This would be one of my picks for best movie of the year on Netflix. The three actresses in the lead roles are superb, with Natasha Lyonne always being a personal favourite. This bittersweet and often funny story tells of an elderly patriarch and the three grown daughters who come to be with him in his final days. Katie is a controlling Brooklyn mother dealing with a wayward teenage daughter; free-spirited Christina is a different kind of mom, separated from her offspring for the first time; and Rachel is a sports-betting stoner who has never left her father’s apartment. A truly excellent production.

This is a riveting production, but hard to watch at the same time. I personally became angrier as the story evolved due to the injustice and police corruption when it comes to African Americans. Aaron Pierre is excellent as Terry, an ex Marine on his way to bail out his cousin from jail who finds himself pushed against the wall by a high handed and crooked chief of police. He then has no option but to confront the cop and despite strong resistance he fights his way out to complete his mission. Don Johnson is convincingly menacing as Chief Sandy Burnne.

Divorce has many aspects, but laughter isn’t usually one of them. This light-hearted Polish comedy drama takes a different slant. Malgosia and Jacek, who had separated a long time back, but they did not nullify their marriage in the church court. Jacek’s fiancée wanted a white wedding, and for the church to approve his second marriage, he had to divorce Malgosia first. But getting the church to approve a nullification of marriage was not a piece of cake. So, it’s off to court they go, again and again.

In this emotional drama from Poland, Jedrzej is a promising young boxer, afraid of repeating his father’s mistakes. He flees communist Poland to pursue his dream of becoming the greatest fighter in history. With only his wife in his corner, the man quickly realises that the fight for his dream will be more complicated than he thought. After months of struggling with the hardships of being an immigrant, the Polish boxer agrees to participate in a fixed match that will change his life forever.

The Deliverance is inspired by the true story of Latoya Ammons and her family who lived in a haunted Indiana home, which was widely covered at the time. Ammons and her three children experienced strange incidents in their Gary, Indiana home that grew progressively worse: the children were levitating, becoming violent with one another, and speaking in deep growls with no recollection afterward. Sceptics abounded, but the Gary Police Department, Department of Child Services, and the local church and hospital all became involved, filing reports that took the supernatural occurrences seriously.

If Woody Harrelson is in it, I’ll watch it. Love that man. This story follows the untold story of the legendary detectives who brought down Bonnie and Clyde. When the full force of the FBI and the latest forensic technology aren’t enough to capture the nation’s most notorious criminals, two former Texas Rangers must rely on their gut instincts and old school skills to get the job done.

There are many excellent documentaries on Netflix. I always like to include a few in these lists. As many fans will know, to quote Bill Shankly, “Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it’s much more serious than that.”  On July 11, 2021, Wembley Stadium was on the brink of a historic win for Gareth Southgate’s England team, and the European Championship was within their reach. But as England supporters arrived at Wembley from all corners of the country, celebration quickly turned to chaos. With compelling first-hand testimony and visceral user-generated content, this is the dramatic story of a day that began with euphoria and ended in a nation left reeling.

I am fascinated by documentaries exploring our origins and how we evolved. It is so exciting that objects are still being discovered that shed light on the past. Here a unique excavation at Shanidar Cave in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq unravels the complex and creative nature of Neanderthals, shattering preconceptions through the lens of a landmark discovery – the best-preserved Neanderthal skeleton found in over 25 years.