Netflix Streaming Report: Beasts of No Nation, Marvel’s Avengers Assemble, and More

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for October 22, 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 Beasts of No Nation, Marvel’s Avengers Assemble, Ain’t Them Body Saints, and more. Also, see all the titles that are leaving as of November 1.

Beasts of No Nation

Source: Tumblr

Beasts of No Nation (Cary Joji Fukunaga) Not Rated [137 min] – A drama based on the experiences of Agu, a child soldier fighting in the civil war of an unnamed African country. Starring Idris Elba, Abraham Attah, Emmanuel Affadzi, and Ricky Adelayitor [Watch the Trailer]

There’s been a ton of buzz surrounding Beasts of No Nation, and sadly I have not had time to check it out; mostly because I want to be prepared for its dower subject matter. Once I see it I’ll be sure to update with my thoughts. It looks very impressive and I hear Idris Elba has Oscar potential.

(Watch it now)

Marvel's Avengers Assemble

Source: TVtropes.org

Marvel’s Avengers Assemble (Jack Kirby, Kari Rosenberg, Joe Simon, and Wendy Willming) Rated TV-Y7-FV [23 min] – The further adventures of the Marvel Universe’s mightiest general membership superhero team. Starring Fred Tatasciore, Roger Craig Smith, and Troy Baker

I’m a bigger fan of Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, but since that series has been replaced with Avengers Assemble we’ll have to deal with it. This series is a mediocre substitute that treads over a lot of the same story threads and villains over and over again. It’s still enjoyable to see these characters work together, but I wish it wasn’t as childish and more character driven.

(Watch it now)

Ain't them body saints

Source: VH1

Ain’t Them Bodies Saints (David Lowery) Rated R [96 min] – The tale of an outlaw who escapes from prison and sets out across the Texas hills to reunite with his wife and the daughter he has never met. Starring Rooney Mara, Casey Affleck, and Ben Foster [Watch the Trailer]

I’m not a huge fan of Ain’t Them Body Saints. I think all the actors involve do a stand up job, but the story didn’t fascinate me or capture my attention. Perhaps it may be something you would enjoy?

(Watch it now)

Anthony Jeselnik: Thoughts and Prayers Rated TV-MA [59 min] – There’s no subject too dark as the comedian skewers taboos and riffs on national tragedies before pulling back the curtain on his provocative style.

There’s something about Anthony Jeselnik’s deadpan, cynical humor that cracks me up. His comedy is so dark and uncomfortable that you can’t help but laugh. His subject matter is disturbing and not for the faint of heart. He’s been on a handful of Comedy Central’s roasts, which give you a pretty good idea where his mind is at. Check out his roast of Donald Trump.

(Watch it now)

Also newly available on Netflix streaming this week:

Back in Time
LEGO DC Comics: Batman Be-Leaguered
All Hail King Julien (Season 2)

Leaving Netflix in November 2015:

Nov. 1

Nov. 3

Bratz: Good Vibes (2011)

Nov. 5

The Perfect Stranger (2011)

Nov. 7

Shanghai Noon (2000)

Nov. 8

My Hope America with Billy Graham (2013)

Nov. 9

The Road (2011)

Nov. 10

Bratz: Pampered Petz (2010)

Nov. 12

A Girl Walks into a Bar (2011)

Nov. 13

Stranger by the Lake (2014)

Nov. 15

Fleabag Monkeyface: Season 1 (2012)

Nov. 16

Teen Beach Movie (2013)

Nov. 17

Bratz: Diamondz (2006)

Nov. 19

Breaking the Girls (2013)
Crystal Fairy & the Magical Cactus (2013)

Nov. 22

Alpha and Omega: The Legend of the Saw Tooth Cave (2014)
Bel Ami (2012)
Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview (2012)

Nov. 24

Art of Flight: The Series (2012)

Nov. 27

Burning Man (2011)
Leviathan (2012)

Nov. 28

Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap (2012)

Nov. 29

Romanzo Criminale: Season 1-2
Salamander: Season 1 (2012)

Nov. 30

Jesus Henry Christ (2011)
Virginia (2010)

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

Image Source: Forbes

Netflix Streaming Report: Jane the Virgin Season 1, The Lazarus Effect, and More

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for October 15, 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 Jane the Virgin Season 1, The Lazarus Effect, Sword Art Online II, and more.

