While every major streaming platform offers a diverse library of cinema and television, most tend to specialize in a specific niche. For instance, when I’m craving a prestige film to lose myself in, HBO Max is my immediate destination, followed closely by Netflix. It usually takes a deep dive through several other apps before I land on Paramount Plus. Traditionally, I view that service as the home for The Daily Show, nostalgic South Park marathons, 90s Nickelodeon favorites, and various iterations of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
It is somewhat paradoxical that Paramount Plus isn’t my first choice for movies, considering Paramount Pictures has been a cornerstone of Hollywood since 1912, producing legends like The Godfather, Grease, Airplane!, and Chinatown. However, while some classics remain on the platform, many others are caught in complex licensing agreements with rival streamers. (The fragmented reality of modern streaming is truly a sight to behold.)
Having launched in 2021, Paramount Plus is still finding its footing compared to its more established competitors. While its library may currently feel selective, a bit of digital scavenging reveals some genuine cinematic treasures. Hidden among the catalog are forgotten gems featuring powerhouses like Christian Bale, Tom Hanks, Robert Redford, and James Gandolfini.
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The Machinist
The Machinist is perhaps most famous for Christian Bale’s harrowing physical transformation. Bale shed an alarming amount of weight for the role, appearing on screen as a skeletal figure with bones practically piercing through his skin. However, dismissing this film as a mere piece of trivia would be a mistake; it is a meticulously crafted psychological labyrinth.
Directed by Brad Anderson, the story follows Trevor Reznik (Bale), a machine shop worker suffering from a severe, year-long bout of insomnia. His mental state collapses completely after he causes a traumatic workplace accident that costs a colleague a limb. This event triggers a spiraling descent into paranoia that systematically dismantles Trevor’s life.
Anderson chooses to forgo an objective lens, instead trapping the audience within the protagonist’s fractured perspective. As Trevor loses his grip on reality, we are forced to piece together the truth alongside him. The film maintains a constant state of uncertainty, leading to a conclusion that is as intellectually satisfying as it is emotionally devastating.
While The Machinist is far from a “feel-good” experience, it is a profound exercise in atmospheric storytelling that demands to be seen.
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The Last Castle
The late James Gandolfini is often inextricably linked to a single iconic role. While Tony Soprano remains one of the most complex figures in television history, Gandolfini’s broader body of work—particularly The Last Castle—showcases his immense range beyond the mob boss archetype.
In this drama directed by Rod Lurie, Robert Redford portrays Lieutenant General Eugene Irwin, a celebrated war hero court-martialed for defying a presidential order—a decision that resulted in the deaths of eight soldiers. Upon his arrival at a military prison, he is met with reverence by the inmates and even the warden, Colonel Ed Winter (Gandolfini). However, Winter’s initial admiration soon curdles into toxic resentment as he realizes the prisoners respect Irwin far more than their own commander. When Irwin witnesses Winter’s sadistic governing style, he organizes a sophisticated inmate uprising.
The Last Castle serves as a fascinating meditation on the nature of authority. Redford’s character possesses an innate command earned through sacrifice, while Gandolfini’s warden is a petulant, insecure intellectual who rules through fear because he lacks combat experience. Both actors excel here; Redford provides a gravitas that makes his leadership believable, while Gandolfini offers a chillingly different shade of villainy than what we saw in New Jersey.
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Road to Perdition
Given Tom Hanks’ prolific career, it’s inevitable that some of his finest work would eventually slip through the cracks of public memory. Road to Perdition is one such masterpiece. Set during the Great Depression, Hanks plays Michael Sullivan, a stoic hitman for an Irish crime syndicate. The plot ignites when Sullivan’s young son (Tyler Hoechlin) witnesses a murder committed by his father and Connor Rooney (Daniel Craig), the volatile son of the mob patriarch, John Rooney (Paul Newman).
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The film boasts an extraordinary ensemble cast. Paul Newman delivers a haunting performance as a mob boss torn between his biological son and his surrogate one, while Jude Law is terrifying as a macabre assassin who photographs his victims. A young Tyler Hoechlin also received critical acclaim for his nuanced portrayal of a boy losing his innocence.
Ultimately, the film belongs to Hanks. Known primarily for playing sympathetic “everymen,” he is chillingly effective as a man of violence. He balances a father’s protective warmth with the cold, lethal precision of a professional killer. Road to Perdition remains a rare and vital example of Hanks embracing a darker, more morally ambiguous role, and it stands as one of the most visually stunning films in his filmography.
Source: Polygon
