Instant Fix: Jackie’s Netflix Top 5
Caelyn was right, sometimes Netflix does take over my life. And sometimes, it’s in a really good way:
5) Bill Cunningham New York
If you’ve ever perused the Style section of the New York Times, you may recognize the name Bill Cunningham from his “On the Street” column. This documentary gives a peek into his fascinating life: he lives in Carnegie Hall (in an apartment without its own bathroom or kitchen), is tremendously frugal, and has incredibly strong convictions about how to do his work, which has allowed him to forge his own path in the fashion community and still be wildly adored by everyone. Seriously, just watch this and then tell me you don’t find him completely endearing.
4) Cruel Intentions
Admittedly, I had no idea this was available on Netflix Instant until I started to hunt around the website for this list. Regardless, this movie is a ridiculously amazing 90s classic. It centers around step-siblings Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe)—who have a totally creepy sexually-charged relationship—and the other high school students who get caught up in their games. It has sex, drugs, death, bad dialogue, and 90s music. What more could you want? It’s definitely bad, but in the best way.
3) Dragon Tattoo Trilogy: Extended Edition
If you missed the Dragon Tattoo Trilogy books, then where have you been? I won’t bother to belabor the plot points, because if you don’t know the basis for the story, then seriously, where have you been? This Swedish movie adaptation is one of the better book to movie translations I can remember, and the extended edition breaks each book into two parts, making it feel more like a mini-series (or one 9-hour movie if you happened to start this in the middle of the 4-day streak of 100+ degree weather and then couldn’t.stop.watching, but what were you going to do anyway?). Not only is it a gripping and unpredictable story, but I think many of the themes translate quite well to “real world” issues.
2) Arranged
This movie follows two young women, one an Orthodox Jew and the other Muslim, trying to define their identities as 21st century women who adhere to strict religious beliefs. They are both employees at a New York City public school, and bond over their outsider status and discovery that they both are going through the process of an arranged marriage. A wonderful film that I’ve gone back to watch more than once.
1) Friday Night Lights
Yes, this TV show is about a high school football team in Texas. I didn’t think it was for me either. But then I watched the first episode, got hooked, and subsequently have no regrets, except having to come to terms with the fact that Tim Riggins and Tami Taylor aren’t real people. It’s a cruel world we live in. Possibly my favorite show ever.
Inter.gazing 
Arranged! I must watch that.
Bill Cunningham is fantastic! I tell people about this and they never watch it, it is nice to hear that I am not the only one who has enjoyed this underrated documentary.