Summer Netflix Challenge

Ok, so my title is a bit of a stretch — "young and naive" are probably better words to describe Jake Gyllenhaal's character in Nicole Holofcener's 2001 indie dramedy Lovely & Amazing. The film follows two sisters (Catherine Keener and Emily Mortimer) through a few days of trials and tribulations in love, career, and life in general. As their mom undergoes cosmetic surgery, it comes clear that both women have inherited her insecurities — but they're manifested in very different ways.

When Michele (Keener) takes a job at a one-hour photo, Gyllenhaal comes into the picture as her teenage co-worker. His character, Jordan, actually has a lot in common with The Good Girl's Holden. Both are somewhat misunderstood adolescents who develop relationships with older women while working at blue collar jobs. Both are the driving forces behind their affairs, and both turn out to make trouble for their paramours.

The film is fine if forgettable, but Gyllenhaal's performance in The Good Girl is definitely more of a standout from what we see here. It's fun to see Jake in his pre-heartthrob younger years, but for my next pick I'm eyeing something a little more recent (and where he gets more screen time!).

The following post was written by brisas, who posted it in the Summer Netflix Challenge group.

I had first read about Che the Movie on BuzzSugar and while four hours is a lot of time to dedicate to just one movie, it is well worth it. I spent an lazy Saturday afternoon enjoying this long but superbly executed movie. The entire movie is subtitled but for me I think it would have been distracting to hear Che and Fidel with dubbed English voices. I have read that many felt this portrayal wasn't accurate and large sections of his life were left out but a movie can only be so long!

The first disc is his struggle to take Cuba from Batista. Che, Fidel and the rest of the team definitely fought both his army and nature to accomplish such a feat. Disc two, he enters into Bolivia under a new identity trying to accomplish the same in Bolivia as in Cuba and in the process meets his death. I know this movie is controversial but there is no question that Benicio was perfect in this role.

If you have seen The Motorcycle Diaries about Che's adventure as a doctor through South America, Che the movie is very different and much more action packed and emotional in my opinion. If you love Benicio as much as me, you will want to add this to your watch list!

Want to participate in the Summer Netflix Challenge? Just join my group, pick a theme, and get watching!

The following post was written by BirdsFlyingHigh, who posted it in the Summer Netflix Challenge group.

A little late to join this challenge but I figured out who I wanted to catch up on for the rest of the summer! I have also loved Marion Cotillard as an actress and it was time see it all! I just saw Inception and thought she did a superb job but it was time to see the rest. I have the movie Love Me if You Dare on its way from Netflix. After that La Vie En Rose with Marion's portrayal of the extraordinary singer Edith Piaf! Can't wait to see them all!

Want to participate in the Summer Netflix Challenge? Just join my group, pick a theme, and get watching!

Hi there! Editor L. here again, and I'm ready to discuss the next entry in my Frances McDormand movie marathon. Last time, I shared my thoughts on Friends With Money, but after seeing the excellent The Kids Are All Right, I moved director Lisa Cholodenko's Laurel Canyon to the top of my list.

McDormand plays Jane, the strung out and stoned music producer mother to Sam (Christian Bale). After Sam gets a job near LA, he and his girlfriend Alex (Kate Beckinsale) pack their bags to stay in his mom's house while she's away for work. But unfortunately for Sam, Jane hasn't left; she's still holed up in the house slaving away on a band's latest album. To hear about the rest, read more

It's Editor B here again, bringing you up to speed on the next notch in my Summer of Jake Gyllenhaal belt: The Good Girl. The indie movie is one of those films that has been in my Netflix queue so long it probably thought it would never make it to the big leagues, but alas, it finally arrived last week. After watching Gyllenhaal play a doe-eyed teenager in October Sky, this was definitely a change of pace — but in the end, it's Jennifer Aniston's performance that caught my attention.

Don't get me wrong: this role is definitely a juicy one for Gyllenhaal. As troubled writer Holden, Gyllenhaal shows off his Southern accent yet again, this time tackling some heavier issues like death, an affair with a married woman, and the dangers of eating tainted blackberries. It's more than just another line on his resume, proving early on that Gyllenhaal's talent goes beyond his pretty face (or a set of abs, as the case may be). I was also impressed with how perfectly Gyllenhaal walks the line between depressing and funny; it's hard not to giggle in the face of Holden's petulant and dramatic antics.

