We will miss seeing everyone at the Sidewalk Cinema for the next two weeks and wanted to pass along themed programming selections. Should you be in quarantine or simply spending more time at home/secluded because of the current situation, we hope that these suggestions are helpful. Plus we need to keep our programming skills sharp so that we can continue to bring stellar films and cinematic opportunities to Birmingham once we all get through this.

Below is a list of categorized film suggestions, many with notes and some with additional resources, for your at-home film viewing. We hope you enjoy the selections and would love to keep in contact and hear what you think via social media and/or email.

 

If you don’t have Netflix, Stay Tuned – We will be releasing lists from Amazon Prime Video and Hulu!

 

WATCH IT NOW FILMS ON NETFLIX – Click any title to watch it on Netflix!

The + means the film can be considered an indie.
The * means that the film is a festival selection.
The # means the film was a cinema selection,
The / means the writer and/or director was a Sidewalk Film Festival alum.

 

Straight Up Stellar Films:

 

FRANCES HA+ /

Image result for frances ha film

Co-written and starring Sidewalk Film Festival alum Greta Gerwig and directed by Noah Baumbach (MARRIAGE STORY).

A couple of fun facts, the film was shot mostly covertly in New York and Frances’ parents are played by Greta Gerwig’s real-life mom and dad. If you’re a Gerwig fan you’ll be extra happy, as she’s in every scene of the film. Should you get major cabin fever we suggest re-enacting the David Bowie dance on an empty sidewalk.

Here’s a terrific companion article to the film written by Gerwig about, well, messing up a lot: link.

 

MORRIS FROM AMERICA + *

Image result for morris from americaPart of the 18th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival line-up, MORRIS FROM AMERICA.

Craig Robinson landed his role in MR. ROBOT because Sam Esmail, the creator of the series, saw early footage from MORRIS FROM AMERICA.

 

GREEN ROOM + /

Image result for green room filmSidewalk alum director Jeremy Saulnier’s follow up to the amazing BLUE RUIN (also included in this list). GREEN ROOM is Anton Yelchin’s last film to be theatrically released before his death in June 2016.

Beware, if you’re looking for something less intense skip this title, as well as BLUE RUIN, and head to some of the more comedic suggestions in our lists.

Here’s a terrific Anatomy of A Scene with Saulnier: link

 

BLUE RUIN + /

Image result for blue ruin film

Also from Sidewalk alum director Jeremy Saulnier.

 

ROUNDERS

Image result for rounders filmA 90’s flashback that will inspire poker playing. Thanks to a Howard Stern interview, it’s been rumored that ROUNDERS was based on Norm Macdonald. Here’s an article with Macdonald about the film (and poker):  link

 

THE CRAFT #

Image result for the craft filmYou never know how long a film will stick around on Netflix, so be sure to catch a screening of THE CRAFT while it’s on the service.

Take this opportunity to visit Fairuza Balk’s website: link

Yes, there’s a store…

 

OTHER PEOPLE + *

Image result for other people filmA selection of the 18th annual Sidewalk Film Festival, SNL writer Chris Kelly based OTHER PEOPLE on his own personal experience moving home to care for his mother as she was suffering from cancer. The film has a lovely and sharp balance of humor and sentiment.

 

CHLOE

Image result for chloe filmWith strong, intentional b-movie vibes, CHLOE is super entertaining and highly likely to take your mind of the current state of things.

 

SLING BLADE +

Image result for sling blade filmA southern classic (shot in Arkansas) that is worth revisiting, SLINGBLADE is the product of advice that Billy Wilder passed along to Billy Bob Thornton, stating that he was too ugly to be an actor and should be a writer instead. A trivia mention that will enhance your viewing of the film: in an effort to make the character’s walk more awkward, Thornton put crushed glass in his shoes. Here’s a great companion piece to the film via Mental Floss: link.

 

HOMECOMING: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ #

Image result for homecoming a film by beyonceCo-directed by Beyoncé and featuring her 2018 Coachella performance, including behind-the-scenes glimpses.

 

 

Did You Miss It At The Cinema?

 

THE IRISHMAN #

Image result for the irishman filmHere’s an incredible, albeit somber, article penned by Martin Scorsese, himself: link.

