Bernard is joined by Zach this week, who brings with him an interview with Chilean filmmaker Sebastian Silva about his new film Nasty Baby, starring Tunde Adebimpe and Kristen Wiig and the director himself. Also, with the release of Netflix’s Beasts of No Nation, the boys try to predict what the future of digital distribution will look like and how streaming sites like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and the like will impact the movie theater industry. PLUS, (you guessed it) our Indie Picks of the Week!

Topics

• Indie Picks (1:21)
• Digital Distribution (11:24)
• Sebastian Silva (24:21)

Articles Referenced

Beasts of No Nation Review
Cary Joji Fukunaga Interview
Junun Review
Nasty Baby Review
Sebastian Silva Interview

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As you are likely aware, legendary actor Christopher Lee passed away at the age of 93. As a fan of both horror films and giant blockbuster franchises, he was one of my favorites. Perhaps it was the types of films he was most recognized for, but he’s one of the most under-appreciated, underrated stars of the screen. This is made even more apparent by the utter lack of his films available to stream. I was all set to blow out a number of streaming recommendations starring Lee… until I looked to see which of his 281 credits were on Netflix. You’re basically stuck with his small role in Martin Scorsese’s Hugo, a 2013 film called Night Train to Lisbon, family comedy A Feast at Midnight, 1970’s adventure film Caravans, apparent knock-off The Tale of the Mummy, and The Bloody Judge (which, OK, I’m intrigued). Not exactly a showcase of his best work—Netflix doesn’t even throw us a bone with delightfully campy The Howling II: My Sister Is a Werewolf. So, instead of the perfect Christopher Lee streaming weekend, here are some other recommendations new to the usual streaming suspects.

Netflix

Orange Is the New Black (Season 3)

Netflix’s best original series to date is back with 13 new episodes from Litchfield Penitentiary. Like most quality television, we left off the season with many changing dynamics. Piper and Alex are on dicier terms then ever. Daya and Bennett’s relationship is starting to crumble. Red has hit rock bottom. Vee’s escape is bound to have serious repercussions on the remaining inmates. The emotional and dramatic stakes couldn’t be much higher for the start of season 3, which is sure to provide more shakeups, new characters, and more insight to the characters we already love. Orange Is the New Black was quick to becoming one of the best dramas AND comedies on television, and I doubt that’s going to change. If you somehow haven’t caught up, all three seasons are now streaming on Netflix.

Other titles new to Netflix this week:
The Cobbler (Thomas McCarthy, 2014)
Happy Valley (Amir Bar-Lev, 2014)
Nightcrawler (Dan Gilroy, 2014)
Primer (Shane Carruth, 2004)
Rosewater (Jon Stewart, 2014)

Amazon Prime

The Island of Dr. Moreau (John Frankenheimer & Richard Stanley, 1996)

If you’ve been watching Orphan Black, you’ll know that H.G. Wells’s influential science fiction novel has played an integral part. There are probably better excuses to watch John Frankenheimer’s (slash Richard Stanley’s) trouble 1996 adaptation, but I’m going to run with that. When the film was released it was heavily panned and it’s reputation hasn’t exactly grown over time—but can we still hold out on a critical subculture rediscovery? The Island of Dr. Moreau is undoubtedly a messy film, but it is also weird enough be noticed. Featuring one of Marlon Brando’s last performances, well after he had reached his tipping point, the larger than life icon (and quite large at this point, too) has to be seen to be believed. You also have ultra-serious, ultra-crazy Val Kilmer. It killed the career of one director who was replaced by a well respected filmmaker trying to make a comeback. Oh, and half-human half-animal hybrid monsters. The cinematic car crash that became The Island of Dr. Moreau is well documented, but maybe worthy another look.

Other titles new to Amazon Prime this week:
Life of Crime (Daniel Schechter, 2013)
Murder of a Cat (Gillian Greene, 2014)
The Paper Chase (James Bridges, 1973)
Repo: The Genetic Opera (Darren Lynn Bousman, 2008)
Words and Pictures (Fred Schepisi, 2013)

Fandor

Alive Inside (Michael Rossato-Bennett, 2014)

Fandor has built its reputation on providing foreign and classic films with their partnership with the Criterion Collection, but this week I want to highlight some recent films that are new to the streaming service. Alive Inside is a emotionally captivating, under-seen doc from last year about a non-profit’s attempt to bring music to those who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Based on recent medical studies, music has shown to spark memory and reestablish identity, albeit briefly. In the film, a number of retirement home residents take part in the organization’s outreach, and the results are stunning. To see, time after time, men and women recapture something from their past from something so simple is extraordinary. Alive Inside shows the power of music as clearly as any film ever has, thus showing the great power of documentary film. Reading a study on this topic would be enlightening, but there is nothing like seeing the eyes of these individuals yourself.

