Paul Rudd double trouble and a Robert Forster tribute: The best and biggest on Netflix

Check out Jordan Parker's 'The week's best and biggest on Netflix' every Friday on HalifaxToday.ca.

Citizen Kane

This film is a classic like no other, and the crowning achievement of Orson Welles’ storied career.

Over-budget, mired with conflicts and issues during shooting, and armed with a studio without much confidence, Citizen Kane premiered in 1941 and has become one of the most lauded movies of all time.

Welles was nominated for three Oscars, and won one for writing as he proved a triple threat on screenplay, directing and as the lead actor. This film about a publishing magnate whose final words prior to his death puzzle a nation is a great retrospective on power, greed, and the duty of the press.

It’s one of the most ambitious films of all time and has endured splendidly. As relevant today as it was back then, Citizen Kane is a classic to this reviewer.

5/5 Stars

Only The Brave

This true story of fire crew the Granite Mountain Hotshots is about firefighters tackling a historic wildfire set to take a whole town down.

Director Joseph Kosinski – recently tapped to helm the new Top Gun movie – makes the best film of his young career with this gritty drama.

He has help from a committed, star-studded cast include Miles Teller, who only seems to get better with each role. Screen veterans Jeff Bridges, Josh Brolin and Jennifer Connelly – giving her best performance in a decade – connect with younger players like Taylor Kitsch to make this one worthwhile.

It’s harrowing, difficult and you’re destined to cry, but it was one of the unsung wonders of cinema in 2017.

4/5 Stars

Ant-Man

The first of two Paul Rudd titles on the list is his foray into superhero stardom with this comedic relief Marvel film.

Rudd plays thief Scott Lang who is blessed with the power of being able to shrink in size but have mega strength. He must save the world with the help of mentor, Dr. Hank Pym.

This is one of the lighter movies in the superhero canon, but that’s a good thing in this case. Rudd’s charm carries the film, and with both it and its sequel on Netflix, this is totally worth a watch.

4/5 Stars

Living With Yourself

Producer and writer Timothy Greenberg is known best for The Daily Show, but he stretches his existential muscles here.

In a Charlie Kaufmanesque series, Paul Rudd plays a down-on-his-luck husband who just can’t seem to get anything right for those around him.

When he’s told about a clinic that can revitalize and motivate him, he puts down $50,000 for the procedure. But when he wakes up, there’s a strange man in his home, living his life with his wife.

As the two meet, they realize the procedure has gone horribly wrong, and the two Rudds clash to regain the life back they both remember.

This comedy is cerebral and so very strange, but Rudd is a delight. Half a season in, and I can confidently say you’ll be as intrigued as I am, and want to keep going.

4/5 Stars

A Tribute To Robert Forster

The character actor who saw a career resurgence after Quentin Tarantino cast him in 1997’s Jackie Brown, netting him an Oscar nomination, died last weekend after a fight with brain cancer.

Here are a few films you can check out to remember the late, great Forster by.

• Jackie Brown
• El Camino
• What They Had
• The Confirmation
• Olympus Has Fallen
• Psycho (1998)

New Releases To October 21:

• Ghosts Of Sugarland
• Eli
• The Yard (Avlu)
• Suits: Season 8
• Seventeen
• Jenny Slate: Stage Fright
• Master Z: The IP Man Legacy

Jordan Parker's weekly film reviews can be found on his blog, Parker & The Picture Shows.