While the cinemas are re-opening, streaming services are still the main source of entertainment for many. While all have been expanding their libraries over the last few months, Amazon Prime Video have been most impressive as they strive to attract exciting new titles.
Here are ten of the best films available for free with a Prime membership for your viewing pleasure.
Brokeback Mountain (2004)
It would be wonderful to tell you that Amazon Prime was home to one of the very best winners of the Academy Awards' fabled Best Picture accolade, but Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain was robbed of that honour back in 2005 when homophobia and a white savour complex handed the prize to Crash instead, in what is long-believed to be the single worst mistake in Oscars less-than-exemplary history. While it didn't win gold, Brokeback Mountain won hearts instead, its tender portrayal of a cowboy love story introducing queer cinema to the mainstream. Jake Gyllenhaal and the late Heath Ledger deliver exceptional, sensitive and heartfelt performances in what represents a highlight in each of their already-impressive careers.
Booksmart (2019)
Every generation has 'their' coming-of-age film and Olivia Wilde's Booksmart takes on that mantle superbly, unlikely to be surpassed anytime in the foreseeable future. Both hilarious and heartfelt, Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever lead an exceptional cast that assures audiences that the future of filmmaking is in safe, extremely talented hands. Armed with a tremendous, contemporary script and steered by a director who balances the numerous tones and eccentric characters impressively, Booksmart is a consistently hilarious, beautifully profound and thoroughly entertaining piece of filmmaking that more than deserves its place in the hearts of those it has connected with.
The Farewell (2019)
Lulu Wang's The Farewell tells the story of a true lie in her bilingual sophomore feature that strikes an extraordinarily impressive balance between comedy and drama. The Independent Spirit Award winner, which really deserved to be in the Oscar conversation, boasts an impressive against-type performance from Awkwafina and a scene-stealing supporting turn from Zhao Shu-zhen but it is the overwhelming heart and soul infuses into both Wang's writing and direction that makes it such beautiful, moving viewing. An excellent starting point for those wishing to explore more foreign language cinema, The Farewell comes highly recommended.
Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)
The meeting of one of Britain's strongest directors and greatest actresses results in a career-high for both, with Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky starring Sally Hawkins a beautifully profound piece of cinema. In lesser hands, the character of Poppy could become incredibly irritating but Hawkins' immaculate work, brimming with life and hope, radiates a warmth that is both endlessly compelling and deeply fascinating, no doubt helped by the sobering reality Leigh's writing and direction offers. "You keep on rowing, and I'll keep on smiling," she tells us at one stage, and it's never felt so relevant.
Honey Boy (2019)
Honey Boy is a soul-bearing and powerfully unflinching exploration of abuse and trauma that channels pain into art with the most sobering of results. The pairing of director Alma Har'el and writer-actor Shia LaBeouf is a stroke of genius, with their tonally contrasting work complimenting each other's input and the overall vision of the film superbly, while Noah Jupe's astonishing lead performance will break your heart like few young actors could. Both a therapeutic and cathartic film, Honey Boy isn't an easy watch but it is a thoroughly worthwhile one.
Hustlers (2019)
There so much more to Lorene Scafaria's Hustlers than initial meets the eye. Beneath the thoroughly enjoyable, wildly entertaining story of con and deception is an incredibly astute and deeply moving film about chosen family, gender power, the greed of a man's world. Thanks to her dual role as both writer and director, Scafaria reframes a story usually treated with little respect from a place of respect and admiration, revolutionising the stripper genre in the process. Fuelled by a ferocious ensemble, including Jennifer Lopez in a career-best role, Hustlers remains one of the greatest surprises in recent memory.
Knives Out (2019)
Thanks to an exclusive deal struck with them at the tail-end of last year, Amazon Prime is the home for Lionsgate releases, appearing on the streaming service just a few short months after their home media premiere. Their runaway success, 2019's Knives Out, is one of their films gracing Prime's library, with Rian Johnson's excellent murder mystery instantly becoming a new genre classic. A hilarious, smart and sharp screenplay, delivered by a dazzling ensemble having the greatest time imaginable, Knives Out is one of the best the 2010s had to offer.
Mommy (2014)
Any film that ends with a Lana Del Rey song over the credits has every chance of being a favourite of mine but Xavier Dolan's Mommy's perfect use of her Born To Die is just the tip of the iceberg of this film's greatness. Summarising the themes of self-destruction, tempestuous familial relations and the conditionality of love, the song rounds out Dolan's magnum opus gorgeously - a film which explores familiar themes for Nolan but is presented with a passion, intimacy and depth that lights a fire that burns from open to close. Inspired camerawork, powerful acting and beautiful writing make Mommy a must-see.
Official Secrets (2019)
Compellingly tense, Gavin Hood's Official Secrets is a thought-provoking effort that successfully marries fact and character drama with genuine thrills and suspense. An excellent Keira Knightley portrays the real Katharine Gun not with heroism but as a morally-inflicted and intelligence woman willing to fight the establishment for the good of the people, acting as a powerful reminder - particularly now, in the era of "fake news" - of the importance of questioning authority and speaking up for the safety of others.
Wild Rose (2019)
Wild Rose may have slipped under the radar on initial release but will hopefully be embraced as more discover this country music-inspired tribute to the dreamer in us all. With an excellent soundtrack, passionate direction and a screenplay that smartly subverts the expectations of a familiar story, Wild Rose is a hit in its own right. But thanks Jessie Buckley's electrifying performance as Rose-Lynn Harlan, it soars, giving Wild Rose its singing, beating heart, and in the process firmly establishes Buckley as the most exciting breakthrough talent the screen has seen for some time. There's no place like home, indeed.
And, as a bonus.....
Parks and Recreation (2009 - 2015)
If television is more your bag, Prime hosts the American comedy, Parks and Recreation, in its entirety (save for this year's quarantine reunion). Seven wholesome and hilarious seasons of a stunningly talented ensemble bringing to life memorable characters written with care and depth, Parks and Recreation gives us something you never thought possible - government officials that give a damn! Impressive in its consistency and rewarding in its rewatchability, you'll fly through seven seasons and want to do it all over again.