As we are all stuck at home self-quarantining (thanks, covid19), I thought I would make a recommended list of things to watch when totally bored out of one’s mind. Rather than make super serious arguments as to why YOU (as my student/my friend/my blood kin/a fellow lover of the cinema and TV box) MUST WATCH the titles below, I thought I would ditch the pompous professor hat and don another complete with quippy contentions. Without further ado, here is “Rox Recommends: The Netflix Edition”:

I’ve divided them into entrees and appetizers or (really) classics and new finds.

Classics

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Best Ang Lee.

Ex Machina

Because all dystopian science fiction should include femme fatales and dance parties.

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner

The Get Out of the 1960s, starring Sidney Poitier, Katherine Hepburn,  and Spencer Tracy.

Gilmore Girls

Smart women who talk fast—what more does one want from a Y2K coming of age TV series?

Goodfellas

Best Scorsese.

Moonlight

Most deserving Best Picture winner ever.

 Obvious Child

Best romantic comedy of the 21st century, and, yes, it is a competition.

Paris Is Burning

Would there be queer culture without this film? It’s hard (and painful) to imagine.

The Talented Mr. Ripley

Queer murderers for the win. Matt Damon and Jude Law play chess in the bath.

Star Trek: The Original Series

It’s the original. Also, Leonard Nimoy.

 

(Relatively) New Finds

For the Love of Spock

In case anyone else needs a documentary investigation into the appeal and significance of Leonard Nimoy (see Star Trek above).

Jenny Slate: Stage Fright

Jenny Slate is a Genius (see Obvious Child above).

The Lobster

As if sex and romance weren’t weird enough, let’s set the stakes even higher.

Mindhunter

My favorite serial killer series.

Pose

Paris is Burning but for 21st century.

Schitt’s Creek

Worth watching for David’s sweaters alone.

Sense8

Because we could all use a utopian science fiction series about global connectivity right now.

Tiger King

Grizzly Man meets Grey Gardens.