measured backdrop

Movies with measured vibe

Kon-Tiki

1071. Kon-Tiki

Adventure History Exploration Adventure Biographical History
7.1

20121h 58min

Denmark, Germany

Director: Joachim Rønning

The true story about legendary explorer Thor Heyerdahl and his epic crossing of the Pacific on a balsa wood raft in 1947, in an effort to prove it was possible for South Americans to settle in Polynesia in pre-Columbian times.

Themes

Risk and resilience, Ambition vs tradition, Theory vs evidence, Cross-cultural contact anxiety, Collective effort under pressure, Science vs belief

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
fuboTV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Robot & Frank

1072. Robot & Frank

Science Fiction Comedy Drama Crime AI Sci-Fi
7.0

20121h 29min

United States

Director: Jake Schreier

Curmudgeonly old Frank lives by himself. His routine involves daily visits to his local library, where he has a twinkle in his eye for the librarian. His grown children are concerned about their father’s well-being and buy him a caretaker robot. Initially resistant to the idea, Frank soon appreciates the benefits of robotic support – like nutritious meals and a clean house – and eventually begins to treat his robot like a true companion. With his robot’s assistance, Frank’s passion for his old, unlawful profession is reignited, for better or worse.

Themes

Family obligation vs autonomy, Trust and manipulation, Ageing and care, Crime as bonding, Technology as companion, Memory and autonomy

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Side by Side

1073. Side by Side

Documentary Biographical Documentary
7.6

20121h 39min

United States

Director: Christopher Kenneally

Since the invention of cinema, the standard format for recording moving images has been film. Over the past two decades, a new form of digital filmmaking has emerged, creating a groundbreaking evolution in the medium. Keanu Reeves explores the development of cinema and the impact of digital filmmaking via in-depth interviews with Hollywood masters, such as James Cameron, David Fincher, David Lynch, Christopher Nolan, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, Steven Soderbergh, and many more.

Themes

Digital vs film, Future vision, Artistic revolution, Workflows and craft, Artistic legacy, Technological impact

Available on

Amazon Video
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

1074. The Odd Life of Timothy Green

Fantasy Drama Comedy Family Supernatural Fantasy
6.6

20121h 45min

United States

Director: Peter Hedges

A childless couple bury a box in their backyard, containing all of their wishes for an infant. Soon, a child is born, though Timothy Green is not all that he appears.

Themes

Community resilience, Family dynamics under strain, Unconventional parenthood, Infertility and longing, Industrial decline

Available on

Disney Plus
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

No

1075. No

Drama History Historical Drama Political History
7.4

20121h 58min

Chile, United States

Director: Pablo Larraín

In 1988, Chilean military dictator Augusto Pinochet, due to international pressure, is forced to call a plebiscite on his presidency. The country will vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to Pinochet extending his rule for another eight years. Opposition leaders for the ‘No’ vote persuade a brash young advertising executive, René Saavedra, to spearhead their campaign. Against all odds, with scant resources and while under scrutiny by the despot’s minions, Saavedra and his team devise an audacious plan to win the election and set Chile free.

Themes

Democracy under pressure, Oppression under scrutiny, Referendum branding, Propaganda as civic tool, Legitimacy through advertising, Mass messaging and turnout

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Hope Springs

1076. Hope Springs

Drama Comedy Romance Relationship Drama Romantic Comedy
6.3

20121h 40min

United States

Director: David Frankel

After thirty years of marriage, a middle-aged couple attends an intense, week-long counseling session to work on their relationship.

Themes

Communication under pressure, Marital stagnation and renewal, Therapy-driven change, Redefining intimacy, Routine versus passion, Midlife adjustment

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Killing Them Softly

1077. Killing Them Softly

Crime Thriller Organized Crime Modern Noir Thriller
6.2

20121h 37min

United States

Director: Andrew Dominik

Jackie Cogan is an enforcer hired to restore order after three dumb guys rob a Mob protected card game, causing the local criminal economy to collapse.

Themes

Deception and suspicion, Addiction under pressure, Underground economy fragility, Economic precarity under crime, Violence as business, Cynicism toward institutions, Greed and retaliation cycles

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Wolf Children

1078. Wolf Children

Animation Family Drama Fantasy Anime
8.1

20121h 57min

Japan

Director: Mamoru Hosoda

After her werewolf lover unexpectedly dies in an accident, a woman must find a way to raise the son and daughter that she had with him. However, their inheritance of their father's traits prove to be a challenge for her.

Themes

Single mother burden, Farming community resilience, Wolf heritage conflict, Secret wolf nature, School integration tension, Parental sacrifice adaptation

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
HBO Max
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Queen of Versailles

1079. The Queen of Versailles

Documentary Biographical Documentary
7.1

20121h 40min

United States, Denmark

Director: Lauren Greenfield

With the epic dimensions of a Shakespearean tragedy, The Queen of Versailles follows billionaires Jackie and David’s rags-to-riches story to uncover the innate virtues and flaws of their American dream. We open on the triumphant construction of the biggest house in America, a sprawling, 90,000-square-foot mansion inspired by Versailles. Since a booming time-share business built on the real-estate bubble is financing it, the economic crisis brings progress to a halt and seals the fate of its owners. We witness the impact of this turn of fortune over the next two years in a riveting film fraught with delusion, denial, and self-effacing humor.

Themes

Wealth and bankruptcy, Material excess, Economic crisis impact, Consumerist impulse, Delusion and denial, Family strain under fortune

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Holy Motors

1080. Holy Motors

Drama Fantasy Dark Fantasy Psychological Drama
7.0

20121h 56min

Germany, France

Director: Leos Carax

We follow 24 hours in the life of a being moving from life to life like a cold and solitary assassin moving from hit to hit. In each of these interwoven lives, the being possesses an entirely distinct identity: sometimes a man, sometimes a woman, sometimes youthful, sometimes old. By turns murderer, beggar, company chairman, monstrous creature, worker, family man.

Themes

Performative identities, Commodification of work, Blurred boundaries of roles, Obsession with appearance, Spectacle vs reality, Impermanence of art

Available on

Apple TV
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.