Kneel Before VOD: August 3rd
Welcome to Kneel Before VOD! Here, we recommend the latest, highlight-worthy films now on video-on-demand. We'll help you navigate through the thousands of options out there, on dozens of services, to the best in streaming this month!
First Man (2018)
The fourth feature film from director Damien Chazelle is one of the most interesting takes on a “biopic” I’ve ever seen. Telling the story of how Neil Armstrong ended up as the first human to walk on the moon, Chazelle explores new ways of using the camera, score, and digital effects to create a truly powerful piece of filmmaking. Starring Ryan Gosling in a wonderful performance as the famous Armstrong, Claire Foy crushing it as his wife, Janet Armstrong, and a deep roster of other familiar faces, Chazelle ensures no part is too small when covering one of the most famous moments in history. For those interested in hearing more on this, I wrote a massive piece breaking down the movie which you can find here.
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
You may have heard there is a new Tarantino movie in theaters and that he once again is playing around with history. Well good news for anyone looking to prepare for his latest, or looking to ride the high after already seeing it, Quentin’s masterpiece Inglourious Basterds is now streaming on Netflix. This film marks the first time he really plays with this idea of “fictional non-fiction” by telling a story of vengeance and justice in Nazi occupied Europe during WWII. With all-time great performances from Christoph Waltz (and his major introduction to American audiences), Melanie Laurent, Daniel Bruhl, Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, and so many more; this is a movie without a dull moment. There is show-stopping action sequences spaced out between some of the most tense dialogue he’s ever written as Tarantino is operating at the top of his game. Basterds plays better today than it ever has so kick back and experience some historical catharsis like never before.
Das Boot (1981)
On the opposite end of the spectrum from Inglourious Basterds is Wolfgang Peterson’s WWII epic Das Boot. Following a Nazi U-Boat crew this movie dives into the harsh realities of war and the situations people have gone through for “country”, and he really makes you feel it. As you follow the crew through every kind of element from boredom to sheer terror you come to care deeply about this group of soldiers and what happens to them, so much so that when its incredible ending hits you feel devastated for a group of people you've known your whole life as the enemy. It's a dirty, uncomfortable, truly engrossing, and absolutely masterful piece of filmmaking that succeeds in putting the viewer in the shoes of this crew and in turn making it feel like a legitimate glimpse into the past. If you dig the theatrical cut I also recommend grabbing the director's cut blu-ray and diving into the nearly 3.5 hour version of the film.
More Streaming Picks:
Netflix: Jackie Brown (1997)
Hulu: Rushmore (1998)
Amazon: S.W.A.T. (2003)
HBO: Widows (2018)
