Netflix Streaming Report: For a Good Time Call, Two Days One Night, Doctor Who, and More

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for August 13, 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 Two Days One Night, Doctor Who, HitRecord on TV, and more.

For a Good Time, Call… (Jamie Travis) Rated R [85 min] – Former college frenemies Lauren and Katie move into a fabulous Gramercy Park apartment, and in order to make ends meet, the unlikely pair start a phone sex line together. Starring Ari Graynor, Lauren Miller, Justin Long, James Wolk, and Lawrenec Mandley

I really enjoyed this little quirky comedy when it first came out in 2012. It’s a platonic, romantic comedy that felt fresh at the time because it’s inherently not about someone complaining about their dating troubles. In a way For a Good Time, Call… pokes fun at traditional rom coms, the subject matter is just a bonus. It’s cute, light, and simple.

(Watch it now)

Two Days, One Night (Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne) [Limited] Certificate PG-13 [95 min] – Sandra, a young Belgian mother, discovers that her workmates have opted for a significant pay bonus, in exchange for her dismissal. She has only one weekend to convince her colleagues to give up their bonuses so that she can keep her job. Starring Marion Cotillard, Fabrizio Rongione, Catherine Salée, and Batiste Sornin

Two Days, One Night is one of the big ones I missed during this past awards season. The story sounds very depressing and I’m sure it is, but Marion Cotillard always comes through with a fabulous performance that it would be hard to think it wouldn’t be worth the journey. The film is also a brisk 95 minutes too, so I can only assume every moment counts based on the mostly positive reviews.

(Watch it now)

HitRECord on TV (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) Rated TV-14 [22 min] – A television show comprised of contributions from the hitRECord community, a collaborative production company founded by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and his brother “Burning Dan.” Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kali Thomas, and Rodnesha Green

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has become such a media mogul with HitRECord. I’ve never seen any of the work that is submitted or pushed through his production company, but I am definitely interested in checking it out now that it’s easily available on Netflix streaming.

(Watch it now)

Also newly available on Netflix streaming this week:

Leap Year
The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death
Doctor Who (Season 8)
Sense8: Creating the World
Transporter: The Series (Season 2)
Shanghai Noon
Persona 3 the movie: #2 Midsummer Knight’s Dream

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: Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp and More

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for August 6, 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 Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, Welcome to Me, The Skeleton Twins, and more. Also see what’s new to Netflix Streaming this August.

Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (Michael Showalter and David Wain) Rated TV-MA [30 min] – Follow the counselors and campers on their first day at Camp Firewood in the summer of 1981. Starring: Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Michael Showalter, Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, Marguerite Moreau, Lake Bell, Janeane Garofalo, Jason Schwartzman, H. Jon Benjamin, Christopher Meloni, David Bloom, and Hailey Sole

To be honest, I don’t remember much about Wet Hot American Summer from when I first saw it a few years back. It didn’t leave any kind of impression on me and it has never been one that I’d say I would revisit. But after seeing First Day of Camp, I am inherently intrigued to rewatch the film, which is also available to stream on Netflix. This new series – or miniseries if they choose not to make another season – is absolutely fantastic. I dislike David Wain’s They Came Together, but the satire and overall goofiness of this world works within the confines of the story. All of the actors are incredible, and maybe it’s the 14-year gap that has made Wet Hot even better with age.

(Watch it now)

The Skeleton Twins (Craig Johnson) Rated R [93 min] – Having both coincidentally cheated death on the same day, estranged twins reunite with the possibility of mending their relationship. Starring Kristen Wiig, Ty Burrell, Bill Hader, and Luke Wilson

One of my favorite movies of 2014, The Skeleton Twins is a real honest character study of a brother-sister duo that have found each other on hard times. Together, their story is both loving and poignant. Hader and Wiig rock the socks off this film.

