10 movies to help you feel good

Treat yourself to some good vibes with these films

ANNIKA ZEIGLER

The right movies to put you in the right mood.

SYDNEY BROWN, Evergreen reporter

I don’t know about you, but I am starting to feel what I have officially titled “stream fatigue.” No, I’m sure I’m not the first to mention this phenomenon, but I have actually been lucky enough to find some of the hidden gems across Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and other popular services that I have obtained through means I am not in a position to disclose.

Here are 10 kind of “feel-good” movies for your quarantine viewing pleasure. 

10. “Perks of Being a Wallflower” dir. Stephen Chbosky – Netflix 

I hold deep ties to this film. In the year of its release I was just turning 13 and entering high school, so this is one of those age-defining movies. If you don’t get the hype it can come across as cheesy, but overall I think the film is true to the source material and has a soundtrack that is eerily similar to what my mom played from her CD collection growing up.

9. “Lady Bird” dir. Greta Gerwig – Amazon Prime 

I’m usually not one to support trillionaires, but Prime has kept Lady Bird on its service for years now, and I go back to it every few months. It’s like the big sister you never had. OK, I did have a big sister, but she didn’t have pink streaks in her hair and wear berets. Anyway, this is a refreshing girls-girl movie without being what most “chick flicks” are known for being — terribly written with a terrible plot. 

8. “Jeff Who Lives at Home” dir. Jay and Mark Duplass – Amazon Prime 

Though I didn’t expect to enjoy this movie, I do think it holds the feel-good theme really well and is surprisingly well-made, with deliberate editing and character choices that make the climax feel well-deserved. It’s not groundbreaking or an exceptional piece of art, which is why you’ve likely never heard of it, but I enjoyed it and it’s free if you have Prime. 

7. “Silver Linings Playbook” dir. David O’Russell – Netflix 

This film came out in 2012 and, as we’ve already covered, that was pivotal to my life. Even on rewatching, it does have staying power as a critical analysis of how we treat people in our community who have mental health issues. It’s well-written and is fun to watch if anything. 

6. “Sunshine Cleaning” dir. Christine Jeffs – Amazon Prime 

Starring Emily Blunt and Amy Adams on the cusp of their post-2010’s fame, this movie isn’t really “feel-good” so much as cathartic. The film takes its time telling the story of sisterhood in a way that doesn’t feel melodramatic even though it’s subject matter is bleak. 

5. “Spider-Man” dir. Sam Raimi – Hulu

This is the cheesiest inoffensive movie that was very recently put onto Netflix. Yes, this is the Tobey Maguire version of Spider-Man that includes outdated effects and the sporadic directing style of Sam Raimi from the early 2000s. If you want to shut your brain off and take a break from the heavier movies on this list, I’d recommend this one. 

4. “The Beach Bum” dir. Harmony Korine – Hulu

This film gained some pre-release notoriety from photos of Matthew McConaughey walking around in loose touristy garb and scraggly hair, so I was slightly surprised to enjoy this movie. It has a fittingly laid-back directing style and writing reminiscent of “The Big Lebowski.” It’s a movie you don’t have to over-analyze without being vapid. 

3. “The Skeleton Twins” dir. Craig Johnson –  Hulu

Starring Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader of Saturday Night Live fame, this film follows twins as they navigate middle-adulthood and confront their mental health. Once again, this movie surprised me with its ability to explore dark themes without becoming over-the-top in its drama. The natural chemistry between Wiig and Hader helps make this story more believable. 

2. “La La Land” dir. Damien Chazelle – HBO GO. 

I have my issues with this movie, but I recently rewatched the very popular film from 2017. I saw it basically alone in a theater with my best friend and can really appreciate the effort that went into these shots. The music, as watered-down as it may be, does catch your attention. If you want to really feel good and cathartic after a movie it’s not a bad choice. 

1. “Moonlight” dir. Barry Jenkins – Netflix 

Luckily this movie is still on Netflix and if you have not seen it I’d definitely recommend it. While sad, the film is a very refreshing take on a story not told enough about sexuality and racial inequality in America. As it competed with my number-two slot for Best Picture, it’s also interesting to watch “La La Land” and “Moonlight” back to back and get a glimpse into how different the two films are in terms of theme, approach and worldview.