Netflix has become an unbelievable source of entertainment for millions of Canadians. For the relatively cheap monthly subscription, users have access to countless films and television shows from various years, various genres and various cinematic tastes.
The only real problem with Netflix is deciding what to watch.
Luckily we’ve got a new feature to let you know what new programs will be debuting this month and which ones are worth checking out.
Let’s take a look at what’s new on Netflix August 2017!
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
Genre: Action, Drama
Directed by Matt Reeves
Starring Andy Serkis, Toby Kebbell, Jason Clarke
When it was announced that they would be making a prequel series to the Planet of the Apes films, many people dismissed it as a silly idea. Then Rise of the Planet of the Apes came out and was a truly great action adventure movie. Now with the third film in the franchise, War for the Planet of the Apes being called one of the best movies of the year, it’s the perfect time to check out the second film in the franchise that set the tone for this new era of Apes films. The film follows a group of apes, led by the wise and just Caesar, as they share an uneasy alliance with the world’s last remaining humans. What’s interesting in these movies is that you sympathize with the apes more than the humans, creating a compelling tale of fighting for survival. And also, the special effects are breath-taking to the point that you will forget you’re not actually watching real apes.
The Founder (2016)
Genre: Drama
Directed by John Lee Hancock
Starring Michael Keaton, Nick Offerman, Laura Dern
MacDonald’s is one of the most recognizable brands in the entire world, and yet many of us don’t know how this massive fast food juggernaut came to be. It turns out, the history behind the franchise is a little less wholesome than they would have you believe. The film looks at the life of Ray Kroc, toted as the founder of MacDonald’s and his unethical, immoral and sometimes borderline illegal path to creating an American icon that is seen all around the globe. Keaton is appropriately charming and ruthless in the role and his performance helps paint a picture of greed based around a story that is unknown to many of us.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
Genre: Thriller, Comedy
Directed by Guy Ritchie
Starring Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander
Some of you might remember this title from the classic ’60s spy TV show. Like many of the shows we enjoyed in our youth, this one got the big screen treatment, and while it went under many people’s radar when it was released it is a highly enjoyable spy thriller. Staying true to its origins, the film takes place in the 1960s where a CIA agent must team-up with a KGB agent in order to save the world from nuclear disaster. The film has plenty of style, a great sense of humour and is buoyed by some very charming performances. If you’re looking for a fun and light bit of entertainment, this is one to check out.
Psycho (1960)
Genre: Horror
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Starring Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles
Alfred Hitchcock is the master of putting audiences in a constant state of unease, and this classic might just be his masterpiece. A ground-breaking film for its time, Psycho took some old risks in telling this creepy, unsettling story of a woman on the run who chooses the wrong motel to spend the night. If you’ve seen the film before, then revisit it to see if its brilliance and shocks still hold up today. If somehow you have remained uninformed on the film’s many amazing twists then do yourself a favour and experience one of the all-time cinematic greats. Just make sure you’re not alone in the house when you do.
The Truman Show (1987)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Directed by Peter Weir
Starring Jim Carrey, Ed Harris, Laura Linney
Jim Carrey is an actor most known for his over-the-top comedic roles in films like Dumb and Dumber, The Mask and Ace Ventura. However, this film was one of the earlier instances that showed Carrey had real talent beyond making funny faces. The movie captures us with a unique and engrossing story about a man whose whole life is shown as a television show across the world, and he’s the only one who doesn’t know it’s not real. While the film is full of clever humour, it is also a touching and poignant story of a man trying to find meaning in his life while his life is being completely controlled by others.