Other titles new to Fandor this week:
The Builder (Rick Alverson, 2010)
A Common Enemy (Jaime Otero Romani, 2013)
Concerning Violence (Göran Olsson, 2014)
Harmony and Me (Bob Byington, 2009)
Farewell, Herr Schwarz (Yael Reuveny, 2014)

Video On-Demand

Hungry Hearts (Saverio Costanzo, 2014)

Starring Adam Driver and Alba Rohrwacher, Hungry Hearts is a psychological drama about a young couple’s emotional strain following the birth of their first child. Having a child is obviously one of the most wonderful moments in a parent’s life, but it is also one of the most stressful. Not only is there now a small thing that is set to dominate your life, each individual choice you make when raising this child could have incredible consequences. Hungry Hearts plays with this inherent suspense quite well with brilliant performances from its up-and-coming leads. When we reviewed the film earlier this month, we said it is “a harrowing and hard to watch film, but the sincerity of its performances and the tantalizing and rather unexplored content it delves into, make for the sort of film that is impossible to turn away from.” Hungry Hearts is available on VOD at the same time as its theatrical release.

Other titles new to VOD this week:
The DUFF (Ari Sandel, 2015)
Madame Bovery (Sophie Barthes, 2014)
Red Army (Gabe Polsky, 2014)
Timbuktu (Abderrahmane Sissako, 2014)
The Yes Men Are Revolting (Andy Bichlbaum, Mike Bonanno & Laura Nix, 2014)

Happy Sense8 day! The newest creation from the Wachowskis and J. Michael Straczynski (prolific television writer with credits including He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Murder She Wrote, and Babylon 5) is now available in all its 12-episode trippy glory to stream on Netflix. For the Wachowskis, it is a long-coming welcome to television and should be a natural fit with their complicated worlds and big ideas. I’ll be honest and say that I’ve watched the trailer a few times and still am not quite sure exactly what to expect or what is going on—it has something to do with a group of eight strangers who have some sort of neural cosmic link to each other. I’m more than willing to let the sci-fi concepts to take me to weird and unexplainable places. For Netflix, it is yet another example of giving free rein to auteur storytellers—let’s hope the results warrant the trend.

Netflix

Li’l Quinquin (Bruno Dumont, 2014)

Later this week, Way Too Indie will be ranking our favorite movies of the year so far. Bruno Dumont’s Li’l Quinquin has a chance to be on this list—though it would make any list on the strangest films of the year. In rural France, human remains begin turning up inside of dead cows. Commandant Van der Weyden and his partner Carpentier are on the case, but don’t think this is your standard crime procedural. With Dumont’s sinister comic streak and a whole lot of uncomfortable moments, Li’l Quinquin is addictively bizarre. Originally designed as a television miniseries, it has been turn into a 200 minute film—with its length working in part with the offbeat narrative. If you have the time and a little patience, Li’l Quinquin is definitely a unique experience.

Other titles new to Netflix this week:
Apocalypse Now & Apocalypse Now: Redux (Francis Ford Coppola, 1979)
The ‘Burbs (Joe Dante, 1989)
Hits (David Cross, 2014)
The Others (Alejandro Amenábar, 2001)
Y Tu Mamá También (Alfonso Cuarón, 2001)

Amazon Prime Instant

Troll 2 (Claudio Fragasso, 1990)

Let’s keep this weird trend going with a much different film, often considered the worst movie ever made. If you don’t think bad movies can be a lot of fun to watch, you haven’t seen Troll 2, a delightfully inexplicable horror film centered around a young boy’s experience in the haunted town of Nilbog. It is a perfect film to invite some friends over, grab some adult beverages, kick back and have a great time. If you have the nerve, you can also check out Troll on Amazon Prime, though it isn’t required viewing—Troll 2 was taken as a title as a cash-grab off of the moderately successful low-budget original, without any real care to make any connections.

