movies

The two Netflix movies you need to see if you think it's too late to change your life.

 

Most of us have been there; it’s the end of the year, you’re exhausted, a little overwhelmed by the intensity of all the social activities, and everyone asks you how your year has been.

Ugh.

If you’ve had one of those years which have been a little lack lustre – or even downright terrible – such a question can mess with your head, leaving you feeling a little hopeless about the year to come. We get it, but don’t be so hard on yourself.

Don’t ever lose hope, because, as the New Radicals sang, you’ve got the music in you. And as our own Kylie sang, it’s never too late, you’ve still got time.

If you don’t believe our excellent lyrical references, there’s two recently-added films on Netflix that will show you what we mean.

Love, Rosie, and Hello, My Name is Doris, are two feel-good movies about how life may not always go according to plan – but it’s never too late for your dreams to come true. These movies will shine light on what you have within – we promise.

Love, Rosie.

I won’t lie and pretend Love, Rosie is an epic masterpiece that spans generations and one couple’s love for each other akin to Gone With the Wind – it’s a lot sweeter, and far less brutal, than that. A 2014 film, it’s come later to Netflix – but better late than never.

Since the moment they met at age 5, Rosie (Lily Collins) and Alex (Sam Claflin) have been best friends, facing the vicissitudes of life, together.  There’s a drunken kiss, loads of sexual tension, missed opportunities for love and in career, and polar opposite lifestyles – in polar opposite parts of the world.

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Yes, it’s a highly-predictable movie, with the tough issues such as teen pregnancy and being a young single parent sugar-coated – and that’s fair enough. We all know the realities of that.

We didn’t come here for that.

What we want to watch is two very endearing characters making loads of mistakes, c**king things up time and time again – but finally getting it together a decade or so later. Both Alex and Rosie find themselves in a position were they’ve made their professional dreams come true – and the final piece is making it happen with each other.

Which, of course, they do, proving it’s never too late; as long as you don’t give up.

That’s the stuff that gives us hope, and you’ll end the movie feeling all the feels – with a renewed inspiration for your own dreams.

Hello, My Name is Doris.

Sally Field is a god damn superstar in this film. Trust me, audiences have not seen a character as refreshing, unique and inspiring as Doris for a long time. Yep, it’s been a drought, and you’ll drink up Sally Field’s performance like a long drink of water.

And not just because she is a 60-something year-old woman, who develops a crush on – and deep friendship with – a much younger colleague (played by the super cute Max Greenfield from New Girl).

Hello, My Name is Doris, made in 2015, is a little more cerebral than Love, Rosie – but that doesn’t mean it’s hard work. It’s light, witty, clever and poignant; and tells the story of Doris, an eccentric woman who knows herself, and understands life, much better than people give her credit for.

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Doris, quite simply, refuses to be the person other people think she is – and it is an utter joy to watch.

In fact, Doris is a role model for everyone woman: she has the confidence to express herself with an non-typical fashion. She has the courage to go after what she wants. And, much to the surprise of the people around her, she knows how to stand up for herself, take responsibility for her own mistakes, but also absolutely refuse to be gaslighted.

The best thing is she DGAF (doesn’t give a F**k) what anyone thinks.

She won’t be labelled. She won’t be ‘boxed in’. And she won’t adhere to your perception of her.

Doris is a champion DGAF-er; she nails one that very important lesson in life. You’ll consider yourself well and truly schooled in it, after you watch her bad-assery in this movie.

I won’t give anything  away, but I will say this: the ending is as unexpected as the rest of the film.

Brace yourselves for Doris, and enjoy.

If you’d like to hear more from Nama Winston, check out her stories, and subscribe to her weekly newsletter here.