5 Stylish Hidden Gems That Are Streaming Right Now

For all my talk about getting off your arse and getting in shape for Spring, I have been watching an unusual amount of films currently. And I've caught absolute gems of late. They are super stylish and I want to make sure you guys are not missing out. 

Eastern Promises 

A teenager who dies during childbirth leaves clues in her journal that could tie her child to a rape involving a violent Russian mob family. Viggo Mortensen stars as Nikolai, a driver/ undertaker, an unassuming and unflinching bad ass. Sadly the costume designer for the film Denise Cronenberg passed away in 2020 and I've not managed to get pure clarification on the brands. Although according to my late friend's blog, Clothes on Film. Viggo is wearing either Giorgio Armani or diffusion line Emporio Armani suits (possibly the latter as this would tie in with his Emporio wraparound sunglasses. Here is a LINK to an interview with David Cronenberg to clarify.

Nikolai’s watch has been identified by countless sources as a Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control with a stainless case and link bracelet with a round white face.

But it's the manner in the way Mortensen carries himself. Such poise, effortless charm. Yet he's vulnerable, he gets ambushed and has to fight to the death naked in a sauna. And the script keeps you guessing. You're unsure whose side he is on, right until the final 5 minutes. Streaming on BBC iPlayer now. 

The Outfit

Streaming on Netflix. It is a film about tailoring after all. Well actually, Mark Rylance plays Leonard, a cutter not a tailor who must outwit a dangerous group of mobsters in order to survive a fateful night. It's shop beautifully, it's derivative in all the right places. But mainly, I just enjoyed seeing the clothes, the fabrics, and hearing Mark talk so elegantly about the importance of dressing well. 

Mark Rylance researched his role by lurching over the shoulders of cutters down at Huntsman. There is a full write on the Huntsman website about how they worked with costume designer Sophie O’Neill to realise her vision for the film. 

"As well as consulting on the film, eager-eyed viewers may also recognise the well-manicured hands of Campbell (Carey, Huntsman Creative Director and Head Cutter) who acted as a hand-double, and steals the show in the close-up shots of the film!"

Reptile

Streaming on Netflix. Tom Nichols is a hardened New England detective, unflinching in his pursuit of a case where nothing is as it seems and it begins to dismantle the illusions in his own life. There is a terrific moment when Benicio Del Toro tells a handy man who is sniffing around his wife in no uncertain terms, 'how far would you go?' 

It's fairly low key as far as clothes go. I'd love to know the brand of leather jacket that Benicio Del Toro wears throughout the second half. However, I have tracked down the watch he wear in the film. Unbelievably its one you can find for under £10. According to Watch ID

This seems to be a very cheap (less than $10) round watch offered at American department store Kohls. The watch has a black dial, small fake-diamond on the 12 o'clock position, triangular skeleton hands and the word "DIAMOND" on the bottom half of the dial.

Creed 3 

Streaming on Amazon Prime. There is a moment in Creed 3, where the films protagnist Adonis Creed played by Michael B Jordan sees a billboard of himself advertising Ralph Lauren suits. It's quite a crazy piece of product placement and I'm not sure I've seen anything like it before. Still, you can't argue how good Michael B Jordan looks in this film, clothes on or off. 

According to an interview with the costume designer Lizz Wolf on the Robb Report 

“We did a lot of research on previous [Ralph Lauren] looks and collections,” Wolf continues. “Lots of inspiration also came from Old Hollywood—Sidney Poitier, Paul Newman… this classic, effortless style, and this is obviously what Ralph Lauren does so well. The design team really offered us so many luxurious options from fabrics to haberdashery.”

Green Book 

Just added to Netflix. Last one, and another mention for Viggo Mortensen. I simply love this film. Viggo transformed from the lean muscular mysterious driver in Eastern Promises to the schlubby Italian muscle bodyguard driver in Green Book. Costume Designer Betsy Heimann delivered an under the radar masterclass on bringing the style of 60s American south to live. She talked about the process on my friend's channel From Tailors With Love

This guy (Viggo) is not a 31-32 waist, this guy is a 38 waist. This was a preliminary fitting, I was saved by this photograph. I got to tell you, he brought some things from home, very politely brought some ideas. Then he did at the end of the film comment – ‘thank god it’s you’.

Main Image Photo by Mollie Sivaram on Unsplash