Top streams for the week
The documentary "Knock Down the House" (2019, not rated) profiles Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and three other progressive women who took on the political establishment with grassroots campaigns. It comes to Netflix after winning two audience awards at the Sundance Film Festival.
https://youtu.be/_wGZc8ZjFY4
Luca Guadagnino's "Suspiria" (2018, R) is less a remake of Dario Argento's cult horror movie than a reimagining of the story of an American dancer (Dakota Johnson) in a German dance company run by a coven of witches. Tilda Swinton costars in multiple roles (unrecognizable under impressive makeup) in this elegant art-house version of a horror movie. Streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
https://youtu.be/BY6QKRl56Ok
A struggling writer becomes obsessed with the wealthy and enigmatic Ben (Steven Yuen), who may have killed the woman he loves, in Chang-dong Lee's unsettling psychological drama "Burning" (South Korea, 2018, not rated, with subtitles). Adapted from the short story "Barn Burning" by Haruki Murakami, the award-winning film also references William Faulkner and "The Great Gatsby." Streaming on Netflix.
https://youtu.be/oihHs2Errwk
Christian Applegate and Linda Cardellini play strangers who bond over shared loss and grief in the black comedy "Dead to Me: Season 1." Ten half-hour episodes on Netflix.
https://youtu.be/BwYBw1raC2o
"Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries," a spinoff of the hit Australian series, jumps decades ahead to the 1960s to follow the stylish niece (Geraldine Hakewill) of the Australian flapper detective. Four episodes streaming on Acorn TV.
https://youtu.be/6xqj21GEq50
While awaiting the "Downton Abbey" movie, see the film that inspired the series: Robert Altman's British murder mystery "Gosford Park" (2001, R), which won an Oscar for screenwriter Julian Fellowes. Streaming on Netflix.
Oh what a feeling! Get an eighties flashback on Hulu with the thriller "Fatal Attraction" (1987, R) starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close, musical stylebomb "Flashdance" (1983, R), and teen thriller "WarGames" (1983, PG) with Matthew Broderick racing to stop nuclear Armageddon.
Pay-Per-View / Video on Demand
Gina Rodriguez as a Latino American women forced to work for a Mexican drug lord in "Miss Bala" (2019, PG-13), a remake of the 2011 Mexican thriller directed by Catherine Hardwicke. Also new:
- the twisty thriller "Serenity" (2019, R) with Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway;
- survival drama "Arctic" (2019, PG-13) with Mads Mikkelsen;
- "To Dust" (2019, R) , a drama about dealing with grief starring Matthew Broderick;
- biographical drama "In Like Flynn" (2018, R) about young Errol Flynn in Australia before stardom.
Available same day as select theaters nationwide is the romantic drama "Tell It to the Bees" (2019, not rated) with Anna Paquin and Holliday Grainger.
Netflix
Zac Ephron is Ted Bundy and Lily Collins his oblivious girlfriend in "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile" (2019, R), which arrives from the Sundance and Tribeca Film Festivals.
https://youtu.be/mdMtnvMJcDA
A teen runaway hits the road with a gypsy sales crew in "American Honey" (2016, R), a sprawling American indie drama from British filmmaker Andrea Arnold.
https://youtu.be/y1SpWZm1PLc
Benedict Cumberbatch plays British code-breaking genius Alan Turing, who cracked the Nazi Enigma code, in "The Imitation Game" (2014, PG-13) costarring Keira Knightley and Matthew Goode.
K.J. Apa ("Riverdale") and Maia Mitchell ("The Fosters") star in the teen romance "The Last Summer" (2019, not rated).
"Tuca & Bertie: Season 1," featuring the voices of Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong, is an animated comedy for adults from the creators of "Bojack Horseman."
True stories: "All in My Family" (2019, not rated) follows filmmaker Hao Wu as he reconciles his modern American life and same-sex marriage with his Chinese family's traditional values. Also new is "John & Yoko: Above Us Only Sky" (2018, not rated) about the creation of Lennon's 1971 "Imagine" album.
Foreign affairs: a woman tries to move on from sexual assault in "All is Good" (aka "Alles ist gut") (Germany, 2018, not rated, with subtitles), which won numerous awards on the film festival circuit. Also new:
- action thriller "Jo Pil-ho: The Dawning Rage" (South Korea, 2019, not rated, with subtitles) from director Lee Jeong-beom, (of "The Man From Nowhere" and "No Tears for the Dead");
- road trip comedy Despite Everything" (aka "A Pesar De Todo") (Spain, 2019, not rated, with subtitles);
- horror sequel "Munafik 2" (Malaysia, 2018, not rated, with subtitles).
