Netflix Movie Reviews

SNOWPIERCER

“Snowpiercer” is an intriguing movie that will certainly keep anyone who is a fan of well-choreographed fight scenes and interesting storylines in their seat. The stylized combat, choreography and premise is enough to make this movie great.

Director Joon-ho Bong does a good job making the most out of what can be seen as a simple movie. The acting is not sensational, but the cast does a good-enough job to complement the strengths of the movie. Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer and Ed Harris headline the cast and are all able to deliver realistic and believable performances.

Released in 2013, Snowpiercer takes place entirely on a single train. After temperatures on Earth rise too much to be livable, a climate change experiment releasing a chemical into the atmosphere designed to cool the Earth goes wrong, freezing and killing all life on Earth except for the lucky few who boarded the Snowpiercer. A class system forms on the train and 17 years after the global crisis, an uprising led by Chris Evans occurs.

The movies premise is by far the most interesting thing about the film. The idea that this train can travel around the globe and be self sustaining forever is a little far fetched, of course, but the idea is well executed nonetheless. The main conflict of the movie is the unfair treatment of the passengers at the back of the train.

The set design does a great job adding to the feel of the movie. Each car feels different, the back car looks a lot like alleyways of a poor neighborhood, with the front cars looking more like rooms you would see in a five-star resort. Moving from one car to the next throughout the movie changes the tone without losing the overall feel of the movie.

The cinematography is able to complement the sets by having closer shots for a more cramped feel, and wider shots making the cars in the front of the train feel more spacious. This makes the viewer all the more sympathetic for the passengers in the back of the train.

“Snowpiercer” is a well-executed movie with an intriguing story and an interesting premise. The intense fight scenes will excite the viewer, and the cinematography will change the mood from somber to bright in the blink of an eye. If you have a Netflix subscription this film is well worth the watch.

FRUITVALE STATION

“Fruitvale Station” is a gut-wrenching, emotional experience that is a must watch for anyone who enjoys a quality movie. Strong acting, an emotional story and a realistic style makes “Fruitvale Station” one of the best movies available on Netflix.

Ryan Coogler writes and directs this 2013 biographical drama. This is his first directorial effort for a full-length feature. Michael B. Jordan stars and delivers arguably the best performance of his young career. Octavia Spencer and Melonie Diaz co-star and give solid performances as well.

“Fruitvale Station” is based on the true story of 22-year-old Oscar Grant, played by Jordan, on New Year’s Eve of 2008. Set in the bay area, the movie follows Grant throughout the day and into the morning of New Year’s Day as he encounters friends, meets strangers and faces enemies. The mix in of flashbacks really complements the story of Oscar Grant and adds to the depth of this complex character.

The best thing about this movie is the wonderful job it does connecting the story of Grant to the viewer. At the end of the movie, you can really feel a great amount of emotional attachment to him and his family. Watching it feels as though you are accompanying Grant on this journey.

The scenes that occur throughout this movie add to the complexity of Grant. They show he is not just an average, 22-year-old young man. You can tell throughout the movie that he has a great heart and is genuinely trying to turn his life around. The director does a fantastic job creating an emotionally engaging story.

“Fruitvale Station” starts out with a gut-wrenching sequence, then throughout the movie feeds the viewer with sympathy, flashes of happiness and even more flashes of sadness. It is not a retelling of the unfortunate story of Oscar Grant, it is a reliving of this day. It does an almost perfect job putting you in Grant’s shoes. This movie is a must-watch for anyone with or without Netflix.