Staff Picks: LOVEFiLM Instant

Helen Cowley Head of Editorial & Digital Content | @HelenLOVEFiLM

Open Quote A Brit sci-fi adventure with real bite. A council estate in South London comes under attack from an alien invasion, and the local residents must fight for survival. Great directorial debut from Joe Cornish, (one half of the wonderful Adam and Joe), I cannot recommend it highly enough. [Available from 19 February] Close Quote

Sleeping Beauty (Available exclusively from 12 February)

"This is a dark, often disturbing, loosely-modernised version of the well-known fairy tale. A hit at Cannes last year, Emily Browning puts in a brave performance as a young woman making her way in the world. This is a LOVEFiLM exclusive."

Dogtooth

"I love this film. A disconcerting concept, delivered as a razor-sharp disturbing black comedy. Three teenagers are kept captive inside their family estate by their possessive father. Who tells them all sorts of untruths to keep them from escaping."

Blackadder Goes Forth

"Who needs an excuse to catch up on Blackadder? The Fourth series is by far my favourite. Richard Curtis’ & Ben Elton’s writing is at their best, and the entire cast, namely Mr Ronan Atkins himself, are all on tip top form."

Delicatessen

"I seem to have inadvertently picked lots of directorial debuts! This was the first feature film by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amelie) and Marc Caro – it is a wonderful surreal post-apocalyptic dark French comedy."

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Chris Bird Film Strategy Director

Open Quote One of the best documentaries I’ve seen in a long time, Fire in Babylon is about the great West Indies cricket team of the 1970s and 80s. A must watch for cricket fans, or even sport fans in general. Close Quote

TRON

"The original that came out way back in 1982. If you haven’t already watched it, then make sure you do; TRON was serious game changer in the film world."

Sugar

"From the writing/directing team responsible for Half Nelson, Sugar is the story of a Dominican pitcher from San Pedro De Macorís, who tries to make a better life for his family by chasing a career in the U.S baseball league. A hidden gem of a movie."

The Ghost

"A clever thriller/drama from Roman Polanski, with an impressive cast that includes Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan. A great watch if you’re in the mood for something a bit intelligent!"

Mr. Nice

"This film is based on Howard Marks’ – the notorious Welsh drug smuggler – autobiography of the same name. It’s fascinating and funny, well worth a watch."

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Darren Bignell Communications Manager

Open Quote Love love love everything about this: Sam Rockwell’s stunning (and near solo) performance, Kevin Spacey as the voice of the base computer (with echoes of 2001), amazing claustrophobic atmosphere and stark lunar landscapes created on a budget. And the fact that the success of this film allowed Duncan Jones to move on to Source Code. Really looking forward to whatever he comes up with next. Close Quote

Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil

"Stumbled across this trailer and just had to watch it. Partly because the set-up is so delicious – pretty Spring-breakers come a-cropper in redneck woods (but with a big spin on that well-worn B-movie format) – and partly because Alan Tudyk (Wash from Firefly) is in it, and he’s a legend."

Blackadder the Third – Duel & Duality

"Never sure which of the second, Third and (Goes) Forth series is my favourite, but the Regency setting is the one where Hugh Laurie really gets to cut loose, and the joy of this final episode of Series 3 (as a Fry & Laurie fan) is the added presence of Stephen Fry as the bombastic Duke of Wellington. The Iron Duke arguing with Blackadder over how hard he actually hit the Prince, is surely one of the greatest sitcom scenes ever."

Westworld

"The Terminator movies are, of course, powered by that wave of techno-paranoia that swept the western world during the latter half of the 20th century – a paranoia repeatedly harnessed by the author Michael Crichton, who’s behind this superb sci-fi thriller. At a state-of-the-art theme park, rich holidaymakers can indulge a Wild West fantasy against lifelike robots."

Doctor Who – S2, E4 – The Girl in the Fireplace

"After Christopher Eccleston supplied a rock-solid foundation for the Doctor Who reboot, David Tennant assumed ownership of the Tardis and swiftly established himself in this, or any other planet’s, history as one of the greatest Doctors of all time. All of the very best Tennant episodes were written by Stephen Moffat – the gas mask kid, the statues, the library – and this: a moving, heartfelt stand-alone episode co-starring Sophia Myles, and owing more than a little to Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife."