Other titles new to Amazon Prime this week:
Roman Holiday (William Wyler, 1953)
Seven Psychopaths (Martin McDonagh, 2012)
The Shining (Stanley Kubrick, 1980)
Sid & Nancy (Alex Cox, 1986)
Something Wild (Jonathan Demme, 1986)

Fandor

Beauty and the Beast (Jean Cocteau, 1946)

Now to get to some serious cinema, Cocteau’s Beauty and the Beast is one of the most beautiful and magical films ever made. The director, who was also a poet and cartoonist, creates a spectacular world, one just as vibrant as the animated version (and without the need for talking teapots). A new live-action Beauty and the Beast is now in production, but I can’t imagine it doing anything better than this original. Though its practical effects and amazing makeup designs, the film has both an eerie and fantastical mood. Like many offerings on Fandor, Beauty and the Beast is only available for a limited time, expiring after June 14. Also available is Fandor’s newest Spotlight, called “Adventures in Animation,” highlighting bold visions in animation from around the world. Among the selections are An Oversimplification of Her Beauty, Alois Nebel, Kirikou the Sorceress and The Pettifogger.

Other titles new to Fandor this week:
Black Orpheus (Marcel Camus, 1959)
Breaking Through (Cindy L. Abel, 2013)
Donkey Skin (Jacques Demy, 1970)
Killer Cop (Luciano Ercoli, 1975)
Uncertain Terms (Nathan Silver, 2014)

Video On-Demand

Jupiter Ascending (Andy & Lana Wachowski, 2015)

The release of Sense8 this week is peculiar, though perhaps necessary coincidence. The Wachowski’s other work from this year, Jupiter Ascending, was by most metrics an utter failure, but it is an interesting one. If you read the bad reviews and wrote the film off, it’s worth a look for its huge action set pieces and the unique voice of its auteurs. And there’s Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne’s whacked-out performance, which can be duplicated and ridiculed, but must be seen first-hand to be believed. No doubt, the Wachowski’s have delivered better work than Jupiter Ascending (perhaps their new show available in the same week is true of that), but the filmmaking duo continue to deserve attention.

Other titles new to VOD this week:
Focus (Glenn Ficarra & John Requa, 2015)
McFarland, USA (Niki Caro, 2015)
Ned Rifle (Hal Hartley, 2014)

With so many streaming services around these days, it’s tough to stand out. Some have to rely on a huge catalog, original programming, hard-to-see titles or a specific focus. Amazon Prime is trying something a little different, specifically catering to the company’s larger scope. Before Amazon went deep into the streaming game, the major benefits of its Prime service was free 2-day shipping on all its products. Now, residents of 14 metro areas who are members of the streaming service can get free same-day shipping on certain product orders over $35. It is an interesting perk that no other streaming platform could offer. So, while you non-Amazon Prime subscribers are waiting until Monday for your latest order to be delivered, check out what you can watch this weekend on various services.

Netflix

Hot Girls Wanted (Jill Bauer & Ronna Gradus, 2015)

Produced and narrated by Rashida Jones, Hot Girls Wanted is an original Netflix documentary that takes a full look at amateur online pornography and its appeal toward the “girl next door” woman. This material is in good hands with Bauer & Gradus, whose last film Sexy Baby looks at porn’s greater influence on mainstream society and how that affects young girls. Hot Girls Wanted profiles teenagers who have participated in this new industry at differing levels, some who see it as a better alternative than slinging fast food while others try to find an escape. While Netflix has gotten more attention for their original series, and will get even more for their original features in the coming months, their work acquiring interesting documentary films also needs recognition. In the past few years, Netflix became the exclusive home to Oscar nominees The Square and Virunga, let alone the platform the service provides to thousands of other true stories that are difficult to find in theaters.

Other titles new to Netflix this week:
Antarctica: A Year on Ice (Anthony Powell, 2013)
Before I Go to Sleep (Rowan Joffe, 2014)
Bill Nye the Science Guy (Series)
The Boxtrolls (Graham Annable & Anthony Stacchi, 2014)
Graceland (Seasons 1 & 2)

Fandor

The Passion of Joan of Arc (Carl Theodor Dreyer, 1928)

An absolute landmark film from the silent era, Dreyer’s masterwork is a stunning and horrific telling of the events leading to Joan of Arc’s execution. The film perfectly plays as a silent film (what some may see as a limitation) by capturing performance in closeups, with tragic film figure Maria Falconetti’s all-time great, groundbreaking turn in the foreground. Both emotionally raw and philosophically insightful, the film was among the first examples of the power of cinematic storytelling and remains so today. The Passion of Joan of Arc is in the pantheon of cinema, a must-see for all film fans. If you want to check out The Passion of Joan of Arc on Fandor, please remember that many of the site’s offerings are only available for a limited time – this masterpiece (as well as those listed below) will have to be seen by Sunday, June 7.