Jane the Virgin Season 1

Source: Forever Young Adult

Jane the Virgin Season 1 (Jennie Snyder Urman) Rated TV-14 [43 min] – Jane is a 23 year old hard-working, religious Latina woman, whose family tradition and vow to save her virginity until marriage to a long time boyfriend and detective, is shattered when her doctor mistakenly artificially inseminates her during a checkup. And to make matters worse, the biological donor is a married man, a former playboy, and cancer survivor who is not only the new owner of the hotel where Jane works, but was also her former teenage crush. Starring Gina Rodriguez, Andrea Navedo, Yael Grobglas, Justin Baldoni, Ivonne Coll, Brett Dier, Jaime Camil, and Anthony Mendez

The CW has found a perfect harmony of drama and comedy for its young adult driven audience with Jane the Virgin. There’s a new wave of soap-y, guilty pleasure series floating around these days that get little love because of their content, when in actuality they’re fairly well done and highly addictive. It’s like Degrassi: The Next Generation for more mature audiences.

(Watch it now)

The Lazarus Effect Olivia Wilde

Source: The Lazarus Effect Official Movie Tumblr

The Lazarus Effect (David Gelb) Rated PG-13 [83 min] – A group of medical students discover a way to bring dead patients back to life. Starring Olivia Wilde, Mark Duplass, Evan Peters, and Sarah Bolger

I’m only listing The Lazarus Effect because you might recognize it from its marketing efforts earlier this year when it released. And to that affect, I would advise you to avoid this movie at all costs. Even if it sparked just a minuscule amount of interest, don’t do it. This movie is basic to the nth degree, they also shortened the title of it to Lazarus, most likely to throw you off to think it’s something different.

(Watch it now – if you absolutely have to)

Also newly available on Netflix streaming this week:

The Christmas Card
C.I.D. (Season 1)
Dinotopia: The Miniseries
Katt Williams: The Pimp Chronicles: Pt. 1
Road (2014)
Sin Senos no Hay Paraíso (Season 1)
The Sitter (2007)
Skins (Vol. 7)
Pentatonix: On My Way Home
Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me
Durarara!!
The Mr. Peabody and Sherman Show (Season 1)
Sword Art Online II

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

Image Source: Post Gazette

Netflix Streaming Report: The Flash Season 1, Arrow Season 3, AHS: Freakshow, and More

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for October 8, 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 The Flash Season 1, Arrow Season 3, iZombie Season 1, AHS: Freakshow, and more.

the flash seaosn 1 barry allen

Source: Perez Hilton

The Flash Season 1 (Greg Berlanti, Geoff Johns, and Andrew Kreisberg) Rated TV-PG [43 min] – Barry Allen wakes up 9 months after he was struck by lightning and discovers that the bolt gave him the power of super speed. With his new team and powers, Barry becomes “The Flash” and fights crime in Central City. Starring Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes, Tom Cavangh, and Jesse L. Martin

This is a series that demands your attention. You may think that The Flash is just a throwaway character based on his abilities, but there’s more to him than meets the eye. And more to this show as well. There’s a clever balance of comic wit, fun action, and colorful characters that makes The Flash a very formidable and one of the best superhero series ever created. It’s so detailed in developing the character that there just isn’t enough time spent with the scarlet speedster that the second season hasn’t come soon enough!

(Watch it now)

Arrow Season 3

Source: Hypable

Arrow Season 3 (Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, and Andrew Kreisberg) – Spoiled billionaire playboy Oliver Queen is missing and presumed dead when his yacht is lost at sea. He returns five years later a changed man, determined to clean up the city as a hooded vigilante armed with a bow. Starring Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, and David Ramsey

Despite a slow, almost uninteresting first season, Arrow has continually progressed to become a series that has rewarded patience. The third season presents a more transitional period for Oliver that sets up big change our heroes, and right now, having all three seasons on Netflix, is the best time to catch up!

(Watch it now)

izombie live moore

Source: WeHeartIt

iZombie Season 1 (Diane Ruggiero and Rob Thomas) Rated TV-14 [42 min] – A medical resident finds that being a zombie has its perks, which she uses to assist the police. Starring Rose McIver, Malcolm Goodwin, Rahul Kohli, Robert Buckley, and Blaine DeBeers

I was surprised how digestible iZombie actually is when I checked out the first few episodes. It’s playful and silly, but in a good way that works in the strange world it has created for itself.

