500 Days Of Film Reviews 50 Films Now Available On Amazon Prime Video
If you are a member or considering becoming a member of Amazon Prime Video be warned. You may find yourself scrolling through hundreds of movies. Sadly, however, only some of these films will be worthy of your precious time.
To help make life a little bit easier, in this article, I have listed 50 unmissable films to watch now on Amazon Prime Video.
50 Films To Watch On Amazon Prime Video
PATERSON
Paterson (Adam Driver) is a bus driver in the city of Paterson, New Jersey. Every day he follows the same, simple routine - all the while observing the city and overhearing fragments of conversations that swirl around him. The comedy, sadness and beauty in each day inspires Paterson to write poetry about his life and experiences.
ROOM
It is Jack’s fifth birthday and he is eager to start celebrating. However, there are no candles on his cake and there are no presents. Frustrated, Jack lashes out at his Ma. For there are limitations in Jack's world - he and his Ma live within the confines of a small shed - a place that he calls Room.
INTERSTELLAR
In the future, a global crop blight and second Dust Bowl are slowly rendering Earth uninhabitable. NASA physicist, Professor Brand (Micheal Caine), believes that the only way to save mankind is by transporting Earth's population to a new home via a wormhole.
MUSTANG
School’s out and it's the beginning of summer. In a small village in northern Turkey, five sisters are on their way home. En route, they stop for an innocent game on the beach with some local boys. Unbeknownst to them, disapproving eyes are watching - sparking a potential scandal for the family. Once home, they are beaten by their grandmother while their uncle turns their home into a prison. Forced to wear drab clothes and kept away from school, all they have to live for is an arranged marriage. However, the sisters are not about to lose their freedom without a fight.
A BIGGER SPLASH
Rock legend, Marianne Lane (Tilda Swinton), is recuperating following vocal surgery on the volcanic island of Pantelleria with her partner, Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts). However, their peaceful existence is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Marianne’s record producer and old flame, Harry (Ralph Fiennes) and his daughter Penelope (Dakota Johnson).
EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT
Karamakate is an Amazonian shaman - the last survivor of his people, many of whom have been killed by merciless rubber barons. Over the course of 40 years, Karamakate meets and guides two white scientists. Both are searching the Amazon jungle for an illusive plant thought to contain sacred, healing properties. Initially suspicious of their true motives, Karamakate teaches them the ways of the jungle and the importance of tribal culture, nature and dreams.
CAROL
Based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel, The Price Of Salt, Carol tells the story of two women who, despite having very different backgrounds, meet by chance and then fall in love. Therese (Roony Mara) is a lonely young woman working as a shop assistant in a Manhattan department store. One Christmas, she meets Carol (Cate Blanchett), an older woman trapped in a loveless marriage. The two feel an immediate connection - an attraction that neither can ignore.
THE RAID
Gareth Evans’ The Raid is my favourite action movie. In the Indonesian city of Jakarta, lies a hellish place - a safe haven for violent criminals and drug dealers. This 30 floor apartment block is a no-go area, even for the bravest of the city’s police force. Determined to regain control, a team of police officers enter the building in an attempt to flush out the criminals - floor by floor.
MULHOLLAND DRIVE
If you didn’t catch David Lynch’s masterpiece during its recent re-release, you can now watch it via Amazon Prime! Mulholland Drive has been delighting and frustrating audiences since its release in 2001. Even the briefest of plot summaries proves challenging as David Lynch's hypnotic movie lends itself to many interpretations. At its simplest, Mulholland Drive is the story of an aspiring actress (played by Naomi Watts) who, via her relationship with another actress (Laura Harring), discovers the cruel difference between fantasy and reality in Hollywood.
GRAVITY
Medical engineer, Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and veteran astronaut, Matt Kowalski (George Clooney), are the sole survivors after a catastrophe in space. Alone in the void, with no shuttle and no viable contact with Earth, they must fight to survive or face the very real risk that they might not make it home.
SOURCE CODE
Soldier, Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal), wakes up on a train to find he is occupying the body of another man. Eight minutes later, the train is blown up by an unknown terrorist. However, Colter does not die. Instead, he finds himself in a strange capsule and, as part of an experimental government program, he is ordered to repeat the experience until he uncovers the terrorist’s identity.
THE BFG
Sleepless during the 3am witching hour, little orphan Sophie (Ruby Barnhill) spies a giant lurking in the shadows of London’s streets. However, the giant has also seen her. Reaching in with one enormous hand, he spirits her away to Giant Country. Terrified, Sophie tries to escape - only to realise that there is simply nothing to be afraid of. For this is the Big Friendly Giant or BFG (Mark Rylance). The two strike up an unlikely friendship - one that will take them on a wonderful adventure full of magical dreams, human bean eating giants, Frobscottle and whizz pops!