(Watch it now)

Welcome to Me (Shira Piven) Rated R [105 min] – When Alice Klieg wins the Mega-Millions lottery, she immediately quits her psychiatric meds and buys her own talk show. Starring Kristen Wiig, James Marsden, Linda Cardellini, and Wes Bentley

And if you want a Wiig double feature night you can watch Welcome to Me. It’s not as well structured as The Skeleton Twins, but if you feel as though there isn’t enough sad characters in your life definitely fire this one up and let the emotions take flight. Wiig puts on another impactful performance, but the story and character could have been a little stronger.

(Watch it now)

The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow) Rated R [131 min] – During the Iraq War, a Sergeant recently assigned to an army bomb squad is put at odds with his squad mates due to his maverick way of handling his work. Starring Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, and Brian Geraghty

Relive the reason why James Cameron’s Avatar lost the Academy Award for Best Picture. And rightfully so.

(Watch it now)

Three Kings (David O. Russell) Rated R [114 min] – In the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War, 4 soldiers set out to steal gold that was stolen from Kuwait, but they discover people who desperately need their help. Starring George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Ice Cube

I’ve never seen Three Kings, but have liked David O. Russell’s recent works: The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook, and American Hustle. So now’s your chance to go back and check out one of his earlier works.

(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: The Guest, Hercules, Comet, and More

Posted on July 30, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for July 30, 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 Guest, Hercules, Comet, and more. Also see what’s leaving Netflix Streaming this August.

The Guest (Adam Wingard) Rated R [99 min] – A soldier introduces himself to the Peterson family, claiming to be a friend of their son who died in action. After the young man is welcomed into their home, a series of accidental deaths seem to be connected to his presence. Starring Dan Stevens, Sheila Kelley, and Maika Monroe

If you love Adam Wingard’s You’re Next or maybe you saw It Follows earlier this year, The Guest is another awesome example of a new wave of modern horror movies utilizing ’80s synth and bringing an immense amount of fun. It’s not as horrifying as the first two, but Wingard’s The Guest is still very sharp and provides a lot of thrilling surprises. If you enjoy classic action movies, invite The Guest into your Netflix queue.

(Watch it now)

Hercules (Brett Ratner) Rated PG-13 [98 min] – Having endured his legendary twelve labors, Hercules, the Greek demigod, has his life as a sword-for-hire tested when the King of Thrace and his daughter seek his aid in defeating a tyrannical warlord. Starring Dwayne Johnson, John Hurt, Ian McShane, and Joseph Fiennes

This looked embarrassing for everyone involved. The GIF above kind of says it all. Good luck if you care to brave this ridiculousness.

(Watch it now)

Comet (Sam Esmail) Rated R [91 min] – Set in a parallel universe, Comet bounces back and forth over the course of an unlikely but perfectly paired couple’s six-year relationship. Starring Justin Long, Emmy Rossum, and Kayla Servi

I haven’t seen Comet, but the premise and the trailer appealed to me.

(Watch it now)

Marvel’s Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. – The Complete Second Season (Wendy Willming) Rated TV-Y7-FV [23 min] – The Incredible Hulk teams up with Red Hulk, She-Hulk, Skaar, and Rick Jones aka A-Bomb to battle the forces of evil in front of cameras for Rick’s web-based series to show the Hulk is more hero than monster.Creator: Starring Fred Tatasciore, Clancy Brown, and Seth Green

Marvel’s second iteration of The Avengers is not bad, so I would think that this Hulk team up show would be decent background noise. I haven’t seen it yet, but it’s harmless Marvel comics fun until Captain America: Civil War hits theaters next year.

