Netflix Flicks Worth your Time

Even with the recent Announcement that Netflix is yet again raising it’s monthly rate of $7.99 to $8.99 for new members, (current members get their current rate of $7.99 locked for 2 years) I still feel that a lot of you out there (me included) will continue their subscription.

In that case, here are a few movies the CO should check out if they have not already:

 

• Flame and Citron

No, this is not some weird foreign documentary on cross-dressing midgets. This is the astounding TRUE story of two actual members of the Danish Resistance (the Holger Danske) in World War 2. Read a short, informative history HERE.  A word of caution: It is sub-titled, but I assure you the realism and action throughout the film will more than make up for it; Lots of cool WW2 era weapons too. If you are like me, when you watch this movie, you will find something really gratifying about watching people grow a set of balls and take up for their homeland and their beliefs, no matter the cost. Something ALL Americans can learn from at this time in our History….

• Che 

As in Che Guevera, the marxist guerilla who helped Fidel Castro in the Cuban Revolution. Yeah, I know, I hate the guy too, and like all of you got really tired and pissed off seeing teenagers wearing shirts idolizing the asshole like he was some kind of rockstar.

The Director, Steven Soderbergh, who did films like Contagion, Oceans 11 and Traffic, does not seek to glamorize the life of Guevera in this film however, but rather show the rough and hard life of a Marxist Guerilla Insurgent during the throws of the Cold War. The show has relevancy for the CO to study also because it shows the in’s and out’s of Guerilla Warfare and Counter-Insurgency at the same time. You get a real feel for the tactics and the politics from both sides. It also parallels really well that what worked for Castro and Guevera in Cuba failed miserably in Bolivia where Che was ultimately cornered and killed with the help of the CIA. Word of warning: Most of the film is sub-titled, as Spanish is spoken throughout.

• Carlos

Yeah, I know what you are thinking..”Wow, this guy really likes foreign history films!” since all of my picks so far have been obviously made across the pond, deal with subject that happened decades ago and involve people other than Americans! The key is though, and I have discovered this over the years: Don’t knock them until you have really tried them! Take this movie: Carlos, about the notorious terrorist, Carlos the Jackal. This movie is awesome if you want to learn about the european and middle eastern state sponsored terrorism of the 70’s. Plus, along the way, learn how the Urban Guerilla movement of the 70’s evolved. It is spot on historically accurate and is packed with plenty of gun play and action throughout. The coolest thing about this movie to me was that again, it did not seek to glamorize Carlos, but show him for what he truly was: an egotistical, arrogant coward. OhYeah, almost forgot..like the other two, most of the movie is sub-titled, so be warned!!!

 

• The Wind that Shakes the Barley

The story of the early beginnings of the Irish Resistance against the British in 1919 Ireland. The story revolves around the County Cork Brothers, who both join the IRA early on and then later, wind up fighting each other in the Irish Civil War. This is a very interesting and in-depth story about not only the IRA but the history of Ireland as a whole. It is fascinating to see a group of men literally change the course of history by their actions. Good news on this one..No subtitles!!

 

• The Man Nobody Knew: In Search of my Father, CIA Spymaster William Colby

I will warn you ahead of time, if biographical type documentaries are not your thing, you might not like this one. For me, it touches on two of my favorite subjects: The CIA and the Cold War. It is directed by Colby’s son, and the entire theme of the movie is him basically interviewing various people, including his mother, extensively trying to find out more about his dad, former CIA Director William Colby. It touches on Colby’s early time in the OSS, then on to his early career in the newly formed CIA. What I found most interesting, was Colby’s first assignment in Italy right after WW2, when the order of the day was stopping the Italian Communist Party from gaining power. Most people do not realize how close Italy came to becoming a full blown Communist state and by consequence, a Soviet pawn. You can thank Bill Colby for that little known early cold war victory. The latter part goes into the CIA “Witch-hunt” Senate Inquiries of the 70’s that would eventually run Colby out of the CIA. This one is worth your time!