EVERYBODY WANTS SOME
When freshman pitcher, Jake (Blake Jenner), moves into a house with his college baseball team, he realises it is time to adapt or die (socially). Living off campus, there are only two rules: no alcohol and no girls allowed upstairs. Those rules are soon broken as, in the days before classes begin, the baseball team set out to have as much outrageous fun as possible.
SPOTLIGHT
Spotlight tells the true story of the Boston Globe’s Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation into allegations of child abuse in the Catholic Church. The year-long investigation by the newspaper’s Spotlight team of reporters would find a cover-up reaching the very highest levels of Boston’s establishment.
END OF WATCH
Police officers, Brian Taylor and Mike Zavala (Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena) are partners and friends patrolling the streets of LA’s South Central district. Their days are filled with friendly in-car banter. Then work intrudes. And, when it does, it is brutal, disturbing and deadly.
THE HURT LOCKER
Sergeant William James (Jeremy Renner) is unpredictable and likes to take risks. He lives life on its most dangerous edge - this is where he thrives. James is often unpopular at work. The fact that he is a bomb disposal expert working during the Iraq war makes it easy to see why. However, for James, war is a drug - dangerous, costly and addictive.
THE BEATLES: EIGHT DAYS A WEEK
Director Ron Howard’s documentary about The Beatles' touring years examines the beginning of the band's career through to their decision to escape the mania for the refuge of the recording studio in 1967.
EYE IN THE SKY
Colonel Katherine Powell (Helen Mirren) is a UK-based military officer in command of a top secret drone operation to capture ‘high value’ Al Shabaab terrorists in Kenya. The operation escalates from “capture” to “kill” when Powell discovers that the terrorists are planning a suicide bombing. However, as drone pilot, Steve Watts (Aaron Paul), is about to engage, a nine-year old girl enters the kill zone, triggering an international debate about what is an acceptable amount of collateral damage.
SONG OF THE SEA
This stunning animated feature tells the story of a young Irish boy, Ben (David Rawle), and his younger sister Saoirse (Lucy O'Connell) who live with their father (Brendan Gleeson) in a lighthouse. Their grandmother (Fionnula Flanagan) believes that both children would be safer if they come to live with her in the city. This decision does not go down well with Ben - especially as it means having to leave his beloved dog behind. Saoirse is also keen to return home - for magical reasons of her own.
DREAMS OF A LIFE
Surrounded by the Christmas presents that she was wrapping, Joyce Vincent died in her bedsit in North London in 2003. She was 38 years old. Incredibly, Joyce's body was not discovered for three years. Carol Morely's heartbreaking and unsettling documentary, Dreams Of A Life, investigates Joyce’s life and interviews those people who knew her best but who did not realise that she was gone.
AMY
Asif Kapadia’s film follows the life and tragic death of singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. The documentary follows a fairly standard chronological path and asks the question that nags us all to this day - could anything or anyone have saved Amy?
LOST IN TRANSLATION
Lonely, aging movie star, Bob Harris (Bill Murray) and conflicted newlywed, Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), meet in Tokyo. Strangers in a foreign land, the two form a deep bond.
BLUE VALENTINE
Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams) meet by accident. However, they soon (after a gorgeous tap dancing ukulele scene) fall deeply in love. Flash forward, the couple are now living with their young daughter in a frustrated and unhappy marriage. What went wrong?
GLEASON
Weeks after being diagnosed with ALS, former New Orleans Saints star defensive back, Steve Gleason, learns that his wife Michel is pregnant with their first child. Determined to live his remaining years to their fullest, Steve goes on an expedition to Alaska, creates a foundation to help other ALS patients, repairs a strained relationship with his father and embraces new technologies to help compensate for his deteriorating physical abilities. All the while, Steve records his thoughts about life, parenthood and his hopes for his child in a deeply moving video diary.
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
Living deep within the forests of the Pacific Northwest, Ben Cash (Viggo Mortensen) is devoted to raising his six children with a rigorous physical and intellectual education. However, a family tragedy forces Ben to leave his paradise and enter the 'real' world, challenging his idea of what it means to be a parent.
PADDINGTON
A young bear travels from Darkest Peru travels to London in search of a new home. Finding himself lost and alone at Paddington Station, he meets the Brown family, who offer him the chance of family.
ONCE
She sees him playing guitar on the streets of Dublin and strikes up a conversation. In that instant, they both know that there is something special between them. She takes him to a nearby music shop. He plays her his songs. She accompanies him on the piano. They share a beautiful moment that neither wants to end.
A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT
In a desolate city in Iran a woman stalks the streets. Dressed in a traditional black veil, she is enigmatic and does not appear threatening - at least not at first. However, before long she demonstrates an otherworldly threat, feeding on local residents and dishing out vengeance. However, the girl longs for a connection, to be part of something and to no longer be alone.
