Netflix Pix for September

1. The Assets

An 8 Part Television Mini-Series based on the book Circle of Treason by Sandra Grimes which chronicles the career and capture of infamous Cold War CIA traitor Aldrich Ames. For those of you that like a good Cold War espionage tale, this is it. It is very much in the vein of previous TV spy mini-series like The Company, based on Robert Littell’s outstanding book by the same name (There is also a series currently running on TNT called Legends that is based on a book by Littell). Assets is well written and produced, and like any good spy movie, throws you a few curve-balls here and there to keep things interesting. For instance, the numerous “dangles” (false assets) and various schemes (violating embassy security) the KGB pulled just to tie up CIA resources in an attempt to protect Ames and prevent him from being discovered by the CIA was amazing. FYI: Just to warn you, the series flashes back pretty consistently in time and location, so you have to watch carefully for the time stamps or you will get lost in a hurry!

2. K-19: The Widow Maker

Next to the Hunt for Red October, this is one of the best Cold War-era Submarine movies ever made. It really should come as no surprise, since you have Kathryn Bigelow directing (She did the Hurt Locker, and Zero Dark Thirty to name a couple) and an all star cast including Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson. The authenticity of the movie is incredible. Set in in the early days of the Cold War and Nuclear Technology (1961). The Movie chronicles the tragic voyage of the Soviet Unions first Ballistic Missile Nuclear Submarine. To go any further would spoil the movie, suffice to say if you like Military movies set during the Cold War, this one is a classic!

3. The Battle for Haditha

Every War has some terrible tale of outright murder of “innocent” civilians by American Soldiers: In Vietnam it was the My Lai Massacre, in Iraq, it was the Haditha Killings. This movie is gritty, raw and pulls no punches. And although a majority of war films are tainted with liberal bias, this one honestly attempts to show all sides of this story,  including the soldiers side, which is more complex than most people think, as War always is.

4.  The Unknown Known

Every month Netflix does not disappoint on a good selection of documentaries, and September is no different. The Unknown Known chronicles the career of former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld from 2001 to 2006. No matter your feelings on the man or the decisions he made during one of the most trying time in our nation’s history, watching this documentary will help you get a clearer picture on the HOW and WHY of some of the decisions that were made after 9/11 in Afghanistan and Iraq.

5. Ken Burns: Prohibition

For those of you out there like me who are Boardwalk Empire Fans, this documentary will be right up your alley. Consisting of 3 episodes, each over an hour and half long, this documentary is definitely not casual entertainment. But after watching it, you will have new found respect for a period of our nations history that was as confusing as it was bloody.

6. Deadly Code

Based on the book Siberian Education by Nicolai Lilin, this is one those “diamond in the rough independent movies” that most of us would have missed it if had not been for Netflix. Starring John Malkovich, it chronicles the dangerous and confusing life of a young man in the Russian Criminal Underworld. I came across this story by accident after a friend recommended  another book by Lilin, Sniper: A Novel, which chronicles the authors time in the Russian Special Forces during the Chechen Wars in the late nineties. I was blown away by the book, so after finishing it, searched out others by Lillin. Do yourself a favor, read both of Lilin’s books and watch the movie, afterwards, you will come away with a new perspective on the Russians, their military and their culture.

Coming Attractions:

• Kevin Costners Shoot em’ Up Thriller 3 Days to Kill on Sept. 17th
• Defiance, the amazing true tale of the Bielski “Otriad” and how they rescued over 1,000 jews and fought the Germans with Guerilla Warfare in WW2 Belarus.Stars Daniel Craig Liev Schreiber. Sept.18th
• For you Walking Dead Fans, The Last and Final Season 4 will be available to stream September 28th
• Killing them Softly starring Brad Pitt will be available Sept. 30th (Based on the book Cogans Trade, which was waaay better than this movie if you ask me!)