Sure-Fire Streaming: The Gift, Liar Liar, Stowaway, and more!
By Jordan Parker
The Gift – Available On Netflix
One of the most surprising, shocking twists in recent memory came from this little-known thriller.
Writer-director Joel Edgerton – primarily known for his acting prowess – deals in a screenplay that’s near flawless. As the villainous co-star, he absolutely owns the screen, and the work behind it.
The film is about married couple Simon and Robyn, who meet up with former acquaintance Gordo. But their rekindled friendship takes a turn when Gordo begins to become obsessed with the couple.
The performance make the film – Jason Bateman, in a big against-type turn, is fantastic, as is the formidable Rebecca Hall. But Edgerton provides the creepiness factor that makes the film really work.
If your jaw isn’t slacked on the floor at the end of this movie, hat’s off to you.
Liar Liar – Available On Netflix
Maybe I’m in the minority, but while all my friends were re-watching Happy Gilmore as kids, this was my comedic holy grail.
Jim Carrey is a staple and a Canadian treasure. He’s proven he can do drama and comedy, and I’ve followed his entire career with great interest.
In my humble opinion, Liar Liar is his funniest, most well-rounded comedy. He stars as a lawyer who is condemned to not lie for 24 hours due to a birthday with from his disappointed son.
In that day, Carrey’s character Fletcher begins to see the consequences of his one-track, corporate ladder climbing mind on his family, friends and co-workers.
Some sequences in this film are absolutely unforgettable, and I can never scroll past Liar Liar on my TV set and not at least watch a few minutes.
Stowaway – Available On Prime Video
Nothing this year so far has made an impact quite like writer-director’s space odyssey Stowaway.
It may not have the incredible visual effects of gravity, but the human connection is real, and you’ll find yourself rooting for these characters in an impossible situation.
Stowaway is a film about a three-person crew headed to Mars who see their humanity and ethics tested when they find an injured, unconscious ship worker.
The fourth passenger provides difficulties with resources – including oxygen – and there’s no turning back.
Despite the out-of-this-world setting, the very human struggle plays out incredibly, especially due to central performances from Anna Kendrick, Daniel Dae Kim, Toni Collette and Shamier Anderson.
It’s a heavily involving, difficult feature, but you’ll be rewarded by the end. It’s my favourite of 2021 so far.
Nightcrawler – Available On Netflix
This dark, terrifying portrayal of the world of journalism, and the lengths reporters will go to in order to get a story, is a difficult watch.
The old adage, “if it bleeds, it leads” is a moniker that means mayhem, deaths, and car crash footage will always lead a news program.
So this flick about Louis, a scrappy freelancer trying to break into the business, is a sad look at how much he’ll push to get his footage on the air in L.A. But when Louis begins staging his shots for higher impact, he crosses ethical lines.
Director-writer Dan Gilroy finds the perfect balance between preachy and observant, and JAKE Gyllenhaal’s performance is so good it transforms the heartthrob into scary territory.
With an incredible supporting turn from underrated Rene Russo, as well as performances from the late Bill Paxton, and Riz Ahmed, it’s a stacked cast.
The bleak subject matter may turn some away, but if this review intrigues you, it’s important you check out this scary good movie.
Happy Endings – Available On Prime Video
Perhaps the funniest show I’ve seen in the last decade, Happy Endings is a wonderful sitcom that only lasted three seasons.
Whip-smart and too highbrow for network TV, the show has found a huge following post-cancellation, and deservedly so.
It follows a group of six young friends in Chicago who struggle with the very public, wedding-set break-up of two of them. As the events of that day threaten to tear everyone apart, the group attempts to pull together and get past it.
The strength of this show lies in the pitch-perfect ensemble and the writing, so quick and witty that I sometimes need to rewind because I couldn’t hear the new joke due to my laughing at the prior one.
Oddly enough, Zachary Kingston and Elisha Cuthbert star as exes Dave and Alex, but they’re the least involving of the bunch. Eliza Coupe is Jane, Alex’s hard-drinking sister, and the lovely Damon Wayans Jr. plays her husband Brad in a career-defining role.
But it’s Casey Wilson as single spinster Penny and Adam Pally as bearish, queer Max who absolutely make this show.
I have to say, if you don’t find this show laugh-out loud hilarious, you don’t have a funny bone. Give it three episodes – you’ll be sucked in.