Netflix Film Review: What I've Been Watching II

Hello, hello! Back again with another installment of what I've been watching. With all the awful weather we've been having the last few days, Netflix has certainly prevailed. As you know from my last list, I've been building a viewing wishlist of films I've been dying to see so here's some I managed to tick off...


Jennifer Aniston stars as Claire, an L.A women attending a support group following a life changing car accident. Consumed by her chronic back pain and loss, Claire is bitter, broken and chomps on pain killers like they are tic-tacs. Following the suicide of one of her support group members (Anna Kendrick), Claire becomes obsessed with her ghost and forms an unlikely relationship with her widower, Roy (Sam Worthington). 

This was snubbed by the Oscars and Golden Globes in 2014 but certainly worth a watch. Though I can understand why this slipped under the radar, Aniston gives a good performance, unlike you've seen her before. Cake is a gritty yet entertaining narrative in which a snappy, unhappy woman finds closure. 


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Having both coincidentally cheated death in suicide attempts on the same day, estranged twins Milo (Bill Hader) and Maggie (Kristen Wiig) reunite in the hopes of mending their shattered relationship. 

I was so sad to have missed this at the cinema and was so excited to see it on the US version of Netflix. Another Indie classic for Kristen Wiig who seems to be appearing quite a lot on my current list. Despite it's depressing subject matter in which suicide seems to be a constant, The Skeleton Twins has an endearing darkness with two lovable yet unlikable, dysfunctional characters. I dare you not to have a smile on your face during the 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now' lip sync scene. 

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A documentary which ponders the debate of nature vs. nurture and explores orca whales in captivity, in particular at SeaWorld. Since the documentary's release in 2013, SeaWorld's profits have suffered greatly, exposing the treatment of the whales and killer whale, Tilikum. The documentary takes a look at the events which may have led to the deaths and injuries as a result of working along side him.

I'm ashamed to say I hadn't seen this sooner but I delibrately put off watching following it's original hype in 2013. It's been on my list for a while and I'm so glad to have now ticked it off. A beautifully constructed and cleverly directed documentary which brings to light the lengths SeaWorld have gone to cover-up the truth behind such deaths as Dawn Brancheau's. Hard-hitting and powerful, good luck going to SeaWorld with a clear conscience.

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A two-part FRONTLINE documentary exploring the criminal justice system in America. For decades, the states has focused on incarcerating all violent and non-violent criminals but now the prisons are overrun and the system is failing. In Solitary Nation (Part 1) and Prison State (Part 2), Locked Up In America takes a look at the mental effects of solitary confinement on prisoners as well as juvenile cases and life after conviction. 

I find a strange joy in watching prison and crime documentaries (especially serial killers) and this had been on my list for a while. A powerful and insightful look at the flaws in America's legal system. It's amazing to think just how many American's are let down by the system and the vicious cycles of crime that occur as a result of the lack of support ex-prisoners receive when leaving prison. Not for the faint-hearted. Only available on the US version of the site.

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Having lost his chef job following a scathing review, Carl (Jon Favreau) starts up his own food truck in the hopes of rebuilding his own creativity and promise. He recruits his estranged family to help him piece back together his career and manages to mend their relationship along the way. 

In someways, this film reminded me of Little Miss Sunshine (Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris, 2006) for it's humour but it also made me hungry. A great cast, a food lover's dream and a charming, fun and happy fare that I'm sad to have missed at the cinema but thankful to Netflix for having!

What have you been watching lately? I still have a whole load of films on my list so stay tuned for another installment of what I've been watching soon. 

For those of you who didn't know/haven't voted yet, I have been nominated for TWO awards at the Bloggers Awards this year. I'm so thankful to even be nominated so thanks so much to those of you who voted for me originally. I'd be eternally grateful if you could vote for me to win. It only takes two seconds and you don't even have to fill out the whole form, just select Popcorn and Glitter and finish survey. You can vote here! 

