Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for December 3, 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 Tangerine, Hook, American Beauty, Super Size me, Best of Enemies, and more.
Tangerine (Sean Baker) Rated R [88 min] – A working girl tears through Tinseltown on Christmas Eve searching for the pimp who broke her heart. Starring Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, and Karren Karagulian
There’s been a lot of talking about Tangerine. It’s been popping up on some critics’ Best of 2015 lists. I didn’t really know what to expect when I sat down to watch it this past week. It’s a very original story that has heart in all the right places. I don’t think the history between characters Sin-Dee and Alexandra is as fleshed out as it needs to be in order to feel the weight of their decisions on one another, but the time spent with the two certainly creates just enough resonance to understand their plight. Tangerine is wildly unlike anything I’ve seen in quite some time and it definitely stands to be one of the more honest stories about friendship in 2015.
(Watch it now)
American Beauty (Sam Mendes) Rated R [122 min] – A sexually frustrated suburban father has a mid-life crisis after becoming infatuated with his daughter’s best friend. Starring Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Mena Suvari, and Thora Birch
Call me nostalgic, there’s something about American Beauty that fascinated me as a young lad. Not because there are boobs or a mumbling emo kid who video tapes everything, but I just knew deep down that this film would be important. Besides winning the Oscar for Best Picture and Best Actor (Spacey), there’s something truly raw and deeply emotional that has stuck with me and probably with many others who have seen it. Sam Mendes has crafted a remarkable film in every way possible.
(Watch it now)
Hook (Steven Spielberg) When Captain Hook kidnaps his children, an adult Peter Pan must return to Neverland and reclaim his youthful spirit in order to challenge his old enemy. Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams, Julia Roberts, and Bob Hoskins
Maybe it’s because I was raised at the time of its release, but I will never understand the hate toward Hook. It’s colorful, energetic, and it’s highly quotable. The production design is beautiful, the costumes are inventive, and it has Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Julia Robers, and Bob Hoskins. What more could you want people? Are you not entertained? Tell me!
(Watch it now)
A League of Their Own (Penny Marshall) Rated PG [128 min] – Two sisters join the first female professional baseball league and struggle to help it succeed amidst their own growing rivalry. Starring Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Madonna, Roise O’Donnell, and Tom Hanks
This movie is important on so many levels. A League of Their Own is a brilliantly told ensemble piece full of extraordinary women. Why don’t we have more movies about women in sports? It’s kind of interesting if you think about it. Everyone needs to see this movie.
(Watch it now)
Best of Enemies (Robert Gordon and Morgan Neville) Rated R [87 min] – A documentary on the series of televised debates in 1968 between the liberal Gore Vidal and the conservative William F. Buckley Jr. Starring Gore Vidal, William F. Buckley, and Dick Cavett
I haven’t seen Best of Enemies, but I’ve heard good things and that it has Oscar potential.
(Watch it now)
Also newly added to Netflix:
- India’s Daughter
- Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine
- Some Kind of Hate
- Tap World
- Tiger House
- Northern Soul
- Power Rangers Dino Charge (Season 1)
- Stations of the Cross
- 50 Shades of They
- About a Boy
- Amnesiac
- Atelier (Season 1)
- Bedazzled
- Big Ballet (Season 1)
- Bounce
- Broadchurch (Season 2)
- Carmen Jones
- CBGB
- Chasing Tyson
- The Chosen
- A Christmas Star
- Christmas Wedding Baby
- The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury
- Crade 2 the Grave
- Crescendo! The Power of Music
- Crossroads
- The Cruise
- Darkman
- Dealer
- #DeathToSelfie
- Dude, Where’s My License
- Escape from LA
- Eyes Wide Shut
- Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works (Seaosn 2)
- Gary: Tank Commander (Seasons 2-3)
- A Genius Leaves the Hood: The Unauthorized Story of Jay Z
- Gone in 60 Seconds
- The Gospel Road: A Story of Jesus
- Grojband (Season 1)
- Here on Earth
- Hoffa
- I’m Brent Morin
- Jenny’s Wedding
- Just Around the Corner
- Kate and Mim-Mim (Season 1)
- Las mágicas historias de Plim Plim (Season 1)
- My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Friendship Games
- Neil Young: Heart of Gold
- Over the Top
- Practical Magic
- Private Number
- Private Parts
- Ray
- Real Rob (Season 1)
- River of No Return
- See You in Valhalla
- Sensitive Skin (Season 1)
- The Smurfs and the Magic Flute
- Spy Hard
- Starting Over (Season 1)
- Stir of Echoes
- Stir of Echoes 2: The Homecoming
- Super Size Me
- The Touch of Mink
- Tree Fu Tom (Season 2)
- Two Step
- Tyke Elephant Outlaw
- Unstable Fables: 3 Pigs and a Baby
- Valley of the Dolls
- Winning Life’s Battles (Season 1)
- A Woman Like Me
- Æon Flux
- The Gambler
- Plush
- Stuck in Love
- Upside Down
- What Maisie Knew
- Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films
- The Best Offer
- Black Coal
- Thin Ice
- A Perfect Man
- Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
What will you be watching this weekend?
Look forward to more new titles from the Netflix Streaming Report every Thursday on TTRC.
All plot synopses courtesy of IMDb.com