Netflix Gems

“The Giant Mechanical Man”

I’ve established my love for romantic movies, and I don’t think I am quite ready to apologize for it. Cinema has such a proclivity for showcasing relationships of every form, whether it is a serious, artsy drama or a sloppy, romantic comedy that I hate myself for loving, and I get suckered into enjoying all of it, the good and the bad.

This being said, “The Giant Mechanical Man” falls between those two categories, delivering poignant and absurdly awkward moments in subsequent breaths.

The story unfolds around Tim (Chris Messina) and Janice (Jenna Fischer), two near-thirty year olds trying to make sense of where they fit in the world. Janice isn’t quite sure of her passion, dallying between temporary jobs. With no money, she eventually has to give up her apartment and live with her know-it-all sister.

Tim, however, knows his passion exactly. He is a street performer. He wears a big suit, walks on stilts and paints himself silver, calling himself the Giant Mechanical Man.

After deciding they need to take a deep breath and start over, both Tim and Janice go in search of a job at the zoo, thus setting up the perfect circumstance for our wayward spirits to meet and fall in love. The chemistry between both the characters and the actors is fun to watch. Messina’s bedroom voice and Fischer’s girl-next-door lovability really is a sweet match.

Other notes: Yes, Topher Grace plays a part, and he is very ... Topher Grace. The montage shots of Tim in his apartment are lovely (as is he). Director and writer Lee Kirk is Jenna Fischer’s husband.

Favorite moment: Janice gets fired up and attacks someone at the zoo for harassing the monkeys.

“Last Night”

I was thrilled to find “Last Night” had reappeared on Netflix. The entire concept of Netflix gems stemmed from my experience in finding this movie on Netflix a couple of years ago. It is the sort of film I always hope to find when skimming through titles.

“Last Night” opens delicately, scenes cutting between Joanna and Michael (Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington) in the back of a cab, going out to Michael’s office party and coming home. There is an obvious tension between them (probably due to Worthington’s even expressions and reserved acting), and Joanna does not seem to be happy with her husband.

The first part of the plot is revealed during the office party; Joanna sees Michael on the balcony with a woman named Laura (Eva Mendes). Joanna accuses him of cheating once they get home, as Michael has kept Laura’s beauty mysteriously mum. Not only that, Michael is going on a business trip with this woman for a few days the next morning.

The second half of the plot – and frankly, the more interesting part — begins the very morning Michael leaves town, when Joanna’s ex-boyfriend Alex (Guillaume Canet) shows up for only one night, asking Joanna to dinner.

“Last Night” centers around Jo and Alex’s monumental past relationship and Michael and Laura’s sexual tension, both sides trying to decide whether they will act on it. The film is beautifully shot, written and acted and I immediately bought it when it was first removed from Netflix.

Favorite scene: The first time we meet Alex, he has a smile that I instantly fell in love with. Any scene between Jo and Alex is gorgeous.