Dead Awake (2010)

Genre: Thriller

Average Netflix Rating: 2.8 Stars

Synopsis: In this supernatural love story, lonely funeral home employee Dylan (Nick Stahl) fakes his death in order to find out who will attend his funeral. The surprising results prompt him to investigate the decade-old tragedy that ruined his life. Attending the phony funeral are junkie Charlie (Rose McGowan), who needs Dylan to save her from herself, and high school sweetheart Natalie (Amy Smart), whom he abandoned long ago.

Horrible. Waste of time. Thriller???? This was the most boring thriller I've ever watched. It was 5 different movies tossed together and it didn't work. Fake a funeral and watch the characters develop, could be an interesting drama, but then you throw in a random murder mystery, then add in druggies and the mob, then add in a love story, THEN if that's not random enough throw in ghosts and some random twists about who's alive and who's dead... This movie wants to be very smart, but tries so hard it comes off stupid. What really surprises me is Amy Smart... Why does she keep ending up in these horrible movies? I doubt that I'm the only person that thinks she should be a big star. On the same note, Nick Stahl has made a nice little career for himself - why is he in this piece of crap??

Where Should You Put It In Your Q? Don't put it in your Q at all, there's nothing here worth seeing...

LINK: http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Dead-Awake/70138788

Exam (2008)

Genre: Thriller

Average Netflix Rating: 3.5 stars

Synopsis: In this psychological thriller, eight job applicants in a guarded, windowless room are given instruction, exams and 80 minutes to answer one discerning question that may win them a prime position. But they soon discover this is no ordinary test. The exams are blank. With one ejected for attempting to answer the unknown question, the remaining seven must decide what they will do and how far each will go for the coveted job.

How do you make a movie, a thriller non-the-less about a job interview??? Make it for a position people are willing to kill to get, and make the interview about 1 simple question. The problem is... no one knows the question. Maybe it's printed in invisible ink? Maybe it's printed in glow-in-the-dark ink so you should kill the lights? Maybe the ink is activated by heat, but what do you burn? This movie is EXACTLY why I wanted to do this blog, Bc there are movies out there that no one has heard of but you should be watching. I like my thrillers to be smart, and this is certainly one of them. Who's lying? Who's a mole? What is the job?? and most importantly... What is the question?? The answer is so simple and in your face the entire time, and like many of the candidates you realize... You should have known the answer but you just weren't smart enough... I don't want to write any more Bc the fun of this movie is discovering facts along the way with the characters? I say try it - take The Exam...



Where should you put it in your Q? Towards the top...

LINK: http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/70120605

The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

Genre: Romantic Thriller

Average Netflix Rating: 3.7 Stars

Synopsis: A congressman (Matt Damon) who's a rising star on the political scene finds himself entranced by a beautiful ballerina (Emily Blunt), but mysterious circumstances ensure that their love affair is predestined to be a non-starter. Screenwriter George Nolfi (The Bourne Ultimatum) makes his directorial debut with this romantic adaptation of Philip K. Dick's classic sci-fi short story "Adjustment Team."

I wanted to see this movie in theaters, and I'm so glad I waited. Here's the thing, in no way am I saying that it wasn't good enough to see in theaters, just that the marketing really made this movie into something it's not. The trailer made it seem like you were about to go on this thrilling action adventure supernatural ride, and then you left the theater dissapointed Bc instead you saw an edgy romance with some supernatural undertones. BUT by waiting and going into the movie with an open mind, its very good. Emily Blunt steals the show in every scene she's in, and the chemistry between her and Matt Damon is something we haven't seen on film in a while. The idea of living beings actually physically adjusting things to keep fate's time line in order, is clever and well done. My only complaint? When the movie ends, you still have some pretty big questions, yes the story of Matt and Emily's characters is resolved - but the bigger picture is never explored or answered.

Where should you put it in your Q? Add it right to the top,

LINK: http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/The-Adjustment-Bureau/70130140

Antichrist (2009)

Genre: Thriller

Average Netflix Rating: 2.8 Stars

Synopsis: After their child dies, a therapist (Willem Dafoe) and his wife (Charlotte Gainsbourg) flee to their cabin in the woods, where they hope to mend their emotional wounds. But the grief-stricken couple watches their troubles multiply when very strange things begin to happen. Acclaimed Danish auteur Lars von Trier divides this tale into multiple narratives, revealing a surreal, horrific psychological adventure about the evils of nature, humanity and desire.