(Watch it now)

twisty the clown american horror story freak show

Source: VH1

American Horror: Story: Freak Show (Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk) Rated TV-MA [43 min] – An anthology series that centers on different characters and locations, including a haunted house, an insane asylum, a witch coven and a freak show. Starring Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Michael Chiklis, Frances Conroy, Denis O’Hare, Emma Roberts, Finn Wittrock, Angela Bassett, and Kathy Bates

I have yet to see Freak Show, but I have not heard any positives toward this season. It has all the right elements, so I look forward to seeing this train wreck and why it broke many fans.

(Watch it now)

Also newly available on Netflix streaming this week:

American Heist
Strangerland
Cheatin’
Legends Season 1
Supernatural Season 10
Last Man Standing Season 4
The Originals Season 2
The Stranger
Tremors 5: Bloodline
The Otherworld
Team Hot Wheels: Build the Epic Race
Man from Reno
A Sinner in Mecca
Alpha and Omega: Family Vacation
Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal
Reign Season 2
The Vampire Diaries Season 6

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

Image Source: IGN

Netflix Streaming Report: The Walking Dead Season 5, Batman Begins, and More

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for October 1, 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 The Walking Dead Season 5, Batman Begins, Love Actually, The Wedding Singer, and more. Also, see all the titles that are leaving this month.

The walking Dead season 5

Source: i09

The Walking Dead Season 5 (Scott M. Gimple) Police officer Rick Grimes leads a group of survivors in a world overrun by zombies. Starring Andrew Lincoln, Steven Yuen, Norman Reedus, Chandler Riggs, Melissa McBride, Lauren Cohan, Emily Kinney, and Danai Gurira

Das good, eh? Sí. Me gusta. Season 4 started off strong, but became aggravatingly slow in its later half. Season 5 is unrelenting. There’s never a dull moment despite a more transitional back eight episodes in the Alexandria Safe-Zone. It’s only setting up to a big premiere with Season 6 starting up October 13. And it’s going to be a really great season. Binge! Binge! Binge!

(Watch it now)

love actually andrew lincoln

Source: PopSugar

Love Actually (Richard Curtis) Rated R [135 min] – Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England. Starring Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Martin Freeman, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Keria Knightley, and Andrew Lincoln

Is it too soon for Christmas movies? Yes. Is it a hilarious coincidence that this film and The Walking Dead Season 5 both appeared on Netflix streaming within the same week? Double yes.

(Watch it now)

batman begins

Source: metro.co.uk

Batman Begins (Christopher Nolan) Rated PG-13 [140 min] – After training with his mentor, Batman begins his war on crime to free the crime-ridden Gotham City from corruption that the Scarecrow and the League of Shadows have cast upon it. Starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Ken Watanabe, Liam Neeson, Katie Holms, Gary Oldman, and Cillian Murphy

It’s not the Dark Knight trilogy film we deserve, but the one Netflix subscribers need? It’s not what Netflix is underneath, but what they choose to stream that defines them?

(Watch it now)

American Pie

Source: Tumblr

American Pie (Paul Weitz) Rated R [95 min] – Four teenage boys enter a pact to lose their virginity by prom night. Starring Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Alyson Hannigan, Shannon Elizabeth, Eddie Kay Thomas, Sean William Scott, Tara Reid, Natasha Lyonne, and Eugene Levy

This coming of age teen sex comedy holds a special place in my heart. It’s like what Scream did to the horror genre. American Pie was a complete revitalization for comedies and it still withstands the test of time because of how relatably hilarious it is.

