We’re barreling towards the end of the year. Who can believe it’s already November? On the bright side, with a new month comes a new batch of films landing on Netflix, and I’ve picked out four that are genuinely worth watching this week. Don’t take my word for it — all of these are certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, so put away the fruit and grab some popcorn!
### 4. True Grit
It’s difficult to pick a favorite Coen brothers movie; some might say *No Country for Old Men* or *Fargo*. For me, nothing beats *True Grit*. I’m fond of the 1968 novel by Charles Portis, which this movie adapts (rather than remaking the less faithful 1969 John Wayne version), and I’m always a sucker for modern and classic Westerns alike.
But even if you aren’t predisposed to the genre or aware of the source material, *True Grit* is simply a gripping watch: masterful performances, wonderful cinematography from the legendary Roger Deakins, and rich dialogue.
The story follows a no-nonsense 14-year-old named Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), who hires the tough Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to capture Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), the outlaw who murdered her father. Joining the duo is Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon), who is in pursuit of Chaney for a separate murder.
You would expect the established actors to be great, and indeed they are, but it’s then-newcomer Steinfeld who steals the show, portraying her character with steely determination and more than holding her own. Amazingly, this was her first professional feature-length acting credit, for which she received an Academy Award nomination.
### 3. Back to the Future
“Are you telling me you built a time machine out of a DeLorean?”
If you’re talking about iconic movies, it’s impossible not to mention *Back to the Future*. Having recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, this Robert Zemeckis-directed film never gets old and stands up to repeated rewatches.
If you’ve somehow never seen *Back to the Future*, what are you waiting for? It’s about teenager Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), who accidentally goes back in time from 1985 to 1955, traveling in a souped-up automobile created by his friend Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd).
Marty not only needs to figure out how to get back to the present day but also must protect his future existence by ensuring his parents fall in love.
Part of what makes *Back to the Future* so good is because of how accessible it is. Sure, it’s technically a sci-fi, but it’s not as heavy as that genre label might suggest. It’s charming and funny, with a perfectly paced plot that lets the characters shine.
Those characters are great on the page, but the actors elevate them to another level. For starters, Michael J. Fox’s charisma could carry anything, and Christopher Lloyd is hilarious as the eccentric scientist. Alongside them, you have Lea Thompson as Marty’s flirty mother Lorraine, Crispin Glover as his mega-awkward father George, and Thomas F. Wilson as the dim bully Biff. It’s a recipe for success.
Thankfully, Hollywood has yet to tarnish its legacy with a remake.
### 2. Doctor Sleep
If you want to get into horror movies, the unsettling classic *The Shining* is a must-see. It’s directed by Stanley Kubrick and adapted from the Stephen King novel of the same name. While the film is great, King dislikes it because he feels it didn’t capture the spirit of his book.
He wrote a sequel novel in 2013, which director Mike Flanagan adapted in 2019 with *Doctor Sleep* — a film more respectful to the source material.
Set around 30 years after the events of the Overlook Hotel, *Doctor Sleep* follows a now-adult Dan Torrance (Ewan McGregor) dealing with his past and battling a cult that kills and feeds on people who possess the same supernatural ability he does.
While you could technically watch *Doctor Sleep* as a standalone, it doesn’t disregard Kubrick’s production. This is why I recommend you check out *The Shining* first, if you haven’t already, so that you can really appreciate the sequel. You’ll have a deeper understanding of the central character, and some scenes will be more effective.
Whatever the case, *Doctor Sleep* is creepy, stylish, and boasts some great performances from McGregor and Rebecca Ferguson.
### 1. Game Night
When I first saw *Game Night*, I went in with no expectations and was blown away by how hilarious, inventive, and action-packed it was.
The 2018 movie, directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, stars Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams as Max and Anne Davis, a competitive couple who host a regular game night with their friends.
When Max’s brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler) invites everyone to his murder mystery party, things quickly get out of control when someone is kidnapped, and it’s unclear what’s part of the game and what’s reality.
Bateman and McAdams are outstanding, with some great physical performances, and they completely commit to the increasingly ludicrous situations. However, it’s perhaps Jesse Plemons who is the real highlight. As Gary Kingsbury, the odd police officer who feels excluded from the games, his deadpan delivery of some golden dialogue is a treat.
*Game Night* is only streaming on Netflix for a limited time, so I strongly urge you to watch it this week — you won’t regret it.
https://www.howtogeek.com/netflix-movies-watch-this-week-november-3/
