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Remus Noronha
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Remus is a writer, editor, journalist, and author with an eye for detail and an extremely active imagination. He is an enthusiast of everything to do with the graphic medium, whether it's Western comics and their adaptations or manga and anime. Remus is also the author of the sci-fantasy novel Once Upon a Time in Hyperspace and several works of short fiction in the mystery, comedy, and horror genres.
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As any Netflix subscriber can attest, the streaming service’s expansive library is chock-full of interesting action movies. That includes many of the most acclaimed and popular action movies of the day — ones that are regularly ranked among the best of the genre. But hidden away within that deluge of movies from around the world, some great, hard-hitting actioners have become sadly forgotten.
Considering the sheer volume of action movies that are made around the world every year, it’s understandable that even truly spectacular films with immersive set pieces and well-written characters can get swept out of the limelight. But even though they may not be as widely discussed, that doesn’t mean they aren’t great. So, without further ado, here’s our handpicked selection of the best forgotten action movies that ought to be rediscovered on Netflix.
8 ‘Triple Frontier’ (2019)
Oscar Isaac and Ben Affleck as Redfly and Pope looking in the same direction in Triple Frontier.Image via Netflix
An action-adventure film directed by J.C. Chandor, who also co-wrote the movie with Mark Boal, Triple Frontier centers on a group of former U.S. Army Delta Force operators who reunite to plan a major heist targeting a drug lord in South America. What starts as a straightforward task becomes a high-stakes struggle for survival, as their internal conflicts, greed, and unexpected rivalries become their biggest roadblocks. The film boasts a stacked cast, with Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund, and Pedro Pascal as the Special Forces operators alongside Adria Arjona as an informant.
Part heist thriller, part military action movie, Triple Frontier packs a punch with solid action and a grungy tone, and is considered to be one of the best Netflix films of 2019. On its release, the film received generally positive reviews and has been praised for its ambitious story and well-performed characters, even though the narrative is not very crisp at every point. Overall, Triple Frontier is an entertaining and thrilling film, yet also an overlooked Netflix original that needs to be rediscovered.
7 ‘Source Code’ (2011)
Jake Gyllenhaal in Source Code.Image via Summit Entertainment
A sci-fi action thriller directed by Duncan Jones and written by Ben Ripley, Source Code follows Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal), a US Army officer of a highly classified military operation who is sent back in time in an eight-minute virtual recreation of a real-life train bombing and experiences the last few minutes of the explosion to find the identity of the bomber and prevent similar disasters in the future. As Colter sees the event through another man’s last moments, he is determined to stop the tragedy before he runs out of time. Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, and Jeffrey Wright star in supporting roles.
Source Code is a skillfully constructed film with intelligent writing and a tightly knit narrative, bolstered by the compelling performance of Gyllenhaal. Underneath its hard sci-fi plot, high-energy action design, and photorealistic visual effects, the film finds its heart in a human story, making it a highly satisfying film that draws genre fans across time. Upon its release, Source Code was well received by critics and fans alike, garnering several accolades, and is easily one of the best, most binge-worthy time loop films.
6 ‘Midnight Run’ (1988)
Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin in Midnight RunImage via Universal
Directed by Martin Brest and written by George Gallo, Midnight Run is a buddy action comedy that stars Robert De Niro as bounty hunter Jack Walsh, who is tasked with capturing mob accountant and wanted bail-jumper Jonathan Mardukas (Charles Grodin) and transporting him from New York to Los Angeles. What seems like a simple job for Jack turns into a maddening road trip when the mismatched duo finds themselves chased by the FBI, the mob, and a rival bounty hunter. Yaphet Kotto, John Ashton, Dennis Farina, and Joe Pantoliano feature in supporting roles.
Midnight Run is a perfect road trip film with buddy comedy and exciting action, elevated by the chemistry between De Niro’s ill-tempered bounty hunter and Grodin’s bumbling embezzler. The film finds De Niro in an atypical role, deviating from his crime noir characters of the '70s and the '80s. With consistently good comedic timing and music and anchored by strong performances, Midnight Run is a highly entertaining '80s hit that can still hold up in the eyes of modern genre fans. The movie earned several accolades, including a Golden Globe nomination for De Niro, and inspired the Midnight Run Action Pack television films of 1994.
5 ‘True Lies’ (1994)
Jamie Lee Curtis and Arnold Schwarzenegger as Helen and Harry Tasker, holding each other in True LiesImage via 20th Century Fox
Written and directed by James Cameron and based on the 1991 French crime comedy La Totale!, True Lies follows Harry Tasker (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a government agent who is struggling to balance his secret life as a spy and a dutiful husband and father. Things take a wild turn when his wife, Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis), a legal secretary frustrated with her boring job and family routine, seeks out excitement and gets involved in Harry’s dangerous missions. Tom Arnold, Bill Paxton, Art Malik, Tia Carrere, Eliza Dushku, and Charlton Heston also star in supporting roles.
True Lies is not only a defining action film of its time but also one of the most notable James Cameron films of the '90s. While it cannot be compared to Cameron’s other blockbusters, the movie is an absurd, fun, and frenetic action entertainer with good comedic timing and thrilling action pieces, anchored by Curtis and Schwarzenegger’s stellar screen chemistry. The film also established Schwarzenegger as a comedy actor, shifting his image from that of the quintessential action hero, and broke Curtis out of her scream queen mold. A major commercial and critical success, with several awards and nominations, True Lies remains an action classic, even though it isn’t quite as talked about as it used to be.
