Netflix Picks 17th April 2015

Thankfully, the weekend is once again upon us, and whether you want a TV series to sink your teeth into, an intriguing documentary to devour, or a fine film to feast on, we have picked a selection of Netflix, just for you.

Orange is the New Black

If you saw the trailer for the third season of this Netflix original show earlier in the week and were intrigued, now is the time to catch up on the previous two seasons before  it premieres on 12th June. Orange is the New Black follows the story of Piper (Taylor Schilling), a middle-class thirty-something who is sentenced to fifteen months in a women’s prison for a crime she committed over ten years ago. The prison is filled with a whole host of colourful characters, and over the two seasons we learn a little about all of them. With whip smart writing, the show finely balances between humour and drama, and is a thrill to watch.

The September Issue

This documentary focusing on American Vogue and it’s editor in chief, Anna Wintour, is a must-see for anyone with more than passing interest in fashion. We join the Vogue team as they prepare to publish their biggest issue ever, the September issue from 2007 (which weighed in at nearly five pounds). Wintour is not as severe as the Meryl Streep version in The Devil Wears Prada, but there are certainly few people who dare disagree with her. One of those that does is creative director Grace Coddington, and she completely steals the show. Coddington is fiery and creative whereas Wintour is as cool and logical, which naturally causes a conflict between the two. The September Issue is a true behind-the-scenes look of the hard-work and dedicated people it takes to create the fashion bible, and truly flourishes when the Wintour and Coddington are on-screen together.

Zero Dark Thirty

Though not necessarily an easy-watch, Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty is a gripping and thrilling film, based on real events. The film follows Maya (Jessica Chastain), a CIA agent who believes that Osama Bin Laden is hiding in plain sight, not hidden away in a cave somewhere like the majority of the agency. We follow her on the decade long hunt to find Bin Laden, right from her first interrogation up until the Navy SEAL team finally capture him. Chastain is outstanding as Maya, driven and determined to get her result.

Zombieland

For the past few years we have been bombarded with zombie films and tv shows, focusing on a group of survivors and how they continue when faced with the living dead. One of the best of the bunch is Zombieland, a film that is heavier on the humour than the horror, and provides us with one of the best surprise cameos in recent memory. Neurotic Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg, who else?) follows a set list of rules to avoid being taken by a member of the undead, as he attempts to travel to Ohio to see if his family are still alive, hitching a ride with gun-toting Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) who just wants a Twinkie. Along the way they meet a pair of troublesome sisters (Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin) who have heard of a zombie-free amusement park in LA and are desperate to reach it. A fun road movie with zombies, Zombieland features a great ensemble cast, and is an antidote to the more serious zombie fares such as The Walking Dead.

About the Author

Hannah Newton

I have a passion for all things Spielberg, old school hip hop, and bad action films on a Friday night. My favourite films include Jaws, Annie Hall, The Jerk, Mulholland Drive, and Double Indemnity.

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