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Limelight picks: rainy day movies
June 18, 2019
With rain and clouds in the forecast for the next 10 days, enjoying outdoor activities can be a struggle. Don’t let the rain dampen your mood, however. Limelight has the top rainy-day movies to watch on all platforms.
Netflix:
“The Lobster” (2015): Yorgos Lathimos’ absurdist black comedy is a bleak look at modern dating set in a dystopian near-future. According to law, single people are taken to a hotel where they must find a new romantic partner in 45 days or they will be turned into an animal and sent into the wilderness. Recently widowed David (Colin Farrell) descends into a world driven by superficial values in order to maintain his humanity.
Lathimos crafts a darkly hilarious comedy — turning love, life and sex into check boxes on a government form. “The Lobster” may not please everyone with its grotesque violence and largely metaphorical plot, but those who buy in are in for a deep and surreal experience.
“Hot Fuzz” (2007): The unofficial sequel to “Shaun of the Dead,” “Hot Fuzz” reunites best friend comedic-duo Simon Pegg and Nick Frost with director Edgar Wright. A big city police officer (Pegg) is sent to a quaint countryside town that may not be as darling as it seems.
With the best of Edgar Wright’s signature snappy dialogue and fast-paced action, “Hot Fuzz” stands as one of the best in his filmography. Every scene, every shot, every sound effect is meticulously edited together to create a movie so full of detail that only gets better with each watch. “Hot Fuzz” is the kind of movie that by the time the credits roll, the only thing left to do is rewind back to the beginning and watch it again.
Hulu:
“Hot Pursuit” (1987): Ah, yes, 80s John Cusack. Inject it into my veins. Steven Lisberger’s “Hot Pursuit” doesn’t take itself too seriously. The movie centers on Danny and his rather well-off girlfriend Lori and her family. Danny is unable to attend his girlfriend’s family’s Caribbean vacation after failing a final. However, he finds a way to fly there alone, now on the chase of his girlfriend and her family.
The characters Danny meets along the way offer plenty of comedic relief to the plot that turns dark in the second act. While initially coming off as a cheesy rom-com, “Hot Pursuit” soon turns into an action-comedy that offers plenty of laughs, thrills and vehicle chases to put a smile on anyone’s face.
“Shutter Island” (2010): Keeping with the theme of this week’s incoming rainy weather, Martin Scorsese’s neo-noir thriller, “Shutter Island,” is a chilling look into the investigation of a patient’s disappearance by U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio). Daniels is offered little evidence in connection to the patient’s disappearance and becomes stuck after a massive storm wracks the island.
With a surprise ending for the ages and superb performances from Hollywood icons such as DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo and Ben Kingsley, “Shutter Island” keeps viewers guessing from beginning to end. The movie offers plenty of disturbing imagery with a few jump-scares laced throughout to keep the viewer on their toes. There are many subtle hints placed strategically throughout the movie as to what is happening, so be on the lookout.
HBO GO:
“Liar Liar” (1997): Not-so-by-the-book lawyer Fletcher Reede (Jim Carrey) has made a name for himself as being an incredibly good liar. He frequently wins cases using shady strategies and is a rising star in his firm, a shoe-in for becoming a partner, or so he thinks. After falling through on multiple promises to his young son, Max, including skipping his birthday party to have sex with a co-worker, Max makes a wish that his dad couldn’t lie.
The next day, Reede finds himself incapable of lying, right before a huge case is set to be ruled upon. Reede attempts to lie throughout the day and is unable to, causing him a truck-load of problems, including having his sports car impounded, being jailed and insulting co-workers. Reede eventually sees the tolls of his lies and vows to regain the trust of his ex-wife, Audrey and his beloved son.
“Liar Liar” sees Carrey putting on a hilarious performance in which he is fully committed. The movie has a clever script and keeps viewers engaged from beginning to end.
“Love, Simon” (2018): “Love, Simon,” is based on Becky Albertalli’s novel, “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda.” The movie focuses on Simon Spier, a closeted, gay high schooler and his experience communicating anonymously with another closeted gay kid at his high school. Spier soon finds himself at the center of a blackmail situation when another classmate discovers the exchanges and threatens to out Spier.
The movie offers a lot to viewers, from a superb soundtrack dominated by modern synth-pop and great performances from each cast member, “Love, Simon” is one of the best coming-of-age movies of this century. Balancing comedy with real-world issues, the movie lands in the same league as John Hughes classics such as “The Breakfast Club” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”