(Watch it now)

Also newly available on Netflix streaming this week:

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic – The Complete Fifth Season
Staten Island Summer
Out of the Dark (1995)
The Road to Fallujah
Shaolin Martial Arts
Dial a Prayer
52 Tuesdays
The Wrecking Crew
Still
Of Girls and Horses

And here we have all the titles leaving Netflix streaming in August:

Leaving August 1

Bad Girl Island (2007)
Barbershop (2002)
Beauty Shop (2005)
Bulletproof (1996)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
Digimon Adventure: Seasons 1-3
Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
Face/Off (1997)
Fools Rush In (1997)
Gangsters: Faces of the Underworld: Season 1
Hawking (2013)
Hot Pursuit (1987)
Houseboat (1958)
Inside Fendi (2014)
Joe Dirt (2001)
Kiss the Girls (1997)
Pumping Iron (1977)
The Pitch: Season 1
Shooter (2007)
The Fifth Element (1997)
The Longest Day (1962)
Titanic (1997)
Unbreakable (2000)
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961)
We’re No Angels (1989)

Leaving August 6

The Raven (2012)

Leaving August 8

Albert Nobbs (2011)
Explorers: Adventures of the Century: Seasons 1-2

Leaving August 15

Family Ties: Seasons 1-7
Immortalized: Season 1
The Forsyte Saga: Series 1-2

Leaving August 23

Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)

Leaving August 24

My Fair Wedding: Season 5

Leaving August 25

Petunia (2012)

Leaving August 27

LEGO Atlantis (2010)
LEGO: Hero Factory: Breakout (2012)
LEGO Ninjago: Masters of the Spinjitzu: King of Shadows (2011)
LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu: Way of the Ninja (2011)
The Moth Diaries (2011)

Leaving August 31

Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends: Seasons 1-3

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: Glee, Bojack Horseman, and More

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for July 23, 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 Glee: The Final Season, Bojack Horseman (Season 2), and more.

Bojack Horseman: The Complete Second Season (Raphael Bob-Waksberg) Rated TV-MA [25 min] – Meet the most beloved sitcom horse of the 90s – 20 years later. BoJack Horseman was the star of the hit TV show “Horsin’ Around,” but today he’s washed up, living in Hollywood, complaining about everything, and wearing colorful sweaters. Starring Will Arnett, Aaron Paul, and Alison Brie

I can’t believe Season 2 of Bojack Horseman is already out. I haven’t even seen the first season yet and it feels like yesterday when it released. I’ve still heard positive things about this season, but this show hasn’t really taken off like other wacky adult cartoons like Rick and Morty or Archer.

(Watch it now)

Glee: The Complete Sixth Season (Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk, and Ryan Murphy) Rated TV-PG [44 min] – A group of ambitious misfits try to escape the harsh realities of high school by joining a glee club, where they find strength, acceptance and, ultimately, their voice, while working to pursue dreams of their own. Starring Jane Lynch, Matthew Morrison, Darren Criss, Jenna Ushkowitz, Chord Overstreet, Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, Naya Rivera, and Melissa Benoist

Watch the Final Season of Glee, if you dare. #DontStopBelieving

(Watch it now)

Perfect Stranger (James Foley) Rated R [109 min] – A journalist goes undercover to ferret out businessman Harrison Hill as her childhood friend’s killer. Posing as one of his temps, she enters into a game of online cat-and-mouse. Starring Halle Berry, Bruce Willis, and Giovanni Ribisi

I’ve never seen this movie, but it’s really slim pickens this week.

(Watch it now)

Set Fire to the Stars (Andy Goddard) [97 min] – An aspiring poet in 1950s New York has his ordered world shaken when he embarks on a week-long retreat to save his hell raising hero, Dylan Thomas. Starring Elijah Wood, Celyn Jones, and Kelly Reilly

Again, haven’t seen it, but Elijah Wood has been in some pretty unique roles in a post Lord of the Rings career. Set Fire to the Stars has not received any good reviews, but it’s here if you want to check it out.

(Watch it now)

Teacher of the Year (Jason Strouse) [82 min] – Surrounded by the eccentric faculty of Truman High School, Mitch Carter wins the California Teacher of the Year award and immediately receives a tempting offer that may force him to leave his job. Starring Matt Letscher, Keegan-Michael Key, and Sunny Mabrey

Now Keegan-Michael Key is supposedly doing his substitute teach comedy based on one of Key & Peele’s sketches. So maybe Teacher of the Year is just a warm up exercise for him?