 

THE TWO POPES #

Image result for the two popes filmThe film was a 2020 Academy Award nominee for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role and Best Adapted Screenplay

 

MARRIAGE STORY + #

Image result for marriage story filmAn interesting article with a marriage therapist regarding MARRIAGE STORY, It contains spoilers, so its best to read after viewing: link

 

GOOD TIME + # /

Image result for good time film

The 2017 film screened as part of the Sidewalk Cinema 20 For 20 Series, featuring 20 of the best films of the last 20 years. Directed by brothers Benny and Josh Safdie who directed Sidewalk Cinema film UNCUT GEMS.

 

GROUNDHOG DAY #

Image result for groundhog day filmBill Murray was severely bitten by a groundhog twice during production so you owe him a viewing.

 

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE + THE TENNESSEE KIDS #

Image result for justin timberlake and the tennessee kids filmFilmed in 2015 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas during the final performances of the 20/20 Experience World Tour. Should you find yourself needing something high-energy this will help

 

EVERYBODY’S EVERYTHING + # *

Image result for everybody's everything filmA profile of late musician and style icon, Lil Peep.

 

 

In The Spirit Of Women In Film Week:

Considering that this week was Women In Film Week at the Sidewalk Cinema, consider watching the following films directed by women: 

MUDBOUND +  

Image result for mudbound filmDirected and co-written by Dee Rees and gorgeous cinematography by Rachel Morrison.

 

CITY OF GOD +

Image result for city of god filmCo-directed by Kátia Lund

 

 

THE INVITATION + *

Image result for the invitation film2015 Sidewalk Film Festival selection, directed by Karyn Kusama.

 

TAYLOR SWIFT: MISS AMERICANA

Image result for taylor swift americanaDirected by Lana Wilson and cinematography by Emily Topper

 

WINE COUNTRY +

Image result for wine country movieDirected by Amy Poehler Written by Liz Cackowski and Emily Spivey and edited by Julie Monroe

ATLANTICS +

Image result for atlantics movieDirected by Mati Diop, cinematography by Claire Mathon and edited by Aël Dallier Vega.

 

 

Thematically Appropriate:

If you’re interested in leaning into the situation there are some strong options. Views related to films like CONTAGION are currently through the roof on streaming apps, so you’re not alone. Here are a few deliberate and exceptional choices to not get your mind off it:

IT COMES AT NIGHT + /

Image result for it comes at night movieHave you been pondering the toilet paper hoarding insanity and asking why? Contemplate such via the theme of tribalism (among many others) in the apocalyptic IT COMES AT NIGHT. Directed by Sidewalk Festival (KRISHA) and Cinema (WAVES) alum Trey Edward Schults.

 

OUTBREAK

Image result for outbreak movieYes, the one with the monkey.

 

 

ROOM

Image result for room movieEmbrace the claustrophobia.

 

 

CABIN FEVER +

Image result for cabin fever movieDouble down – stuck inside and fear of sickness.

 

RED DAWN

Image result for red dawn movieWorld War III + the first film in the US to be released with a PG-13 rating. Take a look at this cast: Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, Jennifer Grey, Harry Dean Stanton, Ron O’Neal, Powers Boothe…

 

SNOWPIERCER +

Image result for snowpiercer movieAn apocalyptic, climate-change challenging new classic from Bong Joon Ho, the director of Academy Award-winning PARASITE.

 

 

Family Friendly Selections:

 

SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE 

Image result for spiderman into the spider verse movieAbsolutely wonderful and vastly well-loved.

 

HUGO

Image result for hugo movieA kid-friendly film directed by Martin Scorsese that also sneaks in film history!

 

SPY KIDS +

Image result for spy kids movieFrom indie director Robert Rodriguez, based on drawings that he did as a kid and featuring numerous family members.

 

THE BREADWINNER +

Image result for the breadwinner movieBeautifully animated, THE BREADWINNER is directed by Nora Twomey.

 

SPACE JAM

Image result for space jam movieThe epic 90’s basketball-meets-Looney-Toons, Michael Jordan-starring cinematic insanity.

 

 

 

Need to take your mind off things? The following would make a wonderful and fun comedy binge line-up:

 

TOOTSIE
Image result for tootsie movie

Here’s a fun article on the classic TOOTSIE from Mental Floss: link

 

OBVIOUS CHILD +

Image result for obvious child movieDirected by Gillian Robespierre and featuring Jenny Slate, OBVIOUS CHILD premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and was the talk of the 2014 festival circuit.

