James R | On 26, Oct 2015

Where did October go? We have no idea. What will leave Netflix at the end of it? That’s something we can help with, as the streaming site goes through its usual monthly cycle of ditching some titles as their licence expires, only to replace them with new additions.

This time last year, we were warming up with Season 1 of Daredevil with the arrival of Elektra. Now, we prepare to bid farewell to the muddled superhero spin-off. But not all movies are so easy to part with. Here are the top titles leaving Netflix UK in the coming weeks…

Love Is All You Need – 1st November

Pierce Brosnan in a romantic comedy? It’s not something to fill you with confidence, but the former James Bond is on fine form here as a believably callow businessman, accompanied by Trine Dyrholm as a single mum and a former cancer patient. Together, they make for a surprisingly good screen couple, him funny and her breaking the hearts of everyone around her.

More important than that, though, they seem real. In fact, the whole ensemble do. Yep, even the supporting characters like the token gay one and the spoilt sister. That’s the secret to Susanne Bier’s script: it’s by no means perfect, devoid of cliche or even tightly written, but the messy emotional ties and awkward dinner conversations smack of sincerity.

The Man Who Knew Too Little – 1st November

It’s not long now until Bill Murray brings his own brand of seasonal magic to Netflix with a Christmas special. Get in the mood early by watching 1997’s The Man Who Knew Too Little, which sees him play a hapless guy who crosses paths without spies and doesn’t even realise it. The result is uneven, but did we mention Bill Murray?

Mr. and Mrs Smith – 1st November

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie prove a perfect match on camera with this enjoyable 2005 comedy from Doug Liman. Each playing an assassin hired to kill their other half, it’s far from classic, but their dinner-time exchanges alone are worth tuning in for.

Oz the Great and Powerful – 1st November

An introduction to how exactly a bit of smoke and a projector became a wizard worthy of the suffix ‘Great and Powerful’, Sam Raimi’s Oz follows a lowly, cheap magician (James Franco), who abuses his charisma to keep his paying audience returning. James Franco is perfect for the role, both detestable and a lovely, charming fool, while the plot twists towards an impressive ending jam-packed with respect for the original Oz and no lack of originality.

Tower Block – 1st November

Tower Block is a genre thriller in the classic mode of John Carpenter’s early work; a somewhat socially conscious and claustrophobic effort, it offers a lean runtime and some short, sharp shocks. Writer James Moran (he of the also solid Cockneys vs Zombies) gives us a pleasingly brief set-up, as a fairly stock collection of archetypes are forced together when a sniper takes deadly accurate aim at their homes.

Twixt – 1st November

At what age does a director stop making films? Francis Ford Coppola showed no signs of stopping in 2011 with Twixt, a horror movie that deserves a mention just for the drive behind the camera.

Filth – 27th October

Filth doesn’t cover half of it. Jon S. Baird’s film, based on the novel by Irvine Welsh, follows the attempts of Bruce Robertson (an outrageous James McAvoy) to be promoted at work. He’s a racist. A homophobe. A misogynist. An addict. A dick. He’s also a sergeant in the Edinburgh police force. Filth? That’s an understatement.

I Am Ali – 28th October

Clare Lewins’ documentary about the life and career of the legendary boxer is told through archive footage and multiple interviews with his family, friends, opponents and colleagues. The result is both informative and entertaining, but it’s the personal angle that makes this stand out from the pack.

Monsters, Inc. – 12th November

Are monsters more terrified of us than we are of them? That’s the cute starting point for Pixar’s fluffy flick, which sees John Goodman and Billy Crystal play a double-act of scarers, whose job is to make enough kids scream to provide power for the city. A beautiful piece of world-building and a cute slice of emotion make this a charming Disney adventure that’s definitely not terrifying.

 

Other titles leaving Netflix UK at the end of October 2015

26th October
Moshe Kasher: Live in Oakland
Prom
Tom Rhodes: “Light, Sweet, Crude”

28th October
You Again

30th October
Life in Our Universe
Understanding the World’s Greatest Structures

31st October
Ghanchakkar

1st November
The Assassination
Bedazzled
Big Fat Gypsy Gangster
The Cost of Love
Elektra
Empire Records
Entrapment
The Fountain
Meet the Fockers
Portlandia
Romeos
Under Siege

10th November
Bomb Girls

 

Thanks to Netflix.maft.uk for the information.

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