By Coming 12 months after its initial release back in March 2020, Disney+ has finally added content from its Star platform in the UK – bringing movies and shows from the likes of 20th Century Fox, ABC and ESPN to the popular streaming service.
This section of Disney+ is intended for a more adult audience, and whilst the new update the sees the arrival of television fan favourites such as Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy and Lost, there was much speculation about which movies would make the cut from the huge back catalogue now available to Disney.
We’ve sieved through the newly uploaded content and – along with some more well-known classics like Braveheart, The Devil Wears Prada and Pretty Woman – we’ve selected five more films added to Disney+ this week that are well worth a watch.
5) Phone Booth
We’re starting our countdown today with a slick, claustrophobic thriller that’s bound to keep you on the edge of your seat. Stu Shephard (Colin Farrell) is a New York City publicist who finds his life in danger after he answers a ringing telephone from a nearby booth. He’s got a sniper (Kiefer Sutherland) watching over him – and any wrong move could see his life come to a drastic end.
Phone Booth makes brilliant use of its limited location, with the majority of the film taking place in the booth itself. It’s rare to see a film utilise such an idea so successfully, and Colin Farrell does an excellent job as the fast-talking publicist who needs to take a long hard look in the mirror and realise what’s important in his life.
Kiefer Sutherland also puts in a strong performance as the cold-blooded sniper watching from afar – and the simple concept makes for interesting viewing once the plot is set into motion. Phone Booth isn’t the most captivating thriller ever released, but it certainly ticks all the boxes and is worth the watch if you’re looking for something to keep you entertained for 90 minutes.
4) High Fidelity
A witty, fourth-wall breaking romantic-comedy which chronicles the past and present relationships of record store owner Rob (John Cusack), High Fidelity is based on the popular Nick Hornby novel of the same name. Although the film’s setting changes the location from London to Chicago, director Stephen Frears’ effort is still a faithful adaptation of Hornby’s work.
With a noteworthy supporting performance in an early role for Jack Black, the film isn’t your typical romantic comedy – looking more at the failures in past romances rather than the successes. Partnered with an eclectic soundtrack featuring the likes of The Kinks, Bob Dylan and The Velvet Underground, it’s no surprise to see such a variety of classic tunes in a film about a record store owner.
The film is a nostalgia-driven favourite for all music fans out there, and even managed to make it onto Empire magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Movies of All Time. Managing to be both hilarious and thought-provoking at times, High Fidelity succeeds in staying relatable to viewers through the charming intimacy of its narration – as you really do feel like you’re living through the character as a part of the movie yourself.
3) Ed Wood
Next we’re jumping from a film that all music fans should watch to a film that all movie fans should check out. As a collaboration between director Tim Burton and actor Johnny Depp, 1994’s Ed Wood is no doubt quirky and eccentric (as any project featuring those two together is bound to be) and has cemented its place as a cult classic since its release.
A biography of the infamous B-movie film director Edward D. Wood, Jr. (Johnny Depp), the story follows the young rising auteur as he goes on to create what critics deemed some of ‘the worst movies ever made’. It’s full of an oddball cast of characters, all based upon real Hollywood B-list celebrities who Wood associated himself with – featuring the likes of Bill Murray and Sarah Jessica Parker in secondary roles, as well as Martin Landau who took home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as faded Dracula star Bela Lugosi.
Ed Wood is a great blend of comedy and drama – and even more impressive considering the fact that it’s all true. One of Johnny Depp’s greatest performances, the film captures the essence of the life of a man who has gone down in Hollywood history as ‘the Worst Director of All-Time’.
2) Office Space
Office Space is the perfect film for anyone who has always wanted to stick their middle fingers up at their mundane 9 to 5 job. Mike Judge’s satirical comedy is set in the office of a software company and follows the workers there as they plan to plant a virus to get even with their boss Bill Lumbergh for making their lives so monotonous.
Peter Gibbons (Ron Livingston) hates his job at Initech so much that he decides to see a hypnotherapist to try and help him relax enough just to get through the working day. The idea backfires and Peter is stuck in a state of tranquillity, which is when he hatches a plan for revenge along with his software engineer friends Michael and Samir.
Instantly quotable and relatable to all office workers, the film brings a strong cast with the likes of Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston and Gary Cole all in fine form. Office Space has its fair share of hilarious and memorable scenes, and it’s likely you’ll have an irrational fear of “the Mondays” after watching this cult classic.
1) The Grand Budapest Hotel
If we weren’t trying to limit this list to one film per director, we could have easily placed all four of Wes Anderson’s films added to Disney+ this week on here. As well as The Grand Budapest Hotel, there’s also The Darjeeling Limited, The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou and Rushmore which can now be found on the streaming service for your viewing pleasure – with the rest of the director’s catalogue still potentially to be added in the future.
The Grand Budapest Hotel is a real adventure in every sense of the word. Not only is it beautiful to look at (with some of the finest cinematography I’ve seen from a film) it also has a plot which manages to keep you thoroughly entertained throughout. The film follows hotel concierge M. Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) as he’s framed for murder and must go on the run with a recently befriended lobby boy (Tony Revolori) and face romance, assassins and prison along the way.
Wes Anderson’s most critically-acclaimed film to date, The Grand Budapest Hotel boasts an excellent ensemble cast with far too many famous faces to mention in a mere three paragraphs. Full of wonder and whimsy throughout, the film’s music, dialogue and colour palette are among the best around – making it the quintessential Wes Anderson flick and definitely one to feast your eyes upon now that it’s been added to Disney+.
Written by Josh Glover.
Recommend Me A Film 