To tell you the truth, I’m already done with Christmas. The stockings have been put away, the tree is taken down, and the holiday music is turned off. When I watch a movie, I don’t want to see a red Santa suit or a green mistletoe. I am really tired.
If you share my opinion and want to watch a good movie (or three) this weekend, this list is for you. Max has plenty of non-festive films to stream, and this selection, including an underrated sports rom-com and an intriguing sci-fi film, is perfect for spending after Christmas and getting ready for 2025. (Ah, and if you’re considering to go to the cinema this weekend, don’t forget to take a look at Nosferatu. It’s excellent!)
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Leatherheads (2008)
Was the world really clamoring for a romantic comedy about 1920s football? The answer, then as now, is a resounding no, but we still had Leatherheads. The 2008 film didn’t do well at the box office and isn’t really remembered today. That said, it’s not a bad film, and it features an attractive cast (George Clooney, Renée Zellweger and John Krasinski forming the love triangle) as well as an attention to period detail that will appeal to fans of romance novels. the old one.
Jimmy “Dodge” Connelly (Clooney) has a big problem. In 1925, he attempted to make professional football viable and profitable. His team, the Duluth Bulldogs, is struggling, and the idea of men throwing footballs at each other doesn’t appeal to the crowds. Enter World War I hero and Princeton University star Carter “The Bullet” Rutherford, and Dodge is convinced he can save his team…and the league. But an intruder reporter, Lexie Littleton (Zellweger), believes Carter is an illusion and is determined to expose him, threatening Dodge’s dream of playing professional football.
If you liked Clooney’s 2023 movie The Boys in the Boatyou should enjoy Leatherheads. The retro atmosphere is there, with management so peaceful you might doze off. It’s a compliment, I assure you! Krasinski showcases his leading edge qualities that he was able to exhibit in his Amazon series John Ryan, and Zellweger is ready (pun obvious here) to take on the role of an intrepid journalist looking for romance.
Leatherheads is available to stream on Max.
Splice (2009)
Artificial intelligence is fashionable today, but fifteen years ago, it was genetic engineering that captured the imagination of science fiction fans. Many mediocre films have been made about the dangers of playing creator, but one of the best remains Splicea science fiction horror film released in 2009, starring two actors often associated with other genres: Academy Award winners Adrien Brody (The Pianist) and Sarah Polley (Women Talking).
Here, they play married scientists, Clive and Elsa, who secretly attempt to create a female human-animal hybrid in order to extract the creature’s proteins for medical research. Obviously, big problems arise when the creature, named Dren, forms a bond with them and undergoes rapid mutations, going from childhood to adolescence in a matter of days. As Clive and Elsa’s employers become suspicious, will they be able to hide Dren from them and the world? And can Dren curb her growing urge to explore, risking putting humanity in danger?
So, what is your opinion? The scenario of Splice may seem obvious, but it takes several unexpected turns, including one I’ve never seen in a sci-fi film before. Brody and Polley’s acting elevates the material, and director Vincenzo Natali doesn’t shy away from exploring the disturbing possibilities of gene manipulation.
Splice is available for streaming on Max.
Faye (2024)
There are divas, and there is Faye Dunaway. The Academy Award-winning actress, still best known for her roles in Bonnie and Clyde, Chinatownet Networkhas a reputation for being difficult, with past conflicts with directors like Roman Polanski, actress Bette Davis, and playwright Andrew Lloyd Webber contributing to this label.
However, as shown Faye through archival clips with her peers and a candid interview conducted recently, she had her reasons. And that’s what makes Faye so captivating to watch. It is not a documentary aimed at whitewashing its errors, but rather at explaining them, accepting them and recontextualizing them.
The result is a fascinating portrait of a woman who was not difficult, but a perfectionist. If this label was acceptable to her male collaborators like Warren Beatty and Stanley Kubrick, why wouldn’t it be acceptable to her?
Faye is available to stream on Max.
The selection of films above opens up an interesting reflection on the way in which cinema explores varied themes while shifting from traditional expectations. Is there a genre you’d like to see explored more often from an unexpected angle?
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