Now available on Netflix and in select theaters is writer/directorCary Joji Fukunaga’s war dramaBeasts of No Nation. The Netflix original premiered at the Venice Film Festival last month where it tallied four nominations overall with Fukunaga and starAbraham Attaheach being recognized. Fukunaga adapted the film fromUzodinma Iweala’s 2005 novel of the same name and, if there was any lingering doubt after season one of HBO’sTrue Detective,Beastscements the filmmaker’s status as one of the most skillful storytellers working today.
Make no mistake:Beastsis not an easy watch. The horrors of war and its devastating inhumanity are on full display. Thankfully, Fukunaga handles the subject with aplomb and stars Abraham Attah andIdris Elbadeliver stellar performances that convey the misery of the situation without ever feeling exploitative or hollow. There is a depth to the film, a weight of importance that is only there because it was made with such care and skill. Heavy themes such as stolen innocence, revenge, and hopelessness are rarely expressed as thoughtfully and honestly as they are inBeasts of No Nation. Watch it.
Before you divert your attention elsewhere, let’s get to this week’sTop 5:
Final ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Trailer
Thefinal trailerforStar Wars: The Force Awakensdebuted earlier this week and surpassed112 million online viewsin its first 24 hours. I’m going out on a limb and saying that I think this movie will be a hit when it hits theaters in December. You heard it here first, folks.
‘Steve Jobs’ Coverage
Remember that one Steve Jobs movie starring Ashton Kutcher? Yeah, me either. The one that Aaron Sorkin wrote and, thus, the only one that you need to care about hits theaters almost everywhere this weekend. To celebrate, we’ve inundated the site with interviews for andour reviewof Universal’sSteve Jobs.Click hereto browse all of our coverage, including Steve’svideo interview with Sorkin.
‘Back to the Future’ Day Coverage
October 21st, 2015 has come and gone and while there are no flying cars to be found, there is a good deal ofBack to the Futurecontent to enjoy.Click hereto browse all of it or jump straight to a few of my favorites: Adam’s"WhatBack to the Future: Part 2Gets Right About 2015"post and Steve’s video interview with starsLea Thompson and Christopher Lloyd.
30 for 30 Investigates ‘Angels in the Outfield’
I love ESPN’s documentary series30 for 30. I also have an extreme soft spot for a number of kids sports movies from the early-to-mid 90s (i.e.The Sandlot,Rookie of the Year, andSpace Jam).College Humor’s spoofonAngels in the Outfieldjust so happens to bring both of these loves together and the result is glorious. Watch it and love it immediately.
The 35 Best Horror Movies of the Decade So Far
All Hallows' Eve is almost upon us which means you may be giving horror films a chance right about now even if you aren’t particularly a fan of the genre. Of course, there are plenty of horror gems to choose from outside of the last five years. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for something more recent to work into your Halloween viewing rotation then I recommend consulting our list of the35 best horror films of this decade(so far) before making a decision.