Lots of love,



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20 comments

  1. Great choice. Will definitely need to check them out. I too have been avoiding Blackfish - still not sure I can watch that one x x

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    1. It is pretty hard to watch in some parts but totally necessary and it makes it all the more powerful. I think it's definitely worth watching to give you a better understanding of what really goes on there. It's not as devastating as I thought it would be (which is good cos it would be too hard to watch otherwise) xx

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  2. These look awesome I've watched Cake before and enjoyed it

    Candice | Beauty Candy Loves

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    1. Aw I'm so glad someone else has seen it! Jennifer Aniston is really good in it :) x

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  3. I watched Blackfish for the first time this week, and it was awful! So so sad to see these amazing creatures getting treated so badly!!

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    1. It's really sad but worth watching I think. I thought you meant awful as in bad haha it's a great documentary but super sad. I hope the company goes under eventually although I don't think it will anytime soon x

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  4. Chef is hilarious! And I have been wanting to watch Cake for ages now, didn't even know it was on Netflix. I know what I'm doing tonight!

    www.ohjanuary.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Yeah I think it's only available on the US version (which is how I watched it) but it's easily downloadable I think. Loved Chef :) x

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  5. I totally forgot how much I love Cake actually!

    Annabel ♥
    Mascara & Maltesers

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    1. I'm so glad someone else has seen it! It didn't really get much of a distribution here so no one in the UK has really heard of it haha glad you liked it though! xx

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  6. I still have to watch Cake. I'm glad you like documentaries, Sophie :) I mean, the really challenging ones like Act of Killing (2012), which isn't for everyone. Now I'm wondering about those Frontline documentaries (which I haven't seen although Frontline is one of my favorite documentary series) when you say that it's not for the faint of heart. On the BBC, I like Panorama. I remembered the one on the Amazon warehouse, where it was stressful to work after that recent news story about Amazon work conditions. After seeing Blackfish and the collapsed dorsal fins of the captive animals, I'm sorry that I ever visited SeaWorld. Anyway, I hope you're having a good week, Sophie!

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    1. I find the FRONTLINE ones pretty full on and a bit cheesy but I like them. Those cheesy serial killer documentaries they do are weirdly entertaining. Yeah the Panorama ones are good. Unfortunately, being the BBC they have to tone stuff down so not to cause a stir which is a shame. I've never been but I definitely don't want to go now. There was a time I really wanted to go. Thanks Gil, you too :)

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  7. Blackfish is an incredible documentary - one of my favourites. My house-mate and I watch documentaries on sundays usually as we nurse our hangovers. I've been wanting to watch Cake but something has always held me back, same with Chef. But if you've rated it 4 stars I think I'll have to give a watch.

    Jenn | Jennifer Jayne

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    1. Ha I used to do that too, it's funny cos you're still kinda sleepy and spaced out and you're like "woah look at that, that's so interesting" haha. They're definitely worth a watch, Chef and Cake are certainly just my kinda films :) Hope you like them! x

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  8. Ah Blackfish is done so well but at the same time it's such a depressing documentary. It really made me appreciate what beautiful and intelligent animals orcas are but also that it's important to really think about the treatment of animals. I can actually remember seeing an orca display when I was really little and it shocks me now to think about how badly that orca must have been treated and how naive I was!

    vvnightingale.com

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    1. I know, it's very hard-hitting but beautifully done. It has to break your heart to make it's point. I think millions of visitors to SeaWorld don't realise also so I don't blame them for wanting to see the animals and the shows, it's just a shame what the cost of that is! Thanks for reading my review :) x

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  9. i've been meaning to watch blackfish and the others sound interesting as well. i'm always looking for something to watch on netflix so i'll definitely check these out, thanks for sharing!

    danielle | avec danielle

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    1. Aw I hope you like them! You'll have to let me know what you think. Blackfish is very sad but amazingly powerful! x

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