Popular Australian streaming service Binge is crammed full of great movies to get you through many movie nights in front of the TV. Check out our top 10 picks and click through to watch or sign up for a free trial!
CONFESS, FLETCH
Why you should watch: Based on the second book by Gregory McDonald. His first Fletch book was adapted in 1985 and starred Chevy Chase. Jon Hamm stars in this version as the charming Fletch, where he becomes the prime suspect in multiple murders and strives to prove his innocence while simultaneously searching for his fiancé’s stolen art collection, which may, or may not be, missing. With two police officers watching his every move, he ducks and dives and takes on various disguises as he pursues those he suspects, which includes a former art dealer, a crazy neighbour and perhaps even his own girlfriend. This is not perfect, but it’s all a bit of fun, and has some familiar faces in the ensemble cast.
Director: GREG MOTTOLA
Cast: JON HAMM, LORENZA IZZO, MARCIA GAY HARDEN, AYDEN MAYERI, JOHN SLATTERY, ROY WOOD JR. TRAVIS BENNETT
TICKET TO PARADISE
Why you should watch: Decided to watch Julia and George in this supposed romantic comedy even though one knew it was going to be formulaic dross, but one lives in hope. The scenery was beautiful as The Whitsundays filled in for what was supposed to be Bali. So, the story is that David and Georgia, two divorced parents who can’t stand each other, head to Bali after their daughter, Lily, announces her plans to marry a local islander she just met while on holiday. They decide to put aside their differences and work together to stop the wedding. And so, it goes on and on and on as all the predictable situations unfold. Have no idea why two fine actors would agree to do this! I can’t imagine they’d need the money. Perhaps they just wanted a holiday in Australia. It does have Carrie Fisher’s daughter, Billie Lourd appearing, and she’s does quite well, compared to others.
Director: OL PARKER
Cast: JULIA ROBERTS, GEORGE CLOONEY, KAITLYN DEVER, BILLIE LOURD, MAXIME BOUTTIER, CINTYA DHARMAYANTI, AGUNG PINDHA
ELVIS
Why you should watch: There was so much hype about this film, and it was a deterrent to viewing it. But I gave in, finally. You all know the story. Austin Butler did a fine job as Elvis and won an Oscar nomination for his performance. He was the best part of the whole shebang. It follows the story of infamous rock ‘n’ roll star Elvis Presley seen through the eyes of his controversial manager Colonel Tom Parker. The film explores Elvis Presley’s highs and lows and the many challenges and controversies he received throughout his career. It’s very colourful, over the top shining, bright lights, and razzamatazz, jumping from scene to scene incoherently. If you were a young viewer who didn’t know much about Elvis, you’d wonder what was going on. Obviously, Baz made it for those who knew the story. The music is the thing, whether you’re into early Elvis, or later Elvis. That’s what it’s all about in the end.
Director: BAZ LUHRMANN
Cast: AUSTIN BUTLER, TOM HANKS, OLIVIA DEJONGE, RICHARD ROXBURGH, DAVID WENHAM, KODI SMIT-MCPHEE, KELVIN HARRISON JR. LUKE BRACEY, XAVIER SAMUEL
MR. TURNER
Why you should watch: The brilliant Mike Leigh is the director of this wonderful film starring the also brilliant Timothy Spall as artist JMW Turner. Apparently, he spent two years learning to paint at the behest of Mr. Leigh. Mr. Turner explores the last quarter century of the great if eccentric British painter. He travels, paints, stays with the country aristocracy, visits brothels, is a popular if anarchic member of the Royal Academy of Arts, and is both celebrated and reviled by the public and by royalty. Profoundly affected by the death of his father, loved by a housekeeper he takes for granted, he forms a close relationship with a seaside landlady with whom he eventually lives incognito in Chelsea, where he dies. This excellent film has a superb ensemble cast of familiar faces attached. For some, 190 minutes may be too much, but it is Mike Leigh, and it is worth taking the time.
