Tag: streaming

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Streaming: Celebrating Chadwick Boseman

When one hears of a heartbreaking death like the passing of Chadwick Boseman, a natural reaction is to seek out their life and art in order to celebrate them. The particularly gutting thing about Boseman is that he was only 43, having silently battled colon cancer for four years. He started appearing on screen in 2003, but didn’t hit his breakout role until 2013, with the Jackie Robinson bio 42. Though he starred in multiple features after that, Boseman was clearly just hitting his stride; we are thankful for all we have received from Boseman, and wish we could see more!

We have gathered a few of our Chadwick Boseman favorites! Check them out.

Black Panther 

Where to watch: Disney +

42: The Jackie Robinson Story 

Where to watch: Online Rental

21 Bridges 

Where to watch: Showtime

Marshall 

Where to watch: Online Rental

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Streaming: Quintessential Summer Movies

With many of us social distancing, staying home, and canceling our traveling plans, many of us were hoping things would have been back to normal by summertime. As the weather continues to heat up, however, we’ve begun to accept that summer is looking a little different this year. No matter what the next few months look like, there is plenty of streaming content available. From classics to the more recent hits, we have compiled a list to celebrate Summer 2020! 

The Endless Summer 

Where to watch: Tubi

It’s hard to imagine a more quintessential summer movie classic than Bruce Brown’s 1966 documentary The Endless Summer. So much of surfing culture was defined by this film, which follows surfers Mike Hynson and Robert August around the world. Brown’s movie captured surfing as it was, but also inspired a generation of surfers who followed. It might even have you craving some waves.

The Sandlot 

Where to watch: Hulu (with Starz)

Nothing beats the nostalgia of David Mickey Evans’ The Sandlot, about a group of boys playing baseball in the summer of 1962. It doesn’t matter if grew up in the ’60s (when the movie takes place) or in the ’90s (when the movie came out)—the coming-of-age story and the camaraderie among the kids will take you right back to the summer days of your youth, whenever that might have been. 

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off 

Where to watch: Netflix

While it was released in the summer, John Hughes’ Ferris Bueller’s Day Off takes place during the school year—that’s kind of the whole point. But in watching Matthew Broderick’s Ferris play hooky and cram an absurd amount of action and fun into one day, we’re reminded of a message that’s more important than ever: Summer is a state of mind.

Adventureland 

Where to watch: Hulu (with Starz)

Greg Mottola’s coming-of-age dramedy takes place in the summer of 1987, at an amusement park that’s seen better days. Jesse Eisenberg stars as a recent high school graduate forced to skip his planned European vacation and get a summer job instead. While there are plenty of laughs, Adventureland offers a bittersweet look at star-crossed teenage love and nostalgic memories of a time when things were simpler—sometimes at the expense of safety regulations.

Jaws

Where to watch: HBO

Maybe you don’t want to go to the beach after all. You’ll certainly have second thoughts after revisiting Jaws, Steven Spielberg’s classic thriller about a shark wreaking havoc on fictional resort town Amity Island. Even 45 years after its release, Jaws remains a harrowing viewing experience that will have you afraid to dip your toes in the water for some time.

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Streaming: Newly Added Movies on Major Streaming Platforms

When it comes to streaming services, each major streaming platform offers a large variety of movies and television shows to stream. As things get more and more competitive than ever with streaming viewers on the rise, these platforms are constantly adding more and more content to their platforms to remain up to date with their competitors. Check out these movies coming to the major streaming platforms in June 2020. 

Knives Out 

Available on Amazon Prime to stream June 12th.

Storyline: When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan’s dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan’s untimely death. Written by Lionsgate

 

Ad Astra 

Available on HBO Max to stream June 6th. 

Storyline: Astronaut Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) travels to the outer edges of the solar system to find his missing father and unravel a mystery that threatens the survival of our planet. His journey will uncover secrets that challenge the nature of human existence and our place in the cosmos.

 

Shirley

Available to stream on Hulu June 5th. 

