Welcome to The Streaming Report for February 6, 2014, a weekly feature that suggests newly uploaded Netflix Instant  movies and shows that may tickle your fancy. After the long week on the grind you deserve a relaxing staycation with a bowl of popcorn, a bucket of ice cream, and only your Netflix queue to judge you. This past week, Netflix has been kind enough to supply us with Bates Motel, Airplane!, Concussion, Adore, The Usual Suspects, and a many more you’ll find after the break. We hope The Streaming Report will bring you hours of entertainment for your viewing pleasure.

Bates Motel (Season 1) (Anthony Cipriano) A modern re-imagining and prequel to the movie Psycho. This story begins with the earlier years of a teenage Norman Bates and his mother Norma who live in an old house overlooking the adjoining motel which they are renovating. The house and hotel both come with secrets of their own as does the new town which the Bates’ now call home.  Starring Vera Farmiga, Freddie Highmore, and Max Thieriot

I have yet to watch this show, but through the murmurs I have heard it’s a decent show. It has to be if it got picked up for a second season, premiering March 3 this year. I like both of the leads and I looks like it dives into the psyche of the characters fairly well. I’d love to give it a chance, I just need to find the time…

Adore (Anne Fontaine) A pair of childhood friends and neighbors fall for each other’s sons. Starring Naomi Watts, Robin Wright, and Xavier Samuel

As alluring as this premise is, critics say otherwise. The trailer looks pretty scandalous, and I think it might be worth a shot if you get really desperate for something to watch.

Airplane! (Jim Abrahams and David Zucker) An airplane crew takes ill. Surely the only person capable of landing the plane is an ex-pilot afraid to fly. But don’t call him Shirley. Starring Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, and Leslie Nielsen

One of the greatest spoof movies you could probably allow your eyeballs to behold.

MASH (Robert Altman) The staff of a Korean War field hospital use humor and hijinks to keep their sanity in the face of the horror of war. Starring Donald Sutherland, Elliott Gould, and Tom Skerritt

Another classic comes to Netflix and I’m embarrassed to say I have never seen it. It’s on the top of my Netflix Queue shame list.

Concussion (Stacie Passon) After a blow to the head, Abby decides she can’t do it anymore. Her life just can’t be only about the house, the kids and the wife. She needs more: she needs to be Eleanor. Starring Robin Weigert, Maggie Siff, and Johnathan Tchaikovsky

This was on my 2013 release to do list, but I have not idea why. It has to have been put on there for some reason. The concept sounds a bit stiff, but I wouldn’t have put it on my list to see if someone hadn’t said something good about it. I’ll give it a whirl.

Down Periscope (David S. Ward) Lt. Cmdr. Tom Dodge is assigned as Captain to the USS Stingray, an old diesel driven submarine that has seen better days. With a crew that consists only of weird guys (and a gal), he’s headed against the atomic powered USS Orlando, with the mission to destroy a dummy battleship. Starring Kelsey Grammer, Lauren Holly, and Rob Schneider

Here’s a classic 90’s comedy I saw in Blockbuster – yes, one of those – that I never watched, but always knew it existed. Besides Rob Schneider, I suppose this could be OK in times of need. This is what The Simpsons parodied when Homer goes on a submarine, right?

The Usual Suspects (Bryan Singer) A boat has been destroyed, criminals are dead, and the key to this mystery lies with the only survivor and his twisted, convoluted story beginning with five career crooks in a seemingly random police lineup. Starring Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, and Chazz Palminteri

Before Singer introduced us to the X-Men he gave us The Usual Suspects. This crime drama is one of the best woven mystery films to ever grace the big screen. The intricacies in storytelling and the wonderful character work done by the cast is just top notch. A must see.

Failure to Launch (Tom Dey) A thirty-something slacker suspects his parents of setting him up with his dream girl so he’ll finally vacate their home. Starring Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker

If you’re looking to fill that void of old McConaughey rom-coms of yesteryear here’s your chance because you won’t find him doing these for a long time.

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (David Zucker) Incompetent cop Frank Drebin has to foil an attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II. Starring Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, and O.J. Simpson

Another classic spoof movie with Leslie Nielsen of course. I remember growing up and loving this trilogy to my heart’s content.

Flashdance (Adrian Lyne) A Pittsburgh woman with two jobs as a welder and an exotic dancer wants to get into ballet school. Starring Jennifer Beals, Michael Nouri, and Lilia Skala

I have never seen it, but you always know when a movie is referencing Flashdance based on the legwarmers alone.

Queer as Folk (Seasons 1-5) (Daniel Lipman and Ron Cowen) The lives and loves of a group of gay friends living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Gale Harold, Hal Sparks, and Randy Harrison

I heard this was good? It got five seasons so it can’t be all that bad?

Heartbreakers (David Mirkin) A mother and daughter con team seduce and scam wealthy men. Starring Sigourney Weaver, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Gene Hackman

This movie is silly and completely hammy, but if you want to see Sigourney Weaver dig herself into a hole of a career, be my guest.

Airheads (Michael Lehmann) Three band members hoping for a big break head to a radio station to play their demo tape and wind up holding everyone hostage with plastic guns when the head DJ refuses to play them. Starring Brendan Fraser, Steve Buscemi, and Adam Sandler

And if you want to learn what Adam Sandler’s career was like before he became the famous comedian movie star you can try this mediocre early 90’s comedy.

Patriot Games (Phillip Noyce) When CIA Analyst Jack Ryan interferes with an IRA assassination, a renegade faction targets him and his family for revenge. Starring Harrison Ford, Sean Bean, and Anne Archer

For those who wanted a little more star power in their Jack Ryan and didn’t get enough in Shadow Recruit, we have Patriot Games with Harrison Ford. That should foot the bill for you.

She’s Having a Baby (John Hughes) Jake and Kristy Briggs are newlyweds. Being young, they are perhaps a bit unprepared for the full reality of marriage and all that it (and their parents) expect from them. Starring Kevin Bacon, Elizabeth McGovern, and Alec Baldwin

A John Hughes movie with a decent cast, what more could you ask for?

Marathon Man (John Schlesinger) A graduate history student is unwittingly caught in the middle of an international conspiracy involving stolen diamonds, an exiled Nazi war criminal, and a rogue government agent. Starring Dustin Hoffman, Laurence Olivier, and Roy Scheider

Sounds decent enough. I haven’t seen it, but Laurence Olivier was nominated for an Oscar and won the Golden Globe. So you have that to look forward to.

The Borgias (Seasons 1-3) (Neil Jordan) The saga of a crime family in 1492 Italy. Starring Jeremy Irons, François Arnaud, and Holliday Grainger

An Emmy winner for music and costumes, as well as a Golden Globe nominee for Jeremy Irons, The Borgias has gotten a lot of critical praise. And although this is another show that has slipped by my radar, it apparently has some clout to make it worth dipping your feet into.

What will you be watching this weekend? Look forward to more renditions of The Streaming Report every Thursday on TTRC.
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All plot synopses courtesy of IMDb.com