More streaming TV: teenage aliens live among us in "Roswell, New Mexico: Season 1," the CW reboot of the old WB series. Also new:
- crime drama "Undercover: Season 1" (Belgium, with subtitles);
- comedy game show / reality competition "Flinch: Season 1";
- CW's longest running series "Supernatural: Season 14";
- the third and finals season of alien invasion thriller "Colony" and horror comedy "Ash vs. Evil Dead."
Anime: "Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion – Episodes 1 & II" (Japan, 2017/2018, not rated, with subtitles) remakes the animated series in a pair of feature adventures.
Kid stuff: new episodes of the animated shows "True and the Rainbow Kingdom" and "Cupcake & Dino - General Services" for young kids. Also new:
- "Casper" (1995, PG) with Christina Ricci;
- epic fantasy "The Dark Crystal" (1982, PG) from Jim Henson and the Muppets.
Stand-up: "Anthony Jeselnik: Fire in the Maternity Ward."
The new month also brings a new batch of older titles, including Tom Hanks in "The Da Vinci Code" (2006, PG-13) and sequel "Angels & Demons" (2009, PG-13);
- action thriller "Olympus Has Fallen" (2013, R) with Gerard Butler and Aaron Eckhart;
- "Revolutionary Road" (2008, R) with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio;
- Terry Gilliam's "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" (1998, R) with Johnny Depp;
- High school basketball drama "Hoosiers" (1986, PG) with Gene Hackman and Dennis Hopper;
- Brian De Palma's "Scarface" (1983, R) with Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer.
Science fiction features this month includes "Snowpiercer" (2013, R) with Chris Evans and Tilda Swinton and landmark cyber-thriller "The Matrix" (1999, R) and sequels "The Matrix Reloaded" (2003, R) and "The Matrix Revolutions" (2003, R).
It's horror with comic twist in "Zombieland" (2009, R) with Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone, the original "Scream" (1996, R), and Joe Dante's holiday horror "Gremlins" (1984, PG).
The comedies include "Wedding Crashers" (2005, R) with Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn;
- Woody Allen's "To Rome with Love" (2012, R);
- "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay" (2008, R) with John Cho and Kal Penn;
- "Just Friends" (2005, PG-13) with Ryan Reynolds and Amy Smart;
- "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery" (1997, PG-13) and sequel "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" (1999, PG-13) with Mike Myers;
- "Dumb and Dumber" (1994, PG-13) with Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels;
- "Mr. Mom" (1983, PG) with Michael Keaton.
Amazon Prime Video
Michael Caine, Jim Broadbent, and Tom Courtenay are aging crooks in "King of Thieves" (2018, R), a crime drama inspired by the biggest jewel heist in London’s history. Also new:
https://youtu.be/SpsD9YhdKDg
- drama "Shanghai" (2010, R), with John Cusack as an American in 1941 China;
- foodie drama "Big Night" (1996, R) with Tony Shalhoub and Stanley Tucci.
Streaming TV: Ellen Barkin and Scott Speedman star in the American family crime drama "Animal King: Season 3." Also new is British science fiction allegory "Humans: Season 3."
True stories: archaeologist Ella Al-Shamahi and actor Andy Serkis looks at human ancestors in the BBC documentary "Neanderthal" (2018, not rated).
Prime Video and Hulu
James Gandolfini is an unhappily married man who becomes protective and paternal when he meets a teenage hooker (Kristen Stewart) in "Welcome To the Rileys" (2010, R), costarring Melissa Leo (Prime Video and Hulu). Stewart also costars in the road movie drama "The Yellow Handkerchief" (2008, PG-13) with William Hurt and Maria Bello (Prime Video and Hulu).
True stories: "Waiting For ‘Superman’" (2010, PG) from Oscar-winning filmmaker David Guggenheim takes on the failures of American public education (Prime Video and Hulu).
Streaming TV: "Vikings: Season 5, Part 2" presents 10 more episodes of the History Channel drama.
Hulu
"Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies" (2017, not rated) profiles producer and studio executive Alan Ladd Jr., who green lit such movies as "Star Wars," "Blade Runner," and "Young Frankenstein."
https://youtu.be/es1w1pmOMFU
Samantha Mathis is a scientist who uses cloning to help cure her serial killer-son in "All That We Destroy," the eighth episode of the horror series "Into The Dark."
Also new: lighthearted gourmet drama "Julie & Julia" (2009, PG-13) with Meryl Streep and Amy Adams;
- Mike Leigh's "Happy-Go-Lucky" (2008, R) with Sally Hawkins as a sunny optimist in a cloudy world;
- military vet road movie "The Lucky Ones" (2008, R) with Rachel McAdams, Tim Robbins and Michael Peña;
- Glenn Close and Cameron Diaz in "Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her" (2001, PG-13);
- Oscar-winning romantic drama "The English Patient" (1996, R) with Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche.
