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.
54: Director’s Cut (Mark Christopher)
A critical and commercial failure upon its release late in the summer of 1998, not many can probably remember Mark Christopher‘s directorial debut, 54 (this writer’s Proust-ian childhood memory of it being its soundtrack on display as a reward in the arcade of a Dave & Buster’s type establishment). Yet with the quite belated release of its director’s cut, which premiered at Berlin Film Festival earlier this year, the film finally has a chance at another life as it’s now available on Digital HD. I also sat down with its creator to discuss this lucky break, and you can read it here. – Ethan V.
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
The Aviator (Martin Scorsese)
While not initially regarded as one of Martin Scorsese‘s better films, in the ten or so years since its release, The Aviator has seemed to gain due traction. With one of Leonardo DiCaprio‘s most complex performances at the center, the immaculately designed Howard Hughes drama often feels like more of an ode to classic Hollywood than his cinema-obsessed Hugo. – Jordan R.
Where to Stream: Netflix
Hits (David Cross)
Comedian David Cross, best known for his work on Mr. Show and his role as Tobias Bluth in Arrested Development, makes his directorial debut with Hits, a scornful satire about hipsters and fame-seeking idiots. Set in upstate New York, the film weaves together several different characters who have unusual expectations of reality and what they are entitled to simply by being American. This film is a scathing critique of modern society in the post-internet era, where people are utterly obsessed with instant gratification. While this seems like a promising milieu for Cross to exercise his wit as both a writer and director, Hits flounders in its slow pace while spending too much building up to one payoff joke in the end. – Raffi A. (full review)
Where to Stream: Netflix
Hungry Hearts (Saverio Costanzo)
My only piece of advice: don’t watch the trailer. Such is the power of co-writer and director Saverio Costanzo’s work that those who go in knowing nothing are going in unprepared. Third-act issues notwithstanding, this is a terrifying, brutal film that aspires to the close-quarter tension of Polanski and, at certain turns, can consider itself worthy of such company. It’s also a great actor’s showcase — Adam Driver and Alba Rohrwacher, who are often the only people on-screen, won Venice’s prestigious Volpi Cup for Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively — visually and structurally defined by dream- and nightmare-like ellipses, off-center angles, wide-angle lenses, and grainy 16mm stock. Hungry Hearts is a film that will be both remembered and discovered for years to come. – Nick N.
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
Li’l Quinquin (Bruno Dumont)
It’s difficult not to be impressed by the subtlety of what Dumont has done here. He parodies a procedural without taking weight away from the actual crime at hand, and he allows characters to slowly show themselves to us — not through a series of escalating events, but rather by riffing on the same thing repeatedly. A body turns up, the cops do their questioning and theorize, barely making visible progress; Quinquin passes time with Eve and bullies those he can with his buddies, never actually getting into hot water or seeming particularly threatening. He lets a scene play out a little longer than is narratively necessary to showcase character habits: Van der Weyden always announces that it’s time to exit by telling Carpentier “let’s roll,” while Carpentier prefers to drive in a complete circle when making that exit. They also tend to refer to “The Devil,” but one can’t help but wonder if Dumont’s Atheist side is using the title “Allahu Akbar” to suggest that it may be the old-testament God, punishing residents — and France, by extension — for its vices. Whatever the case, Li’l Quinquin exists to suggest and provoke rather than declare, and is all the better for it. – Forrest C. (full review)
Where to Stream: Netflix
The Nightmare (Rodney Ascher)
With Room 237, director Rodney Ascher provided a highly entertaining exploration of over-analyzation as it pertains to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. He now returns to Sundance Film Festival a few years later aiming to petrify with a perhaps more relatable documentary for some scourged individuals. The Nightmare, which explores the phenomenon of sleep paralysis, is an intriguing feature, but one that ends up dulling your senses with repetitive talking heads and recreated scenarios. – Jordan R. (full review)
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
Run All Night (Jaume Collet-Serra)
There’s something to be said about knowing exactly what you’re getting and Jaume Collet-Serra is proving consistent enough to deliver that promise through his films. Whereas Luc Besson spins a revolving door of directors to helm his actioners—mostly tongue-in-cheek, over-the-top fare (besides the original hit-maker Taken) he doesn’t deem worthy of his own eye behind the lens. Collet-Serra has carefully chosen a series of scripts from disparate scribes to supply him serious thrills with which to place his visual stamp. The common denominator between them being Liam Neeson is no surprise since he’s definitely embracing this “vengeance phase” of his career, subject matter both filmmakers fuel. You might be tiring of his “redundant” badass born of military and/or mob trajectories, but he’s good at it. And frankly, he’s going to keep going until you stop buying tickets. – Jared M. (full review)
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
Seven Psychopaths (Martin McDonagh)
It takes a deranged mind to be this fascinated with psychopaths, let alone seven of them. Colin Farrell’s Marty gets to quite literally take his work home with him, a screenwriter whose BFF, the aptly named Billy Bickle (Sam Rockwell) – perhaps the son of Taxi Driver’s Travis Bickle – is in on a dognapping scheme with Hans (Christopher Walken). They snatch the wrong Shih Tzu off of Sharice (Gabourey Sidibe), and so begins the wild ride. – John F. (full review)
Where to Stream: Amazon Prime
The Shining (Stanley Kubrick)
Just when one thinks there’s not much more than can be said about Stanley Kubrick‘s The Shining, a whole documentary gets made about the various, mostly far-reaching theories. Featuring some of the most striking imagery in his filmography, along with one of Jack Nicholson‘s most absorbing performances, this utter descent into madness is simply a must-watch, again and again. – Jordan R.
Where to Stream: Amazon Prime
Y Tu Mamá También (Alfonso Cuarón)
Before he took us to space or ventured in to the (hopefully not) near future, Alfonso Cuarón provided a stripped-down road trip dramedy that remains one of his best works. Y Tu Mamá También, released in 2001, follows Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna on a sensual, funny journey with Maribel Verdúa across Mexico. It’s the sort of project we hope Cuarón will one day return to and now it’s available to stream on Netflix. Although we should mentioned it’s also on The Criterion Collection, with a restored transfer, also including interviews with the cast and crew, Slavoj Žižek, an on-set documentary and a short film from Alfonso’s brother, Carlos Cuarón. – Jordan R.
Where to Stream: Netflix
We Are Still Here (Ted Geoghegan)
Throwback horror film We Are Still Here never loses a sense of quiet fun running underneath it. Clearly a loving send-up to films of the past, writer-director Ted Geoghegan’s feature debut is rarely subtle yet still manages to create a thorough sense of dread. With a well-established setting and stunning creature effects, there are some genuine moments of terror. Additionally, once the frights really begin, Geoghegan shows a healthy love of gore as he smears the quiet landscape with red. Even the actors are in on the fun, giving solid performances through their schlocky lines. – Bill G. (full review)
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
Also New to Streaming
Amazon
The Lazarus Effect (review)
McFarland, USA (review)
Police Story: Lockdown
Wild Horses
The Yes Men Are Revolting (review)
Netflix
Hector and the Search for Happiness
One from the Heart
The Pope of Greenwich Village
Roman Holiday
Something Wild
Tetro
What are you streaming this weekend?