(Watch it now)

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: Penguins of Madagascar, The Expendables 3, Serena, and More

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for July 16, 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 Penguins of Madagascar, The Expendables 3, Serena, and more.

[And sorry for not posting last week, Comic-Con was happening. So this post covers the last two weeks!]

Penguins of Madagascar (Eric Darnell and Simon J. Smith) Rated PG [92 min] – Discover the secrets of the greatest and most hilarious covert birds in the global espionage biz: Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private. These elitists of the elite are joining forces with a chic undercover organization, The North Wind. Led by handsome and husky Agent Classified (we could tell you his name, but then…you know). Together, they must stop the villainous Dr. Octavius Brine, from destroying the world as we know it. Starring Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Christopher Knights, and Benedict Cumberbatch

When DreamWorks wants to put out work that is subpar, they can nail it. We know the studio can do better with the likes of Kung Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon, so why do they keep pushing these mediocre stories out? Penguins of Madagascar: The Movie is mostly a lost cause, but the action is put together fairly well. The whole premise is just a bore.

(Watch it now)

Creep (Patrick Brice) Rated R [82 min] – When a videographer answers a Craigslist ad for a one-day job in a remote mountain town, he finds his client is not at all what he initially seems. Starring Patrick Brice and Mark Duplass

I have not seen this one yet, but I liked Patrick Brice’s The Overnight and I’ve heard Creep is fairly decent. Good horror movies are few and far between lately. Plus it’s got Mark Duplass (The League; Safety Not Guaranteed) doing his thing.

(Watch it now)

The Expendables 3 (Patrick Hughes) Rated PG-13 [126 min] – Barney, Christmas and the rest of the team comes face-to-face with Conrad Stonebanks, who years ago co-founded The Expendables with Barney. Stonebanks subsequently became a ruthless arms trader and someone who Barney was forced to kill… or so he thought. Stonebanks, who eluded death once before, now is making it his mission to end The Expendables — but Barney has other plans. Starring Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Mel Gibson, Dolph Lundgren, Wesley Snipes, and Antonio Banderas

The Expendables 3 has not crossed my path yet, and I probably wouldn’t mind skipping it either. The series is mindless action with no stakes or any cause to care about our heroes. But if these kind of movies float your boat, be my guest.

(Watch it now)

Serena (Susanne Bier) Rated R [109 min] – In Depression-era North Carolina, the future of George Pemberton’s timber empire becomes complicated when he marries Serena. Starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Rhys Ifans, and Toby Jones

If you want to watch the J-Law/Bradley Cooper film that was pushed back and hidden from everyone because of how bad it is, now’s your chance!

(Watch it now)

The Search for General Tso (Ian Cheney) Unrated [71 min] – Who was General Tso, and why are we eating his chicken? This feature documentary explores the origins and ubiquity of Chinese-American food through the story of an iconic sweet and spicy chicken dish. Starring Ian Cheney

This is a documentary I have not seen, but I am definitely interested. I’ve heard good things and who doesn’t love a mystery? Especially one so delicious.

(Watch it now)

And even more newly uploaded titles:

Changeling
El Chavo Animado (Seasons 1-4)
El Internado (Seasons 1-7)
Bible Secrets Revealed
God, Guns & Automobiles
Goodbye to All That
Human Planet
Monster Quest (Season 1 & 4)
Preacher’s Daughters (Season 2)
Storage Wars: Texas (Season 1)
The Unwanted
Corvette Nation (Seasons 1-2)
These Final Hours
Chris Tucker Like
Violetta (Seasons 1-2)
Are We Done Yet?
The Last Unicorn (1982)
Monsters: Dark Continent
Wild Canaries
Witches of East End (Season 2)
Bitten (Season 2)
Faults
Hell on Wheels (Season 4)
White Collar (Season 6)
Knights of Sidonia (Season 2)
Baby Boom (1987)

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: Batman, Dragons, Terminator, and More

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for July 2, 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 Dragons: Race to the Edge, Rocky, The Terminator, Chocolat, and more.

