5 of the Best Reviewed Films of 2014 Streaming on Netflix Now
Over at Criticwire, we’re tracking the top films of 2014 so far. Amazingly, five out of the top ten are now available to stream on Netflix. They’re listed below in alphabetical order, along with their average Criticwire rating.
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Blue Ruin
(Jeremy Saulnier, 2013): Not your typical revenge film, “Blue Ruin” tells the story of a vagabond (Macon Blair) whose beach bum lifestyle is upended by disturbing news. He heads off to his childhood home on a mission of vengeance and finds himself enmeshed in a fight to protect his estranged family. The film, which raised funding on Kickstarter, premiered in the Directors’ Fortnight section at Cannes in 2013. It’s a gripping – and bloody – thriller.
Average Criticwire Grade: A-
Ida
(Pawel Pawlikowski, 2013): Preparing to take her vows, Anna, an orphan raised in a convent, is sent to visit her aunt, Wanda, her only living relative. Wanda, a hard-drinking, tough Communist Party judge, has some shocking news for Anna – her name is Ida, she is Jewish and her parents were murdered during the Nazi occupation. The Polish language film shot in black and white with unknown actors premiered at the 2013 Telluride Film Festival and has gone on to win critical raves and became a surprise box office success.
Average Criticwire Grade: A-
The Immigrant
(James Gray, 2013): “The Immigrant” tells the story of Ewa Cybulska (Marion Cotillard), a (stunningly beautiful) Polish Catholic woman who, in 1921, crossed the ocean with her sister in order to escape war and deprivation in her home country. In New York, she is “rescued” by Bruno Weiss (Joaquin Phoenix), who forces her into prostitution. A love triangle involving Ewa, Bruno and Orlando (Jeremy Renner) leads to yet more tragedy.
Average Criticwire Grade: B+
Nymphomaniac: Vol 1
(Lars Von Trier, 2013): Love it or hate it, the first part of Lars Von Trier’s “Nymphomaniac” is sure to provoke a reaction. Charlotte Gainsbourg plays Joe, a self-professed nymphomaniac, who recounts her sexual encounters, beginning with an early experience (with Shia LaBoeuf). The cast alone is a reason to watch – in addition to Gainsbourg and LaBoef, “Nymphomaniac” features Christian Slater, Uma Thurman, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Stellan Skarsgard, Connie Nielsen and Udo Kier. But keep in mind, it’s NSFW. Average Criticwire Grade: A-
Stranger by the Lake
(Alain Guiraudie, 2014): During slow summer days, Frank (Pierre Deladonchamps) decamps at a popular cruising spot by a lake in rural France. When he meets a dark, mysterious stranger (Christophe Paou) whom he suspects may be a murderer, he dives head-first into a potentially lethal relationship.
Average Criticwire Grade: A-
READ MORE: What to Stream on Netflix: The Ultimate Indiewire Guide
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