REEL ADVICE: MARCH 9th

Is your Netflix queue a little small? Need a few suggestions for your next movie night? Want to watch something new and different, but don't know what to watch? Well no worries, we here at The Double Reel want to help. Hit the jump to check out five quick movie recommendations.


Something Old:

The Experiment (Das Experiment)

Length: 1 hr 50 min

Rated: R

Directed by: Oliver Hirschbiegel

Written by: Christoph Darnstadt, Don Bohlinger

Cast: Moritz Bleibtreu, Christian Berkel, Timo Dierkes, Andrea Sawatzki

Synopsis: 

An artificial prison has been built as part of a psychological experiment in which 20 male participants are asked to take roles as either prisoners or guards. As psychologists watch the results unfold, our focus is on a former journalist who is intrigued by the concept and volunteers to be one of the prisoners, thinking there might be a big story in it for him. But he ends up getting a lot more than he bargained for.  

Being a German film, The Experiment flew underneath the radar here in the States which is a shame because it is a great film. If you don't mind reading subtitles, this movie will have you on the edge of your seat. This is a movie everyone should check out.



Something New:

Catfish 

 

 Length: 1 hr 34 min

Rated: PG-13 

Directed by: Ariel Schulman, Henry Joost

Cast: Nev Schulman, Angela Wesselman-Pierce, Ariel Schulman, 

Henry Joost

Synopsis: 

Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman document the strange series of events that unfolds when a gifted 8-year-old artist named Abby contacts Nev, a 24-year-old photographer (and Schulman's brother), through Facebook. After Abby sends Nev a remarkable painting based on one of his photos, Nev begins corresponding with her family -- including her seductive 19-year-old sister. Realizing that something's not quite right, Nev sets out to uncover the truth.

I had heard good things about Catfish, but I didn't know much else about it until I saw it. The less you know about the Catfish, the better. I can not speak more highly of this documentary. This movie should be in your Netflix queue, no questions.



Something Good:

City of God

Length: 2 hr 13 min

Rated: R

Directed by: Fernando Meirelles , Kátia Lund

Written by: Fernando Meirelles, Braulio Mantovani

Cast: Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino da Hora, Matheus Nachtergaele, Phelipe Haagensen

Synopsis: 

Buscapé (Alexandre Rodrigues) is frightened he'll end up like the countless others around him -- troubled, violent or dead. But his saving grace is his photographer's eye, through which the stories of several people who live in his forsaken Cidade de Deus unfold. Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund direct this sobering look at life inside a Rio de Janeiro housing project, reputed to be one of the most dangerous parts of an otherwise magical city. 

I will be honest, it took me awhile to get into this movie, but once I was in, I was hooked. This movie was terrifying, breathtaking and gritty, but more importantly true. While not for everyone, City of God will fascinate most viewers.



Something Bad:

Machete

 

Length: 1 hr 45 min

Rated: R

Directed by: Robert Rodriguez , Ethan Maniquis

Written by: Robert Rodriguez, Álvaro Rodríguez

Cast: Danny Trejo, Robert De Niro, Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez

Synopsis: 

Hired to assassinate a politician, vigilante and ex-Federale Machete (Danny Trejo) nearly dies when a sniper shoots him during the job. Out for revenge, he's joined by a reluctant old buddy (Cheech Marin) who's become a pacifist priest. Written and co-directed by Robert Rodriguez, this homage to exploitation films based on his fake trailer in Grindhouse co-stars Robert De Niro, Michelle Rodriguez, Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Alba and Steven Seagal.

So why am I recommending a bad movie? Good question. Lets be honest with ourselves, I think we all enjoy a bad movie from time to time. There is no real reason to watch this movie except to enjoy pointless violence and Jessica Elba naked in a shower. Watch the first ten minutes, if you haven't started laughing from the absurdity, than something is definitely wrong with you. 
  




Something Random: 

Black Dynamite

Length: 1 hr 25 min

Rated: R

Directed by: Scott Sanders

Written by: Michael Jai White, Byron Keith Minns

Cast: Michael Jai White, Kym E. Whitley, Tommy Davidson, Kevin Chapman, Salli Richardson-Whitfield

Synopsis: 

Black Dynamite (Michael Jai White) is the only one strong enough and brave enough to take on the baddies who murdered his brother. What's the former CIA agent to do? Expose a conspiracy that leads straight to the White House. Providing plenty of hilarity and sexy, slick action, Scott Sanders directs this homage to classic 1970s blaxploitation flicks. Salli Richardson-Whitfield and Arsenio Hall also star. 

Like Machete, Black Dynamite is a bad movie. The only difference is that Black Dynamite is trying to be a bad movie. This is a wickedly smart and funny movie that will definitely be a cult classic. This is a perfect movie to watch next time you and your buddies have a movie night. 

Well there you have it, five movies for you to check out. Give them a try and let us know what you think. Look out for more recommendations in the next addition of Reel Advice.