Stuck on what to stream this August? Unlike other lists, we’re on hand to recommend a variety of films for every mood, from tear-jerkers to trailblazers. Here are our picks for the best films to stream in the UK this month.
The Silver Screen Classic
The Sky’s The Limit (1943) dir. Edward H. Griffith
Perhaps one of the legendary Fred Astaire’s lesser-known hits, The Sky’s The Limit possesses all the zip, charm and colour you would expect from a classic musical romance. Astaire plays a fighter pilot who goes under the radar while taking some leave, and quickly falls in love with a beautiful photographer. Edward Griffith’s film is a definite shift for Astaire: one of the few chances he got during his time in Hollywood to test himself in a more serious role. It is also a unique Astaire flick in that he alone is credited for all of his dance numbers, when he ordinarily worked with choreographers. Perhaps for these reasons The Sky’s The Limit—despite its Oscar nominations—is not the most renowned of Astaire’s outings. And yet, given the challenges that the star tasked himself with, it is a stellar reminder of his irrefutable talent.
Available to stream on BBC iPlayer
The Underrated
Killing Gunther (2018) dir. Taran Killam
A predictable but still riotous spoof of hitman films, Killing Gunther follows a band of eccentric assassins as they try to bring down the best in the business: the elusive Gunther (Arnold Schwarzenegger). The only problem is that they have no idea where he is, and unknown to them Gunther is hatching a plan of his own. What follows is a hilarious DIY-style action comedy that shows the merits of getting the basics of character dynamics spot on. And if you’re still not convinced, you get to see Schwarzenegger in one of his most outlandish outings. The role that sees him wear a number of ridiculous disguises, record a country album, and happily make fun of his own films. Schwarzenegger, effectively playing a caricature of himself, absolutely brims with charm and self-awareness. This comedic performance alone makes the film worth watching.
Available to stream on Amazon Prime
The Underseen
Don’t Cry, Pretty Girls! (1970) dir. Márta Mészáros
A film capturing a seminal moment of change in Hungarian society, Don’t Cry, Pretty Girls! only received its UK premiere last year. After their factory shift has ended, a close-knit group of young men and women indulge themselves in drinking, sex, and live music, while tensions running hot within the group threaten to boil over into violence. A story of young love led by its women characters, it is a strange but pitch-perfect blend of heartfelt romance and an often grey depiction of existence prior to the Soviet Union’s collapse. It chronicles progressive change in society and public opinion, summarised most aptly by an in-film band called Metro (unavoidably comparable to The Beatles). Mészáros’ grounded, honest story is not the stand out film of her accomplished career, but is still a historical chronicle worthy of discovery and attention.
Available to stream on MUBI
The Foreign Language Gem
Akira (1988) dir. Katsuhiro Otomo
One of the most highly-regarded Japanese films ever released, Akira got a 4K re-release in cinemas last year which reminded audiences why this cult classic heralded a new popularity wave for anime outside of Asia. Even those who haven’t seen the film would likely recognise the iconic poster, one of the very best made for any film from the past few decades. Incessantly stylish, intelligent and bewildering, this landmark of adult animation has drawn comparisons to Blade Runner and 2001: A Space Odyssey. Yet such is the uniqueness at the film’s heart that Akira truly needs to be seen to be believed. As deadpan, dystopian depictions of the future go, Otomo’s timeless cyberpunk flick proved to be a gigantic leap forward both the genre and the medium. It even predicted that the 2020 Olympics would be held in Tokyo.
Available to stream on Netflix
The Tearjerker
Whale Rider (2002) dir. Niki Caro
Based on Māori author Witi Ihimaera’s novel and made with his blessing, Whale Rider is a textbook example of how to wind universal themes into a story that is rooted in cultural, philosophical and historical specificity. Twelve-year old Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes) wants to become the chief of her tribe, a role that her grandfather believes should only go to male heirs. The bare bones may sound overly simplistic, but Whale Rider is a deeply emotional story that blends together an equal reverence for origins and change, incorporating fantastical elements into a story that challenges and celebrates the nature of family. Tradition is not only embraced, but woven gracefully into the subtext of this sensationally moving story of adolescence and transformation. It is a film that nourishes you when you need it most, and the tears running down your face will only ever be ones of overriding joy.
Available to stream on Amazon Prime
The Feel-Good
The Mitchells Vs. The Machines (2021) dir. Mike Rianda & Jeff Rowe
One of those rare films where the trailer does it no justice, The Mitchells vs. The Machines has raised the bar for what animation is capable of when it comes to technical proficiency, humour and style. But what assures its place as a modern classic is the empowering, uplifting heart at the core of the story. The dynamic between Katie and her father Rick doesn’t fall into a predictable ‘she’s right, he’s wrong’ scenario akin to Brave. Instead, it is a finely balanced presentation of their differences and how they somehow manage to find a reconciliation. And when it comes—even amidst a robot armageddon—it is as much worthy of a fist pump as it is a happy cry. As satisfying and zany as they come, Riana and Rowe’s film is brimming with a love and affection for self-proclaimed weirdos that shines through in almost every single frame.
Available to stream on Netflix
The Trailblazing
Queen & Slim (2019) dir. Melina Matsoukas
Several standout films about police brutality against people of colour have been made in recent years, from Blindspotting to The Hate U Give. But few feel revolutionary in both content and presentation quite like Queen & Slim. Melina Matsoukas’ emotionally and politically charged road trip movie is at once a powerful indictment of race relations in modern America and a much broader story of fate and circumstance. Lena Waithe’s outstanding script is brought to life with colour, majesty and energy by Matsoukas, who also gets fantastic performances out of Jodie Turner-Smith and the Oscar-winner Daniel Kaluuya. It basks in the glory of the American landscape while not shying away from its darker underbelly, culminating in a heartbreaking ending which will stay with you long after the film comes to a close.
Available to stream on Amazon Prime
The Transgressive
Love Exposure (2008) dir. Sion Sono
Sion Sono’s magnum opus is one of the most notorious, unbelievable films to ever emerge from world cinema. At a marathon four hours long, Love Exposure is a x-rated, artistic odyssey of religion, pornography and lust. The film manages to switch between humour, lewdness and heightened violence without missing any beats, although frequently leaving you in shock at what has just happened. What starts off as a story of a lonely Japanese teenager with daddy issues morphs into something far more twisted, subversive and damning. A triangle of love, bloodshed and religious guilt fuels the demented core of Love Exposure, culminating in a film that thrives off perversion. Like so many great cinematic achievements, it irreversibly challenges ideas of what you should and shouldn’t see on the big screen, mocking censorship and conservatism in a manner you will never be able to forget.
Available to stream on BFI Player
Words by James Hanton
Read more:
- Films To Stream In The UK In July 2021
- Films To Stream In The UK In June 2021
- Films To Stream In The UK In May 2021
- Films To Stream In The UK In April 2021
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