This is going to be short and easy. I NEVER want to watch 1 minute of this movie again. The opening scene sets up this crazy edgy beatiful movie. The opening act is pure geniius, from the music, to the black and white, to the emotional sucker punch it throws at you as you watch the death of this child - then act 2 starts... It's almost too boring to watch... I wanted to be invested in these people but I was annoyed at what a different direction the movie was taking, but I hung in there - and then act 3 started. Just thinking of what was put on film makes me want to perform a lobotomy on myself to forget - There were 2 scenes in the finale that were so visually scaring to me, just writing this is making me quiver. I can't even bring myself to type what they were. I can't even tell you how the movie really ended Bc I was so scarred by what I saw I mentally checked out. This is a horrible, disgusting, vile, unflinching, did I say vile? Piece of filth...

Where should you put it in you Q? At the top, so we can get all the copies from Netflix and BURN them...

LINK: http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Antichrist/70117549

The Illusionist (2006)

Genre: Drama

Average Netflix Rating: 3.8 stars

Synopsis: With his eye on a lovely aristocrat (Jessica Biel), a gifted illusionist named Eisenheim (Edward Norton) uses his powers to win her away from her betrothed, a crowned prince (Rufus Sewell). But Eisenheim's scheme creates tumult within the monarchy and ignites the suspicion of a dogged inspector (Paul Giamatti). Set in early 1900s Vienna, this lush period drama from writer-director Neil Burger earned an Oscar nod for Best Cinematography.

Every so often 2 major studies get the same idea and 2 movies come out close together that are very similar (right now they are making 2 big budget live action versions of Snow White). Sometimes one movie is much better then another (Deep Impact vs Armageddon) and sometimes they are both incredibly well done. The Illusionist and The Prestige came out the same year, The Prestige was an action packed thriller filled with twists and turns that kept the watcher on edge from start to finish. The Illusionist was a complete 180, a slow burn of a who-done-it. The Illusionist is a beautiful period drama romance, it's focus is more the beauty of storytelling. Its a beautiful film filled with drama, romance and murder. Where The Prestiges main focus was the magic and the tricks, here the magic is more scenery. By giving the magic a backseat it makes the story become the main puzzle. A puzzle I regretfully say is not 100% answered. My other issue?? I hate Jessica Biel, she's easy on the eyes but can't act her way out of a paperbag, BUT she somehow manages to pull this off. Maybe it's Bc she just has to be sexy and/or lifeless for most of the movie. I will also say that either the ending was very cliche or it's some sort of twist that I don't understand (Pay attention to her sleeve sleeve)...

Where should you put it on your Q? Towards the top (and while your there put The Prestige too)

LINK: http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The_Illusionist/70043951?trkid=2361637

All Good Things (2010)

Genre: Thriller

Average Netflix Rating: 3.2 Stars

Synopsis: After restless real-estate scion David Marks (Ryan Gosling) weds middle-class beauty Katie McCarthy (Kirsten Dunst) against the wishes of his disapproving father (Frank Langella), suspicions of murder fall on the unmoored heir when his wife mysteriously vanishes. Though he's not indicted in her disappearance, people with ties to the case begin turning up dead when it's reopened two decades later -- and the unhinged David is the prime suspect.

It's movies like this that made me want to do this blog. Where does a movie with this cast and such a great story go that no one knows it's out there? Every single person in this movie delivers. The plot moves along quickly going from a sweet romance, to a story about the dark side of the New York real estate underbelly, to ultimatly the story of murder. Twists and turns abound and there were moments that I was shocked silent to others where I actually said outloud, alone, what the F#%K?? Any one who knows me knows I have an an unwavering hate for Kirsten Dunst but I enjoyed this movie so much I didn't even notice my hatred creeping in. The last 40 minutes creeps up on you and never let's go until the end. Every so often a movie comes in my mailbox and I have no idea why I added it to my Q, and this was one of those movies... But I'm sure glad it did!

Where should you put it in your Netflix Q? Movie it right to the top...

LINK:http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/All-Good-Things/70116678