December 26, 2015
We here at CLTure are dedicated to guiding you toward the very best entertainment in Charlotte and beyond. Each month, our writers and creatives will help you sift through the myriad of options on Netflix to help you find very the best movies, documentaries, and TV series. Here is what we’ll be watching this month:
Amelie (movie) – For the movie watching family who adores whimsy and rich visuals, Amelie is the perfect film after a long day of holidaying. Feed your cultured side with this French flick and fall into a new world. The story follows a naive Amelie on a fantastic adventure as she navigates love and the world, unable to keep her nose out of other people’s business. – Nikki Panos, Food Writer
A Very Murray Christmas (holiday special) – The Murricane brings a different approach to the Christmas special by making it not all about glitz and glamour. Even after no one shows up for his own live special, Murray finds a way to bring a bunch of strangers together to sing songs and spread cheer. After many drinks, Murray passes out and dreams of a sound stage special with Miley Cyrus and George Clooney. The highlight of the show is Murray and Clooney singing “Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin.” Musical appearances by Paul Shaffer, Jenny Lewis, Maya Rudolph, and the band Phoenix. – Eric Cutchin, Photographer
Best of Enemies (documentary) – Celebrate the season by looking back at the moment when it all began. We’re talking about election season, of course, and the moment television gave birth to the endless feuding we can all look forward to for the next 11 months. Using the scathing 1968 TV debates between conservative and liberal luminaries William F. Buckley and Gore Vidal as an anchor, Best of Enemies gives us a brisk but panoramic tour of the events that led the news media to realize that angry analysis sells better than the news. The tart joy of watching smart people bicker is coupled with the heady pleasure of seeing filmmakers uncover the roots of our polarized punditry. – Dan Cava, Film Editor
Freaks and Geeks (series) – Most of our readers have probably seen this series, especially since there was only one season and it came out in 1999. But in case there are those of you out there that have still not experienced the brilliance that is Freaks and Geeks, I feel it is my duty to make sure it is on your radar. Produced, written and directed by Judd Apatow and Paul Feig long before both became Hollywood royalty, Freaks and Geeks captures the awkwardness, poignancy, and proper balance of humor and sadness inherent in the high school experience better than any series before or since. The cast isn’t too shabby either: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jason Segel, Martin Starr, Samm Levine, Busy Phillips, Linda Cardellini, and John Francis Daley all star. – Sean Titone, Photographer, Film Writer
Kung Fury (movie) – Written, directed by, and starring David Sandberg, this 2015 Swedish short film was distributed by the Alamo Drafthouse as was one of their signature films. What does that mean? It means absolute insanity. Set aside all reason and enter the world of 1980s Miami-Dade Police Detective Kung Fury, who works hard to protect the streets against arcade consoles on a murder spree, machine gun wielding thugs, laser raptors, and a time-traveling Adolf Fuherer. Made in homage to the martial arts action films of yesteryear, Sandberg’s tight narrative keeps the rapidly escalating insanity from pushing the boundaries of reason. Is the film ridiculous? Yes. Does it feature an aged Thor with awesome pecs? YES. Will you regret spending 30-minutes watching Kung Fury whoop up on Nazis? NOT FOR A SECOND. – Douglas Davidson, Film Writer
W/ Bob and David (series) – Before they were Saul Goodman and Tobias Funke, Bob Odenkirk and David Cross were the frontmen for an oddball sketch comedy show, Mr. Show w/Bob and David on HBO. The show was timelessly aggressive towards American-centric stupidity, somehow predicting future events (remember that PR revamping of the KKK?), and truly had its own voice amongst the ‘90s boom of sketch shows. Netflix has rebooted this cult favorite for a handful of episodes with most of its old alumni (even Maynard Keenan from Tool), and the seasoned veterans of Gen X comedy are still just as hilarious as ever. – Alison Tracy, Comedy Writer
Hoop Dreams (Documentary) – Hoop Dreams is a gritty documentary that follows the lives of two promising young basketball prospects in the inner-city of Chicago in the early ‘90s at the swell of commercial hip hop culture, consumerism, racial riots, and the crack epidemic in America. Magnifying an exhausted social stereotype of black Americans in the ghettos pursuing their NBA fantasies, the film documents the harsh realities and the struggle of living in a crime infested and impoverished community. Hoop Dreams is an extremely human and authentic American tale. Sundance Film Festival Audience Award winner and Academy Award nominated, Hoop Dreams is a must-watch documentary. – Cameron Lee, Founder
Read our reviews on Concussion and Star Wars: The Force Awakens