Other titles new to Fandor this week:
Breathless (Jean-Luc Godard, 1960)
Persona (Ingmar Bergman, 1966)
The Rules of the Game (Jean Renoir, 1939)
Seven Samurai (Akira Kurosawa, 1954)
Tokyo Story (Yasujirô Ozu, 1953)

Video On-Demand

Good Kill (Andrew Niccol, 2014)

Can we talk about Ethan Hawke for a second? Once set to be your typical handsome but disaffected movie star, the actor has made himself a fine career as one of the preeminent indie leading men. His work with Richard Linklater aside, the low-budget genre films he chooses to make have been increasingly interesting—from horror flicks Sinister and The Purge to one of this year’s weirdest films Predestination. He now re-teams with Andrew Niccol (Gattaca) in this look at drone warfare. In the film, Hawke stars as a drone “pilot” who begins to contemplate the ethics of his mission, whether he is doing necessary work or making the complicated issues even more complex. The stressful work ultimately creates even more problems with his wife and kids. You can stream Good Kill on VOD while it is in limited release.

Other titles new to VOD this week:
Barely Lethal (Kyle Newman 2015)
Foxcatcher (Bennett Miller, 2014)
The Loft (Erik Van Looy, 2014)
Results (Andrew Bujalski, 2015)

Catch ‘Em While You Can!

These titles will no longer be streaming on June 1:

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Francis Ford Coppola, 1992)
Hatchet II (Adam Green, 2010)
Last Action Hero (John McTiernan, 1993)
Rain Man (Barry Levinson, 1988)
The Silence of the Lambs (Jonathan Demme, 1991)
Snatch (Guy Ritchie, 2000)
Syriana (Stephen Gaghan, 2005)
Tank Girl (Rachel Talalay, 1995)
The Rocketeer (Joe Johnston, 1991)
The Triplets of Belleville (Sylvain Chomet, 2003)
Waking Life (Richard Linklater, 2001)

It seems like Netflix has released a new original series about every week. Well, it’s not going to slow up any time soon, with another new series out today and four more scheduled to be released over the next two months. Their newest series is Grace and Frankie, less publicized but with a stellar cast including Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Sam Waterston and Martin Sheen. There is a lot of talent behind the camera, as well, with co-creators Marta Fran Kauffman (best known as the co-creator Dream On and Friends) and Howard J. Morris (co-executive producer on Home Improvement and According to Jim). In the next few weeks, Between, The Wachowskis’ Sense8 and Wet Hot American Summer will all be ready to be binge watched. Oh, and Orange Is the New Black comes back for its third season on June 12th. All of this is to say, you better catch up on Daredevil and Bloodline before it’s too late. But if you’ve looking for movies to stream, check out these new to streaming titles this weekend.

Netflix

Jimi: All Is by My Side (John Ridley, 2013)

In a strong year for unconventional biopics, Jimi: All Is by My Side was one of the most striking and most overlooked. The directorial debut of 12 Years a Slave screenwriter and American Crime creator John Ridley, it stars Andre Benjamin (one half of Outkast) as music icon Jimi Hendrix. Like many of the best recent biopics, the film focuses on a small part of Hendrix’s life instead of the full life treatment. What makes the film so surprising, though, is its lack of narrative form. Instead, it is all about mood while telling the rise-to-fame story through its sharp and unique editing style – the film’s co-directors earlier work includes The Tree of Life, Moneyball and 28 Days Later, which should give you a good idea how Jimi: All Is by My Side feels vitally different from your standard musical biopic.