Batman (1989) (Tim Burton) Rated PG-13 [126 min] – The Dark Knight of Gotham City begins his war on crime with his first major enemy being the clownishly homicidal Joker. Starring Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, and Kim Basinger

It’s a really tough call, but Tim Burton’s Batman may be better than Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, but only by a slight margin.

(Watch it now)

Chocolat (Lasse Hallström) Rated PG-13 [121 min] – A woman and her daughter open a chocolate shop in a small French village that shakes up the rigid morality of the community. Starring Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp, Judi Dench, and Alfred Molina

“Did you know that the best night I’ve had in the last 5 years is a night that Zooey and I split a bottle of wine, we made a summer salad and watched Chocolat together?” – Peter Klaven (I Love You, Man)

(Watch it now)

Rocky I-V (John G. Avildsen/Sylvester Stallone) Rocky Balboa, a small-time boxer gets a supremely rare chance to fight the heavy-weight champion, Apollo Creed, in a bout in which he strives to go the distance for his self-respect. Starring Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, and Burt Young

So majestic. Such wow.

(Watch it now)

The Silence of the Lambs (Jonathan Demme) Rated R [118 min] – A young F.B.I. cadet must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to receive his help on catching another serial killer who skins his victims. Starring Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Lawrence A. Bonney

Yes.

(Watch it now)

The Terminator (James Cameron) Rated R [107 min] – A human-looking indestructible cyborg is sent from 2029 to 1984 to assassinate a waitress, whose unborn son will lead humanity in a war against the machines, while a soldier from that war is sent to protect her at all costs. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn

If you’re unwilling to see Terminator: Genisys this weekend, take a look back at the great film that started it all.

(Watch it now)

Dragons: Race to the Edge (Season 1) (Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois) Rated TV-PG [22 min] – Unlock the secrets of the Dragon Eye and come face to face with more dragons than anyone has ever imagined as Hiccup, Toothless and the Dragon Riders soar to the edge of adventure. Starring Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, T.J. Miller, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse

I haven’t seen this series yet, but I love the How to Train Your Dragon franchise. And from what I saw at WonderCon, Race to the Edge should hold over fans quite well until the next film.

(Watch it now)

Young & Hungry (Season 2) (David Holden) Unrated [22 min] – A well-off young tech entrepreneur hires a feisty young food blogger to be his personal chef. Starring Emily Osment, Jonathan Sadowski, Aimee Carrero, Kym Whitley, Rex Lee, and Jesse McCartney

ABC Family has some oddball comedies that are lived in by very colorful characters. Young & Hungry is no exception. The series is fairly cartoonish, but it has some heart. As many will tell you, ABC Family series are a lot more risque and adult than the channel’s title will have you believe.

(Watch it now)

And even more newly uploaded titles:

Here’s all the titles leaving this Month:

Leaving July 1

Beauty and the Beast Seasons 1-3
Big Fish (2003)
Big Top Pee-wee (1988)
Bratz: Fashion Pixiez (2007)
Bratz Kidz: Sleep-Over Adventure (2007)
Bowling for Columbine (2002)
Cast Away (2000)
Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie (1980)
Descent (2007)
Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead (2010)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
Harper’s Island: The Complete Series
Hawaii Five-O: Seasons 1-10
Jack Frost (1997)
Knight Rider (Seasons 1-4)
Louis C.K.: Hilarious (2009)
Melrose Place 2.0
Melrose Place: Seasons 1-7
Mission: Impossible: Seasons 1-7
Moonstruck (1987)
Natural Born Killers: Director’s Cut (1994)
Patton (1970)
Racing Stripes (2005)
Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
She’s All That (1999)
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)
Space Cowboys (2000)
Stephen King’s The Stand (1994)
Super Troopers (2001)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones (Vol. 1-3)
The Care Bears Movie (1985)
The Fly 2 (1989)
The Langoliers (1995)
The Last Samurai (2003)
The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
Three Kings (1999)
Trailer Park Boys: The Movie (2006)
Wings: Seasons 1-8
X-Men: Evolution: Season 1

