This week, it’s your last shot at a Valentine’s movie recommendation—you know, in case you’re feeling all nostalgic and whatnot. There’s still time to grab your person and settle in for some “holiday” romance, and you can do that with my recommended 2016 Academy Award winner.
Also on the list is a feel-good sports comedy based on a true story, a sexy, Southern Gothic thriller that turns into a nightmare, one of my favorite comical crime dramas, and a historical action-adventure flick inspired by real-life events. It’s time to curl up with some worthy movies on Amazon Prime Video.
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La La Land
On the off chance that you’re headed into your week on a Valentine’s Day high and are looking to keep that going, I bring you one of the century’s most romantic musicals, La La Land.
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone star as Sebastian and Mia, a couple inexplicably drawn together by their common desire to do what they love most in the world, which flourishes in their respective mediums as the artists they are. He is a jazz pianist. She is an aspiring actress. Both have talent, and when their careers take off, the two are faced with a heartbreaking dilemma that frays the fragile fabric of their love affair and threatens to rip them apart.
La La Land saw immense popularity upon its release, thanks to its enchanting blend of nostalgic Hollywood musical glamour with a modern, bittersweet story about achieving your dreams in the face of love. The music is catchy, the visuals are breathtaking, and the chemistry between Gosling and Stone is undeniably electric.
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Next Goal Wins
Next Goal Wins is a feel-good sports comedy based on the true story of the American Samoa soccer team. The cast includes Michael Fassbender, Elisabeth Moss, Luke Hemsworth, Kaitlyn Dever, Rhys Darby, and Will Arnett.
Known for their brutal 2001 FIFA match against Australia, where they lost 31-0, the American Samoa soccer team was notorious for being the worst and lowest ranked in the world. Years later, with the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers quickly approaching, the team looks to rebuild and hires disgraced Dutch-American coach Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender) in hopes the maverick has what it takes to turn them into winners.
Directed, co-written, and produced by Taika Waititi, who also plays a small on-screen role as a preacher, the movie most notably features Jaiya Saelua, the first openly non-binary person to play in a World Cup qualifier. That aspect alone is enough to draw attention, but what’s also great about this movie is its ability to capture the team’s resilience and cultural spirit in the face of adversity.
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The Beguiled
A psychological horror thriller set amongst the backdrop of the American Civil War, The Beguiled is based on the 1966 novel by Thomas P. Cullinan and is written and directed by Sofia Coppola. Kirsten Dunst, Nicole Kidman, Elle Fanning, and Colin Farrell star.
After suffering an extensive leg injury, Union soldier Cpl. John McBurney (Farrell) is forced to flee as a deserter. When he seeks refuge at an unsuspecting, all-female Southern boarding school, the teachers and students are more than willing to offer their assistance. However, it isn’t long before sexual tensions lead to dangerous rivalries as jealousy and betrayals abound, with everyone fighting to offer him their own special brand of comfort and companionship.
The Southern Gothic tale leads to a scintillating, violent downfall as the hidden desires and resentments of a horde of sheltered women erupt. In the film’s thematic exploration of power, desire, isolation, and manipulation from a female perspective, it also emphasizes the women’s experiences as they turn one man’s fantasy into a female-centric nightmare of epic proportions.
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Bandits
I’ve owned Bandits since it came out on DVD decades ago, and it’s still one of my favorite movies to this day. The two-time Golden Globe nominee is extremely entertaining, never missing a beat in pacing, performance, or execution. It also features a fabulous dynamic between lead stars Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton.
After a brazen escape from prison, Joe (Willis) and Terry (Thornton) become an unlikely pair of fugitives who, to fund their new life south of the border, take to non-violently robbing banks by sleeping over at the bank manager’s house prior to the heist. As such, the media dubs them “the sleepover bandits,” and they become quite a sensation due to their kindness. Their efforts are complicated after a depressed housewife at the end of her rope (Cate Blanchett) hits anxiety-ridden hypochondriac Terry with her car. Enamored by their life of crime, she joins the bandits on their cross-country spree and winds up stealing both their hearts in the process.
The movie is entertaining and clever, with a charmingly engaging plot and strong performances, especially from Thornton. It also offers a unique take on the heist genre and makes for an enjoyable ride from start to finish. In fact, I’d be willing to bet that once it ends, you’ll be rewatching it within 24 hours. It’s a total gem and one of the most underrated films of the century.
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The Woman King
Boasting a well-earned 94% Rotten Tomatoes score, The Woman King is a fictionalized historical drama recounting the remarkable true story of the Agojie, an all-female military unit that protected the West African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s.
Viola Davis stars as Nanisca, a battle-tested general who boldly trains the next generation of female warriors to fight against the rival Oyo Empire, European slavers, and internal threats—all of whom are determined to destroy their way of life. The female warriors are equipped with staffs, machetes, and mad fighting skills featuring a mix of jiu-jitsu, Chinese Wushu, and the Filipino knife-fighting style known as Kali.
Davis gives an award-worthy performance full of intensity as the woman king, and the action scenes are so well-choreographed, it’s as though you’re watching them play out in real time. Moreover, the movie features stunning visuals that celebrate female strength and empowerment, sisterhood, and resilience while also defying conventional historical drama narratives.
If you’re looking for something more to add into your week, don’t forget to peruse Prime Video’s plethora of awesome documentaries.
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