Other titles new to Netflix this week:
Anita (Freida Lee Mock, 2013)
Blue Velvet (David Lynch, 1986)
The Homesman (Tommy Lee Jones, 2014)
The Sixth Sense (M. Night Shyamalan, 1999)
Winter Sleep (Nuri Bilge Ceylan, 2014)

Amazon Prime

The People vs. George Lucas (Alexandre O. Philippe, 2010)

With all the Star Wars hype the past few weeks (only to get more deafening by the time The Force Awakens finally hits theaters this December), this is a perfect time to check out a very interesting little documentary about the franchise’s strong voice. The People vs. George Lucas chronicles the love/hate relationship the auteur has had with his millions of fans, looking specifically at the many controversies surrounding Star Wars and how they’ve been received. It is a surprisingly balanced film, however, correctly tuning this complicated relationship. The film also boasts a great variety of voices, from popular authors, filmmakers, bloggers and everyday regular fans.

Other titles new to Amazon Prime this week:
Grizzly Man (Werner Herzog, 2005)
Men in Black II (Barry Sonnenfeld, 2002)
Payback (Brian Helgeland, 1999)
The Puffy Chair (Jay & Mark Duplass, 2005)
The Real Blonde (Tom DiCillo, 1997)

Fandor

The Big City (Satyajit Ray, 1963)

The work of Satyajit Ray is a complete blind spot for me, possibly my biggest. For those like me, this is a great time to be introduced into the prolific Indian auteur’s best work, with restored versions of his films just released and an announcement that the films will show in 4k in New York and Los Angeles this summer. If you don’t live near our two largest cities or just don’t want to wait, you can stream The Big City on Fandor, available until Sunday, May 17. The streaming site also put together a new Spotlight series, called “Throwback NYC,” which looks at the vibrant city through the years. Films in that series include film movement doc Blank City, On the Bowery and The Vanishing City.

Other titles new to Fandor this week:
The House of Seven Corpses (Paul Harrison, 1974)
The Match Factory Girl (Aki Kaurismäki, 1990)
My Sassy Girl (Kwak Jae-oung, 2001)
Osaka Elegy (Kenji Mizoguchi, 1936)
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs (Mikio Naruse, 1960)

Video On-Demand

What We Do in the Shadows (Jemaine Clement & Taika Waititi, 2014)

One of the funniest films of the year so far, What We Do in the Shadows is now available On-Demand after its limited release. Set up like a documentary following a group of vampires in New Zealand, it brilliantly spoofs the new cultural obsession with these creatures of the night. The film is directed by Jemaine Clement (one half of the amazing Flight of the Conchords) and Taika Waititit (Boy, Eagle vs. Shark), blending their weird and smart comic sensibilities. You can now rent the film a few weeks before it will be released on DVD and Blu-ray.

Other titles new to VOD this week:
I Am Big Bird: The Carroll Spinney Story (Dave LaMattina & Chad N. Walker, 2014)
Lost River (Ryan Gosling, 2014)
Mr. Turner (Mike Leigh, 2014)
Selma (Ava DuVernay, 2014)
Welcome to Me (Shira Piven, 2014)

There isn’t any reason to go out to the theater this weekend, right? Sure, Avengers: Age of Ultron is out and it’s going to be a huge hit and you’ll probably see it, but why make the trek out this weekend with the full theaters, obnoxious theatergoers and risks of being sold out? We all know Age of Ultron will still be around in a few weeks—and, hey, maybe you can use a free pass to see it then instead. Besides, there are plenty of great movies and television shows you can watch this weekend from the comfort of your own home. Check out the newest films to hit Netflix, Fandor and other streaming services below!

Netflix

Bluebird (Lance Edmands, 2013)

Set in a quiet, dreary Maine logging town, Bluebird is about the effects of a tragic event on a community. The film stars Chicago stage actress Amy Morton (who you probably recognize as the mom from Rookie of the Year) as a school bus driver whose possible negligence leads to the death of a young child. Like the film in whole, she gives an understated and powerful performance. First-time filmmaker Lance Edmands, who has worked primarily as an editor, shows an uncanny emotional maturity by never going for over-the-top moments, instead letting the melancholy environment and characters set the film’s tone. The cast is rounded out by an excellent cast, including John Slattery, Margo Martindale and Adam Driver. We saw Bluebird during its limited release earlier this year and thought it found “the right balance between atmospheric undertones and understated storytelling”. It is basically the perfect counter-programming to the big scale loud action film everyone else will be watching this weekend.