I can see why many people over the years have just been not that into this movie: it's kind of a downer, and it's pretty bleak despite the dark humor. Still, I'd recommend it to help you shut down anyone who tries to tell you Jennifer Aniston can't act. Or if you want a peek at Zooey Deschanel in her pre-indie darling days.

In the end though, there's still one question left: how does John C. Reilly always manage to have a hot wife/girlfriend on the big screen?

Editor S here! As I pushed onward in my Netflix challenge with Gwyneth Paltrow, I felt that it made the most sense to pick my next movie based on current events, that is, Joaquin Phoenix's glorious re-entrance into acting. The last movie he made before he claimed to be retiring for a rap career was this, Two Lovers. He plays Leonard, a man torn between two women — Michelle (Paltrow) and Sandra (Vinessa Shaw), so it seemed like the perfect time to watch.

Heartbreaking and cerebral, this might be my favorite performance from Phoenix — and maybe even from Paltrow. Her role — as an emotional wreck that Leonard can't help but love — is kind of a departure for the Oscar winner, but she's so tortured and distant that it brought me back to appreciating what a fantastic actress she is. If Paltrow made more movies like this, I'd be a bigger fan.

Editor B. chiming in here, following up on my promise to follow Jake Gyllenhaal all Summer long for my personal Netflix challenge. There are a few movies that I've been meaning to see for a long time (The Good Girl comes to mind), but I decided to start with one of Gyllenhaal's earlier movies. Before he was the Prince of Persia, a much younger (and less beefy) Jakey G starred in a heart-warming tale of a wannabe rocket scientist called October Sky.

I like to think of this film as a hidden gem in Gyllenhaal's resume (I hadn't even heard of it until recently), but it's a very sweet period piece based on the true story of friends hoping to win a science fair and go to college. As Homer Hickman, Jake's baby face and blue eyes provide the perfect amount of hope to a 17-year-old boy with big dreams. I was also impressed with his Southern accent (the movie takes place in West Virginia) and the way he handled his complex onscreen relationship with dad Chris Cooper. I'd recommend it if you're in the mood for a predictable but sweet movie to give you some warm fuzzies.

Want to review and chat about your own Summer rentals? Join my Netflix challenge group, pick your theme or actor, and get watching! You may see your own posts right here on BuzzSugar.

BuzzSugar Community user brisas submitted the following post to the Summer Netflix Challenge group.

With TV lacking with the exception of True Blood, I have decided to join Buzz's Netflix Challenge. I was having a hard time deciding, but have finally decided to make this summer all about Benicio Del Toro. First on my list is Che; it is a long movie (4 and half hours long) but he is a great actor, so it is bound to be good!

After Che, I will have Netflix ship Things We Lost in the Fire and next Basquiat, a good one that I haven't seen in forever! According to IMDB, I have another 30 movies to complete the list.

Want to participate in the Summer Netflix Challenge? Just join my group, pick a theme, and get watching!

BuzzSugar Community user shannoninsf submitted the following post to the Summer Netflix Challenge group.

So I've decided to join the Netflix challenge and use it as an excuse to watch the movies of Zooey Deschanel that I've never seen. I'm a pretty big fangirl, and totally obsessed with (500) Days of Summer, but I haven't seen a lot of her work. To kick off my viewing, I chose Yes Man, her comedy with Jim Carrey.

Zooey plays Allison, the live wire that Carrey's character starts dating when he takes a seminar to say "yes" to everything. Even though she's essentially playing the "manic pixie dream girl" (Google it if you've never heard the term), I always buy Zooey as the free spirit — and I love that she gets to sing too (even if it's her sweet voice over some hilariously bad lyrics). Ultimately, I kind of loved this movie — it's so funny without Jim Carrey going completely over the top, and I actually think they make a great onscreen couple, though it did strike me as weird at first.

Want to participate in the Summer Netflix Challenge? Just join my group, pick a theme, and get watching!