A&E
Quality international films to look for on Netflix
By Matt Burner ’17
April 28, 2016
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As past articles have hopefully revealed, Netflix has a plethora of viewing options that can satisfy the most finicky of tastes. While much attention is often paid to the television shows that can provide hours of viewing time, there are also some high quality films on Netflix. Unfortunately, as the company has begun focusing more of its budget towards its original programs, both the quantity and quality of available movies has diminished. Thankfully, there are certain genres for which Netflix can afford to offer better quality films without breaking the bank to obtain the rights. One of these genres is Netflix’s international films. Here are a couple particularly exceptional ones.
Oldboy:
Not to be confused with the subpar remake directed by Spike Lee, Oldboy is a cerebral action-thriller by Korean director Park Chan-wook. Released in 2003, it is often considered one of the better mystery films of the 21st Century. Oldboy tells the story of a Korean businessman held captive for 15 years with no knowledge of why he is being held captive or who is doing so. Upon his release, he sets out on a path of destruction in a quest to answer his questions.
Oldboy possesses a few incredible yet brutal action sequences, with one particularly notable for its six minute long single take. The movie transcends the stereotypes of action film, and ultimately can be characterized as a modern-day Greek tragedy.
City of God:
City of God is a sprawling, epic Brazilian crime film that details life in a crime-riddled Rio de Janeiro during the 1960’s through the 80’s. It is deemed one of the best films of international cinema and received much critical acclaim upon its release.
The film offers a glimpse into the dark underbelly of a developing city, where violence is ever-present and legitimate job opportunities limited. Unlike past American crime films, which often depict the leaders of the organizations, City of God shows the rise of several young, lowly criminals, eventually culminating in a vicious, bloody gang war.
Snowpiercer:
Another film by a Korean director, Snowpiercer is Bong Joon-ho’s first attempt at directing an English-language film. Starring Chris Evans, better known for playing Captain America, Snowpiercer takes place on a train transporting the last remaining humans after an environmental catastrophe. As one could expect, the train morphs into a strange but also somewhat familiar environment, where classes are divided on economic lines and ongoing tensions between the wealthy and non-wealthy. Eventually, Evans leads the lower class in an attempt to break out of their cramped, crude living quarters.
Like Oldboy, Snowpiercer can also be categorized as an action movie, although it too possesses a deeper meaning. Beyond the obvious message regarding global warming, the film asks the viewer to question the relationship humans possess with one another and how much one is willing to sacrifice in order to survive.