Netflix Streaming Report: Dear White People, The Blacklist, and More

Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for September 10, 2015. After the long week 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 Watch Instant has been kind enough to supply us with Dear White People, The Blacklist, Teen Beach 2, and more.

Dear White People (Justin Simien) Rated R [100 min] – A satire that follows the stories of four black students at an Ivy League college where a riot breaks out over a popular African American-themed party thrown by white students. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, the film explores racial identity in post-racial America while weaving a universal story of forging one’s unique path in the world. Starring Tyler James Williams, Tessa Thompson, Teyonah Parris, Brandon Bell, Kyle Gallner, and Dennis Haysbert

When I first saw Dear White People in theaters I felt that it was highly intellectual, so much so that it may be too smart for not just myself but for most audiences to enjoy. I still think that. And the film has every right to be. I find it hard to like a movie that is so smug and smart because it’s hard to explain why you believe it’s good. The film carries its nose up in the air and will go over a lot of heads, but Dear White People is definitely a lively movie that shakes up current events in a very honest and entertaining fashion.

(Watch it now)

6 Years (Hannah Fidell) [Unrated [85 min] – A young couple bound by a seemingly ideal love, begins to unravel as unexpected opportunities spin them down a volatile and violent path and threaten the future they had always imagined. Starring Taissa Farmiga, Ben Rosenfield, Lindsay Burdge, and Joshua Leonard

This film just came out last month and has already hit Netflix. This is a pretty new concept as I’ve seen a few other films do so. I’m not sure what that says about this movie or the state of independent films, but I’m happy it’s more convenient to check out now considering my initial thoughts on the film.

(Watch it now)

The Blacklist (Season 2) (Jon Bokenkamp) Rated TV-14 [43 min] – Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Keen, a new FBI profiler has her entire life uprooted when a mysterious criminal, Raymond Reddington, on the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted List turns himself in and insists on speaking to her. Starring James Spader, Megan Boone, Diego Klattenhoff, Harry Lennix, Hisham Tawfiq, Amir Arison, and Mozhan Marno

I haven’t seen a single episode of The Blacklist yet, but now that we’re two seasons deep it definitely qualifies for a weekend binge session.