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 platforms. 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, and more (note: U.S. only). Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below.
After the Storm (Hirokazu Kore-eda)
Can our children pick and choose the personality traits they inherit, or are they doomed to obtain our lesser qualities? These are the hard questions being meditated on in After the Storm, a sobering, transcendent tale of a divorced man’s efforts to nudge back into his son’s life. Beautifully shot by regular cinematographer Yutaka Yamasaki, it marks a welcome and quite brilliant return to serious fare for writer-editor-director Hirokazu Kore-eda following last year’s Our Little Sister, widely regarded as one of the slightest works of his career thus far. – Rory O. (full review)
Where to Streaming: Amazon Prime
A Woman’s Life (Stéphane Brizé)
Misery is constant and humor is fleeting in the world of A Woman’s Life (Une Vie), an emotionally overcast period drama from French filmmaker Stéphane Brizé (The Measure of a Man). Shot in square-shaped academy ratio, it recalls — in a certain aesthetic and thematic light — the Danish Dogme films of the mid ‘90s, but without the pitch-black misanthropic wit that made that collective famous. Based on Guy de Maupassant’s 1883 novel of the same name (Tolstoy apparently loved it), it follows the endlessly unfortunate life of Jeanne Le Perthuis des Vaud, heiress to the fortune of a wealthy farming family in France in the 19th Century. – Rory O. (full review)
Where to Stream: iTunes, Google
Creepy (Kiyoshi Kurosawa)
One has to appreciate Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s winking self-awareness in calling his new feature Creepy. It’s as if the Coen brothers released a film entitled Snarky, or Eli Roth named his next stomach-churner Gory. Kurosawa, who’s still best known for Cure (1997) and Pulse (2001), two rare outstanding examples of the highly variable J-Horror genre, instills a sense of creepiness into virtually anything he does, regardless of subject matter. His latest, which sees him return to the realm of horror after excursions into more arthouse territory, certainly lives up to its name and has a lot of fun doing so. – Giovanni M.C. (full review)
Where to Stream: MUBI (free 30-day trial)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (James Gunn)
“I’m gonna make some weird shit.” So says Peter Quill a.k.a. Star Lord a.k.a. not-Han-Solo (Chris Pratt) two thirds into Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and — without spoiling it in context — it serves as a hopeful mantra for director James Gunn. Unfortunately for all involved, this second installment only half lives up to its end of that bargain. – Conor O. (full review)
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
Manifesto (Julian Rosefeldt)
Manifesto starts with a dictionary definition of its title, and pulls off the considerable feat of not being terrible after doing so. Still, I feel confident that it works better in its original form as an art installation. The film is more of a clip show, awkwardly cutting together elements once presented in a drastically different manner. In doing so, it obfuscates the power of a manifesto, allegedly what it means to pay tribute to. – Dan S. (full review)
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
Tampopo (Jûzô Itami)
As the most basic level, Tampopo can be sold as Rocky with ramen, but the eccentric contours of Jûzô Itami‘s 1985 hit make this more than a simple underdog story. Following a pair of truck drivers (including a young Ken Watanabe) who assist a widow in revitalizing her business and creating the perfect bowl of ramen, there’s also cuisine-centered erotism, gangster drama, spaghetti-eating lessons, a death-inducing final meal, and much more. Excelling both as a film about process and a swirling fantasy about culinary ecstasy, Tampopo is one of the best films about food ever made, perhaps even besting another Criterion release, Babette’s Feast. – Jordan R.
Where to Stream: FilmStruck
The Transfiguration (Michael O’Shea)
Life’s been hard for Milo (Eric Ruffin). His father died when he was eight and his mother committed suicide not too long after. That type of horror will change anyone let alone a child. It turned him towards the macabre—mainly a fascination with movie vampires and the rules with which they exist. It makes sense to gravitate towards the immortal, figures that sustain themselves with the death of others. Tragedy plays a key role in making these monsters stronger and Milo embraces that notion because he knows it only too well. On top of his parents dying are an older brother returned from the military (Aaron Moten’s Lewis), a violent New York City projects residence, and a stigma as “freak” due to his penchant for killing animals. – Jared M. (full review)
Where to Stream: Netflix
Also New to Streaming
Amazon
Among Us (review)
Cézanne et Moi (review)
Wolves (review)
FilmStruck
They Live by Night
In a Lonely Place
Bigger Than Life
Sunday in Peking and The Last Emperor
White Material
Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday and The Party
Adventures of a Dentist
Taipei Story
Torna!
Youth of the Son
MUBI (free 30-day trial)
Whirlpool of Fate
A Month In Thailand
Extraordinary Stories
Balnearios
A Mere Breath
Champagne