Storyline: As renowned for her morose nature as she is for her horror fiction, writer Shirley Jackson (Elizabeth Moss) is crafting yet another masterpiece when the arrival of newlyweds Fred and Rose disrupt her creative process and marriage to a literary critic – and philandering professor – Stanley Hyman (Michael Stuhlbarg). As Stanley spars to maintain academic dominance over his would-be protégé Fred, Rose attempts to dampen her own ambitions and adjust to married life while living under the roof of their fiery intellectual hosts with quicksilver loyalties and myriad neuroses. When the motives of Shirley’s literary muse prove elusive, Rose’s curiosity and trusting nature make her tender prey for a brilliant author whose only allegiance is to her work. Written by Mae Moreno

 

Lady Bird 

Available to stream on Netflix June 3rd. 

Storyline: Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) is a high school senior from the “wrong side of the tracks”. She longs for adventure, sophistication, and opportunity, but finds none of that in her Sacramento Catholic high school. This movie follows the title character’s senior year in high school, including her first romance, her participation in the school play, and most importantly, her applying for college. Written by Dehlia

 

Artemis Fowl 

Available to stream on DisneyPlus June 12th. 

Storyline: Artemis Fowl, a young criminal prodigy, hunts down a secret society of fairies to find his missing father. Perfect movie for the family that will be premiering on DisneyPlus! 

 

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Streaming: Basketball Movies

In a quarantine-free world, NBA playoffs would be underway right now. But with the sports world temporarily benched, there’s no way to know when players will return this year, if at all, or what shape the game will take when they do (other than an almost-certain absence of live / cheering crowds). So what is a fan to do in self-isolation? The living room is a long way from sitting courtside at Staples, of course, but these five films may help ease the withdrawal pains.

Hoosiers

Streaming On: Hulu, Amazon Prime

Have you heard this one before: troubled coach finds redemption by leading underdog team to glory? Of course, you have — just last month The Way Back saw Ben Affleck filling the role of the coach-with-issues. The gold standard of this genre-within-a-genre, however, is this 1986 drama led by the reliably excellent Gene Hackman. Can his high school basketball team overcome impossible odds and private demons to claim the state championship? What do you think? The material is elevated by thoughtful storytelling, all-star performances by Hackman and Dennis Hopper and white-knuckle jolts of impressively breathless action. FOR AGES: 9 and up

Hoop Dreams

Streaming On: Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Now

Considered one of the best documentaries ever, this three-hour Oscar-winner follows high school students William Gates and Arthur Agee as they chart a path to the NBA — and out of an inner-city existence rife with poverty and inequality. And just because its a documentary, don’t assume the on-court action suffers. In fact, because the stakes are so vivid and real, Hoop Dreams crackles with moments of genuine, heart-in-throat suspense. FOR AGES: 13 and up

Space Jam

Streaming On: Netflix

Michael Jordan is enlisted by Bugs Bunny to help win a basketball game between the Looney Tunes characters and a group of intergalactic cretins who, if they prove victorious, will make Bugs and the gang main attractions at a seedy outer space amusement park. Sophisticated and soulful, this is not — but with dazzling visuals, the pleasure of watching the Looney Tunes in action and supporting work from Bill Murray, who needs sophistication and soulfulness anyway, especially if you have kids? FOR AGES: 6 and up

White Men Can’t Jump

Streaming On: Amazon Prime

Sports is about winning. So why are the most entertaining sports films about losers? Like Bull Durham and Tin Cup — two other comedies from director Ron Shelton about minor leaguers and has-beens — White Men Can’t Jump cares less about the game than it does the fakes and fouls that occur between characters off the court. Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes star as trash-talking Venice beach basketball hustlers not above double-crossing each other. FOR AGES: 16 and up

He Got Game

Streaming On: Hulu, Amazon Prime

Serving prison time for accidentally killing his wife, Jake Shuttlesworth (Denzel Washington) receives an early, one-week release from the governor as well as a special request: convince his son, the country’s top-ranked basketball prospect, Jesus (Ray Allen), to play for the governor’s alma mater, “Big State” University, and in exchange, Jake’s prison sentence will be reduced. Directed by Spike Lee, He Got Game feels as current as ever today, super-charged by the conflict between domineering father and haunted son. FOR AGES: 18 and up

 

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Streaming: Feel Good Movies

If you never saw Contagion, why start now? That’s like stopping to watch Jaws as your life raft springs a leak. Yet movies about viral pandemics — like the excellent but eerie Steven Soderbergh thriller as well as such lesser efforts as Outbreak and Pandemic — are topping digital movie charts, despite the reality, we’re living in. Our advice? Give your mind — and your stress level — some relief and seek out something upbeat and life-affirming. Any of these five films will do just fine in lifting your spirits.