Leaving July 3

Myth Hunters: Series 1

Leaving July 4

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Leaving July 6

The Last Stand (2013)

Leaving July 14

Shipping Wars: Season 1-3
Wahlburgers: Season 1

Leaving July 15

Dragnet: Seasons 1-4
Miami Vice: Seasons 1-5

Leaving July 25

The Inbetweeners: Season 3

Leaving July 30

Leave It to Beaver: Seasons 1-6
Magnum P.I.: Seasons 1-8

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: Louie, Cake, Beyond the Lights, and More

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for June 25, 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 Louie (Season 2), Cake, Beyond the Lights, and more.

Beyond the Lights (Gina Prince-Bythewood) Rated PG-13 [116 min] – A talented young musician on the brink of super stardom struggles with the pressure of her new-found success. Starring Minnie Driver, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Danny Glover, and Aisha Hinds

If you missed Beyond the Lights in theaters last year, I’m not surprised. It’s a pretty decent film that flew way under the radar. There’s a lot of unsubtle and realistic ties to the entertainment industry that really resonate. I’d say it’s a functionally honest film.

(Watch it now)

A Most Wanted Man (Anton Corbijn) Rated R [122 min] – A Chechen Muslim illegally immigrates to Hamburg, where he gets caught in the international war on terror. Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, Daniel Brühl

Did not catch this film, but it is one of Hoffman’s final performances before his passing. Heard mixed, but mostly positive things about it.

(Watch it now)

Cake (Daniel Barnz) Rated R [102 min] – Claire becomes fascinated by the suicide of a woman in her chronic pain support group while grappling with her own, very raw personal tragedy. Starring Jennifer Aniston, Adriana Barraza, Anna Kendrick, and Sam Worthington

Another film I missed last year. Aniston gained early praise for her performance, but it wasn’t enough for the Academy or other groups during awards season. It’s got Anna Kendrick, so that’s a plus.

(Watch it now)

Louie (Season 2) (Louis C.K.) Rated TV-MA [22 min] – The life of Louis CK, a divorced comedian with two kids living in New York. Starring Louis C.K., Hadley Delany, and Ursula Parker

For some reason Season 2 of Louie was not on Netflix, which is kind of odd because the other three of four were. This show is incredible. If you haven’t seen it, watch it.

(Watch it now)

GasLand (Josh Fox) Unrated [107 min] – It is happening all across America-rural landowners wake up one day to find a lucrative offer from an energy company wanting to lease their property. Reason? The company hopes to tap into a reservoir dubbed the “Saudi Arabia of natural gas.” Halliburton developed a way to get the gas out of the ground-a hydraulic drilling process called “fracking”-and suddenly America finds itself on the precipice of becoming an energy superpower. Starring Josh Fox, Dick Cheney, and Pete Seeger

I have not seen this documentary, but apparently it’s hard-hitting and important. I heard a recent interview with the writer/director/star of the film Josh Fox and he seems to be very legit. I’d check it out if you loourve documentaries.

(Watch it now)

Additional titles added to Netflix this week:

Twin Warriors
Supremacy
Some Assembly Required (Season 1)
Green Street 3: Never Back Down
Confessions of a Prodigal Son
Walking with the Dead
Curious George 3: Back to the Jungle
After the Ball

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: Inuyasha, Transformers 4, The Butler, and More

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for June 18, 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 Inuyasha, Transformers: Age of Extinction, The Butler, and more.

