Critically acclaimed and action rarely overlap.
But when they do, they make for a great film.
Here are six of such rare occurrences that you should watch on CATCHPLAY.
1. Good Time
In what is perhaps a bid to wash off the Twilight stains on his CV, Robert Pattinson has slowly but surely collected a list of serious arthouse movies that fully utilise his acting range and as a result proven himself to be more than just a sparkling vampire with bed hair.
He recently starred in The Lighthouse, which won this year’s Cannes Critics’ Award, and also acted in Good Time, which competed for 2017 Cannes Palme d’Or.
Essentially a bank robbery gone south, Pattison is electrifying as a bank robber who lands his younger brother in prison after said botched robbery.
The story revolves around one night as Pattison races against time to get his brother out of jail and save himself.
Quite the thriller.
2. Mr. Six
For a film with a straightforward plot (old school hoodlums fight new age streetcar gangsters to save his son), Mr. Six is surprisingly metaphorical in its approach: in many ways it’s about the new world clashing with the old one and how the old one stands its ground despite the inevitable tide of change.
Starring arguably the most popular director in China -- Xiaogang Feng -- and fresh faces such as Kris Wu and Li Yifeng, the fast-paced action film is a worthwhile watch for any movie buffs who are sick and tired of the MCU.
Oh and did I mention it closed the 2015 Venice Film Festival?
Ok sure, the Texan accent is hard to grasp but hey, there’s subtitles on CATCHPLAY.
One could describe this as a neo-western featuring cowboys robbing banks -- not just the usual kind of bank robberies but the kind of bank robberies that can help save a family ranch from going kaput. Throw a sheriff, who is hot on their tails, in the mix-- there must be a sheriff somewhere -- and you have a legit western.
Chris Pine, Jeff Bridges and Ben Foster star with alongside the sometimes incomprehensible Texan drawl. Despite the accent, it was nominated for Oscars, Cannes Film Festival and the Golden Globes.
What can I say? Thanks for the subtitles, CATCHPLAY.
Ahh… the super wide Hateful Eight (Quentin Tarantino shot the film in the rare Ultra Panavision 70 format).
What’s there to hate?
But why should you watch it? Well, it’s brimming with character actors (Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh); a relentless and captivating script by Tarantino; a compelling story about eight strangers full of mistrust of each other while trying to survive a blizzard and each other; and it won an Oscar for Best Original Score. Take a bow, Ennio Morricone. Not forgetting the Oscar nom for Leigh.
Not that hateful at all.
5. Rush
Rarely is a sports film so dramatic and pulsating at the same time. Yet, Rush proves that a movie about cars chasing cars in circles can be that good if the filmmakers have a compelling story and excellent actors who don’t ease off the pedal.
Basically a rivalry between both F1 legends Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl) and James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth), the 2013 film was nominated for two Golden Globes (Best Motion Picture - Drama and Best Supporting Actor).
Fast cars, unpredictable character arcs, what’s not to like about Rush?
Rounding up this list is the movie that chronicles the biggest manhunt in history: the almost decade-long operation to seek and eliminate Osama bin Laden.
Heck, the premise itself makes for a thrilling movie.
It’s little wonder that the thriller scored five Oscars noms: Best Picture, Actress, Original Screenplay, Sound Editing and Film Editing. It eventually won Best Film Editing
Its lead Jessica Chastain took home the Globe for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama.
While the movie is 157 minutes long, you will not feel its length for the twists and suspense will literally keep you at the edge of your seat -- especially the epic raid.
