With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we believe it’s our duty to highlight the recent, recommended titles that have recently hit the interwebs. Every week (or bi-weekly, depending on the worthy selection), 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, Hulu, Amazon Instant Video, and more. Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below, and shoot over suggestions to @TheFilmStage.
3 Days of Normal (Ishai Setton; 2013)
A conventional romantic comedy with little to add to the genre, 3 Days of Normal still provides the sweetness of hopeful love and second chances we all hope to find. Star and cowriter Jace Mclean leads the way as his small town, lovelorn cop is duped into getting close with the celebrity stranger he arrested the night before that only he is oblivious to recognize: Mircea Monroe’s Nikki Gold. She left NYC for an escape from the chaos of sex scandals and movie premieres only to find honest love in the country. It’s a cute take on the cliche with a few familiar faces and laughs to hold your attention until its inevitable end arrives. – Jared M.
Where to Watch: iTunes
Agora (Alejandro Amenábar; 2009)
When I saw Alejandro Amenábar‘s Agora at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2009, the director spoke before the screening about wanting to tackle the subject of intolerance—the fight “against anyone who uses violence to prove his ideas”. Wanting a “going back in time” realism, he hired extras, built sets, and made a visually detailed document of a period of history that hasn’t really been done by Hollywood. An epic fight between pagan Egyptians and the growing contingent of Christians erupts before a clumsy time-lapse transition to a second war between Christians and Jews arrives on the same site of what once was a hub for education. With solid acting and elaborate sets, Agora is a definite departure from Amenábar’s previous works. And while not for everyone, serves as an entertaining entry to the war genre. – Jared M.
Where to Watch: Netflix Instant
Ain’t Them Bodies Saints (David Lowery; 2013)
If Bonnie and Clyde survived their final stand-off and attempted to live a life after crime, we would have the basic set-up of writer/director David Lowery‘s subdued, deeply felt Ain’t Them Bodies Saints. But that is just the beginning, as this drama skirts around the major peaks one may find in another film of its kind, instead focusing on the quiet, sublime exchanges. As it recently opened in limited release, it’ll expand wider this weekend, as well as hit VOD. – Jordan R.
Where to Watch: Cable On Demand
American Movie (Chris Smith; 1999)
If you’re reading this site, you likely have at least the basic knowledge of what it takes to a make a feature film, but when it comes to this documentary, you’ve ever seen it quite like this. Tracking the real-life creation of Mark Borchardt’s indie horror film Coven, this Sundance top prize winner is an entertaining look at the frustations one has to realize their dreams. Now free to stream on YouTube until November, there’s no excuses to skip this one. – Jordan R.
Where to Watch: YouTube
Amour (Michael Haneke; 2012)
My favorite film of 2012 finally comes to streaming this week after seeing a release at the tail end of last year. In the hands of Michael Haneke, I would have never expected him to deliver the most emotionally resonant film of 2012, but his timid tale of a couple holding on as one is forced to let go of life is the sole masterpiece of last year. Filled to the brim with specific moments I’ve reflected on for hours, but also working as an overall, life-changing experience, one will never look at death — both their personal struggle and caring for those nearing the end — the same way. While I can’t imagine a weekly viewing of this one, it’s an absolute must-see and an ideal rental. – Jordan R.
Where to Watch: Amazon Video, iTunes
Dredd (Pete Travis; 2012)
If one looks at Hollywood’s recent slate of remakes and updates, it’s easy to see they are usually wasted celluloid, but with this actioner, Karl Urban delivers his most entertaining performance yet. While I didn’t think anyone truly appreciated Sylvester Stallone‘s version outside of wanting to watch trains collide, this down-and-dirty reboot of the iconic comic book character is a rare example of a worthy redo. Singular in its focus on giving you a ton of action, blood, and no-bullshit science fiction, it’s some of the most fun I’ve had in theaters this year and considering the disappointing box office, hopefully audiences will give it new life as it hits Netflix. – Bill G.
Where to Watch: Netflix Instant
Greenberg (Noah Baumbach; 2010)
Before he created a bit more of a crowd pleaser with this year’s recent Criterion addition, Frances Ha, Noah Baumbach made some audiences angry with this offbeat character study. Considering my affinity for the director’s darker tendencies, Greenberg resulted in Ben Stiller‘s best performance to date and one of my favorite films of 2010. Now available on Netflix streaming, if the bad buzz turned you off a few years ago, it is the ideal time to discover the drama. – Jordan R.
Where to Watch: Netflix Instant
Samsara (Ron Fricke; 2012)
I usually look to the documentary form to deliver some of the most fascinating stories in cinema, but rarely do I expect something as jaw-droppingly gorgeous as this. Ron Fricke’s long-in-the-making journey across the world will open your perspective on not only unforeseen locations, but the human experience itself, confronting us with both the unsettling facts and raw natural splendor. While I can’t imagine a viewing on HD in Netflix will match up to a theatrical showing, it’s now available in the format. – Jordan R.
Where to Watch: Netflix Instant
A Single Shot (David M. Rosenthal; 2013)
Based on the crime thriller by Matthew F. Jones, director David M. Rosenthal‘s A Single Shot is stacked with a who’s who cast consisting of Sam Rockwell, William H. Macy, Jason Isaacs, Jeffrey Wright, and Melissa Leo. An atmospheric drama set in a remote woodland, it tells the tale of a loner, survivalist hunter who accidentally kills a young girl before finding a box of money near her body and a group of men of his trail to recover it. Rockwell has been receiving glowing praise for his portrayal and with a theatrical release not planned until September 20th, this is a great opportunity to see what made it a selection in both Berlin and Tribeca. – Jared M.
Where to Watch: Amazon Video, iTunes
Star Trek Into Darkness (J.J. Abrams; 2013)
Trek nerds who paid close, heartbroken attention to the last film will know the day they dreaded is here, one made inevitable the moment that J.J. Abrams blew up their beloved Vulcan in 2009 and thus created a world full of real threat and less logic to deal with it. If you are one of the faithful, Star Trek Into Darkness might be a bitter pill to swallow, but for all others Abram’s latest is a slam-bang space opera that delivers the thrilling goods with enough character development and thoughtful humanity to justify its place as part of this enduring franchise. – Nathan B.
Where to Watch: Amazon Video, iTunes
This is Martin Bonner (Chad Hartigan; 2013)
A contemplative, character-driven tale about the human spirit in the midst of adversity, Chad Hartigan’s This is Martin Bonner gives two of the year’s best performances. Nuanced throughout with a sadness of isolation broken by the promise of hope for better times to come, Paul Eenhoorn’s charitable theologian Martin and Richmond Arquette’s recently released ex-con Travis are more alike than they could ever have assumed. This is a film where very little happens on the surface as mountains of emotion are moved behind the eyes of its characters. They become each other’s example of never give up attitude and friend to lean on and accept the truth that they’re far from alone. – Jared M.
Where to Watch: Netflix Instant
What are you streaming this week?