 

SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD

Image result for scott pilgrim movieA stylish and fun PG-13 romance-action-fantasy-coming-of-age pic from director Edgar Wright.

 

KINGPIN

Image result for kingpin movieMajor gross-out comedy from the Farrelly brothers (THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY, SHALLOW HAL etc.).

 

MR.ROOSEVELT +

Image result for mr. roosevelt movieWritten and directed by Noël Wells, the film premiered and was the hit of SXSW 2017.

 

FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF

Image result for ferris buellers day off movieThe one and only, written and directed by John Hughes, duh. Here’s another fun article: link

 

 

Dark & Definitively Intense:

 

THE WITCH +

Image result for the witch movieThe amazing New England folktale from THE LIGHTHOUSE director Robert Eggers.

 

MOON

Image result for moon movieBleak, beautiful, isolating, sad and compelling.

 

 

MAGNOLIA +

Image result for magnolia movieMaster Paul Thomas Anderson’s epic third feature. Lots to contemplate post-viewing.

 

EX MACHINA

Image result for ex machina movieSpeaking of isolation… this one has it.

Here’s a visual essay regarding EX MACHINA: link

 

THE LOBSTER + /

Image result for the lobster movieAnother insane work of brilliance from Yorgos Lanthimos (DOGTOOTH, THE FAVOURITE, THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER).

Anatomy of a Scene: link

 

SUPER DARK TIMES +

Image result for super dark times movieBeware, super dark is accurate.

 

 

 

Style Pieces:

Want to challenge your A/V equipment? Interested more in form than content? Not that the following films don’t offer both, but these are some of the most stylish options on Netflix.

DRIVE +

Image result for drive movieFrom director Nicolas Winding Refn and starring Ryan Gosling, DRIVE is one of the most visually influential films of the last decade.

 

UNDER THE SKIN +

Image result for under the skin movieDirected by Jonathan Glazer and starring Scarlett Johansson

 

POPEYE

Image result for popeye movieDirected by auteur Robert Altman, Directed by Robert Evans

Check out Charlie Sanders segment about POPEYE on the Sidewalk podcast, Sidetalks (Ep. 11): link

 

A SINGLE MAN +

Image result for a single man movieDirected by fashion designer Tom Ford, so style is no surprise.

 

 

MOONLIGHT + /

Image result for moonlight movieThe Academy Award Winning MOONLIGHT directed by Barry Jenkins.

Also, why not revisit this insane moment: link

 

Did You Miss It At The Sidewalk Film Festival?

These are just a few of our favorite options:

MENASHE + *

Image result for menashe movie2017

 

 

A GHOST STORY + *

Image result for a ghost story movie2017

 

 

MURDER PARTY + *

Image result for murder party movie2007

 

 

 

THE LEGEND OF COCAINE ISLAND + *

Image result for the legend of cocaïne island movieFormerly titled WHITE TIDE, Opening night

2018

 

ABDUCTED IN PLAIN SIGHT + *

Image result for abducted in plain sight movieFormerly titled FOREVER B

2017

 

DAYVEON + *

Image result for dayveon movie2017

 

HOLY HELL + *

Image result for holy hell movie2016

 

 

SILICON COWBOYS + *

Image result for silicon cowboys2016

 

 

 

 

Outstanding Documentaries:

 

JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI +

Image result for jiro dreams of sushiA bit of trivia, Jiro has stated that, while he thinks of sushi frequently, he has insomnia and never dreams of sushi.

 

BATHTUBS OVER BROADWAY + *

Image result for bathtubs over broadwayA 2018 Sidewalk selection – trust us on this one, it’s terrific!

 

AMY + /

Image result for amy movieAMY was the first A24 distributed documentary to be nominated for an Academy Award. Director Asif Kapadia also directed Sidewalk selection SENNA.

THE DEATH AND LIFE OF MARSHA P. JOHNSON + *

Image result for the death and life of marsha p. johnsonA 2017 SHOUT selection

 

AMERICAN FACTORY +

Image result for american factory2020 Academy Award Winner, Best Documentary Feature

 

20 FEET FROM STARDOM +

Image result for 20 feet from stardomPremiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.

 

JOAN DIDION THE CENTER WILL NOT HOLD +

Image result for joan diddion the center will not holdDirected by actor Griffin Dunne (AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON).

August 19-25, 2024

Sidewalk Film Festival

More info