With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’ve taken it upon ourselves to highlight the titles that have recently hit the interwebs. Every week, one will be able to see the cream of the crop (or perhaps some simply interesting picks) of streaming titles (new and old) across platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, and more (note: U.S. only). Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below.
Alleluia (Fabrice Du Welz)
Fantastic Fest is where you come to see the weird and Alleluia has that quotient in abundance. The film, which comes as the second part of a soul-crushing trilogy by director Fabrice Du Welz, follows what happens when passion and violence mingle to disastrous results. Gloria (Lola Dueñas) is lonely and saddled with an unsatisfying life when she meets the charming Michel (Laurent Lucas) online, who turns out to be a swindler. But her interest in him lingers and she convinces him that she is meant to be with her. The danger, though, is that she’s extremely jealous. What follows is a delve into what it means to know that someone cares for you and understands you, yet is a destructive force in your life. Could either of these people ever have soul mates? Likely not. But it doesn’t keep them apart. – Bill G. (full review)
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
Ardor (Paolo Fendrik)
If you combine Blue Ruin’s lack of a clearly discernible story and exercise in genre with Jauja’s teases of magical realism and self-consciously mythic narrative, you will get something close to Ardor, Argentine director Pablo Fendrik’s Gael García Bernal-led western. The actor plays Kaí, an Amazan shaman who watches his tobacco-farming friend get killed and his partner, Jara (Lautaro Vilo), get shot, then sets out for revenge and the recovery the farmer’s daughter, Vania (Alice Braga). The narrative impetus behind the attack on Kaí’s camp is bare — Vania’s father doesn’t want to sell his land to deforesters — and perhaps gives it colonialist undertones similar to those in Jauja, albeit without the homage to The Searchers or self-conscious pictorialism and influence of landscape painting. – Forrest C. (full review)
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
Clouds of Sils Maria and Irma Vep (Olivier Assayas)
Movies about making movies often get a bad rap; there’s just a presumed pretentiousness that goes along with watching filmmakers and actors defending their craft. So when it turns out that Clouds of Sils Maria is actually a beautifully directed and acted defense of the timelessness and universal value of storytelling in all forms, what could have been a European Birdman actually becomes something so much more. – Brian R.
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google (Clouds of Sils Maria) and Amazon Prime (Irma Vep)
Creep (Patrick Brice)
Blumhouse Productions has become a horror powerhouse with its many popular and expansive titles, ranging from the ever-growing Paranormal Activity series to the endless sequel potential of the dystopian thriller The Purge. Fortunately, the company’s ambitions lie beyond becoming a tireless franchise machine, as evidenced by Creep, a minor curiosity that melds Blumhouse’s penchant for found footage with a free-wheeling indie spirit. – Amanda W. (full review)
Where to Stream: Netflix
Da Sweet Blood of Jesus (Spike Lee)
One cannot take lightly the implications of a candid filmmaker opening his latest picture with the words “An Official Spike Lee Joint.” Before we can even imagine what’s to come, his third endeavor in as many years — yet only the second of two joints and, indeed, successor to “A Spike Lee Film” that was publicly encapsulated by its credited maker with the words “tough business” — thus immediately establishes itself as a push against any and all who’d care to silence his voice. A quick introductory scene practically elides over the last title’s existence wholesale, bringing us back to the church of Red Hook Summer’s since-deceased Bishop Enoch — less for the sake of delineating proper continuity between works and more, it seems, for the sake of situating and making comfortable those who are about to be offset and discomfited. As, over mere minutes, the scope rapidly expands and the voice in command only grows louder, soon made into the equivalent of a madhouse blare, his push is now in defiance of many a crucial thing: total coherence, absolute logic, formal consistency, moral decency, and good taste. – Nick N. (full review)
Where to Stream: Netflix
Far From the Madding Crowd (Thomas Vinterberg)
Following his piercing, bleak drama The Hunt, director Thomas Vinterberg is clearly having a great deal of perhaps needed fun with his follow-up, an adaptation of Thomas Hardy‘s classic novel, Far From the Madding Crowd. The preeminent kind of period piece, the late 19th century tale arrives with a heightened sense of self-awareness on what makes this genre tick. With sun-kissed cinematography, a swelling score, and back-and-forth romantic yearnings, this is a drama, despite feeling rushed in sections, intent on providing satisfaction above all else. – Jordan R. (full review)
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
Goodbye to All That (Angus MacLachlan)
Goodbye to All That initially provides us with little context, launching directly into what on the outside seems to be a functional loving marriage between Otto (Paul Schneider) and Annie (Melanie Lynskey), but soon breaks up abruptly before the end of the first act. Following an off-road accident in which Otto’s pal Freddie (Michael Chernus) guns it too fast down hill with Otto and daughter Eddie (Audrey Scott) riding shotgun, Otto’s leg — and soon his heart — will be broken. With Annie employing her “therapist” Joan (played by Celia Weston) to deliver the news of the divorce, Otto moves out on his own, looking for a house with a big back yard in attempt to be “supper dad” to Eddie. – John F. (full review)
Where to Stream: Netflix
Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser (Fred Wolf)
The nearly 15-year wait is finally over.
Where to Stream: Crackle
The Salt of the Earth (Wim Wenders and Juliano Ribeiro Salgado)
At one point early in Wim Wenders‘ new documentary, The Salt of the Earth, the co-director details his deeply emotional connection to photographer Sebastiao Salgado. Years before the two ever met, Wenders happened across a couple of Salgado’s photographs in a Los Angeles art gallery that immediately enthralled him. One of these was a remarkable image of the Brazilian gold mines of Serra Pelada, the other a portrait-like image of a woman weathered by years of a life most will never know. – Brian P. (full review)
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
Tig (Kristina Goolsby and Ashley York)
Chances are you’ve already heard the story of Tig Notaro, or at least her landmark 30-minute stand-up special following her diagnosis of cancer and the death of her mother. Going into a new documentary about the comedian herself and the aftermath of the event, I was curious how much new information we’d get, but directors Kristina Goolsby and Ashley York have crafted a warm, compelling feature with Tig. As much as it is about her comedy the film also delves into the creative process and how to live up to your past work (or if you even want to), as well as her personal struggles and relationships. While it feels a bit cobbled together, technically speaking, the story at the center is a passionately told one and worth seeking out. – Jordan R.
Where to Stream: Netflix
Also New to Streaming
Amazon
Jellyfish Eyes
Lila & Eve (review)
Safelight
Netflix
Fandor
Where Is my Friend’s House
The Spirit of the Beehive
Being Two isn’t Easy
Au revoir les enfants
L’enfance nue
Warrendale
Zazie dans le Metro
Mouchette
What are you streaming this weekend?