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.
Aloha (Cameron Crowe)
Cameron Crowe has made a career telling stories of flawed men who are saved thanks to young, quasi-magical women. His best films have shown the cracks in these maniacal pixies. Consider the crippling self-doubt of Penny Lane in Almost Famous, or the world-weariness of Renee Zellweger’s Dorothy Boyd in Jerry Maguire. Penelope Cruz’s Sofia Serrano in Vanilla Sky quite literally becomes the girl of selfish rich guy Tom Cruise’s dreams, a twist that feels like Crowe commenting on his own tropes. – Dan M. (full review)
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
Cop Car (Jon Watts)
For a good long while, Cop Car, directed by Jon Watts, plays like a wonderful genre picture, featuring two impressive lead performances from child actors James Freedson-Jackson and Hays Wellford. The premise is refreshingly simple: somewhere in Middle America, Travis (Freedson-Jackson) and Harrison (Wellford) stumble upon an empty cop car in the middle of nowhere. Initially spooked by the vehicle, the two kids quickly give in to their curiosity and drive off with the thing, doing exactly what you would expect two kids with a car would do. Watching the duo figure out how to put the vehicle in gear is entertaining all on its own. This series of interactions between our two stars is the strongest in the film. – Dan. M (full review)
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
Fort Tilden (Sarah-Violet Bliss and Charles Rogers)
In the acerbic indie comedy Fort Tilden, Brooklyn denizens Harper (Bridey Elliott) and Allie (Clare McNulty) prepare for a day at the Rockaways, where they plan to rendezvous with two cute guys they met at a rooftop party. Before they depart, however, Harper declares the need to make the apartment “sex ready” and, to ensure approval from their potential conquests, strategically places a copy of Infinite Jest on the couch. The sight gag provides a rare moment of genuine laughter in an otherwise punishing skewering of parasitic millennials. – Amanda W. (full review)
Where to Stream: iTunes, Google
The Knick (Steven Soderbergh)
Since its premiere almost exactly a year ago, if you wanted to see Steven Soderbergh‘s magnificent new series The Knick and didn’t have Cinemax, you were out of luck. Now, ahead of the second season premiere on October 16th, it’s finally available to stream on HBO Go. Taking place in the early 20th century, the story follows Dr. John W. Thackery (Clive Owen) and his staff dealing with the premature days of medicine and new techniques, among many other things. – Jordan R.
Where to Stream: HBO Go
Mad Max: Fury Road (George Miller)
Three decades of production woes and artistic detours for director George Miller delayed a return to the apocalyptic wastelands of the Mad Max franchise. This year, Mad Mad: Fury Road revived the series with radical changes. Mel Gibson was out as the titular character in favor of Tom Hardy, Namibia replaced the Australian outback as the backdrop, and the world expanded to tell the stories of characters with names like Imperator Furiosa and Immortan Joe. While Fury Road succeeds in re-imagining these core elements, the film’s madcap taciturn creations and kinetic pacing prove to be essential elements that separate the film from its previous installments and recent action films. Filmgoers invigorated by the audacity and practical stunts of the chase scenes, galvanized by Charlize Theron’s performance — and the ideas of femininity core to its story — and receptive to the imagery that most other studios wouldn’t dare attempt, have been vocal supporters of the film. Ultimately, Fury Road unifies these different audiences (from the casual moviegoer to the cinephile) and interests by offering a relentless and visceral experience. We expect Fury Road to be as fresh and compelling at the year’s end as it stands right now. – Zade C.
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
One & Two (Andrew Droz Palmero)
Low budgets don’t have to constrain a film, and a great example is the serene One & Two, which uses a small amount of locations and characters to bolster the low-key charm. Set in a secluded farm with a giant wall of earth separating them from the outside world, writer/director Andrew Droz Palermo’s feature debut follows a small family where two young siblings have a power that threatens the god-fearing father. Much turmoil is made over their abilities and it becomes a unique hybrid of the traditional superhero origin story. However, it never fully commits to this idea and wants to instead tell a story of two children that have to make their way in life under the shadow of their domineering father Daniel (Grant Bowler). This is why it works as a heart-felt sendup of what it means to have a sibling and be able to fight for each other. – Bill G. (full review)
Where to Stream: iTunes, Google
People Places Things (James Strouse)
Somewhere in Brooklyn, a semi-blocked graphic novelist named Will (Jemaine Clement) catches his wife Charlie (Stephanie Allynne) cheating on him with a “monologuist” named Gary (Michael Chernus) during their twin daughters’ 5th birthday party. There’s a fairly standard confrontation between these three people, resulting in a meek non-fight between the two men. One year later, Will is living alone in Astoria, doing his best to start over while making the most of his time with his children and teaching at the School of Visual Arts. – Dan M. (full review)
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
Ten Thousand Saints (Robert Pulcini and Shari Springer Berman)
Working in the tried-and-true coming-of-age drama with a focus on sex, drugs and rock-n-roll, Ten Thousands Saints, from directors Robert Pulcini and Shari Springer Berman (American Splendor), is equal parts sensitive and overwrought, intelligent and preachy. When we open in Vermont it’s 1980 and Les (Ethan Hawke) has just been kicked out by his wife Harriet (Julianne Nicholson). When their son Jude asks Les what happened, he’s told two things: Les got a neighbor pregnant and Jude is adopted. It’s a complicated moment that’s sad, touching and very funny. Ultimately, a good tonal springboard for what’s to come. – Dan M. (full review)
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes
Tom at the Farm (Xavier Dolan)
He’s explored themes of love, matriarchal bonds, and just about everything in-between, and Xavier Dolan‘s fourth feature, Tom at the Farm, certainly doesn’t abandon those. What it does, rather, is view them through a vividly different lens. This drama, the first time he adapted another writer’s work, comes from Michel Marc Bouchard‘s play, and blends psychological-thriller elements with unexpected humor for a thoroughly unsettling plunge into a nightmare of fear and intolerance. – Jordan R. (full review)
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
Two Days, One Night (Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne)
This is not quite as physical as some of the Dardenne brothers’ earlier, more visceral work. Think, for one thing, of the blindsiding opening of Rosetta, in which the camera darts and races to follow Émilie Dequenne as she tries elude the grasp of her peeved boss (Olivier Gourmet). Even the plot, which is inherently formulaic and intensely organized, is less natural-seeming than the previous stuff. But their gifts — shrewd framing (notice how Marion Cotillard is constantly separated from her co-workers by some kind of barrier) and genuine human empathy — are still evident throughout. After witnessing the character’s agonizing, compressed cycle of naps, wake-ups, phone calls, arguments, rants, and pill-popping episodes, Cotillard’s short phone call that ends Two Days, One Night carries the weight of the world. – Danny K.
Where to Stream: Netflix
Also New to Streaming
Amazon
Amazon Prime
Hulu
iTunes
Netflix
For a Good Time, Call…
Ship of Theseus (review)
The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death
What are you streaming this weekend?