Films are all about action, cinematography, angles, movement, dialogues and most importantly, charm. Often we are captivated by the story, but the lack of skilled cinematography can make everything else void. However, serve us a plate of smoking hot Pulp Fiction where we see the exquisite Mia Wallace groove with John Travolta or a dollop of Taxi Driver on the side, and we will be satiated.
That is the beauty of good filmmaking. Every character is well-drawn, the shots well-panned, the story riveting, leading to a unique and unparalleled result. Alas, neither of these two films are available for streaming on Netflix. However, some other motion pictures live up to the aforementioned excellence and make for a pleasurable way to kill plentiful hours.
Not only are the narratives nuanced, but also the characters are enticing enough to make us envy their lives in general. Guaranteed, I would not want to be at the receiving end of Don Corleone’s wrath, but who wouldn’t want a friend like Dude and get to practising Dudeism?
Here are some of the coolest movies on Netflix right now that you can watch and have a riveting time.
The 10 coolest movies on Netflix right now
10. The Outlaw Josey Wales (Clint Eastwood, 1976)
Directed by Clint Eastwood, the film sees him play the titular lone wolf-like character. He is an ex-Confederate and guerilla war veteran-turned-outlaw who tries to ride alone but forms an unlikely team as he tries to escape from the relentless hounding by the bounty hunters and Union soldiers.
The film subverted the quintessential Western tropes and became a raging hit even when the genre was on a steady decline. Reeking of Civil War politics, the film is an anti-war western and has been soaring charts on Netflix.
9. The Matrix (Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski, 1999)
Set in the dystopian future where humans are trapped inside a simulated reality called the Matrix. Thomas Anderson, stars under the alias of Neo, reaches out to Morpheus and his team to uncover the truth by partaking in a rebellion against the machines to show their human prisoners that almost everything is possible.
Starring Keanu Reeves, the film won four Academy Awards in addition to other accolades and is a part of the cyberpunk subgenre under sci-fi. With alternate realities and conspiracy theories running wild, the film has groundbreaking action and special effects. If you needed convincing, it was called the greatest sci-fi film by both James Cameron and Quentin Tarantino.
8. Raiders of the Lost Ark (Steven Spielberg, 1981)
Indiana Jones is hired by the government to locate the Ark of Covenant and secure it before it comes in contact with Hitler’s Nazis, who might take unbridled advantage of its extraordinary powers.
The snake-loathing, ruggedly handsome, witty guy with a bullwhip is undeniably the best character to have ever hit the screens. Harrison Ford does a heroic job of breathing life into the iconic character whose intimidating presence makes the film the epitome of adventure and entertainment.
7. Boogie Nights (Paul Thomas Anderson, 1997)
This period piece revolves around Eddie Adams’ entry into the porn industry. A place where he finds success and pleasure in his hedonistic, carefree lifestyle. However, a drug-fuelled path soon leads him to spiral towards his downfall.
The film offers a social commentary on the porn industry and the fierce competition that exists within it. Also, the picture exposes various secrets within the trade. Meanwhile, it boasts an ingenious ensemble that delivers magnificent performances. PTA uses surreal long takes and incredible visuals, making the film one of the filmmaker’s coolest and most epic films.
6. No Country For Old Men (Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, 2007)
A hunter stumbles upon two million dollars amidst the remains of a bloody, gruesome drug war and decides to take it against his better judgement. Mayhem and chaos ensue when he is pursued by a psychopathic serial killer who dispassionately commits heinous crimes. At the same time, a laconic sheriff is enamoured by the extent of brutality that he has to fight off.
The film is a straightforward story with an extraordinary silent West Texan setting and incredible cinematography that involves surreal, wide-angle shots. The characters are interesting and hostile. On top of that, the beauty of the dry land and the wilderness is juxtaposed with the moral degradation. This combination makes for a brilliant character study with a tad bit too much violence that some of us frankly enjoy!
5. Scarface (Brian De Palma, 1983)
A Cuban refugee, Tony Montana manages to secure a green card for himself and his friends in lieu of unwavering faith and loyalty. As he plunges into the drug trade, he slowly transforms into a ruthless, well-feared drug kingpin while dealing with euphoric drug-fuelled benders as well as staggering threats from rival drug cartels and the police.
DePalma created a masterpiece where he transcends the conventional gangster tropes and weaves a narrative using grisly violence and dangerous drugs amidst an overwhelming sense of impending doom.
It’s steeped in ultraviolence, with the characters constantly blurring the line between extravagance and morality. Al Pacino basks in the raging cynicism and grandeur of his nature which seems to be made just for him!
4. Fight Club (David Fincher, 1999)
Tyler Durden meets the insomniac Narrator on the plane, and soon they form an underground fight club where frustrated men try to do away with the drudgeries of daily life by engaging in fights. However, this perfect camaraderie begins to vaporise when the beautiful Marla struts into Tyler’s life and catches his attention.
Provocative, unsettling and gruesome with a brilliant protagonist, this is one of Fincher’s finest. The narrative is fast-paced and thrilling. Fight Club is a thorough satire that deals with isolation, social castration, masculinity and social morality while presenting scathing questions regarding violence.
3. The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972)
Based on Mario Puzo’s best-selling eponymous novel, the film deals with the lives of the Sicilian mafioso paterfamilias who engage in intense and gruesome conflicts. At the same time, they try to assert their dominance in the world. Existing family structures crumble to the ground, brutal violence and bloodshed ensue that threaten friendship and family’s sanctity amidst bloodlust, vengeance, and rampant corruption.
Coppola’s masterpiece continues to reign supreme in the hearts of film buffs and cinephiles. An extraordinary backdrop and soundtrack coupled with special performances from Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, and Diane Keaton make for an intense and riveting watch.
2. The Big Lebowski (Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, 1998)
This incredible eccentric and bizarre film in the noir genre sees the uber chilled Dude take the pursuit of vengeance against the goons who devilishly peed on his favourite rug while holding him hostage when they mistook him for his namesake.
The film is epic in every sense and has become an unrivalled cult favourite. With John Goodman, Jeff Bridges, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore and more, the film has inspired a whole new religion, aptly called Dudeism. In fact, The Big Lebowski has sparked an entire festival, becoming a culture-defining sensation. Bizarrely entertaining and boisterously funny, this film tops the charts among the coolest productions ever made!
1. Reservoir Dogs (Quentin Tarantino, 1992)
Six dangerous criminals with colour based aliases carry out a planned heist which soon gets disrupted by the police, and they resort to violence to escape. However, they discover that this was all a trap, and there is a snitch among them, which they try to figure out by resorting to vicious methods.
Arguably Tarantino’s best film, this heist thriller boasts of tropes that went on to become a characteristic of Tarantino. With his ingenious narrative, the film reflects the reckless provocateur’s audacious and unabashed filmmaking skills. It boasts of bloody violence, eloquent characters and overall madness that defines Tarantino’s pastiche filmmaking.