(Watch it now)

Also newly available on Netflix streaming this week:

Leaving Netflix this October

October 1

October 4

Wolverine and the X-Men: Season 1

October 7

Alpha and Omega 2: A Howl-iday Adventure
Alpha and Omega 3: The Great Wolf Games

October 8

Snoop Dogg Presents The Bad Girls of Comedy

October 9

Crank

October 12

Bratz Kids: Fairy Tales

October 15

Good Luck Chuck
Pinky Dinky Doo: Season 1
Play with Me Sesame: Season 1
Sesame Street: Animals and Nature: Season 1
Sesame Street: Classics: Vol. 1-2
Sesame Street: Cookie and Friends: Season 1
Sesame Street: Creativity and Imagination: Season 1
Sesame Street: Elmo and Friends: Season 1
Sesame Street: Everyday Moments: Season 1
Sesame Street: Music and Dance: Season 1
Sesame Street: Numbers and Letters: Season 1

October 16

Brüno
Chico & Rita

October 20

Freelancers

October 22

Machine Gun Preacher

October 25

Nanny 911: Season 1

October 26

Bratz: Genie Magic

October 27

Alexandria

October 29

America’s Sweethearts

October 30

Life in Our Universe: Season 1

October 31

Braxton Family Values: Season 3

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

Netflix Streaming Report: Gotham Season 1, Philomena, The Loft, and More

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for September 24, 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 Gotham Season 1, Philomena, The Loft, and more.

Gotham: The Complete First Season (Bruno Heller) Rated TV-14 [42 min] – The story behind Commissioner James Gordon’s rise to prominence in Gotham City in the years before Batman’s arrival. Starring Ben McKenzie, Jada Pinkett Smith, Donal Logue, David Mazouz, Camren Bicondova, Cory Michael Smith, Robin Lord Taylor

Earlier this month I wrote a little ditty on my thoughts about Gotham Season 1. As I stated, my opinion is so so on the series thus far. Batman mythology is forced too hard too soon and it winds up hurting the show by not letting detective Gordon have his own thing. It’s OK. The series is definitely best viewed via Netflix. I wouldn’t consider it binge-worthy though. It’s not that digestible. I’d say about 40% of it is worthwhile entertainment.

(Watch it now)

Philomena (Stephen Frears) A world-weary political journalist picks up the story of a woman’s search for her son, who was taken away from her decades ago after she became pregnant and was forced to live in a convent. Starring Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Sophie Kennedy Clark, and Mare Winningham

Philomena is pretty drab. The performances by both Dench and Coogan are well done, but there’s such minimal amount of energy from their characters that the reward of the climax is hardly fulfilling. Depending on if you like slow burn dramas, the story surrounding these characters isn’t built up to be that interesting too.

(Watch it now)

The Loft (Erik Van Looy) Rated R [108 min] – Five married guys conspire to secretly share a penthouse loft in the city–a place where they can carry out hidden affairs and indulge in their deepest fantasies. But the fantasy becomes a nightmare when they discover the dead body of an unknown woman in the loft, and they realize one of the group must be involved. Starring Karl Urban, James Marsden, Wentworth Miller, and Eric Stonestreet

If you want to watch decent actors swept up in a unique concept contained within a terrible movie be my guest.

(Watch it now)

Also newly available on Netflix streaming this week:

From Prada to Nada
Kung Fu Killer
Keith Richards: Under the Influence
Serendipity
SMOSH: The Movie
Finding Neighbors
Iris
Because I Was a Painter

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

Netflix Streaming Report: Moonrise Kingdom, The Bank Job, The Fosters, and More

Posted on September 17, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for September 17, 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 Moonrise Kingdom, The Bank Job, The Fosters, and more.

Moonrise Kingdom: Criterion Collection (Wes Anderson) Rated PG-13 [94 min] – A pair of young lovers flee their New England town, which causes a local search party to fan out to find them. Starring Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, Bruce Willis, Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Ed Norton, and Jason Schwartzman

Since The Grand Budapest Hotel isn’t available on Netflix, Moonrise Kingdom is your next best bet to get your Wes Anderson fix. It’s really playful and has a great charm with its young lead. The cast is lively, fun, and endearing. if you aren’t keen on Anderson’s more artsy films, check out Moonrise Kingdom, it is far easier to digest.

(Watch it now)

Men, Women & Children (Jason Reitman) Rated R [119 min] – A look at the sexual frustrations that young teenagers and adults face in today’s world. Starring Ansel Elgort, Adam Sandler, Judy Greer, Rosemarie DeWitt, Jennifer Garner, Dean Norris, Kaitlyn Dever, J.K. Simmons, and Emma Thompson

I don’t envy anyone trying to weave together interrelated stories to create one cohesive film. And if I thought anyone could pull it together it would be Jason Reitman (Up in the Air; Juno; Thank You for Smoking). Unfortunately he didn’t quite stick the landing. Men, Women & Children is a step above and beyond his previous feature, Labor Day, but the film plays it too safe by delivering something sadly generic and incredibly depressing. There’s a solid cast here, I just wish there was more substance than what you’d come to expect.