Groundhog Day

Streaming on:  Amazon Prime, Hulu, YouTube

Bill Murray is a weatherman trapped reliving the same day, again and again. Sort of like being locked down at home. Murray’s predicament generates raucous laughs, but by the end, both the character and the equally sarcastic movie are channeling Frank Capra, elevated by the big-hearted notion that a man can improve, even if it’s one day at a time. FOR AGES: 12 and up

Ratatouille

Streaming on:  DisneyPlus

Remy is the best chef in Paris. Unfortunately, he’s also a rat. Enter Linguine, a garbage boy who is clueless at cooking. Working together — sort of Cyrano de Bergerac meets Anthony Bourdain — the new partners enjoy huge success until a food critic with his own issues turns up the heat. This undervalued Pixar movie is for anyone who’s ever been told they can’t realize their dreams just because of what they are or where they came from. FOR AGES: 6 and up

Singin’ in the Rain

Streaming on: Amazon Prime

The quintessential Hollywood musical, this 1952 classic stars Gene Kelly as a silent film star making the career move into “talkies.” Together with a chorus girl (Debbie Reynolds) and a vaudeville pal (Donald O’Connor), they plot to make a masterpiece. Once you surrender to its old-school, all-ages charm, it’s impossible not to be won over by the performances and the iconic musical numbers, which still endure almost 70 years later. FOR AGES: 6 and up

The Princess Bride

Streaming on: Amazon Prime

Don’t expect the effects, violence and grit of today’s action-fantasy genre in this 1987 Rob Reiner comedy. A sly, self-aware fairy tale that favors humor and romance over battles and bloodshed, what distinguishes The Princess Bride is its utterly unique tone: whimsical, silly and warm, without a trace of mean-spiritedness. It’s framed as a bedtime story told to a child, but really, it’s a bedtime story being told to us. FOR AGES: 8 and up

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Streaming on: Netflix

Argue all you like about who the best movie Spider-Man is — Maguire? Garfield? Holland? — the best Spider-Man movie, period, is this 2018 animated Oscar-winner, in which a teenager named Miles Morales partners with Spider-heroes from alternate realities to save the multiverse and defeat the villain who killed his world’s Peter Parker. Bolstered by a sensational soundtrack, standout cast (including Nicolas Cage, Hailee Steinfeld and Mahershala Ali) and eye-popping animation, this thrilling, emotional adventure truly feels like a comic book sprung to life. FOR AGES: 9 and up 

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Streaming: 6 Documentaries to Binge after Tiger King

Tiger King’s roar is inescapable. The breakout Netflix docuseries about illegal big cat breeders and other eccentric characters has been the streamer’s top title since it debuted last month, inspiring mullet-themed memes and Twitter talk about who should play Joe Exotic in a forthcoming limited series. (If you don’t know who Joe Exotic is, he’s the owner of a private zoo who is currently in prison for trying to hire a hitman to kill the activist who wanted to shut him down.) Whether you’ve already binged Tiger King or have zero interest in its garish world, what can’t be denied is the popularity of documentary filmmaking across platforms. From true crime to family mystery to adorable guide dogs in training, there is a subject for everyone.

