Irrelevant But Awesome

Get it? Wrap party? Is this thing on? Anyway, With Summer of Netflix finishing up yesterday, frequent reviewers Alexa, Joel and Chris took this chance to reflect on some of the hits and misses of the series. Here's what they had to say as well as some superlative awards: Alexa:  I really enjoyed participating in Summer of Netflix because it was a great way to finally see some movies that I’ve been meaning to watch for a while, and an excuse to revisit some old favorites. A few highlights as we wrap up: Favorite movie: Almost Famous. I had seen this one before, and fell in love with it all over again. Almost Famous is Cameron Crowe at his best, presenting an infectious portrait of ‘70s-era rock ‘n’ roll that overflows with love for the genre and time period without feeling overly sentimental, all grounded by an extraordinary cast. Runner up: Short Term 12 Second runner up: In Bruges Least favorite/biggest disappointment: They Came Together. My reaction after watching...

Alexa:  Few movies nowadays feel wholly original, but In Bruges has the distinction of being one of them. I watched it for the first time years ago but hadn’t seen it since until now, and I forgot how masterful and immensely entertaining it is. Martin McDonagh crafted a whip-smart screenplay that’s darkly funny without turning the hitmen at the center of the story into caricatures. Before this movie, I knew Colin Farrell as that guy from Phone Booth and SWAT, but In Bruges proved what a talented actor he really is. It doesn’t hurt that he’s surrounded by equally outstanding cast mates who deliver nuanced performances with ease, particularly Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes. Though the film’s climax is action-packed, the story overall is rather introspective, underscoring the characters’ humanity as they grapple with guilt, regret and their complicated friendships. That In Bruges succeeds in intertwining humor, action and quiet character study so sublimely is a testament to Mc...

If you haven't kept up with Summer of Netflix thus far, never fear because you can simply join us for the 2nd half of July, we won't tell anybody. But even if you're joining us for the first time or you've religiously watched every movie on every day since the beginning, here's what you have to look forward to for the rest of July!