The classic Movies for the Weekend series is now turning, during the pandemic, into #homerecommendations, where I gather recommendations of movies, series, virtual museums, online concerts and anything else I find around that could keep our minds busy during this time. So I suggest you make the best of these days and get comfortable on the couch with a good movie or series. I have selected for you below 5 movies and 5 series to watch on Netflix, from classic titles to more recent productions.

FIVE MOVIES:

– Goodfellas (dir. Martin Scorsese; crime) – A Scorsese classic, a must-see for any film enthusiast, especially for those with a taste for mob crime movies, the film follows the story of Henry Hill and his life in the mob up to the ’80s. The subject is quite intriguing, not to mention the cinematography, editing and the actors’ performances, which are flawless. Bottom line: a little bit of action for those days when you feel like nothing interesting is happening around you.

– Drive (dir. Nicolas Winding Refn; drama) – If you’re a Ryan Gosling fan, quickly add this movie to your watchlist. I must admit, it’s not a movie for anyone, but for those who have enough patience, Drive promises an exciting journey and a thriller with a twist. The film addresses topics such as masculinity and violence, but also has a note of romance.

– Groundhog Day (dir. Harold Ramis; comedy) – A movie that couldn’t be more appropriate for the days we all live during this time. I’m sure you’ll identify, just a little bit at least, with the story of the main character played by Bill Murray, who is destined to live the same day, every day, with the same beginning and the same end. A film that is certainly funny, but with a hint of melancholy, something that could describe our current state of being.

– Marriage Story (dir. Noah Baumbach; drama) – You may have already heard of this Netflix film, given that it has gained a lot of fans in the past months (which I’ve recommended once more in another Movies for the Weekend article, and whose review by Cezar Gheorghe can be read here). In a nutshell, the film tells the story of the separation between theater director Charlie (Adam Driver) and his wife, theater actress, Nicole (Scarlett Johansson). Spoiler alert: I might say this movie doesn’t have a specific line of action or a certain conclusion, it’s rather a movie full of frustrating moments which raises several questions, but each of us will perceive it differently depending on our mood at the time being. A film that doesn’t come with answers, but which leads us to draw our own conclusions.

– Pan’s Labyrinth (dir. Guillermo del Toro; fantasy) – Another classic and a masterpiece of the fantasy genre. A film which invites you to enter a fantastic world, full of fascinating creatures, the world where Ofelia, the main character, lives in. Pan’s Labyrinth combines the tragedy of the Civil War and the horrors of fascist Spain with the power of imagination, and tells a story about good and evil, courage and sacrifice and, most of all, about love.

FIVE SERIES:

– Bojack Horseman – I start the list of series with a funny animated series, which also has some deep moments that could get you quite depressed (just kidding, or am I?). Bojack is a horse, a former sitcom star in the ’90s. 20 years after the peak of his career, Bojack is experiencing a kind of midlife crisis and is fueled by substance abuse, while spending time in L.A. with his friends, people and animals alike. A black and surreal comedy, full of existential dread.

– Tuca and Bertie – If you like Bojack Horseman, then you may also like this animation, full of surreal and funny moments. I discovered this series by chance when I was browsing on Netflix, but I continued watching it, since its script is quite smart and the characters are experiencing some comic situations – animals with human hands and feet, and feelings and thoughts as authentic as possible.

– Stranger Things – I don’t know if it still needs an introduction, but if you haven’t watched Stranger Things so far, I recommend you take advantage of these days to do so. It’s a nostalgic series, with an action that takes place in ’85 and, at one point, takes a weird turn as the characters discover a supernatural force and a group of Russian scientists are trying to open a gate to Upside Down.

– The Good Place – When I stumbled upon this series, I thought it would be weak, that kind of series you watch when you don’t feel like thinking too hard and you don’t really care about. Well, I was wrong. The Good Place explores a concept of heaven I’ve never thought of before: only really good people get to heaven and here they live a perfect life, in homes very much to their liking, and they meet their soulmate, created especially for them. Well, one day, Eleanor, a person who is by far a “really good” person, arrives in this ideal universe due to a system error. In the series, we see how she handles the “heaven” and the events she goes through, trying to hide the fact that she shouldn’t have gotten there. A light series, but very fun.

– American Vandal – This mockumentary follows the story of Peter Maldonado, who leads an investigation into Dylan Maxwell, who was expelled because he spray-painted penises on the cars of 27 teachers. Or so they say. It’s a satire made in the style of crime documentaries, which addresses the American high school stereotypes and is full of funny moments, all to find out who really vandalized those cars.

Romina Banu

Photographer and editor; she co-founded Dissolved Magazine together with Melissa. For Films in Frame she gathers film and TV series recommendations for lazy weekends and she writes about interesting projects from the film industry. Other than that, she likes traveling, chilling with her cats and sleeping.