Other titles new to Netflix this week:
Chef’s Table (Series)
Legally Blonde (Robert Luketic, 2001)
National Treasure (Jon Turteltaub, 2004)
Watchers of the Sky (Edet Belzberg, 2014)

Amazon Prime

Fifty Shades of Grey (Sam Taylor-Johnson, 2015)

Or perhaps instead of venturing out to the theater to see the biggest film of you year, you can catch up with the first big hit of the year. Perhaps you were interested (or should I say “curious?”) to see this steamy adaptation of E.L. James’s veiled Twilight fanfic, but were terrified to see if with, you know, other people around. Well, now you have the chance buy Fifty Shades of Grey on Amazon Prime before it comes to DVD and Blu-ray. They also have an “unrated versions” available – it’s three minutes longer than the theatrical version, so I bet those are three really sexy minutes. In all seriousness, Amazon Prime and Video On-Demand have began offering some films for purchase before they are released on DVD or can be seen elsewhere. This could be an exciting venture for the ever-growing reach of streaming services.

Other titles new to Amazon Prime this week:
Big Trouble in Little China (John Carpenter, 1986)
Let’s Kill Ward’s Wife (Scott Foley, 2014)
The Professional (Luc Besson, 1994)
Ravenous (Antonia Bird, 1999)

Fandor

8 1/2 (Federico Fellini, 1963)

This week’s collection on Fandor highlights the great Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni with some of his most famous films and best performances. Included is perhaps his best work with his closest collaborator, Federico Fellini. 8 1/2 is among the wildest, funniest and most complicated films ever made about filmmaking. Mastroianni plays Guido Anselmi, a celebrated film director who struggles through his latest project while escaping into his crazy, sexy fantasies. It is probably the most Fellini film made by Fellini, highlighting his best dramatic and most bawdy elements. The film wouldn’t work without Mastroianni, though – watching his particular sense of cool being upended is fantastically enjoyable. Featuring iconic scene after iconic scene, all with Fellini’s creative world and character building, 8 1/2 is rightly considered one of cinema’s all time greats. But remember: as with all Fandor collection films, it is only available until the following Sunday!

Other titles new to Fandor this week:
Divorce Italian Style (Pietro Germi, 1961)
The Entire History of the Louisiana Purchase (Joshua Oppenheimer, 1998)
La Notte (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1961)
Tokyo Playboy Club (Yôsuke Okuda, 2011)

Video On-Demand

Paddington (Paul King, 2014)

The most surprisingly enjoyable children’s film since 2011’s adaptation of Winnie the Pooh, Paddington is much more charming and fun than expected. Based on the beloved literary character, the film involves a talking bear cub who leaves his South American home in search of the British explorer who befriended his aunt and uncle years before. Without much of a guide, he ends up at Paddington Station in London and meets a family willing to take him in temporarily. Like Winnie the Pooh, Paddington works because it doesn’t reach into the new trend of children’s films that have become increasingly loud and broad. It is a pretty simple movie, with a bit of action, but mostly laid back and warm. Ben Whishaw is a perfect voice for the curious bear, while live-action actors Hugh Bonneville and Sally Hawkins are as wonderful as ever. Even if you don’t have kids yourself, Paddington is worth a look.

Other titles new to VOD this week:
Adult Beginners (Ross Katz, 2004)
The Boy Next Door (Rob Cohen, 2015)
The Gambler (Rupert Wyatt, 2014)
Ride (Helen Hunt, 2014)

Another week, another Netflix original series dropping for us all to bingewatch. But that isn’t all worth noting, with a number of new films and classics coming to or returning to streaming services this week. Check out the new batch of selections from Netflix, Amazon Prime and VOD below.

Netflix

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Season 1)

Originally developed by Tina Fey as an NBC pilot, the first season of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt will be released by Netflix on Friday. The show stars The Office vet Ellie Kemper as the title character in an excellent premise for a series: Kimmy Schmidt is a beautiful young woman struggling to survive in the big city (you know, like every television character ever), but she’s unique having recently been rescued from a doomsday cult living off-grid. There have been a number of excellent dramas revolving around cults in recent years, but the prospect of a comedy taking on this usually very serious subject has a lot of potential. The show also co-stars 30 Rock favorite Jane Krakowski as a wealthy woman who hires Kimmy to be her child’s nanny.