ELVIS & NIXON
One December morning in 1970, the King of Rock ’n Roll (wonderfully played by Michael Shannon) arrived at the White House with a six page, handwritten letter requesting a meeting with President Nixon (portrayed by Kevin Spacey). Concerned about the youth of America, Elvis Presley wanted to help the US government by becoming an undercover Federal Agent At Large. A meeting was arranged in the Oval Office between Elvis and Nixon, a moment forever immortalized in the most requested photograph in the US National Archives.
THE MIST
A huge mist engulfs a small US community. However, this is no ordinary mist. Somewhere within, lurking unseen, are a host of terrifying monsters. David Drayton (Thomas Jane) finds himself trapped in a supermarket with his son Billy (Nathan Gamble). He, like the rest of the shop’s inhabitants, doesn’t dare leave. However, he soon questions just where they are safest as tempers fray and inside becomes as dangerous as the mist outside.
HIGH RISE
Dr Robert Laing (Tom Hiddleston) has just moved into a new apartment in an impressive and innovative high rise building - a living social experiment whose vital elements have been designed by architect, Anthony Royal (Jeremy Irons). However, before Laing’s boxes are even unpacked, cracks start to show. As the rich (located on the top floors) throw ever more decadent parties, the poorer residents (who live on the bottom floors) suffer power cuts and cramped conditions. Laing can only observe in horror as chaos ensues.
JULIA'S EYES
Julia’s sister, Sara, has committed suicide. Everyone believes that Sara hanged herself after an operation to repair her eyesight failed. Julia cannot accept this conclusion. She is convinced that someone has murdered Sara. As a result, and despite her own failing vision, she decides to retrace Sara’s last steps in order to find out what happened to her sister.
WHAT IF
Nursing a broken heart, Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe) reluctantly attends a party thrown by his best friend, Allan (Adam Driver). While lurking in the kitchen, he meets Chantry (Zoe Kazan). The two feel an instant connection. However, Chantry is in a long-term relationship with Ben (Rafe Spall). So Wallace settles for friendship - secretly hoping that Chantry will fall in love with him.
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
Michel Gondry's eccentric film features superb performances from both Jim Carey and Kate Winslet. Based on a fascinating premise, Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind explores the enduring and undeniable power of love.
MISSISSIPPI GRIND
When Gerry (Ben Mendlesohn), a talented gambler on a losing streak, meets charismatic poker player, Curtis (Ryan Reynolds), he feels that his luck is about to change. Gerry convinces Curtis to join him on a road trip to a legendary, high stakes poker game in New Orleans - a chance to win big that will set them both free.
SON OF RAMBOW
Schoolboys Will Proudfoot (Bill Milner) and Lee Carter (Will Poulter) meet by chance and become great friends. Adventures ensue when Lee asks Will to help him make a homemade action movie, inspired by Sylvester Stallone's hit, "Rambo: First Blood".
DRIVE
Ryan Gosling plays a movie stunt driver who also moonlights as a getaway driver. His lonely existence looks set to improve when he meets neighbour, Irene (Carey Mulligan), and her son. However, when a heist goes wrong, he is forced to take increasingly desperate measures to survive and protect the ones he loves.
THE ONES BELOW
Kate (Clémence Poésy) and Justin (Stephen Campbell Moore) are expecting their first baby. On the surface, all appears well. However, the couple become unsettled by the arrival of mysterious new neighbours, Jon (David Morrissey) and Teresa (Laura Birn), into the apartment below. Teresa is also pregnant and her joy at the prospect of motherhood forces Kate to address her own fears about becoming a mother. Meanwhile, Jon is a humourless, potentially malevolent character. One night, a tragic accident throws both couples into a nightmare full of guilt, suspicion and psychological terror.
99 HOMES
Dennis Nash (Andrew Garfield) is desperate. Struggling to find work, he is about to lose his beloved family home. When the dreaded eviction day arrives, Nash pleads with the police and real estate broker, Rick Carver (Michael Shannon). However, his pleas fall on deaf ears. The tragic fact is that they have heard it all before. In fact, as the US housing crisis takes hold, they hear it several times a day. If you can't beat them... should you join them?
FISH TANK
Fish Tank, starring Michael Fassbender and newcomer Katie Jarvis, is director Andrea Arnold's powerful tale about a vulnerable young girl’s sexual awakening and how that experience proves both empowering and devastating.
Click Here For My Andrea Arnold Director Focus
What Is Your Favourite Movie On Amazon Prime?
What did you think of this list? Has it made you consider subscribing to Amazon Prime? If you are already a member, what Prime movies would you add to this list?
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