iRate: What to watch on Netflix during your self-quarantine

By JASON GUYER
By Jason Guyer

The social-distancing and self quarantine is still in full affect. I hope all are doing well and following guidelines.

COVID-19 has meant, for the short term at least, that there are no movie theaters open to the public. They are already missed as this was a favorite weekly activity and helped propel this column.

The stress of closures and social distancing brings the stress of what to do with your time. The majority of us won’t be able to do a lot of the things we used to to pass the time. To help with this, here are 15 random but good movies or television shows to watch that are currently available on the streaming service Netflix.

GOODFELLAS

A film about a young man who grows up in the mob. The young man works very hard to advance himself through the ranks and enjoys the life of money and luxury the mob affords. However, the young man is oblivious to the horror that he causes until his drug addiction and a few mistakes ultimately cost him his climb to the top.

TIGER KING MURDER, MAYHEM AND MADNESS

The 2020 true crime documentary and television series about the life of Joseph Schreibvogel. The documentary jumps into the wild lives of roadside zoo keepers and animal breeders like Joe Exotic and Doc Antle.

THE KING

This is a film I reviewed a few months back but is worth the watch. It is about a young Henry V who encounters deceit, war and treachery after becoming king of England during the 15th Century in the aftermath of his brother’s death.

THERE WILL BE BLOOD

This film is about a ruthless silver miner, turned oil prospector, Daniel Plainview moves to oil-rich California. By using his adopted son to project a trustworthy family man image, Plainview cons local landowners into selling him their valuable properties for a pittance.

DON’T F**K WITH CATS

The story of how a twisted criminal’s gruesome videos drive a group of amateur online sleuths to launch a risky manhunt that brings them into a dark underworld.

EVENT HORIZON

When the Event Horizon, a spacecraft that vanished years earlier, suddenly reappears, a team is dispatched to investigate the ship. William Weir (Sam Neill) and the crew of the Lewis and Clark, led by Capt. Miller (Laurence Fishburne), begins to explore the seemingly abandoned vessel. It soon becomes evident that something sinister resides in its corridors.

PHILADELPHIA

Arguably Tom Hanks’ best performance, Philedelphia tells the story of lawyer Andrew Beckett (Tom Hanks) who hides his homosexuality and HIV status at a powerful Philadelphia law firm. When his secret is exposed by the illness’s telltale lesions. He is fired shortly afterwards. Beckett resolves to sue for discrimination.

HAPPY

In one of the most ridiculous but hilarious shows based on a graphic novel. Nick Sax is a corrupt, intoxicated, ex-cop turned hit man who is adrift in a twilight world of casual murder and betrayal. After a hit goes wrong, Nick finds a bullet in his side, the cops and the mob on his tail, and a monstrous killer on the loose. However, his world is about to be changed forever by a tiny, imaginary, blue-winged horse.

LAGGIES

Megan played by Keira Knightley attends her 10-year high-school reunion when she realizes that very little in her life has changed. An impromptu marriage proposal from her current boyfriend creates panic in Megan, causing her to flee. Then She meets 16-year-old Annika. Annika helps Megan through her life crisis.

THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE

A modern reimagining of the Shirley Jackson novel, this show follows siblings who grew up in what would go on to become the most famous haunted house in the country. Now adults, they are forced back together in the face of tragedy and must finally confront the ghosts of their past.

SPRING BREAKERS

When college students Candy (Vanessa Hudgens), Faith (Selena Gomez), Brit (Ashley Benson) and Cotty (Rachel Korine) are short of the cash they need for a spring-break trip, they rob a diner and head down to Florida. The police soon break up the party and arrest them. When they are unexpectedly bailed out by a drug dealer and aspiring rap artist named Alien. Three of the four gal pals decide to join Alien in a life of crime.

REMASTERED: TRICKY DICK & THE MAN IN BLACK

A 2018 documentary film about how President Richard Nixon, out of concern for the influence of rock-n-roll to the voters, invited Johnny Cash to the White House seeking the country music star’s approval.

VIRGIN RIVER

When a woman seeking a fresh start moves from Los Angeles to a remote Northern California town is surprised by what she finds.

ALIAS GRACE

A limited series based on the 1996 Margaret Atwood novel of the same name. “Alias Grace” tells the story of young Grace Marks, a poor Irish immigrant and domestic servant in Canada who is accused and convicted of the 1843 murder of her employer and her employers housekeeper.

REMASTERED: DEVIL AT THE CROSSROADS

A 2019 documentary film about Robert Johnson, the blues singer, songwriter and musician. Johnson is believed to have sold his soul for the ability to be the best blues singer ever. For anyone that knows of or listens to the blues this documentary will be interesting and probably my favorite one of this list.

Jason Guyer is an avid moviegoer and works in the graphics department at the Eagle Times. For questions or comments he can be emailed at [email protected].