(Watch it now)

The Fosters: The Complete Third Season (Brad Bredeweg and Peter Paige) Rated TV-14 [42 min] – Teenager Callie Jacobs is placed in a foster home with a lesbian couple and their blend of biological, adoptive and foster children.Creators: Stars: Teri Polo, Sherri Saum, Hayden Byerly, Maia Mitchell, David Lambert, Danny Nucci, and Cierra Ramirez

If you’re ever in the market for a series that bridges the gap between daytime soaps and young adult women, ABC Family has cracked the code. Their half-hour sitcoms are a different story. Armed with a slew of carefully targeted program is so craftily put together, ABC Family is unlike any other channel out there. The Fosters is a good show, full of many feels and maybe too much coincidental drama that you’d think you’re back in Degrassi High. There are a lot of topical situations that The Fosters nails on the head with acute precision and grace, but if you can’t believe that so much drama can befall one family you might want to look elsewhere.

(Watch it now)

The Bank Job (Roger Donaldson) Rated R [111 min] – Martine offers Terry a lead on a foolproof bank hit on London’s Baker Street. She targets a roomful of safe deposit boxes worth millions in cash and jewelry. But Terry and his crew don’t realize the boxes also contain a treasure trove of dirty secrets – secrets that will thrust them into a deadly web of corruption and illicit scandal. Starring Jason Statham, Saffron Burrows, Stephen Campbell Moore

I’ve never seen The Bank Job, but it’s on Netflix in case you need your Jason Statham fix.

(Watch it now)

Also newly available on Netflix streaming this week:

Madam Bovary
God Bless the Child
About Elly
Why Did I Get Married
Portlandia (Season 5)
Comedy Bang! Bang! (Season 4)
Ax Men (Season 4)
Reality (2014)
Myth Hunters (Series 1)
The Beast (1975)
Reservation Road
Skin Trade

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

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

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

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.

(Watch it now)

Also newly available on Netflix streaming this week:

Love at First Sight
The A-List
Bad Night
Madam Secretary (Season 1)
Seashore
For the Emperor
Teen Beach 2
The Suicide Theory
Longmire (Season 4)
Fugitivos (Season 1)

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

Netflix Streaming Report: The League, Rambo, Time Lapse, Once Upon a Time, and More

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for September 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 Once Upon a Time, Up in the Air, The League, Area 51, and over 50 more titles new to streaming this September.

Up in the Air (Jason Reitman) Rated R [109 min] – With a job traveling around the country firing people, Ryan Bingham enjoys his life living out of a suitcase, but finds that lifestyle threatened by the presence of a new hire and a potential love interest. Starring George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman, and J.K. Simmons

The cast alone is enough to bring a stir to my pants. But if you’re looking for an intellectual drama that hones in on love, life, and existentialism in a hilarious, touching, and poignant way, Up in the Air is one fine piece of cinema. The performances (Anna Kendrick earns her first Oscar nom for her role) and honesty are something missing from a lot of movies these days, and Jason Reitman nails this one out of the ballpark.

(Watch it now)

The League: The Complete Sixth Season (Jackie Marcus Schaffer and Jeff Schaffer) Semi-scripted comedy about a fantasy football league. Starring Mark Duplass, Nick Kroll, Jonathan Lajoie, Stephen Rannazzisi, Paul Scheer, and Katie Aselton

I’m a big fan of The League, but unfortunately I do not have FXX – who does really? So I’m excited to catch up on one of the silliest and smarter live-action comedies on television.

(Watch it now)

Time Lapse (Bradley King) Not Yet Rated [104 min] – Three friends discover a mysterious machine that takes pictures 24hrs into the future and conspire to use it for personal gain, until disturbing and dangerous images begin to develop. Starring Danielle Panabaker, Matt O’Leary, and George Finn

It’s not so much a good movie as it is a great concept that falls flat on its face in the last third of the film. Time Lapse has its perks, but it definitely could have found better direction to come to a more satisfying ending. Good thing it’s on Netflix to check out if you missed it during its festival run.