Director: MIKE LEIGH
Cast: TIMOTHY SPALL, PAUL JESSON, DOROTHY ATKINSON, MARION BAILEY, KARL JOHNSON, RUTH SHEEN, LESLEY MANVILLES
THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT
Why you should watch: I have a son who is a huge Nicolas Cage fan, and he was emphatic that I watch this film. I must say I was highly amused by it, most of the time. The fictionalised version of Nick Cage must accept a $1 million offer to attend the birthday of a dangerous super fan Javi Gutierrez, played by, who seems to be the man of the moment, Pedro Pascals. Things take a wildly unexpected turn when he is recruited by a CIA operative Vivian and forced to live up to his own legend, channelling his most iconic and beloved on-screen characters to save himself and his family. It’s very entertaining with lots of action, car chases etc. A bit of trivia attached to this one is that Lily Mo Sheen who stars as Addy, is the daughter of Kate Beckinsale and Michael Sheen.
Director: TOM GORMICAN
Cast: NICOLAS CAGE, PEDRO PASCAL, TIFFANY HADDISH, SHARON HORGAN, PACO LEON, NEIL PATRICK HARRIS, LILY MO SHEEN
SNATCH
Why you should watch: For the next few films, we’ll take a trip back in time. First up is Guy Ritchie’s second feature. This was highly anticipated at the time, mostly for the presence of Brad Pitt. But there were mixed reactions to his character, the main reason being you could hardly understand a word he said! Loosely, the story is about Turkish and his close friend/accomplice Tommy who get pulled into the world of match fixing by the notorious Brick Top. There’s a diamond heist, loads of motley characters, and in the end it’s all about money, guns and a dog. You must pay attention as there’s a lot going on here, but it’s well worth it. There’s an excellent cast, which includes a personal favourite in Wimbledon, Leeds United, Sheffield United, Chelsea and QPR footballer Vinnie Jones, and a rockin’ soundtrack to accompany the mayhem.
Director: GUY RITCHIE
Cast: JASON STATHAM, BRAD PITT, STEPHEN GRAHAM, VINNIE JONES, EWEN BREMNER, SORCHA CUSACK, BENICIO DEL TORO
THE BIG LEBOWSKI
Why you should watch: There’s a bit of a theme running through these, and that’s boys behaving badly to an excellent soundtrack. This is the best of Joel and Ethan Coen, although I’m sure there will be some conjecture as every film they release is superb. Jeff Bridges is brilliant as LA slacker Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski, who is mistaken for a millionaire of the same name. He seeks restitution for a rug ruined by debt collectors, because “it really tied the room together”, enlisting his bowling buddies, Walter and Donny, for help while trying to find the millionaire’s missing wife. So go fix yourself a White Russian, sit back and take in one of the best movies ever!
Director: JOEL AND ETHAN COEN
Cast: JEFF BRIDGES, JOHN GOODMAN, STEVE BUSCEMI, JULIANNE MOORE, DAVID HUDDLESTON, PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN
FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS
Why you should watch: “We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold.” If I had a dollar for every time my late husband said that quote, I’d be a rich woman. Hunter S. Thompson was God in our house. Back in 1980 we had Bill Murray in Where the Buffalo Road, as Hunter S., but Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro were destined to be Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo, with Terry Gilliam bringing it all together. This is the very best adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson’s seminal psychedelic classic about his road trip across Western America as he and his large Samoan lawyer searched desperately for the “American dream”, helped in large part by the huge amount of drugs and alcohol kept in their convertible, The Red Shark. Love this movie, one of Gilliam’s best, but I guess it all comes down to a matter of perception, and how much craziness one can take. A sense of humour is required.
Director: TERRY GILLIAM
Cast: JOHNNY DEPP, BENICIO DEL TORO, TOBEY MAGUIRE, GARY BUSEY, CHRISTINA RICCI, HARRY DEAN STANTON, ELLEN BARKIN
HEART AND SOULS
Why you should watch: To calm things down a bit, this is a film to do just that. Have watched it countless times. Long before Robert Downey Jr. became Tony Stark, he starred in this beautiful film way back in 1993. And as troubled soul Tom Sizemore left this earth recently, we can watch him in one of his best roles as the cool Milo Peck. The story tells of unhappy businessman Thomas Reilly who finds a new sense of purpose after he’s tasked with helping a quartet of ghosts fulfil their last wishes before moving on to the afterlife. It’s a magical film with, as it says in the title, lots of heart and soul, and an excellent cast attached.
Director: RON UNDERWOOD
Cast: ROBERT DOWNEY JR. CHARLES GRODIN, ALFRE WOODARD, KYRA SEDGWICK, TOM SIZEMORE, DAVID PAYMER, ELISABETH SHUE