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Tegan Kniveton Content Manager - Editorial & Social | @TeganLOVEFiLM

Open Quote I loved the symmetry of the two stories, one in the 1950s and the other in the 2000s. Meryl Streep and Amy Adams are both excellent as the leading ladies, but Stanley Tucci is just as brilliant in his supporting role. This is a lovely, lovely film. [Available from 8 february] Close Quote

Breathless

"Talk about classic! This Jean-Luc Godard film was hugely influential in French cinema, and it made an icon out of American actress Jean Seberg. Very stylish indeed."

Bedknobs & Broomsticks

"As far as I’m concerned, a film with animation and live action is automatically a winner. And then you add Angela Lansbury into the equation and you don’t really need much else. Brilliant, nostalgic, classic Disney."

Peep Show

"I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I hadn’t actually watched any of Peep Show until it arrived on LOVEFiLM Instant. I’ve realised the error of my ways now though and am making up for it by watching series 1-4 back to back. It’s hilarious."

Zombieland (Available from 15 February)

"This isn’t your average zombie-type horror; it’s cleverer and funnier than that. Plus it stars some of my favourite people; Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson, with an excellent cameo from Bill Murry."

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Rob Holloway Senior Content Manager - Devices

Open Quote I’ve been banging on about this film for ages and now it’s available LOVEFiLM Instant! Worth watching for the beehive scene on its own. Close Quote

RED

"A riot of ridiculous old-school A-list action. Great fun."

Four Lions

"Chris Morris has made a career out of controversial comedy and Four Lions goes where most writers would never dare – Islamic terrorism. The result is both hilarious and tragic."

In The Loop

"Swearing maybe neither big nor clever, but it’s f*%@ing funny. Malcolm Tucker is surely one of the best TV/Movie characters to happen for many years."

Dr Strangelove

"A classic. “You can’t fight in here, this is the War Room!”"

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Jennifer Trevorrow Content Manager - Editorial & Digital

Open Quote For me, this is the film that proved Colin Firth has major acting clout, long before he stuttered his way through The King’s Speech. Close Quote

Animal Kingdom

"I was hesitant to like Animal Kingdom, simply because there was so much hype surrounding it but it prevailed as one of my favourite films of 2011."

NEDS

"It’s quite scary that Peter Mullan based this film on real life experiences from his childhood. It’s a movie which definitely stays with you, if not for its raw and brutal violence, then simply for Mullan’s directing ability alone."

The Dark Knight

"I am all about the superhero movies, I loved Batman Begins and didn’t think The Dark Knight would top it, but it did."

Chopper

"Another gritty Aussie drama makes it onto my list. We’ve had this on LOVEFiLM Instant for some time, but it’s well worth a watch, especially if you enjoy hard-hitting true stories."

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Adam Harper Digital Content Executive

Open Quote Well-made film with a great performance by Mickey
Rouke Close Quote

Son of Rambow

"This is a really nice, well put together film, starring a young Will Poulter."

Black Dynamite

"Funny as you like – this film had me in stitches."

Chopper

"Classic gritty Ozzy film – full of great quotes and a unique story."

Battle Royale

"This Japanese film is very brutal, but it has a comedy edge and one of the funniest death scenes ever."

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Diane Tanner Digital Assistant

Open Quote Ryan. Gosling. It will make you want to kill yourself a little bit though. Close Quote

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

"Uplifting and amusing, this is a perfect rainy Sunday type of film."

Superman Returns

"I’m not even a Superman fan, but I love this film on a cold winters night. Throwaway fun."

Eagle vs Shark

"I'm from New Zealand so would be shot if I didn’t recommend you watch this gem from the motherland."

Black Death

"Oh ‘eck I’ve got t’plague! Boromir gets the plague, it’s amazing."

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Jason Wright Buyer

Open Quote One of my favourite comic book adaptions and the best Batman film by a long stretch - such anticipation for the next
installment! Close Quote

Blue Planet

"You have to appreciate the work that goes in to making such a detailed and visually stunning documentary. It never fails to surprise me how little we know about the world we live in. And who doesn't love a bit of David Attendorough?"

High Fidelity

"The first film that made me really take note of John Cusack. Some brilliant and funny banter between his and Jack Blacks' characters that's full of memorable quotes."

Animal Kingdom

"Animal Kingdom definitely took me out of my comfort zone, but some powerful and gripping performances make this a top film. One of many to come out of Australian cinema over the last year."

Attack the Block (Available from 19 February)

"A mix of comedy, action, horror and sci-fi all set in on a South London estate - it's definately one of the best British films I've seen for a long time."

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Rich Turner Digital Content Assistant

Open Quote Up there with Holden Caulfield, Oliver Tate is destined to join the ranks of iconic misunderstood teen heroes. A superb directorial debut from Richard Ayoade. Close Quote