A Sidney Poitier classic and the film that made Dustin Hoffman: This week’s best and biggest on Netflix

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

The Graduate

By this point in history, we've seen 1,000 films about the melancholy and fear of growing up.

But the seminal, endlessly important coming-of-age classic The Graduate is one of the best films put to screen.

Dustin Hoffman is incredible as the droll, bored Ben Braddock who just can't seem to decide what he wants to do post-graduation.

In an attempt to escape his own thoughts and worries, Ben recklessly becomes engaged in a secret love triangle between the gorgeous, young Elaine and her mother, only called Mrs. Robinson throughout the film.

It popularized the song from Simon & Garfunkel and gave way to endless quotes and mimicry for years.

But the 1967 film — at its heart — is about growing up, finding love and the chaos your actions can leave in your wake.

Anne Bancroft, William Daniels, Katharine Ross and Murray Hamilton are all wonderful, but it's Hoffman's scenes with Bancroft that stand out.

This is an absolute classic, and an enduring hit for over half a century.

4.5/5 Stars

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

Another absolute classic, this examination of culture, wealth and race in America is a dignified portrayal of some astonishingly terrible and ingrained racism.

This story of a young, white woman who brings her African-American fiance to meet her parents is astounding.

The parents — who do not count themselves as racist — just cannot seem to accept accomplished, intelligent, handsome and doting John Prentice.

William Rose's screenplay is magic and won him an Oscar in 1968, and nine-time Oscar nominee Stanley Kramer made one of the most important films of the 1900s.

Katharine Hepburn won an Oscar for her portrayal of Christina Drayton (mother) while the performances from Spencer Tracy (father) and Katharine Houghton (fiance) were also stellar.

But make no mistake, Sidney Poitier is who you'll remember from this film.

4.5/5 Stars

Just Like Heaven

It simply doesn't get much more adorable than this mid-2000s romantic comedy.

Based on the novel If Only It Were True by Marc Levy, the popular book is given a screenplay treatment by Leslie Dixon and Peter Tolan here.

Just Like Heaven follows a landscape architect who falls for a beautiful woman; the only problem being she's a spirit dwelling in his new apartment.

The real strength here is the two lead performances which don't give you a single second to frown upon the silly premise.

Now two of Hollywood's biggest A-listers, Mark Ruffalo and Reese Witherspoon make a wonderful pair as David and Elizabeth and have wonderful chemistry.

With Napoleon Dynamite star Jon Heder, Dina Spybey-Waters, Ben Shenkman and Donal Logue, the supporting cast is great too.

It's a light rom-com with some serious star pedigree, and I think you'll enjoy every second.

3.5/5 Stars

Jerry Maguire

This is one of my absolute favourite films ever, and any time I need a pick-me-up, it's a go-to for sure.

It's about a vain sports agent named Jerry Maguire who's hit by a crisis of conscience. His change leads to his firing and professional ruin.

But when Jerry starts his own firm with those who stuck by him and meets a woman who may just change him for the better, a turning point is set in motion.

Writer-director Cameron Crowe is known for hits like this and Almost Famous, as well as misfires like Aloha, but you can't watch this one and not be drawn in by his talent.

Tom Cruise — a man whose off-screen antics I loathe — gives the most likeable performance of his career, Cuba Gooding Jr. won an Oscar here and Renée Zellweger, Regina King and young Jonathan Lipnicki are all fantastic.

With great supporting turns from Kelly Preston, Jay Mohr, Jerry O'Connell and Bonnie Hunt, this is a winner all-around.

4/5 Stars

Inside Man

Director Spike Lee's most commercial film of all time also proves to be one of his best as this bank robbery thriller is a jolting ride from start to finish.

Lee — known for arthouse, indie hits like Do The Right Thing and She's Gotta Have It — has long been a champion of small films. But lately, with movies like Da 5 Bloods and BlacKkKlansman, he's really pushed things further.

I still count thriller Inside Man among his very best, as it mixed a fear-based post-9/11 culture with popcorn entertainment.

It follows a police detective under investigation for corruption who tries to mitigate and negotiate with a bank robber.

Meanwhile, a broker is trying to get something out of the bank for her employer — something sinister.

Denzel Washington, Clive Owen and Jodie Foster are all superb, and the Washington-Owen tandem is great in particular.

With Chiwetel Ejiofor, Willem Dafoe and Christopher Plummer all supporting this intense picture, it's better than your average heist tilt.

This is one sure to stay with you for a long time after you see it, and I think the acting makes it.

4/5 Stars

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