(Watch it now)

Once Upon a Time: The Complete Fourth Season (Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz) Rated TV-PG [44 min] – Soon after Emma and Hook unwittingly bring Elsa of Arendelle to Storybrooke, they encounter the mysterious Snow Queen, whose relentless obsession with both Emma and Elsa has chilling consequences. Meanwhile, it appears Regina has at last found true love with Robin Hood. But how will she react when her happy ending is thwarted yet again by a maddening twist of fate? Starring Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Josh Dallas, Emilie de Ravin, Colin O’Donoghue, Lana Parrilla, Jared Gilmore, Michael Raymond-James, Robert Carlyle, and Georgina Haig

Because we obviously didn’t get enough of Frozen in theaters. Disney had to squeeze every last inch of the animated feature’s popularity out onto their ABC show.

(Watch it now)

Area 51 (Oren Peli) Rated R [91 min] – Three young conspiracy theorists attempt to uncover the mysteries of Area 51, the government’s secret location rumored to have hosted encounters with alien beings. What they find at this hidden facility exposes unimaginable secrets. Starring Reid Warner, Darrin Bragg, Ben Rovner

The long awaited sophomore feature from writer/director Oren Peli finally arrived earlier this year. I have not seen it yet, but I am looking forward to finding out whether this filmmaker delivers on the promise of what appeared to be a unique vision when Paranormal Activity released in 2009.

(Watch it now)

Also newly available on Netflix streaming this week:

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

Netflix Streaming Report: Jiro Dreams of Sushi, White God, Girl Meets World, and More

Posted on August 27, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for August 27, 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 White God, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, Girl Meets World, and more. Also, find out what’s leaving in the month of September.

White God (Kornél Mundruczó) Rated R [121 min] – Thirteen-year-old Lili fights to protect her dog Hagen. She is devastated when her father eventually sets Hagen free on the streets. Still innocently believing love can conquer any difficulty, Lili sets out to find her dog and save him. Starring Zsófia Psotta, Sándor Zsótér, Lili Horváth, and Szabolcs Thuróczy

Far stronger visually than the message White God is trying to say within the story, but it’s a fascinating watch nonetheless. You’ll never find better dog actors than this.

(Watch it now)

Jiro Dreams of Sushi (David Gelb) Rated PG [81 min] – A documentary on 85-year-old sushi master Jiro Ono, his renowned Tokyo restaurant, and his relationship with his son and eventual heir, Yoshikazu. Starring Jiro Ono, Masuhiro Yamamoto, and Daisuke Nakazama

A beautiful documentary on an aging sushi master. There may not be a strong purpose or direction, however Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a quick, interesting documentary to digest.

(Watch it now)

Girl Meets World (Michael Jacobs and April Kelly) Rated TV-G [23 min] – More than a decade after “Boy Meets World (1993)”, Cory and Topanga Matthews are married and have two children. Their daughter, Riley, faces life lessons through her family, friends, and school–where her father is her history teacher–as her parents did when they were younger. Starring Rowan Blanchard, Sabrina Carpenter, and Ben Savage

For everyone excited to return to the world of Topanga and Cory, now’s your chance to digest the entire new series in one fell swoop in case you missed it when it aired. I have really nothing to say about this show because I rarely watched Boy Meets World and have no real emotional ties to the series.

(Watch it now)

Byzantium (Neil Jordan) Rated R [118 min] – Residents of a coastal town learn, with deathly consequences, the secret shared by the two mysterious women who have sought shelter at a local resort. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Gemma Arterton, and Sam Riley

I have yet to see Byzantium, but I always remember seeing it on various lists back when it debuted in 2012. So I’m looking forward to checking it out.

