Armchair Vacation: Five Films To Watch At Home This Weekend [September 26-28]

Every day, more and more films are added to the various streaming services out there, ranging from Netflix to YouTube, and are hitting the airwaves via movie-centric networks like TCM. Therefore, sifting through all of these pictures can be a tedious and often times confounding or difficult ordeal. But, that’s why we’re here. Every week, Joshua brings you five films to put at the top of your queue, add to your playlist, or grab off of VOD to make your weekend a little more eventful. Here is this week’s top five, in this week’s Armchair Vacation.

The Sacrament (Netflix)

For a director with such an interest in the type of horror films made popular in the 1970s, Ti West would seem like an odd choice for director of yet another new found footage horror film, right? Well, not only has he taken to this genre for his brand new feature, but it is an absolute doozy. Entitled The Sacrament, the film follows the story of photographer who is joined by a pair of Vice journalists on his journey to a remote Christian commune to see his sister who is attempting to recover from a recent battle with drug addiction. A haunting piece of tense horror craftsmanship, West’s film is a perfect distillation of what makes him such an intriguing voice in the genre. Able to get tension out of even the most simple of frames, West is able to turn this seemingly gimmick-ridden genre exercise into a haunting thriller of the highest order. Slightly overlong at a rather bloated 100 minutes in length, the film is a bit long in the tooth but features some superb performances and is an exciting experiment in genre for West. The film is now available on Netflix.

They Came Together (VOD)

Despite being arguably the most cliche-ridden, trope-filled genre in all of narrative fiction, the romantic comedy is very much ripe for a good poking and prodding, something we haven’t truly seen to any great degree. That is until now. Thanks to director David Wain, the film world now has the gem known as They Came Together. Introducing us to a seemingly happy couple played by Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler, as they recount the story of their relationship. Over dinner with another couple, the pair describe the ups and downs of their relationship, all while sending up the tropes found within every single romantic comedy one could imagine. Wain is at the top of his game here, as is co-writer Michael Showalter, both of whom bring to the film much of the same anarchic energy that has made their partnership one of the most interesting in all of modern comedy. While it is chock full of its peaks and valleys, this admittedly off-balance comedy is beautifully made and has some of the year’s most enjoyable performances, particularly that of Chris Meloni, proving once again that he’s a national treasure and should get some sort of statue when his career is said and done.

The Rover (VOD)

When one thinks of Robert Pattinson, one doesn’t instantly think of intense and deeply troubling thrillers. However, with his star-making turn in the series of vampire films that shall not be named, not only has he become a leading man for directors like David Cronenberg, but he has garnered more than his share of acclaim as of late, particularly for his work in the icy cold thriller from director David Michod, The Rover. Finding him opposite the ever-fantastic Guy Pearce, Pattinson co-stars in this fantastic and brutal thriller, showing off his rather impressive acting chops that make those who still laugh at his turn as a angst-ridden teen vampire take a deeper look at this young actor’s potential and raw talent. A top notch film that is breathlessly crafted by Animal Kingdom director Michod, The Rover is a raw and unflinching thriller that is as lyrical in its direction as it is blunt in its portrayal of violence. Available on home video and VOD, this is one of the better films you’ll see this year.

Judex (Hulu Plus)

One of the year’s more talked about additions to The Criterion Collection is now finally available on their Hulu Plus page for subscribers to bask in immediately. A bombastic and brazenly “cool” crime film from director Georges Franju, Judex commences with the kidnapping of a banker and ultimately becomes breathtaking cinematic experiment from an unsung master of the craft. Taking cues from films like Les Vampires from director Louis Feuillade, this unforgettable and surreal crime picture is entirely its own beast. Gorgeously made and and briskly paced, this film hit theaters in 1963, and while it feels very much of that era, it looks as though it could have been discovered in a time capsule planted in the ground decades earlier. Franju is a director more people should be interested in, and if there is ever a film that could spawn interest in the filmmaker, this masterpiece is that very film.

All Is Lost (Netflix)

As we near the 2014’s fall film season, it’s about time we take a look back at one of last year’s great underrated fall gems. From up and coming director J.C. Chandor comes this Robert Redford-starring master class in acting, which tells the tale of a man stranded at sea. A dialogue free experiment in both directing and acting, Robert Redford turns in the most exciting performance he’s given in ages, and Chandor stands as one of the most exciting young voices in film. Unflinching and unforgettable, All Is Lost is one of the greatest films from last year, and is easily one of the most underrated and unsung films in quite some time. Now available on Netflix Instant, this is a must-watch film that you won’t soon forget.