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.
Appropriate Behavior (Desiree Akhavan)
When Desiree Akhavan first appears onscreen in her feature debut Appropriate Behavior, one thing is for sure: she’s a stunner. With a statuesque figure, dark cascading hair and intense eyes, the Iranian-American filmmaker and actress captivates in a way that few can. And then she opens her mouth, and the deadpan humor comes rolling out as natural as an exhale — then you really start to pay attention. – Amanda W. (full review)
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
Automata (Gabe Ibanez)
Automata, directed by Gabe Ibanez, does its damnedest to tackle those tried-and-true questions about artificial intelligence from a fresh angle. And with an impressively-layered lead performance from Antonio Banderas, as well as some densely-explored existential themes on humanity, the film hits the right notes some of the time. Unfortunately, the dialogue and the central narrative arc do not live up to the ideas present throughout. – Dan M. (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: Vimeo
John Wick (David Leitch and Chad Stahelski)
John Wick is a refreshingly streamlined action movie. There’s not an ounce of fat in David Leitch and Chad Stahelski‘s film, and Derek Kolstad‘s script gets right everything so many revenge pictures get wrong. The familial scenes in the Taken movies, for example, are an afterthought — crap you have to trudge through to get to the shootouts. Actual time and care was put into the set-up of John Wick. When Wick’s dog dies, it’s an earned moment for the character and the film. It’s a strangely heartfelt movie, and far more sincere than most pieces of Oscar bait. What follows that effective set-up is a wildly entertaining action movie, filled with a variety of set pieces, fun kills, style, and a world that begs for a sequel. – Jack G.
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
Middle of Nowhere and I Will Follow (Ava DuVernay)
It’s been difficult to one’s hands on Selma director Ava DuVernay‘s previous two narrative features, but thanks to her studio break-out now in wide release, they’re now available to stream. Middle of Nowhere, which earned her a directing award at Sundance Film Festival, follows a woman’s journey of self-discovery after her husband is incarcerated, and it’s shot by her Selma cinematographer Bradford Young. Her narrative debut, I Will Follow, follows a grieving woman and her healing process. – Jordan R.
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google (Middle of Nowhere) and Netflix (I Will Follow)
Still Life (Uberto Pasolini)
Oscar-nominated producer (for The Full Monty) Uberto Pasolini‘s second film as writer/director isn’t easily categorized. Aptly labeled with the hybridized compromise “dramedy,” distributor Tribeca Films for some reason has attempted to also pitch it as a bit of a romance with both their current trailer and synopsis. This is a very misleading maneuver in hopes of selling a quiet, contemplative work to the masses looking for more than an existential cinematic poem. But that is exactly what Still Life is at its core: a glimpse at the question of who we are and whether or not we remain relevant after our deaths. So many are quick to agree that there’s nothing left to be done for a person after he’s taken his last breath. A select few like John May (Eddie Marsan), however, know that’s hardly true. – Jared M. (full review)
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (Tomas Alfredson)
Tomas Alfredson sure understands loners. His 2008 cult classic Let The Right One In – yes, it’s a modern cult classic already – got the isolation of bullied children. The Swedish director’s “spy thriller” instead shows the isolation of sad, cold, and emotionally damaged spies who just want to be loved. There is no hope for these spies, they are not suave and they’re certainly never going to let anyone into their mindset and in on their feelings, similarly to how the film respectfully treats its audience. – Jack G.
Where to Stream: Netflix
Wetlands (David Wnendt)
The grossest gross-out comedy of the year, and one of the rare films I’ve seen that has truly shocked me. Adapted from Charlotte Roche’s novel by David Wnendt, Wetlands is one of the year’s best (and not be confused by a 2011 French-Canadian masterpiece of the same name), no subject is taboo in this picture including sex, hygiene, gender, and identity. Fronted by Carla Juri as Helen, a young women with chronic anal fissures and heroine who answers questions we might be afraid to ask without a filthy mind and an open heart. Love is a battlefield, and Wetlands is a coming-of-age story that’s opening credits alone I suspect would shock (and delight) John Waters. – John F.
Where to Stream: Netflix
Also New to Streaming
Hulu
Amazon
Keep on Keepin on’
Little Accidents
Match
My Old Lady
Netflix
Bird People
Johnny English Reborn
What are you streaming this weekend?