Transformers: Age of Extinction (Michael Bay) Rated PG-13 [165 min] – An automobile mechanic and his daughter make a discovery that brings down the Autobots – and a paranoid government official – on them. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor, Kelsey Grammer, and Stanley Tucci

Although this movie is one of the biggest tragedies to happen in all of cinema, Transformers: Age of Extinction is kind of cool to watch on mute.

(Watch it now)

InuYasha (Season 1-2) (Rumiko Takahashi) Rated TV-14 [24 min] – A teenage girl periodically travels back in time to feudal Japan to help a young half demon recover the shards of a orb of great power. Starring Moneca Stori, Richard Ian Cox, and Kirby Morrow

It’s great that InuYasha is back on Netflix Streaming, however, it’s only the first two seasons and would best be watched in an entire sitting. InuYasha has a fair amount of content with a good handful of filler episodes. It would just feel more complete to watch it all at once. But I’d still check the series out!

(Watch it now)

The Butler (Lee Daniels) – As Cecil Gaines serves eight presidents during his tenure as a butler at the White House, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and other major events affect this man’s life, family, and American society. Starring Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, David Banner, David Oyelowo, Terrence Howard, and James Marsden

I’m not as impressed with Lee Daniels’ The Butler as most people, but you can now check it out on Netflix Streaming to see for yourself.

(Watch it now)

Death Note (Tetsurō Araki) Rated TV-14 [24 min] – An intelligent high school student goes on a secret crusade to eliminate criminals from the world after discovering a notebook capable of killing anyone whose name is written into it. Staring: Mamoru Miyano, Brad Swaile, and Vincent Tong

Here’s an anime series that has been on my to-do list for quite some time. I’ve only heard wonderful things about it. Those who don’t like dark anime might not enjoy this series, but I’m going to give it a whirl.

(Watch it now)

The Cobbler (Thomas McCarthy) Rated PG-13 [99 min] – Max Simkin repairs shoes in the same New York shop that has been in his family for generations. Disenchanted with the grind of daily life, Max stumbles upon a magical heirloom that allows him to step into the lives of his customers and see the world in a new way. Sometimes walking in another man’s shoes is the only way one can discover who they really are. Starring Dan Stevens, Adam Sandler, and Steve Buscemi

The concept is interesting, but from what I’ve read from other reviews is that The Cobbler is pretty terrible. This seems like a departure from the slapstick comedy audiences have been accustom to with Happy Madison and Adam Sandler, which I’m all for. So I’d like to see for myself.

(Watch it now)

Additional titles added to Netflix this week:

Backstreet Boys: Show ‘Em What You’re Made Of
Vampire Knight (Season 1-2)
Ascension (2014)
Heartland (Season 6)
Leprechaun: Origins
Monster (2014)
High Fidelity
Grey’s Anatomy (Season 11)
Life of Crime

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: Orange is the New Black, Nightcrawler, Sense8, and More

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for June 11, 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 Orange is the New Black (Season 3), Nightcrawler, Sense8, Mortal Kombat, Primer, and more.

Orange is the New Black (Season 2) (Jenji Kohan) Rated TV-MA [55 min] – From the creator of “Weeds” comes a heartbreaking and hilarious original series set in a women’s prison. Piper Chapman’s wild past comes back to haunt her, resulting in her arrest and detention in a federal penitentiary. To pay her debt to society, Piper trades her comfortable New York life for an orange prison jumpsuit and finds unexpected conflict and camaraderie amidst an eccentric group of inmates. Starring Taylor Schilling, Laura Prepon, Michael Harney, Kate Mulgrew, Natasha Lyonne, Danielle Brooks, Taryn Manning, and Uzo Aduba

Netflix has released the third season of Orange is the New Black early! If you haven’t indulged in this series yet, you need to get on it! It’s a very humorous, poignant, and raw look at the world of a female penitentiary. The cast is incredible and the stories surrounding their characters are just as wonderful to behold. I know what I’ll be doing this weekend.

