When a review includes the word “depressing” in the title, it's rarely a good sign, and that's exactly what Polygon's review of the Netflix heist movie says. Raise starts with. Instead of soaring like an eagle, the film “sinks like a stone.” The trailer suggested that Kevin Hart's actioner could be Ocean's Eleven on a plane, but many critics seem to believe that it has a hard time taking off.
Empire gave it only two out of five stars, praising Gugu Mbatha-Raw's superb athletic skills and flashy special effects, but unimpressed by a lifeless script. IGN says it's “extremely unremarkable,” while The Guardian says it's a “boring heist movie.”
So what can you watch on the best streaming services if you're craving smart, fun action? I'm glad you asked. Here are three hugely entertaining crime adventures that you will love to watch or re-watch even more.
The good boys
I love this movie very much. It's a shining example of the buddy movie done right, an odd couple caper that's entertaining from the first scene to the enjoyable conclusion. Ryan Gosling's job is as a private investigator, and he teams up with tough enforcer Russell Crowe to investigate a murder and a missing girl. It's a lot of fun, as you'd expect from a film written by Shane Black, but it's also a magnificent thriller, a film noir that's as tough as it is hilarious. Think Los Angeles Confidential with laughter
Available to stream on Netflix in the United States and Australia, and MGM in the United Kingdom.
Jackie Brown
For many critics, this is Quentin Tarantino's most entertaining film. Famous and sadly missed film critic Roger Ebert has called it the director's “masterpiece,” featuring a wonderful performance by '70s screen goddess Pam Grier, as well as unusual roles for Robert De Niro and Bridget Fonda. . It is a real marvel, it is well written and very intelligent. As Ebert put it: “Tarantino leaves the toughest questions for last, hides his moves, hides his strategies in plain sight, and gives his characters lively, authentic, spontaneous dialogue… He wanted these characters to live, to talk, to deceive.” “. and he plans for hours and hours.”
Available to stream on Netflix in the US, Freevee in the UK and Stan in Australia.
The blues brothers
Even if you don't know the story, you know the look: black suits, pork pie hats, and dark sunglasses. It's ridiculously over-the-top, often very silly, and the plot doesn't really hold up to much scrutiny, but John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, the best of his career, make it a lot of fun from start to finish. It's one of the great American comedies, possibly also Saturday Night Live's best movie, and while it shows its age a bit, you'll forgive almost anything for its magnificent soundtrack. Beat him!
Available to stream on Netflix in the US and Paramount Plus in Australia.
