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, 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, and shoot over suggestions to @TheFilmStage.
The Act of Killing (Joshua Oppenheimer)
While Hollywood attempts to conjure the latest harrowing characters and situations in their offerings, one documentary this summer proves that nothing can beat the real thing, for Joshua Oppenheimer‘s document of real-life Indonesian serial killers is perhaps the most unforgettable experience one can have at the cinema this year. It’s a true testament to not only the film’s structure, but the bond our director created with these men that, without it, this — especially a devastating third act — could have easily been a superficial look at the events. Instead, its matter-of-fact nature will get under one’s skin and never let go. – Jordan R.
Where to Stream: Netflix Instant
The Attack (Ziad Doueiri)
It’s been well over a year since The Attack premiered at TIFF, marking the fourth film from cinematographer turned director Ziad Doueiri. Now that the provocative drama has finished its festival and theatrical run, it’s time to make a debut on Netflix. Based on a book by Yasmina Khadra – and adapted by Doueiri and co-writer Joelle Touma – the indie stars Ali Suliman as a respected Israeli Palestinian surgeon who has successfully settled in Tel Aviv with his wife, Siham (Reymond Amsalem). His seemingly peaceful existence is shattered, however, when he discovers that Siham may have been involved in a suicide bombing that killed nineteen people. The tragic subject matter rings all too familiar in these violent times, and should resonate with audiences here and abroad. – Amanda W.
Where to Stream: Netflix
The Bicycle Thief (Vittorio De Sica)
One of the greatest films of all-time, Vittorio De Sica‘s The Bicycle Thief (or Bicycle Thieves, depending on who you ask) is an Italian neo-realist masterpiece. Tracking a father and his son and their search for a stolen bicycle through the worn-down, post-war Rome, the film is heartbreaking testament of survival. If you’ve never seen, make it a top priority. If you have, watch it again. – Jordan R.
Where to Stream: Netflix
Big Bad Wolves (Aharon Keshales, Navot Papushado)
In supposing that there’s entertainment to be found watching torture onscreen, a horror/thriller subgenre was created that emphasized it to “pornographic” heights and thus separated itself from the well-worn slasher title through how excessively the body would withstand the most gruesome of gore. Yet for every occasionally risky or at least admirably grotesque example of these films, there are just as many risible cases in which their excess is under the guise of being meaningful; as a post-9/11 cinema has produced dozens upon dozens of glib, opportunistic reactions to a confused world with filmmakers half-heartedly equating their faux-gritty grand guignol to media-spread images of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay. – Ethan V. (full review)
Where to Stream: iTunes, Google
The Crash Reel (Lucy Walker)
There was a steady welling up of tears as The Crash Reel came to its conclusion. I had shed a few earlier in the film, but now it was constantly assaulting my emotions, with a mix of joy and anger. The film follows a young snowboarder named Kevin Pearce and his rise to stardom — at one point he beat Shaun White with consistency — and his stunning and shocking injury that left him in a coma and the throes of death heading into the Olympics. I’ve never experienced the level of successes that Kevin had, but I’ve known what competition feels like in sports and the rush that you can’t replicate anywhere else. There’s an addictiveness to it that is the reason you have so many weekend warriors. Within this frame, we begin to understand why someone who has a traumatic brain injury (TBI) would be willing to risk their life in the pursuit of that thrill. – Bill G. (review)
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
In a World… (Lake Bell)
Sundance Film Festival is a breeding ground for exciting, new talent, with many budding filmmakers first stepping foot into the short film arena. The latest example comes with writer/director Lake Bell, who premiered her short Worst Enemy at the 2011 festival, and has now returned with her first feature-length effort, In a World…. Diving into the voice talent industry, Bell has crafted a relatable, humanistic small-scale drama, but one that could use another polish. – Jordan R. (full review)
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
+1 (Dennis Iliadis)
The shortest title of last yeat might also get the award for one of the most peculiar concepts. After showing at festivals such as SXSW and Fantasia, Dennis Iliadis‘ +1 arrived in theaters last this fall and has now landed on Netflix. Tracking three college students attending a wild party, they soon come across a time travel phenomenon that brings more questions than answers. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to get it on with yourself, then this film, from the director of The Last House on the Left remake, may be for you. Starring Rhys Wakefield, Ashley Hinshaw and Natalie Hall, one can stream it today. – Jack C.
Where to Stream: Netflix
Rush (Ron Howard)
Ron Howard likes to make movies in which every shot, gesture and cut is designed to elicit a specific response from the viewer; there is no room for ambiguity, uncertainty or the fun of interpretation. This isn’t an inherently problematic quality: simple, good movies are made in Hollywood all the time. However, like any approach to filmmaking, its appropriateness depends on the kind of story that’s being told, and whenever Howard uses his anonymous, risk-free aesthetic to attempt to make the Best American Film of the Year, the results are rarely inspiring. Watching his movies that tackle momentous American subjects — particularly his chronically disappointing efforts during the 2000s, like A Beautiful Mind and Frost/Nixon — one can’t help but picture an alternate version of the film, one made by a director who has the artistic reach and curiosity necessary to make such grand, towering narratives stick the landing. – Danny K. (full review)
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
Short Term 12 (Destin Cretton)
There are two bookend moments in Destin Cretton’s Short Term 12 that highlight this warm yet hard-hitting indie drama’s immense appeal. In both, John Gallagher’s shaggy, likable Mason is regaling his fellow foster home workers with colorful anecdotes from his tenure, each sunny myth interrupted by the reality of the job. Cretton, once a foster care worker, has much of Mason in him, illuminating the power of what a shared hug, hand on the shoulder, or simple impromptu birthday card may do for those who feel rudderless and alone. For all of that, he’s also got a quality that Mason, and his pregnant girlfriend Grace (Brie Larson), the real focus of Term, learn along the way; that the harsh reality of life is just as integral to our journey’s meaning as the brighter moments. Term is filled with brilliant performances, undeniable truths and an unwavering—and yes, brave—belief that there’s boldness in optimism and sophistication in unconditional kindness. – Nathan B.
Where to Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google
The Square (Jehane Noujaim)
The next daring chapter in the career of documentary filmmaker extraordinaire Jehane Noujaim led her to Egpyt, during the country’s tumultuous revolution that led to the outing of president Mubarak. Following the events of a staged sit on of Tahrir Square, through the eyes and cameras of the protestors, Noujaim is able to effectively capture the human struggle of what it means to stand up for your beliefs. The film doesn’t offer up much context outside of real-time conversations, opting for an observational testament of what people documented themselves, along with the director completely immersing herself in the journey. While much has been portrayed of the Egyptian revolution in the mainstream media, it is a completely different experience to view it from the focal point of activity. Spellbinding from beginning to end, The Square is a riveting portrait of a whole nation’s transformative experience as they demand their freedom and democracy. – Raffi A. (full review)
Where to Stream: Netflix
What are you streaming this week?