4 ‘Con Air’ (1993)
Nicolas Cage with long hair stands in front of an airplane and smiles and looks off camera in Con Air.Image via Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Directed by Simon West in his feature directorial debut, Con Air is a classic '90s action thriller that centers on a just-paroled army ranger, Cameron (Nicolas Cage), who is headed home aboard a JPATS (Justice Prisoner Air Transportation System) aircraft, aka Con Air, packed with some of the most dangerous criminals alive. When serial killer Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom (John Malkovich) hatches a violent prison break, Cameron and U.S. Marshall Vince Larkin (John Cusack) must work together to foil the plan. The star-studded cast also includes Steve Buscemi, Ving Rhames, Colm Meaney, Mykelti Williamson, Rachel Ticotin, Monica Potter, Dave Chappelle, M. C. Gainey, and Danny Trejo in supporting roles.
Con Air is one of those action thrillers that defined the '90s and is also considered one of Nicolas Cage’s most notable films; a must-watch for genre fans. On its release, the film became a huge box office success, even though reviews were mixed, with criticisms for the film’s inconsistency in narrative and direction. A mid-air thrill ride, Con Air has amassed a cult following ever since and is memorable for its extreme action sequences, stellar cast, and music, which earned the film nominations for two Academy Awards and a Grammy.
3 ‘Baby Driver’ (2017)
Ansel Elgort behind the wheel in Baby DriverImage via Sony Pictures
An action crime thriller directed by Edgar Wright and starring Ansel Elgort and Lily James, Baby Driver follows Miles (Elgort), a getaway driver nicknamed Baby, who signs up for one last job to clear his debts from crime lord, Doc (Kevin Spacey), and start a new life with his girlfriend, Debora (James). When the rest of the crew becomes volatile on the job, Baby is forced to rely only on the mastery of his skills and his favorite music to survive and save himself. The ensemble cast also features Jamie Foxx, Eiza González, Jon Bernthal, and Jon Hamm in supporting roles.
The character of Baby is an undoubtedly compelling one — a young man with a tragic history who finds strength, comfort, and escape in music that syncs with his driving. A fast-paced thriller, the film combines romance, action, drama, and crime in a unique way, elevated by symbolic music and color schemes. Baby Driver is easily one of Edgar Wright’s most notable works, highlighted by its brilliant use of the background score, which works as a narrative device rather than just accompaniment. Though it isn’t as talked-about anymore (likely due to the multiple scandals of its main cast members), the film earned multiple Oscar, BAFTA, and Grammy nominations in its day.
2 ‘Collateral’ (2004)
Image via DreamWorks Pictures
Directed by Michael Mann and starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx in leading roles, Collateral follows Max (Foxx), a cab driver in Los Angeles, who gets hired by Vincent (Cruise) and is offered an unusually high fare for driving him around across several locations in the city, to which he agrees. In no time, Max finds out that Vincent is a hitman on a contract killing spree and gets entangled in his deadly game, involving dangerous people and law enforcement. The supporting cast includes Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo, Peter Berg, Javier Bardem, and Bruce McGill.
Slick and stylish, Collateral is a great showcase of Mann’s signature direction style and delivers a hardcore action thriller story with excellent effects and smart dialogue. The film’s intelligent storytelling elevates it above the standard action films of its time and makes it a less-remembered 2000s movie that’s worth revisiting. The film redefined Jamie Foxx’s comedy image, putting him in a gritty role that helped establish him as a dramatic actor and earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
1 ‘In the Shadow of the Moon’ (2019)
Boyd Holbrook as Thomas holding up a picture in 'In the Shadow of the Moon' (2019)Image via Netflix
A sci-fi thriller directed by Jim Mickle, In the Shadow of the Moon follows the story of police officer Thomas “Locke” Lockhart (Boyd Holbrook), who begins tracking a serial killer who resurfaces every nine years. Set between 1988 and 2024, the film explores Lockhart’s endless obsession with the killer and his efforts to solve a crime that defies all scientific explanation, which derails his career, personal life, and even his sanity. The film’s ensemble cast also includes Michael C. Hall, Cleopatra Coleman, Bokeem Woodbine, Rudi Dharmalingam, and Rachel Keller in key roles.
Presented through the framework of a sci-fi conspiracy, In the Shadow of the Moon combines mystery, action, and horror in a high-energy story that equally surprises and thrills the audience with every watch. Intense and brazen in most parts, the film is fascinating in its storytelling, deviating in tone and style from typical action thrillers, and is further elevated by the compelling performances of Holbrook and Hall. Though sorely underrated, In the Shadow of the Moon is easily one of the best sci-fi films of 2019 and received generally positive reviews at the time of its release.
In the Shadow of the Moon
Like Follow Followed R Science Fiction Thriller Release Date September 27, 2019 Runtime 115 minutes Director Jim Mickle Writers Geoffrey Tock Producers Aaron Barnett, Linda Moran, Rene Bastian, Ben Pugh, Fred Berger, Rory Aitken, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Rian CahillCast
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