(Watch it now)

Also newly available on Netflix streaming this week:

NCIS (Season 12)
The Kid with the Golden Arm
The incredible Bionic Man
The Hunt for Bin Laden
Heroes of the East
Executioners from Shaolin
Five Shaolin Masters
Gun Woman
A Wolf at the Door
October Gale
Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (Seaosn 16)
Survivor

And here’s the LAST CALL on these titles for this September:

Leaving 9/1

Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2014)
Better Than Chocolate (1999)
Bratz: Rock Angelz (2005)
Care Bears: Big Wish Movie (2005)
Care Bears: Journey to Joke-A-Lot (2004)
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey! (2009)
Elektric Children (2012)
FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992)
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Mortal Kombat: The Movie (1995)
Patch Adams (1998)
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie (2000)
Rules of Engagement (2000)
Rumpelstiltskin (1987)
Sarah’s Choice (2009)
She’s the One (1996)
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
The Lost Boys (1987)
Total Recall (1990)
W. (2008)

Leaving 9/2

Cheese and Chong’s Hey Watch This (2010)

Leaving 9/4

Delta Farce (2007)

Leaving 9/5

Marilyn in Manhattan (2012)

Leaving 9/9

Bratz: Friendship is Always in Style (2014)
Kicking It (2008)

Leaving 9/10

100 Below Zero (2013)
Becoming Chaz (2010)
War Witch (2012)

Leaving 9/13

High Fidelity (2000)

Leaving 9/14

Corky Romano (2001)

Leaving 9/15

Bratz: The Video: Starrin’ & Stylin’ (2004)
Valhalla (2013)

Leaving 9/16

“Hank: Five Years from the Brink” (2013)

Leaving 9/20

“Reporter” (2009)

Leaving 9/22

National Geographic: Inside Guantanamo (2009)
National Geographic: The Battle for Midway (1999)

Leaving 9/26

Indy 500: The Inside Line (2011)
Lethal Force (2011)
Ron White: A Little Unprofessional (2012)

Leaving 9/29

Bratz: Desert Jewelz (2011)
Coriolanus (2011)

Leaving 9/30

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
If I Stay (2014)
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)
Jackass Presents: Nebraska (2013)
Nebraska (2013)
Saved! (2004)
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
The Expendables 3 (2014)
The Good Guy (2010)
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
The Prince (2014)
The Skeleton Twins (2014)
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
World War Z (2013)
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

Netflix Streaming Report: Pariah, Alex of Venice, If I Stay, and More

Posted on August 20, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for August 20, 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 Pariah, Alex of Venice, If I Stay, and more.

If I Stay (R.J. Cutler) Rated PG-13 [106 min] – Life changes in an instant for young Mia Hall after a car accident puts her in a coma. During an out-of-body experience, she must decide whether to wake up and live a life far different than she had imagined.Chloë Grace Moretz, Mireille Enos, Jamie Blackley, and Joshua Leonard

I haven’t seen If I Stay, but the trailer made the film look hilariously predictable and overly contrived.

(Watch it now)

Alex of Venice (Chris Messina) Rated R [86 min] – A workaholic attorney is forced to reinvent her life after her husband suddenly leaves. Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Chris Messina, Don Johnson, and Derek Luke

Netflix is a magical place that allows us to see films that we don’t have the time or convenience to when they hit theaters, such as this small indie darling Alex of Venice. I had read mostly positive headlines, and so I look forward to checking it out.

(Watch it now)

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (Lorene Scafaria) Rated R [101 min] – As an asteroid nears Earth, a man finds himself alone after his wife leaves in a panic. He decides to take a road trip to reunite with his high school sweetheart. Accompanying him is a neighbor who inadvertently puts a wrench in his plan. Starring Steve Carell, Keira Knightley, and Melanie Lynskey

There isn’t too much that stuck with me about Seeking a Friend. It has an awkward imbalance of quirky indie and poignant drama. It’s an extreme of either or with this movie, which makes it a frustrating yet interesting sit.

(Watch it now)

Pariah (2011) (Dee Rees) Rated R [86 min] – A Brooklyn teenager juggles conflicting identities and risks friendship, heartbreak, and family in a desperate search for sexual expression. Starring Adepero Oduye, Kim Wayans, and Aasha Davis

This movie has been on my to-do list for quite some time. I’ve heard really great things about Pariah, and it’s been on many critics’ “best of” lists, so I think I’ll give it a gander now that it’s available on Netflix streaming.

(Watch it now)

Also newly available on Netflix streaming this week:

Spooksville (Season 1)
Race to Nowhere
Digimon: Digital Monsters (Seasons 1-3)
Billy Madison
Being Flynn
Lord of War
Ejecta
Next
Strange Empire (Season 1)
Miss Representation
As Cool As I Am

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