My Brother's an Only Child (2007)

Netflix Description: "In a small Italian town, two disparate brothers come of age during the 1960s and '70s. Accio (Elio Germano) and Manrico (Riccardo Scamarcio) remain close despite their opposing political views, but when they both fall for the same woman, the rift between them grows. Taking place over a 15-year period, this comic drama directed by Daniele Luchetti explores Italy's changing sociopolitical landscape through the brothers' turbulent relationship"

My Thoughts: Going back earlier in my list of movies I started watching on Netflix streaming, I watched it originally because I kept seeing the cover at Blockbuster when I was going there frequently. I think this was the movie that made me think "maybe there's something to this." Before this, I probably wouldn't have picked up this movie, just being totally honest.

The movie, the real title Mio Fratello è Figlio Unico, isn't as heavy as it sounds. Whenever I read that a movie is set in another period, or during "turbulent political times" - it starts feeling heavy. But let me state, this is really a "growing up" movie before it is a period piece or political statement. And at the same time, the political parts and time period really added to the movie.

Essentially, the movie is about the son of a blue-collared working class family in Italy in the 60's and 70's. He's the black sheep of the family. Starting with not staying in seminary, and the family just seeing him as getting into trouble while his brother is the hero - good looking, hard working, and leading unions for the working class.

The growing rift between the brothers does play a significant part, but you really empathize with the younger brother most. Watching the love blossoming between the two is interesting to watch. It's not the typical Hollywood romance. There's often moments of awkwardness and it can be frustrating to see how things roll out, but it's realistic.

So like I said before, don't go into this thinking that its going to be heavy. The story outweighs the politics - it actually makes you understand the different sides of Italian politics much more. There's another movie that deals with current Italian politics in a light, young teen "coming of age" way, "Caterina and the Big City" (2003). It's about a young girl that moves to Rome with her family after her father's job promotion. She is trying to figure out her place in school, with cliqués, and with her father fighting against fascism. And the ending having some very complex undertones.

Watch this and if you like it, definitely rent Caterina - another lighter movie dealing with some serious politics.

Netflix Link: http://bit.ly/34lkpg
IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0846040/

NetflixInstant now on Twitter!

This week, I started a Twitter, @NetflixInstant, as a supplement to this site. I take that back - a supplement is too light of a word - the blog and the Twitter feed could both stand alone but together they make a nice network of both reviews and daily picks.

I don't have it in me to write a review every day, but with Twitter, I can just give you quick blasts of good movies I've seen through Netflix streaming video service. But in case you can't make it to the Twitter, I'm going to post all of the picks at the end of the week here in one post - not reviews, just the quick and dirty. (Trust me, I've spent days ranting about not "getting" Twitter, so I don't blame you if you don't want to sign up.)

Part two of this post is that I think I'm beginning to sound like a commercial for this service. So let me say it: I'm not advertising the service. Yes, I enjoy it - but part of the reason why I started this blog is because while they claim 30,000 titles streaming online, it can be difficult finding the gems from the poo poo. All I hear from my friends with the service is that they like it in theory, but they don't know what's good on it. I think that's a fair argument. I have mixed feelings about Netflix's algorithms to determine movies you may like. Sometimes it seems like you get sucked into a hole and never find the movie you were searching for originally.

I do have a little bio to the side, but it's hard to fit in what kinds of movies I'm drawn to in that tiny space. Lately, I tend to watch a lot of foreign films and documentaries. Why? I think this is where Netflix streaming shines. There are tons of great movies you may have never seen because they never had it at your local Blockbuster or theater. I don't get too dragged down on older Hollywood movies that come on cable but will occasionally mention them if they're rewatchable. I also tend to watch whatever stand-up or comedy specials they put on there. If I'm sick of reading subtitles, I'll catch a horror-flick or crappy teen movie. I really watch anything. I have a disease where I almost enjoy watching terrible movies. What I'm trying to say is that I'm suffering for you - and out of this suffering I will let you know if the movie is worth your time.

At any rate, check us out over at Twitter and feel free to comment about movies I've reviewed here that you enjoy(ed), too!

