5 worthy Prime Video movies to watch this week (February 16

This week is your last chance to recommend a movie for Valentine’s Day, you know, in case you’re feeling nostalgic and such. There’s still time to pamper yourself and settle in for some “vacation” romance, and you can do just that with my recommended 2016 Oscar winner.

Also on the list are a feel-good sports comedy based on a true story, a sexy Southern Gothic thriller that turns into a nightmare, one of my favorite comedic crime dramas, and a historical action-adventure film inspired by true events. It’s time to relax with binge-worthy movies on Amazon Prime Video.

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The The Earth

In case you’re heading into your Valentine’s Day week and looking to keep the momentum going, I bring you one of the most romantic musicals of the century, The The Earth.

Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone star as Sebastian and Mia, a couple inexplicably brought together by their shared desire to do what they love most in the world, who flourish in their respective mediums as artists. He’s a jazz pianist. She is an aspiring actress. Both are talented, and when their careers take off, they face a heartbreaking dilemma that frays the fragile fabric of their love story and threatens to tear them apart.

The The Earth enjoyed immense popularity upon its release, thanks to its enchanting blend of nostalgic Hollywood musical glamor and a modern, bittersweet story about achieving your dreams in the face of love. The music is catchy, the visuals are breathtaking, and the chemistry between Gosling and Stone is undeniably electric.

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The next goal wins

The next goal wins is a sports comedy based on the true story of the American Samoa football team. The cast includes Michael Fassbender, Elisabeth Moss, Luke Hemsworth, Kaitlyn Dever, Rhys Darby and Will Arnett.

Known for their brutal 2001 FIFA match against Australia, where they lost 31-0, the American Samoa soccer team was known for being the worst and lowest-ranked in the world. Years later, with the 2014 World Cup qualifiers approaching, the team looks to rebuild and hires disgraced Dutch-American coach Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender) in the hopes that the maverick has what it takes to make them winners.

Directed, co-written and produced by Taika Waititi, who also plays a small role as an on-screen preacher, the film notably stars Jaiya Saelua, the first openly non-binary person to participate in a World Cup qualifying match. That aspect alone is enough to attract attention, but what’s also great about this film is its ability to capture the resilience and cultural spirit of the team in the face of adversity.

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The seduced

A psychological horror thriller set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, The seduced is based on the 1966 novel by Thomas P. Cullinan and is written and directed by Sofia Coppola. Kirsten Dunst, Nicole Kidman, Elle Fanning and Colin Farrell star.

After suffering a serious leg injury, Union soldier Cpl. John McBurney (Farrell) is forced to flee as a deserter. When he seeks refuge at an unsuspecting, all-female Southern boarding school, the teachers and students are more than willing to offer help. However, it’s not long before sexual tensions lead to dangerous rivalries as jealousy and betrayals abound, with each fighting to provide their own brand of comfort and companionship.

The Southern Gothic tale leads to a violent, scintillating fall as the hidden desires and resentments of a horde of sheltered women explode. In the film’s thematic exploration of power, desire, isolation, and manipulation from a female perspective, it also focuses on the experiences of women who turn a man’s fantasy into a female-centric nightmare of epic proportions.

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Bandits

I owned Bandits since its release on DVD decades ago, and it’s still one of my favorite films to this day. The two-time Golden Globe nominee is wildly entertaining, never missing a beat, performance or execution. It also features a fabulous dynamic between lead stars Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton.

After a brazen escape from prison, Joe (Willis) and Terry (Thornton) become an unlikely pair of fugitives who, to finance their new life south of the border, embark on a non-violent bank robbery by sleeping at the bank manager’s house before the heist. As such, the media nicknames them “the sleepover bandits” and they become a sensation for their kindness. Their efforts become complicated after a breathless, depressed housewife (Cate Blanchett) hits the hypochondriac and anxious Terry with her car. Enamored of their life of crime, she joins the bandits on their cross-country spree and ends up stealing their hearts in the process.

The film is entertaining and intelligent, with a charming and engaging plot and strong performances, particularly from Thornton. It also offers a unique take on the heist genre and makes for an enjoyable ride from start to finish. In fact, I’d be willing to bet that once it’s finished, you’ll see it again within 24 hours. It’s a true gem and one of the most underrated films of the century.

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The woman king

Boasting a well-deserved 94% Rotten Tomatoes score, The woman king is a fictional historical drama telling the remarkable true story of the Agojie, an all-female military unit that protected the West African kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s.

Viola Davis plays Nanisca, a battle-hardened general who boldly trains the next generation of warriors to fight against the rival Oyo Empire, European slavers and internal threats, all determined to destroy their way of life. The female warriors are equipped with staves, machetes and crazy fighting skills including a mix of jiu-jitsu, Chinese Wushu and the Filipino knife fighting style known as Kali.

Davis gives an awards-worthy performance, full of intensity as the female king, and the action scenes are so well choreographed that it’s as if you’re watching them unfold in real time. Additionally, the film features stunning visuals that celebrate female strength and empowerment, sisterhood and resilience while challenging conventional historical drama narratives.

If you’re looking for something extra to add to your week, be sure to browse Prime Video’s plethora of awesome documentaries.

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