
3The 40 Year Old Virgin(Streaming February 16)
The 40 Year Old Virginworks because despite being overly silly it’s also a very smart film. This tale of a man whose never had sex teaming up with his buddies to make that happen is nothing new. What sets this film apart is a cast that includes Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen and Romany Malco.The 40 Year Old Virgincould’ve been a middle-agedPorky’s. That wouldn’t have been bad but it would’ve ultimately underserved this film. There is a lot going on with all the characters, and that givesThe 40 Year Old Virginits emotional gravitas. Netflix could’ve simply made a “bro comedy” of their own. It’s nice to see they acquired the best one they could instead.
2The Drug King(Streaming February 21)
Set in the 1970s this new offering from Netflix chronicles the rise of Lee Doo-sam (Kang-ho Song) in the Japanese Mafia. Movies like this can go a lot of different ways. At their best they’reGoodfellasorScarface. At their worst they’reEl Padrinowith Damien Chapa. Thankfully, Netflix has erred on the side of the latter and users are the lucky recipients. Movies of figures rising up in various underworlds are nothing new. However, stylistically and subject matter-wise, Min-ho Woo’sThe Drug Kingeasily sets itself apart from other contenders in the field.
1Paddleton(Streaming February 22)
Mark Duplass moves into very dramatic territory and gets a solid assist from Ray Romano inPaddleton. This film shows two people who are very different coming together when one of them gets a cancer diagnosis. Based on that, it might seem like this movie is going down familiar territory. In some ways it is. However, Director Alex Lehmann’sAsperger’s Are Uskeeps things from getting too schmaltzy or milquetoast. The cast all turn in solid performances and make a movie that is a true celebration of life.