Stream on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Season 1 on Netflix

Other titles new to Netflix this week:
The ABCs of Death 2 (Anthology, 2014)
Billy Madison (Tamra Davis, 1995)
Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993)
Harmontown (Neil Berkeley, 2014)
You Can Count on Me (Kenneth Lonergan, 2000)

Amazon Prime

Listen Up Philip (Alex Ross Perry, 2014)

Overshadowed by a great year in movies, Alex Ross Perry’s Listen Up Philip one was one of the best comedies of 2014. With three excellent performances from Jason Schwartzman, Elisabeth Moss, and Jonathan Pryce, the film follows an egotistical writer and his relationships with his girlfriend and his writing mentor-idol. Its wry, biting edge is unique from the mainstream broad comedies at the multiplexes, so if you are looking for something a little more character driven and ruthless in the portrayals of these characters, Listen Up Philip comes as a strong recommendation. Listen Up Philip is currently exclusive to Amazon Prime, so you won’t find it streaming elsewhere.

Other titles new to Amazon Prime this week:
Donnie Brasco (Mike Newell, 1997)
Drunk History (season 2)
The Kill Team (Dan Krauss, 2013)
The Nanny Diaries (Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini, 2007)
Taxi Driver (Martin Scorsese, 1976)

Video On-Demand

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (Francis Lawrence, 2014)

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 was the highest grossing film of 2014 and hits blu-ray and VOD March 6. Its follow up and the final film of the series, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, is predicted to possibly be among the top grossing films of 2015. Even as only the first part of a two-part film plenty of you will be needing your fix of Katniss and Peeta to tide you over until Part 2’s release on November 20.

Other titles new to VOD this week:
Faults (Riley Stearns, 2014)
Foxcatcher (Bennett Miller, 2014)
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 (Francis Lawrence, 2014)
Kidnapping Mr. Heineken (Daniel Alfredson, 2015)
The Last of Robin Hood (Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland, 2013)

Let’s be honest… your entire weekend is already booked watching the third season of Netflix’s House of Cards. I mean, seriously, now that Frank Underwood is in the oval office, we can’t wait to see what happens next! But, after you binge watch that, finishing some time on Friday night, you have a whole weekend ahead of you to stream even more! Check out the newest streaming picks on Netflix, Amazon Prime and VOD below.

Netflix

Open Windows (Nacho Vigalondo, 2014)

With just three feature films, Nacho Vigalondo has already established himself as one of the premiere indie genre filmmakers working today. His latest, Open Windows steps away from his science fiction roots but amps up the style in this strange and edgy thriller. The film is told entirely through the computer cam of Jill Stoddard (Sasha Grey, The Girlfriend Experience and *ahem* other films) as she’s being watched by jilted fan (Elijah Wood). While this may seem like a small-set way to tell a film, Vigalondo takes it to some wild and dark places. We saw Open Windows at the 2014 SXSW film festival and loved it.

Stream Open Windows on Netflix

Other titles new to Netflix this week:
1,000 Times Good Night (Erik Poppe, 2013)
The Heart Machine (Zachary Wigon, 2014)
In Bloom (Nana Ekvtimishvili, Simon Groß, 2013)
RoboCop (José Padilha, 2014)
A Summer’s Tale (Eric Rohmer, 1996)

Amazon Prime

Orphan Black Season 2

Before the critically acclaimed Orphan Black comes back for its third season on April 18, catch up on its first two seasons. House of Cards is definitely going to dominate the headlines and social conversation this weekend, but Orphan Black is far and away the better show. Tatiana Maslany is phenomenal as Sarah Manning and her artificially created sisterhood of clones. In its second season, we become closer to Sarah, Cosima, Alison and Katja, meet new clones, and learn more about the mysterious Dyad Group. The show is intriguing, tense, funny, dark and action-packed—one of the best on TV and a must watch.

Stream Orphan Black Season 2 on Amazon Prime

Other titles new to Amazon Prime this week:
Believe Me (Will Bakke, 2014)
Clerks II (Kevin Smith, 2006)
Finding Neverland (Marc Forster, 2004)
Hannibal Season 2 (available February 28)
Jamie Marks Is Dead (Carter Smith, 2014)

Video On-Demand

Whiplash (Damien Chazelle, 2014)

Fresh off its three Academy Award wins, including the surprising pick for Best Editing, you can check out Whiplash on Video On-Demand. Starring Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons, Whiplash is set in the competitive world of classic jazz music, pushing the boundaries of what we expect artists to endure for their craft. Teller and Simmons are both stunning in their roles of student and teacher, full of nuance and effort. The film is exhilarating in its many musical scenes while being performed believably—the use of both quick edits and medium shots give you full view of the performance with incredible movement. Whiplash is as good as you’ve heard and should be seen with the sound turned way up.