Comedies include Sacha Baron Cohen mockumentary prank "Borat: Learning of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation Kazakhstan" (2006, R);
https://youtu.be/K6hEvfLfTRc
- John Water's guerilla filmmaking black comedy "Cecil B. Demented" (2000, R) with Melanie Griffith;
- "The Birdcage" (1997, R) with Robin Williams and Nathan Lane;
- "Larger than Life" (1996, PG) with Bill Murray and an elephant;
- Kevin Smith's debut feature "Clerks" (1994, R);
- Richard Linklater's seventies high school flashback "Dazed and Confused" (1993, R);
- "Mermaids" (1990, PG-13) with Cher and Winona Ryder;
- baseball comedy "Major League" (1989, R) with Tom Berenger and Charlie Sheen.
New thrillers include frontier horror film "The Burrowers" (2009, R) with Clancy Brown;
- "Breakdown" (1997, R) with Kurt Russell;
- Terry Gilliam's "Twelve Monkeys" (1996, R) with Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt;
- "Under Siege" (1992, R) with Steven Seagal and Tommy Lee Jones.
Cult movies include the original "Rollerball" (1975, R) with James Caan and "Repo! The Genetic Opera" (2008, R), a rock musical about a bleak future where organ transplants are repossessed.
HBO Now
"Once Upon a Deadpool" (2018, PG-13) reworks the ultra-violent R-rated superhero comedy "Deadpool 2" starring Ryan Reynolds into a slightly more family friendly version.
https://youtu.be/PCf03KXyzIg
The Polish crime drama "Blinded by the Lights: Season 1" (Poland, 2018, not rated) from HBO Europe is available exclusively on HBO Now, HBO Go, and HBO On Demand.
"2019 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony" features Stevie Nicks, Janet Jackson, Def Leppard, The Cure, and The Zombies.
True stories: "At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal" (2019, not rated) reminds viewers that behind the scandal was a serious crime of sexual abuse. Also new: the six-part series "On Tour with Asperger's Are Us" features new episodes each Tuesday.
Also new: young adult science fiction thriller "The Darkest Minds" (2018, PG-13);
- horror sequel "Insidious: The Last Key" (2018, PG-13);
- Oscar-winning drama "The Danish Girl" (2015, R) with Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander;
- drama "The Shipping News" (2002, R) with Kevin Spacey and Julianne Moore;
- barbarian adventure "Conan the Barbarian" (1982, R) with Arnold Schwarzenegger;
- animated "Puss in Boots" (2011, PG) and epic fantasy "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" (2010, PG), the third film in the series, for kids and families.
Available Friday night is science fiction action thriller "The Predator" (2018, R) with Boyd Holbrook and Keegan-Michael Key.
Other streams
The complete collections of the Rowan Atkinson TV comedies "Mr. Bean" (1990-1995) and "The Thin Blue Line" (1995-1996) are now on BritBox.
"The Invisibles: Complete Series" (2008), starring Anthony Head and Warren Clarke as retired burglars who return to their trade out of boredom, is now on Acorn TV.
New to The Criterion Channel this week are Carol Reed's classic thrillers "The Fallen Idol" (1948) with James Mason and "The Third Man" (1949) with Joseph Cotton and Orson Welles. Also new:
- "Wendy and Lucy" (2008, R) and "Meek's Cutoff" (2010, PG) from filmmaker Kelly Reichardt and star Michelle Williams;
- Sofia Coppola's feature debut "The Virgin Suicides" (1999, R), presented with bonus interviews and featurettes (streaming through June 30),
- Luchino Visconti's "Rocco and His Brothers" (Italy, 1960, with subtitles) with Alain Delon (streaming September June 30).
Free streams: Channing Tatum and Adam Driver play brothers who defy the "Logan Lucky" (2017, PG-13) family curse when they hatch a plan to rob a North Carolina NASCAR track in Steven Soderbergh's red state heist comedy. Riley Keough, Katie Holmes, and Daniel Craig co-star. It's now streaming on Kanopy along with:
- indie drama "Leave No Trace" (2017, PG) starring Ben Foster as a troubled military vet and trying to raise a daughter (Thomasin McKenzie) off the grid;
- "Captain Fantastic" (2016, R) with Viggo Mortensen as a different kind of father raising a family outside of society;
- real-life World War II thriller "Anthropoid" (2016, R) with Cillian Murphyy;
- drone warfare drama "Eye in the Sky" (2015, R) with Helen Mirren and Alan Rickman;
- biographical drama "Trumbo" (2015, R) with Bryan Cranston.
New on disc and at Redbox this week:
"Miss Bala," "Serenity," "Dragged Across Concrete," "Arctic"
Sean Axmaker is a Seattle film critic and writer. His reviews of streaming movies and TV can be found at http://streamondemandathome.com.
