What to Watch This Quarantine: Uplifting Movies

As many of us are stuck indoors for extended periods of time, the only options for entertainment are streaming.  Luckily, we have you covered with a selection of themed movies.  This time, we are highlighting some uplifting movies to help raise everyone's spirits during quarantine.  

Always Be My Maybe (Netflix)
A charming romantic comedy featuring Ali Wong and Randall Park, this film has a great sense of humor, really fun characters, and real emotions.  It also is set in San Francisco, so this might be the only way you can see the city for a little bit.

Blinded By The Light (HBO)
Blinded By The Light is the inspiring true story about following one’s dreams and unlikely passions.  Our review said that “[t]hose hoping to chase their dreams should watch this and just might find a Reason to Believe.”  

East Side Sushi (Amazon)
This movie was previously on streaming but took a haitus.  It was recently added back and it is defintely worth a watch.  The film is a great underdog story about a working-class, single mother, who decides to take a job at a local Japanese restaurant and pursue a dream of becoming a sushi chef. 

The Intouchables (VUDU)
The movie is simply phenomenal. It was remade for America with Kevin Heart and Bryan Cranston, and although the remake is a fine film, the original is just phenomenal.  It tells the story of a wealthy paraplegic who takes a chance on a guy from the streets when he hires him as a caretaker. The two begin an interesting, funny, and wonderful friendship that grows throughout the movie.

The Kids Are All Right (Cinemax)
A wonderful, modern family drama follows a lesbian couple about to send their oldest daughter off to college.  However, a chain reaction of events tests the strength of this family.  

The Kings Speech (Showtime)
Starring Colin Firth as Prince Albert during the build up to World War II, this inspiring historical drama shows the Prince dealing with drama at home, a rising threat abroad, and conquering his own severe speech impediment.

Miracle (Disney+)
Need inspiration?  Look no further than inspirational sports movies.  Miracle tells the tale of a hard nosed hockey coach trying to mold the young men of the 1980 U.S. Hockey team.  With some truly inspiring performances in an equally inspiring story, this is a great one to turn on during this quarantine. 

Slumdog Millionaire (Cinemax)
A young man has the chance of a lifetime when he gets on the Indian version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."  The movie follows him on the show but also flashes back to his life, showing the harsh realities of his upbringing and how those experiences shaped him to be exactly where he was.  

The Upside (Showtime)
The American version of the fantastic French film, the Upside keeps almost everything that made The Intouchables such a phenomenal film.  Sure, it is not necessary, but if you haven't seen the original, just want to revisit this touching story, or would prefer English audio over subtitles, then give The Upside a watch.  

What to Watch This Weekend: August 16, 2019

In Theaters: Blinded By The Light
Blinded By The Light is the inspiring true story about following one’s dreams and unlikely passions.  Our review said that “[t]hose hoping to chase their dreams should watch this and just might find a Reason to Believe.”  

At Redbox: Avengers: Endgame
The culmination of this phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is finally available on disc and if you haven’t seen it, this is a good one.  It ties together innumerable story threads and perfectly tackles the unimaginable task of blending several distinct movie styles and very different characters into one coherent and amazing conclusion.  

Streaming (HBO): Widows

If you didn’t check out the Kitchen or did but want to see the movie that it is very similar to, check out Widows on HBO.  It is another strong female-drive crime film that shares many similarities with the recently released theatrical film.  

Streaming (Netflix): Ralph Breaks the Internet
The follow up to the strange, feel good movie Wreck-It Ralph, Ralph breaks the internet takes our friends to a whole new connected world.  It has some really funny moments involving culture today, as well as a very funny Disney sequence that should not be missed.  

Review: Blinded by the Light

Release date: August 14, 2019

Running time: 117 minutes

Starring:  Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Ganatra

Blinded By The Light—based on a true story—follows Javed, a young British-Pakistani aspiring writer as he grows up in the city of Luton, England. The movie follows the problems of a young Pakistani boy in the 1980s, from racism to vandalism and even physical and mental harm.  Javed uses his poetry as a means to escape from all of these negatives.  Javed is joined by his best friend Matt, who in his eyes has the perfect life: a wealthy family, a rock band, and a girlfriend.  Despite their very different personas, the two find common ground in Javed’s lyrics, which are inspired by the challenges he sees around him.  Javed eventually finds his way to university and fortuitously discovers the artist that will change his life.  

The story behind Blinded by the Light is filled with emotion, good music, and chasing your dreams.  Javed channels the lyrics of Bruce Springsteen’s music to find hope, courage, motivation, and a positive consciousness.  Javed idolizes Bruce and uses his music to fuel his own ambition.  

Blinded by the Light really pulls at the heart strings and should appeal to those who hope to follow their dreams. Bruce Springsteen’s lyrics not only provide an amazing soundtrack but a message of hope for the audience. Javed’s true story is inspiring and watching this film might make you a fan of The Boss whether you are familiar with his music or not. 

Blinded By the Light is an inspiring feel good movie following an unlikely fan finding inspiration and meaning in his life.  Those hoping to chase their dreams should watch this and just might find a Reason to Believe. 

Watch it.

Screening: BLINDED BY THE LIGHT

BLINDED BY THE LIGHT

In theaters August 16

https://www.blindedbythelight.movie/

Rated PG-13

From writer/director/producer Gurinder Chadha (“Bend It Like Beckham”) comes the inspirational drama “Blinded by the Light,” set to the music and lyrics of Bruce Springsteen’s timeless songs.

“Blinded by the Light” is a joyful story of courage, love, hope, family and the unique ability of music to lift the human spirit. The film tells the story of Javed, a British teen of Pakistani descent growing up in the town of Luton, England, in 1987. Amidst the racial and economic turmoil of the times, he writes poetry as a means to escape the intolerance of his hometown and the inflexibility of his traditional father. But when a classmate introduces him to the music of Bruce Springsteen, Javed sees parallels to his working-class life in the powerful lyrics. As Javed discovers a cathartic outlet for his own pent-up dreams, he also begins to find the courage to express himself in his own unique voice.

Inspired by a true story, based on Sarfraz Manzoor’s acclaimed memoir Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock N’ Roll, “Blinded by the Light” was directed by Gurinder Chadha from a screenplay written by Manzoor, Chadha and Paul Mayeda Berges. “Blinded by the Light” stars Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Ganatra, Nell Williams, Aaron Phagura, Hayley Atwell and Dean-Charles Chapman. The story is underscored by the music and poetic lyrics of Springsteen, who gave Chadha his blessing from the film’s inception.

Screening:

Thursday, August 8

7:00pm

AMC Mazza

5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC

Screening Link: http://www.wbtickets.com/wfCHC00488

As always, screenings are first-come, first-served so please arrive early to ensure you get a seat.

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