Buzz
Netflix is investing a staggering $6 billion this year to bring you a mix of original and licensed content designed to keep you entertained. With such an extensive library, choosing what to watch can be overwhelming. To help, here are five movies praised by the legendary critic Roger Ebert, all arriving on the platform starting August 1.
1. THE VERDICT (1982)
In Sidney Lumet’s gripping courtroom drama, Paul Newman plays Frank Galvin, a down-and-out lawyer seeking redemption. When Galvin turns down a straightforward settlement to pursue a medical malpractice case, he finds himself battling a team of elite attorneys and uncovering a story of medical negligence. Ebert awarded the film a perfect four-star rating, noting its personal significance as he had previously shared his own struggles with alcohol. (8/1)
Ebert remarked: “Newman has always been a captivating actor, but his enduring energy and youthful charm have occasionally overshadowed his performances. This time, however, he fully embodies the worn-out, hungover, and trembling (yet heroic) Frank Galvin, and we believe every moment of it.”
2. THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS (2001)
Ebert, like most viewers, didn’t foresee this modest street racing film evolving into one of the most successful (and wildly implausible) franchises in cinema history. He awarded it a solid three stars, commending its practical stunt work and the endearing, small-time heists led by street racer Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel, in his gravelly-voiced glory). The film, he noted, “may lack intellectual depth,” but it more than compensates with sheer entertainment. (8/1)
Ebert observed: “It’s a welcome departure from action-heavy, plot-light films like Gone in 60 Seconds. We gain insight into Toretto’s family history and witness the budding romance between Paul and Mia—though dating the sister of a suspect you’re investigating might not be the best idea.”
3. SLEEPY HOLLOW (1999)
Johnny Depp and Tim Burton’s collaborations have been hit-or-miss in recent years, but Ebert believed their adaptation of the Ichabod Crane story struck the perfect balance of eccentricity. As the bumbling detective, Depp shuns traditional heroism, reacting with comical terror to the Headless Horseman and stumbling through the mystery. Depp revealed he drew inspiration for his performance from Angela Lansbury’s distinctive mannerisms. (8/1)
Ebert noted: “As Crane ventures northward, the film weaves a visual enchantment. It’s a stunningly beautiful movie, with production design, art direction, and cinematography crafting a unique world for the imagination. It’s not a realistic setting—nearly every frame feels deliberately stylized—but a place born of the mind. I was particularly captivated by the scene where mist snuffs out the torches carried by the night watch.”
4. THE ROAD (2009)
Adapted from Cormac McCarthy’s bleak novel, The Road is far from uplifting—it may, in fact, leave you emotionally drained. Viggo Mortensen portrays a father guiding his son through a desolate, post-apocalyptic landscape, facing threats from survivalists and other perils. While Ebert praised the film, he emphasized that the novel offered a more profound experience. (8/25)
Ebert reflected: “As I write this, I recognize that few viewers may have read The Road, despite its inclusion in Oprah's Book Club … My own bias lies in my deep familiarity with Cormac McCarthy’s work, which may cloud my judgment of any film adaptation. Typically, I avoid reading a book before its movie adaptation, but I’m grateful to have experienced McCarthy’s original.”
5. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007)
Ebert’s admiration for this Cormac McCarthy adaptation, helmed by the Coen Brothers (Fargo, Raising Arizona), was unwavering. The story follows Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin), who discovers a bag of drug money, setting off a deadly chain of events. Pursuing him is the relentless Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), armed with a chillingly unique weapon—a compressed-air cattle stun gun. (8/11)
Ebert remarked: “Many scenes in No Country for Old Men are so masterfully crafted that you wish they would never end, yet they propel you seamlessly into the next. This is a rare quality, reminiscent of Fargo. To achieve this once is extraordinary; to do it again is nothing short of miraculous.”