Elling (2001)

Netflix Summary: "Per Christian Ellefsen and Sven Nordin play the shy, retiring Elling and the imposing Kjell in this Norwegian movie about two mentally challenged friends who battle adversity and find their place in the sun. The two room together and attempt to create a life for themselves outside the confining, but protective, walls of the hospital. Directed by Petter Naess, Elling was nominated for an Academy Award in the Foreign Language Film category."

My Thoughts: I actually rented this movie quite a while back and loved it - but I just saw that it popped up on Netflix Watch Instantly this week - so I wanted to let everyone know! The description makes it sound a little depressing but this is NOT a depressing foreign movie. It's a comedy - a buddy movie almost. Just that the buddies are a little off mentally. The main character, Elling, is the quiet and reserved roommate who is a recovering mama's boy. His roommate, a slower and oafish Norseman, a la Dawber from Coach, is his polar opposite. They're on their way out of the mental institution - Kjell, the virgin giant, and Elling, the fraidy cat who is afraid of living.

This isn't a movie where you're waiting for something bad to happen. It seems that most foreign movies I watch have that inkling that something terrible is about to happen, that there is a bad turn in the movie. But no - it's just an easy and fun watch. It's character driven, the plot is good though and moves the two characters along the path of basically "growing up" although they're adults. They make friends, they go drinking, and you see them learning to associate with the real world. Maybe I like it because I think I'm there sometimes - trying to learn about living happily in the world. I think we all get like that at some point. And this movie is an optimistic view of learning to live happily.

Where to Queue: At the top of the list!

Dear Zachary (2008)

Netflix Description: "Filmmaker Kurt Kuenne's poignant tribute to his murdered childhood friend, Andrew Bagby, tells the story of a child custody battle between the baby's grieving grandparents and Shirley Turner, Bagby's pregnant ex-girlfriend and suspected killer. Initially, Kuenne made this documentary as a memorial for Andrew's loved ones, but it morphs into an emotional legal odyssey when Turner goes free on bail and is allowed to raise her son."

My Thoughts: I remember I watched this with my wife one early Saturday morning. Let me tell you, don't do this before the day starts. I don't know when I've cried watching a movie let alone several times. There's no good time to watch this. It is a sad and gripping movie. But you need to. I'm serious. This should be one of the first movies you add to your Instant Queue when you get the chance.

For a documentary, it is one of the best I've ever seen. Dear Zachary is story telling at it's most basic but cleverly edited to keep pulling you in and out of this utterly depressing story with the beauty of the people involved. The end result is you being sad and angry about everything that went down. It doesn't rely on kitschy moving photos or animations to make the story interesting like a lot try to do.

When a movie makes you actually feel things, to think about life... its hard to deny it. Watch it, feel things, love the rollercoaster of emotions that life is full of and that a movie can take you through them all.

Where to Queue: At the top of the list!

Timecrimes (2007)

Netflix Description: "After accidentally traveling to the past, Héctor (Karra Elejalde) meets himself and triggers a series of mysterious events that lead to a shocking crime. The gripping time-travel story -- at once deeply intricate and easy to follow -- also stars Candela Fernández. Oscar-nominated short-film director Nacho Vigalondo makes his feature debut with this finely crafted sci-fi thriller."

My Thoughts: I'm starting my list from the bottom of my list and going up. So let me say up front, this movie isn't available on Netflix's instant play anymore. However, it is where I discovered it and I have to say that it was a good movie despite appearing pretty low budget and some pieces of the story being a bit obvious. I had originally checked this out as someone recommended it if you like the movie, "Let The Right One In"... it's not anything like that. I'm not sure where they got that, either... yes, they are foreign movies, but that's about the end of the similarities.

I feel like I may have enjoyed the movie more if I never knew the title. You read the title, you know it's something about time traveling. With that seed planted in your head, it's easy to begin guessing as the movie starts where everything is going. With that said, it is an easy and fun watch. Its not going to hurt your head trying to figure out the time paradoxes, it doesn't have a lot of subtext... so if you're in the mood for an entertaining sci-fi/thriller, its a good watch.