What to watch on Netflix: Week of 2/10

Matthew Ellmore/Staff Writer

Netflix offers a wide array of content for its viewers to watch, and it can be daunting to skim through its large collection to try and find something that interests you. However, there are some documentaries, series, and movies that are available on Netflix and that stand out from the rest. Some of them may be well-known, others may not. Hopefully, you can find something that interests you.

“Punch-Drunk Love” (2002)

Adam Sandler has built his career around the goofy, loveable character he so often portrays in his movies. Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Punch-Drunk Love” is a complete 180 degrees from the foundation Sandler has built his career on. Instead of a light-hearted comedy, Sandler leads a romantic drama that’s filled with tension and embarrassment yet manages to be uplifting. Sandler plays Barry Egan, an entrepreneur with severe social anxiety who’s prone to violent outbursts. Egan gets set up on a date with one of his sister’s co-workers and the two begin a relationship, but they run into trouble as Egan becomes a victim of identity fraud and extortion. “Punch Drunk Love” is short and tight, centering itself on a very small list of characters and the extremely intimate moments that connect them. The movie manages to be moving and romantic while deviating from the romance movie clichés. Most of the romantic elements are character-driven and involve psychological rather than situational aspects. Scenes and props are bizarre and dreamlike, but the anxieties that the main characters endure feel genuine. Although released in 2002, “Punch-Drunk Love” is still a shining example of romance and love.

“Sex Education” (2019)

“Sex Education” is a coming of age story about a group of 16-year-olds, their life in high school and at home and their sexual development. The show follows Otis, a 16-year-old living with his divorced mother who runs a sex therapy practice. Growing up around this kind of business has given Otis specific knowledge about sex and relationships, and he eventually begins a sex therapy practice for his fellow students. Each of the eight episodes focuses on a different client and explores the dynamics between friends, families and love interests. Compared to other teen series, “Sex Education” portrays sexual development in a very realistic and honest way. There’s no attempt to exaggerate or inflate the issue; it’s handled with care and concern. There are tons of important discussions in that series that deal with homosexuality, family issues, abortion, safe sex, consent, mental health – and that’s just a small section of what issues get addressed. Each is handled with sensitivity and tact, hitting on some of the most contentious social issues of today. The show manages to blend comedy with heartbreaking and serious consequences, but never feels like it’s preaching to its audience. There’s a fair share of nudity, sexual situations and X-rated language, like most series focused on teenagers, but it’s done for the sake of plot instead of just for laughs. “Sex Education” is focused on teenagers, but it’s a series that should hit home with viewers no matter the age. The issues that it conveys and the way that it conveys them can be understood by all.

“Faces Places” (2017)

Agnes Varda is an 89-year-old filmmaker whose work is said to have been heavily involved in the development of the French New Wave. JR is a 33-year-old French graffiti artist and photographer. “Faces Places” follows Varda and JR as they travel around France and create portraits of people they encounter like workers, villagers and townspeople. The portraits then get plastered in various places: walls, old houses, container cargo, trains and other objects. The people they meet have various jobs and experiences in different fields. Some are miners, some are waitresses, some are truck drivers, some are dockworkers, but all of them have a unique story to tell. Through small vignettes, viewers learn more about the people that Varda and JR meet, making their project feel much more intimate. Along with insight into the subjects of their portraits, viewers also get insight into who Varda and JR are. The long and slow travel allows for the two artists to reflect on their own relationships and family, as well as what the future holds. Since there’s a large age difference between the two, it’s interesting to see how different they are when looking at the past and to the future. “Faces Places” is a quiet and subdued documentary. It makes no attempt to be flashy or cute; it celebrates simple things like companionship and reflection and is a reminder of how important these simple things can be.

Photo by Kyle Loftus on Unsplash.

Be the first to comment on "What to watch on Netflix: Week of 2/10"

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.


*