Your night in: Three movies to stream to get you through the evening

As Mother’s Day winds down for another year and you settle in on the couch wondering what to watch, Leigh Paatsch has picked three movies for you to stream or rent right now.

ONCE UPON A TIME … IN HOLLYWOOD (MA15+)

****1/2

FOXTEL, AMAZON

Attention all fans of the incomparable Quentin Tarantino: the maverick master’s latest is one of his greatest. This captivating movie unfolds across the closing years of the 1960s, an era where Hollywood’s bright, sunshiny golden age is coming to an end, and dark clouds of change are looming in the distance.

In show business terms, where it used to be all about the show in Hollywood, soon it will be all about the business. Emblematic of this seismic shift — and unsure of what to do about it – are fading star actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his loyal stunt double and best friend Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt).

Together, they just might figure it out. Or they just might pour themselves a small drink and leave the big decisions to another day.

A big movie packed with small delights to savour, from the unmistakeable snap, crackle and pop of Tarantino’s writing, to the ethereal presence of Margot Robbie as Rick’s ill-fated neighbour, Sharon Tate.

Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio and Margot Robbie in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

THE GENTLEMEN (MA15+)

***1/2

Rent via GOOGLE, ITUNES, YOUTUBE MOVIES

Enjoyably eccentric British crime thriller from a bloke who knows a thing or two about the genre, director Guy Ritchie (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels).

Matthew McConaughey stars as American drugs kingpin Mickey Pearson, a debonair dope dealer who dominates the UK marijuana trade.

However, now he wants out, which means offloading his ingenious farming operation to a buyer who will not blow his cover.

However, Mickey’s dutiful second-in-command, Raymond (Charlie Hunnam) is not so sure his boss can pull it off. Especially now that muckraking journalist Fletcher (Hugh Grant) knows something big is going down.

This only scratches the surface of what The Gentlemen will be getting up to in terms of continually colliding characters, conversations and crazily convoluted crimes before your very eyes.

It might all amount to nothing more than a juiced-up joy ride into the London underworld, but what a fast, furious and fun ride it is.

Stars of The Gentlemen: (from left) Charlie Hunnam, Michelle Dockery, Matthew McConaughey, Hugh Grant, and Henry Golding. Picture: Getty Images

THE CHILDREN ACT (M)

****

FOXTEL, NETFLIX, AMAZON

This gripping adaptation of the Ian McEwan novel of the same name is well worth checking out, as Emma Thompson makes light work of a heavy role in very impressive fashion.

She plays Fiona Maye, a conscientious judge who must rule on a life-and-death situation facing a strictly religious family.

Their faith prohibits a blood transfusion that could reverse a terminal diagnosis for Adam (Fionn Whitehead), a gravely ill teenage boy.

Fiona takes some uncharacteristic measures in determining Adam’s fate, moves which could be influenced by her crumbling relationship with a dissatisfied and neglected husband (Stanley Tucci). A fiercely intelligent and quietly provocative drama for mature audiences.

MORE LEIGH PAATSCH

EVERY MOVIE TONIGHT ON MELBOURNE TV — RATED OR SLATED

STELLAR COMEDIES TO STREAM THIS WEEKEND

MOVIES FOR EVERY FAMILY MEMBER TO STREAM

Originally published as Your night in: Three movies to stream to get you through the evening