Fyre: The Greatest Party that Never Happened and Fyre Fraud

Streaming on: Netflix (Fyre) and Hulu (Fyre Fraud)

The Fyre Festival was such a debacle it produced not one, but two, documentaries exploring how the influencer-touted music festival on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma descended into what has been described as a “millennial Lord of the Flies.” Which one should you watch? The Netflix doc offers a more vivid account of what transpired, but Hulu’s version, which presents the fiasco through a cultural lens, boasts an interview with co-founder Billy McFarland, who went to prison for six years. In other words, why not just watch both? For Ages: 15 and up

The Jinx        

Streaming on: Hulu, Amazon Prime and HBO Now

This masterful six-part series chronicles the bizarre existence of Robert Durst, the disquieting, possibly homicidal heir to the Durst empire in New York City. Just consider how many people close to him either disappeared or wound up brutally murdered: his wife, Kathie, who vanished in 1982; his friend, Susan Berman, who was killed in 2000; or his neighbor Morris Black, who was murdered and dismembered in 2001. Durst is currently on trial for Berman’s murder in Los Angeles thanks to new evidence uncovered by the filmmakers. For Ages: 15 and up

Pick of the Litter

Streaming on: DisneyPlus

This heart-tugging, six-part series follows six pups – Paco, Pacino, Raffi, Amara, Tulane and Tartan – as they endeavor to become guide dogs for the blind. Not surprisingly, their journey is no bag of chew toys as they and their trainers face an intensive process marked by both triumph and disappointment. You’ll find yourself cheering on the dogs – as well as fully appreciating the work done by the Guide Dogs for the Blind organization. For Ages: 6 and up

Cheer

Streaming on: Netflix

Forget the big guys on the field – this six-part docuseries finds as much ferocity and anxiety on the sidelines. Another pop culture mega-hit for Netflix, the filmmakers follow five members of Navarro College’s cheer squad as they journey from Corsicana, Texas, to Daytona, Florida, to compete against other athletes in the National Cheerleading Championship. If you’re expecting something light (a la Bring It On), expect to be surprised – and enthralled. For Ages: 13 and up

Three Identical Strangers

Streaming on: Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime

What begins as a wildly-entertaining true story – identical triplets, separated at birth, are reunited by chance as adults only to become talk-show-circuit celebrities – turns into a much more provocative, emotional exploration of fate and self-determination as they and the filmmakers untangle the twisting mystery of why they were separated as newborns. For Ages: 13 and up 

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Streaming: Five Children’s Shows Parents Will Enjoy Too

Television has always been a babysitter. But with schools shuttered and adults working remotely, it’s now more like a co-parent. Good news: in this era of Peak TV, the quality of children’s television programming has never been higher. So much so that there is an abundance of shows all members of the families can enjoy beyond such timeless fare as Sesame Street and Winnie the Pooh. Here are five of them:

Forky Asks a Question 

Streaming on: DisneyPlus

The handmade toy from Toy Story 4, Forky stars in this 10-episode series (each installment runs three or four minutes) in which he asks his toy friends for the answers to life’s simple questions. Like, what is money? And, what is time? Okay, maybe not so simple – yet the series manages to break it all down with humor and heart for Forky’s young fans. FOR AGES: 4 and up

Ask the Storybots 

Streaming on: Netflix

Have you ever wondered why you need to brush your teeth? The StoryBots – Beep, Bing, Bang, Boop and Bo – answer this and many more questions children always ask. In addition to the charming characters, the high-energy, award-winning series illuminates with music, videos and celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg, Jay Leno and Snoop Dogg. FOR AGES: 3 and up

Pinky and the Brain

Streaming on: Hulu

A rarity aimed at both grade-school-age children and their skeptical parents, this 1990s-era cartoon fuses lightning-speed slapstick with clear-eyed cultural satire. Brain, if you didn’t know, is the arrogant, scheming lab mouse out to conquer the world. Too bad he’s always being (unintentionally) foiled by his less-than-brilliant sidekick, Pinky. The result probably isn’t as ingenious as Brain would think it is, but for families, it will do just fine. FOR AGES: 6 and up

Beat Bugs

Streaming on: Netflix

Songs by the Beatles – performed by such present-day artists as Pink – embellish the adventures of five young bugs as they forge ahead through life’s problems. Adults will appreciate how Beatles’ lyrics are smartly stitched into the dialogue while their children will relate to themes of friendship, loyalty, and resilience. FOR AGES: 3 and up 

