Movies

Tallulah: With 83% rotten tomatoes and starring Ellen Page (if you’ve never heard of her, that’s another reason you should watch this movie), this film is definitely noteworthy. The plot of this drama is based off of a homeless woman named Tallulah (Lu), and what happens when you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time (or was it the right place and right time?). Lu’s lifestyle is pretty simple: gas station and dumpster food, stealing money from strangers, and sleeping in her beat up van, all in the company of her boyfriend. The story takes a twist when her boyfriend mentions getting married and moving into an actual house and starting a family.

Then, she makes a decision that will change her life. Lu abducts the baby. But it was for the best, right? Find out what happens on her journey to care for a child she’s just abducted, while she can barely care for herself . . .  with the FBI right on her toes.

Colonia: With its initial release in Germany, the director being an Oscar winner, and starring  Emma Watson  (I know, hold your excitement), this documentary is a for sure showstopper. The movie is based off of an event that happened in Chile.

A determined stewardess (Emma Watson) tries to rescue her boyfriend (Daniel Brühl) when he becomes a prisoner during a military coup in Chile in 1973. The coup is supposed to be focused on God and doing what is “right” and “sinless,” but the overall place is basically a cult that abuses the prisoners and manipulates them into believing that the abuse is what is right for them because they are all sinners. If you like books like Night or Number the Stars, this movie is for you.

Short Term 12: Brie Larson stars in this fantastic 2013 drama as Grace, a foster care facility counselor in her mid-20s who works at a home for at-risk teens. As she strives to enrich the lives of the embattled youth who spend time in her facility, Grace finds it increasingly hard to deal with even a small amount of the issues plaguing her personal life. The Newsroom alum John Gallagher Jr. plays Grace’s boyfriend and soon-to-be-husband, giving one of the most heartfelt and compassionate performances you’ll see in recent film. Not only is Short Term 12 an incredible piece of emotional storytelling, but it’s a wonderful exploration of life, love, and sacrifice. There’s no doubt this is one of Netflix’s most underrated movies in its entire catalog.

Shows

Between: This Netflix original series is one to remember. The plot of the story is based on an epidemic that spreads into a small town, killing everyone over 22 years old. The shocking onset and nature of the disease is baffling to figure out, even for professional, long-term medical experts. Can the town figure out the disease before it kills them all?

Twisted: A show with a hot guy, mysterious guy as the main character, do you really need any other reason to watch it? If you do, no need to fret, there are plenty. This suspense is based off of a young 12 year old who killed his own aunt, who goes to juvie and then comes back to his home town. He has no friends, and everyone looks at him as a “socio”. Life isn’t easy for him from the beginning; then when murders start popping up in the town, he’s the obvious one to blame. But did he have a valid reason to kill his aunt, making him innocent and just taking up for himself? And did he really commit the murders? Or is someone just framing him because he’s the easiest target? Watch this thriller to (try) to find out the answers.

Sword Art Online: If you’re one for anime, this is a show for you. Don’t let the title “anime” throw you off; you can’t knock it until you try it, plus, it’s one of the best one’s out there. When a group of people log into a virtual reality video game, they have no idea what they’re getting themselves into. Everything is fine at first, but then the game creator appears with a devastating announcement. Nobody can leave the game from now on; they’re all trapped. If they can beat all 100 levels of the game, they are free to leave. But, if they die in the game, they’ll die in real life as well. If anyone takes off their game system headset in real life, they’ll die. The only way out is to beat the game. Needless to say, everyone is paranoid. By the first month, about a fourth of the gamers are dead. Years go by and people are slowly fading away. If you live for mysteries, this one’s for you.