(Watch it now!!)

Nightcrawler (Dan Gilroy) Rated R [117 min] – When Lou Bloom, a driven man desperate for work, muscles into the world of L.A. crime journalism, he blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story. Aiding him in his effort is Nina, a TV-news veteran. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton, and Riz Ahmed

Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance alone is worth the look into the strange and surreal craziness that is the life of a nightcrawler.

(Watch it now)

Sense8 (Season 1) (Andy Wachowski and Lana Wachowski) Rated TV-MA [60 min] – A group of people around the world are suddenly linked mentally, and must find a way to survive being hunted by those who see them as a threat to the world’s order. Starring Miguel Ángel Silvestre, Doona Bae, Aml Ameen, Tina Desai, Jamie Clayton, Freema Agyeman, and Tuppance Middleton

I haven’t seen this new original Netflix series yet, but knowing it’s from the Wachowski’s doesn’t really have me in a hurry to check it out. They’ve pretty much dried up their good will after The Matrix, seeing how Cloud Atlas is so-so, Speed Racer is whatever, and Jupiater Ascending is just atrocious. I’ve heard Sense8 is decent, but I’m not going to hold my breath.

(Watch it now)

Agents of SHIELD (Season 2) (Joss Whedon, Jed Whedonm and Maurissa Tancharoen) Rated TV-PG [45 min] – The missions of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. Starring Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Brett Dalton, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker, and Elizabeth Henstridge

If you were looking for Agents of SHIELD to really ramp up the action, season 2 definitely gets into a nice groove. There’s a lot of playfulness that teases the Marvel Cinematic Universe without relying on it and it really stretches its legs in terms of being its own series. True Marvel Comics fans may disagree with the treatment of how they’re leading up to the Inhumans, but I like what they’ve been doing thus far.

(Watch it now)

Mortal Kombat (1995) (Paul W.S. Anderson) Rated PG-13 [101 min] – Three unknowing martial artists are summoned to a mysterious island to compete in a tournament whose outcome will decide the fate of the world. Starring Christopher Lambert, Robin Shou, Linden Ashby, Cary-Hroyuki Tagawa, Brigdette Wilson-Sampras, and Talisa Soto

Who wouldn’t want to watch the film that single handedly gave us one of the best theme songs of all time.

(Watch it now) and then dance!

Primer (2004) (Shane Carruth) Rated PG-13 [77 min] – Four friends/fledgling entrepreneurs, knowing that there’s something bigger and more innovative than the different error-checking devices they’ve built, wrestle over their new invention. Starring Shane Carruth, David Sullivan, and Casey Gooden

Since it’s 2015, and if you love time travel movies, Primer is the mother of all time travel movies.

(Watch it now)

Rosewater (Jon Stewart) Rated R [103 min] – Iranian-Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari is detained by Iranian forces who brutally interrogate him under suspicion that he is a spy. Starring Gael García Bernal, Kim Bodnia, Dimitri Leonidas, and Haluk Bilginer

I have not seen Jon Stewart’s little film about Bahari. I have not read or heard whether or not it’s good. But I’m just throwing it out there because it was directed by Jon Stewart of The Daily Show fame. I’m curious to see if he’ll make for a good director down the line.

(Watch it now)

Additional titles added to Netflix this week:

The Lost Boys: Special Edition
Bad Asses on the Bayou
Words and Pictures
On the Road
Happy Valley
Grace of Monaco
The Sisterhood of Night
The Garfield Show (Seasons 1-2)
Free the Nipple

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: Orange is the New Black, Nightcrawler, Sense8, and More

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Tyler Schirado

Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for June 11, 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 Orange is the New Black (Season 3), Nightcrawler, Sense8, Mortal Kombat, Primer, and more, which you can find after the jump. Continue reading →