Muppet Babies

Streaming on: DisneyPlus

A reboot of the 1980s animated series, which starred young versions of such classic Muppets like Kermit, Miss Piggy and Gonzo the Great, this series follows the exploits of the titular toddlers. Granted, their misadventures may occur from the safety of their playroom, but when their wild imaginations get the best of them (and they usually do), the gang needs to rely on their problem-solving skills to save the day. FOR AGES: 3 and up 

 

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Streaming: The 5 Best TV Shows You Should Finally Binge 

The 5 Best TV Shows You Should Finally Binge 

So much content, so little time. Until now. With social distancing giving everyone a lot more downtime at home, why not use it to binge a classic TV series you may have missed when it originally aired – or always wanted to revisit but never got around to? Thanks to the vast catalogs curated by the likes of Netflix, Hulu, and others, it’s almost certainly available to be streamed. And if you don’t have a favorite already in mind, here are five picks to consider.

The Sopranos 

Streaming On: HBO GO, HBO NOW, Hulu, Amazon Prime

Like The Godfather, the time has been kind to David Chase’s mafioso drama about a New Jersey crime kingpin and his clan. Considered one of the finest television dramas in history – if not the finest – it’s powered by James Gandolfini‘s explosive performance as Tony Soprano, a mobster in crisis seeking therapy with psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco). What follows is a turbulent miracle of violence and recrimination punctuated by bursts of jet-black humor. FOR AGES: 18 and up

Lost 

Streaming On: Hulu

To appreciate Lost, consider how far ahead of its time it was in 2004. Here was an expensive serialized thrill ride that inspired a rabid fandom, stoked pop culture debate, raced with cinematic action and veered wildly down avenues of science fiction and theology. It looked like nothing else on the air at the time – and now resembles much of what’s new to binge. The premise: after crash landing on a mysterious island, the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 encounter everything from polar bears and phantoms to mad scientists and time travel. For ages: 13 and up.

Futurama

Streaming On: Hulu

Just because this science-fiction spoof from Matt Groening never enjoyed the blockbuster success of his other animated creation, The Simpsons, doesn’t mean it lacks for witty, weird pleasures. Set in the year 3000, it follows the misadventures of a 20th-century slacker stranded out of time. Along the way, he encounters robots, floating heads, intelligent crustaceans and the one-eyed girl who steals his heart. FOR AGES: 12 and up

 

Curb your Enthusiasm 

Streaming On: HBO NOW, HBO GO, Amazon Prime, Hulu

Considering Curb just wrapped it’s 10th (and one of its best) seasons, what better time to revisit the entire misanthropic catalog of awkward truths and cringing laughs? As a fictionalized version of himself, Seinfeld co-creator Larry David discovers social aggravation wherever he goes in his West Los Angeles neighborhood. And for fans of Seinfeld who missed it, Curb’s seventh season is as close to a proper Seinfeld reunion as you will ever see. FOR AGES: 18 and up

 

Mad Men 

Streaming On: Netflix

Like The Sopranos, Mad Men follows an alpha male anti-hero in an existential crisis. But whereas that mob drama is as beefy and swaggering as Tony Soprano, this series set in 1960s New York is as sleek and inscrutable as its chain-smoking ad man, Don Draper (Jon Hamm). Despite its multitude of Emmys and place in pop culture, Mad Men was, relatively speaking, always a niche show, enjoying solid but unspectacular ratings. This means for many people, its immaculate style and shattering drama are yet to be discovered. FOR AGES: 14 and up

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Tech News: Streaming Wars… What To Watch And What Is The Price?

The next few years will be marked as “revolutionary” for anything in regards to entertainment and television. Almost every big television platform is going to launch their own streaming service to compete with the three largest tech giants: Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu. Here’s what you need to know about the new and existing players in a game of the television Streaming Wars!