Other titles new to VOD this week:
Beyond the Lights (Gina Prince-Bythewood, 2014)
Big Hero 6 (Don Hall & Chris Williams, 2014)
Maps to the Stars (David Cronenberg, 2014)
The Salvation (Kristian Levring, 2014)
Wild Canaries (Lawrence Michael Levine, 2014)

Catch ’em while you can!

These films are set to expire from Netflix on February 28th

Almost Famous (Cameron Crowe, 2000)
Das Boot: The Director’s Cut (Wolfgang Petersen, 1981)
Dumb and Dumber (The Farrelly Brothers, 1994)
The Elephant Man (David Lynch, 1980)
Fright Night (Tom Holland, 1985)
Glengarry Glen Ross (James Foley, 1992)
Leaving Las Vegas (Mike Figgis, 1995)
Rachel Getting Married (Jonathan Demme, 2008)
Seven (David Fincher, 1995)
Thief (Michael Mann, 1981)

It’s cold outside, so stay in this weekend. Also, do we really all need to go see Hot Tub Time Machine 2?

Instead, here are some movies newly available to stream on Netflix, VOD, and Amazon Prime.

Netflix

The Overnighters (Jesse Moss, 2014)

With the Oscars this weekend, this is a lovely opportunity to see just how wrong they were with their Best Documentary selections. No offense to those nominated films, but there wasn’t a doc last year as thrilling, compelling, or surprising as The Overnighters. Filmed in the oil boom town Williston, North Dakota, The Overnighters tackles complex economic and spiritual questions surrounding a church that has opened its doors to shelter those who can’t find work or afford increasing property costs. It is also a stunning portrait of Jay Reinke, the pastor who supervised the “Overnighters” program. Reinke is a complicated subject, one who is difficult to pin down and changes throughout the course of the film. Though he is taking on this incredible mission, it isn’t always easy to see his motivations as pure. The film isn’t exactly a thriller or a mystery, but the community is so well captured in its complexity that it almost feels like one. Not just one of the best docs of 2014, but one of the best films period.

Stream The Overnighters on Netflix

Other titles new to Netflix this week:
Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain (Ravi Kumar, 2014)
Earth to Echo (Dave Green, 2014)
In Secret (Charlie Stratton, 2013)
Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People (Thomas Allen Harris, 2014)
White Bird in a Blizzard (Gregg Araki, 2014)

Amazon Prime

Lawrence of Arabia (David Lean, 1962)

The winner of 7 Oscars in 1963, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Cinematography (Color), David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia is one of the best examples of the Academy getting it right. While I can’t fully endorse seeing Lawrence of Arabia anywhere but in a movie theater (preferably on film), if you’ve never seen the epic, you can’t spend 216 minutes of your life any better way. Peter O’Toole (who never won an Oscar, for shame), stars as T.E. Lawrence, one of the most enigmatic biographical characters in all of cinema. His journey across African deserts during World War I are gorgeously captured and as breath-taking as ever. It’s great classic epic filmmaking, without the use of technology and special effects filler. Certainly, it’s length and scope takes a commitment, but not without rewards.

Stream Lawrence of Arabia on Amazon Prime

Other titles new to Amazon Prime this week:
Bottle Rocket (Wes Anderson, 1996)
Hook (Steven Spielberg, 1991)
Ida (Pawel Pawlikowski, 2013)
In a World… (Lake Bell, 2013)
Nebraksa (Alexander Payne, 2013)

Video On-Demand

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (Isao Takahata, 2013)

Sticking with the Oscar theme, though positively this time. The absence of The LEGO Movie still stings, but not at the expense of Isao Takahata’s masterful work in The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. If you weren’t able to check out this gem from Studio Ghibli, now is the perfect time. Expansive and magical, the film is a unique coming of age tale of a young princess birthed by a bamboo stalk and her reluctance to fit in with feudal Japanese high society. Its beautiful hand-drawn animation is a literal work of art and shows how old-school methods can still find a place in current trends. We just need filmmakers and studios that are willing to put in the work—hopefully Takahata’s work here will help inspire the next generation of animators to continue this legacy.

Other titles new to VOD this week:
All the Wilderness (Michael Johnson, 2014)
The Better Angels (A.J. Edwards, 2014)
Inherent Vice (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2014)
St. Vincent (Theodore Melfi, 2014)
The Theory of Everything (James Marsh, 2014)