It's an exciting time for film buffs who are gearing up for the release of Oppenheimer, Barbie, and Mission Impossible. Prepare yourself for the steadily-approaching binge-fest by indulging in some Netflix. Here are 18 movie recommendations!
Let’s start with the movies on a time crunch! Come July, Netflix will remove some of the most beloved Oscar-nominated films from its repertoire. Stream these 8 fan-favourite films before they leave.
Ip Man (July 21)
Starring Donnie Yen, this film series follows the life events of Grandmaster Ip Man, the legendary martial artist and Wing Chun instructor. The movie is an epic biopic, jampacked with lightning-paced set pieces, death-defying stunts and bone-crunching fights. A witty and ingenuous franchise, Ip Man is one of the best martial arts films of the 21st century.
August: Osage County (July 26)
An adaptation of Tracy Letts’s 2007 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, this movie is a tragicomedy starring some of Hollywood’s best. A family crisis brings the strong-willed estranged women of the Weston family back to the dysfunctional woman who raised them. Cancer-struck and drug-ridden Violet Weston (Meryl Streep) reunites with her sister Mattie Fae (Margo Martindale) and her three daughters, Barbara (Julia Roberts), Ivy (Julianne Nicholson), and Karen (Juliette Lewis). The movie received two Oscar nominations, Meryl Streep as Best Actress, and Julia Roberts as Best Supporting Actress.
Flight (July 31)
Denzel Washington stars as an airline pilot, “Whip” Whittaker in this unexpected addiction drama. Whittaker’s quick thinking saves a flight from crashing due to a mechanical failure. When the mandated investigation ensues, it reveals that the supposed hero was under the influence of alcohol and cocaine. Denzel Washington received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in this movie.
Julie and Julia (July 31)
Julie Powell (Amy Adams) is determined to cook all 524 recipes written in a cookbook by chef Julia Child (Meryl Streep) within 365 days. The film is a contrast between Julia’s life in the early years of her career and Julie’s as she tackles this self-imposed challenge. Nora Ephron adapted the screenplay from two books–Child's autobiography My Life in France, and Powell’s memoir Julie & Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen (later retitled Julie & Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously).
The Pursuit of Happyness (July 31)
Based on the book of the same name, The Pursuit of Happyness is the true story of author Christopher Gardner’s rags-to-riches saga. Tired of Chris’ failed professional career, his wife leaves him as a financially broke unpaid intern while he simultaneously takes custody of their son. The movie stars Will Smith and his real-life son, Jaden Smith, as the on-screen father-son duo. The movie is a heartwrenching tearjerker which makes the eventual happy ending all the more satisfying.
Skyfall (July 31)
The 23rd instalment in the James Bond franchise is one of its best entries, combining Bond’s classic sensuality with the characteristic action of contemporary blockbusters. Bond's loyalty to his overseer, M is tested when her past comes back to haunt her. An ex-MI6 agent, with a vendetta against M, has stolen a hard drive containing top-secret information. It is up to 007 to track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
Stepmom (July 31)
Directed by Chris Columbus and starring Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, and Ed Harris, this tear-jerker is the story of a terminally-ill woman who must deal with her ex-husband's new lover, who will be their children's stepmother. Jackie (Susan Sarandon) loathes Luke’s (Ed Harris) new wife Isabel (Julia Roberts) but things change when Jackie gets diagnosed with cancer. The actors’ earnest performance brings out the complexities in their characters, making it a brilliant movie.
Underworld (July 31)
A blend of action, horror, and science fiction, this film series is an early 2000s classic dark fantasy. It features Selene (Kate Beckinsale), an elite vampire warrior, and Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman), a human, as they get caught up in the war between vampires and werewolves. It follows the battles and romance that ensue as the species interact throughout the films. Beckinsale gives a stunning performance in her rare action-hero lead role.