 

Netflix

Price: $8.99 for its basic plan, $12.99 for standard, and $15.99 for premium

What it offers: Netflix is arguably the streaming king of them all thanks to an expanding archive of content and global subscriber base that is 150 million strong. Netflix’s library includes its original series such as “Stranger Things,” “The Witcher” and “The Umbrella Academy,” plus original films like “Always Be My Maybe” and the Oscar-winning “Roma.” It also has comedy specials from the likes of Dave Chappelle, Netflix Originals like Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis, upcoming films from Martin Scorsese and Michael Bay and series from Shonda Rhimes and Ryan Murphy — two of television’s most successful producers. Netflix is losing beloved classics like “Friends” and “The Office” to competitors, but it’s now the exclusive global streaming home to “Seinfeld” starting in 2021. So, yes, Netflix may have competition waiting at the gates, but it’s still synonymous with streaming.

 

Apple TV+

Price: $4.99 a month or a free year when you purchase a new iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Mac or Apple TV.

What it offers: Apple TV+ may be short on content, but it undercuts many of its streaming competitors in price with its $4.99 monthly fee (and you get a year free when you buy a new Apple product from Apple or licensed retailers). Apple TV+ also includes content from some heavy-hitters in Hollywood. There’s “The Morning Show,” a series about the news industry starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carrell (CNN’s Brian Stelter is a consultant on the project, for which his book was used as background). Apple also struck a multiyear deal with Oprah Winfrey in June of 2018 to create documentaries and a book club.

 

Disney+

Price: $6.99 or $12.99 when bundled with ESPN+ and commercial-supported Hulu

What it offers: Disney+ is the exclusive home for some of the most popular franchises in Hollywood for a low price. While Apple is promoting names like Oprah, Disney+ has brand names like Star Wars and Marvel. There are multiple series from Marvel, a few original Star Wars series including “The Mandalorian,” Pixar films and shorts, Disney animated classics, and documentaries from National Geographic. The service is also the exclusive home to all 30 seasons of “The Simpsons” — TV’s longest running primetime scripted series. Much of Disney+ caters to children, but that’s still a lot of content for $6.99 – about half of what Netflix charges for its standard plan.

 

HBO Max

Price: $14.99 a month

When does it launch?: May 2020

What it offers: HBO Max’s best selling point is it’s variety. The upcoming service from WarnerMedia, which also owns CNN, has content for all ages — Looney Tunes, Hanna-Barbera, Cartoon Network and “Sesame Street” for the young and HBO series, TNT and TBS for adults. All 23 seasons of “South Park” will also be exclusive to the service. For cinephiles, HBO Max offers Warner Brothers’ deep film library, The Criterion Collection and Turner Classic Movies. The service will also have television favorites such as “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” and “The Big Bang Theory.” The iconic “Friends,” which Warner Bros. had licensed to Netflix, is coming home to WarnerMedia and will live exclusively on HBO Max for five years starting in 2020.

HBO Max has also successfully courted J.J. Abrams in a wide-ranging production deal with WarnerMedia, as well as Greg Berlanti and Reese Witherspoon, who will produce original films for the service.

 

Hulu

Price: $11.99 without ads, $5.99 with ads

What it offers: Hulu has the Emmy Award winning “The Handmaid’s Tale,” current television episodes available on-demand (the day after they air), and is now fully controlled by Disney. The service, which has 28 million subscribers, has greenlit a bunch of new series including “The Dropout,” a limited series about rise and fall of Theranos CEO, Elizabeth Holmes, that stars Kate McKinnon as Holmes, as well as two new live-action Marvel series, “Ghost Rider” and “Helstrom.” Hulu is a big part of Disney’s streaming strategy along with ESPN+, which the company plans to bundle together.

 

Peacock

Price: TBD

When does it launch?: April 2020

What it offers: Do you like to laugh? Well, NBCUniversal has the streaming service for you. Peacock will offer a full lineup of comedy hits including “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation” (both of which will be exclusive to the service) “30 Rock,” “Cheers,” “Frasier” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” Every season of “SNL” will be available on Peacock and there will be reboots of classic series like “Saved by the Bell” and “Battlestar Galactica.” Peacock will have blockbusters from Universal Pictures such as the “Fast & Furious” series and classics like “Jaws” and “Back to the Future.” Universal, Focus Features and DreamWorks Animation will also create original films for the service, and Alec Baldwin and Demi Moore will star in original series as well.

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