A little sparse this week all around, with the big DVD release being Battle: Los Angeles. A couple of new Criterions release, but I honestly don’t know much about either one. There are a couple of big-name 2010 films coming onto Instant Watch this week, though – The Social Network and Burlesque! How’s that for a double-feature? One of the best-reviewed movies of the year and one of the worst. So there you go. That’s what kind of week it is.
NEW RELEASE PICKS OF THE WEEK
The Concert
I was a little hesitant to run out and see this in theatres because the story of a formerly distinguished Russian conductor who pulls together his former musicians for reunion concert sounds like it could skew a little maudlin (though the fact that his disgrace was because his musicians were Jewish has interesting complications), but I’m definitely curious about anything mélanie Laurent does after Inglourious Basterds, so I’m down to try this on DVD.
2010 France. Director: Radu Mihaileanu. starring: Aleksey Guskov, Mélanie Laurent.
Amazon DVD | Netflix
Battle: Los Angeles
This got pretty dismal reviews that kept me from the theatre, but I’m tempted to pop some popcorn and throw it on one night, just for kicks.
2011 USA. Director: Jonathan Liebesman. Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez.
Amazon DVD | Amazon Blu-ray | Netflix (7/12)
OTHER NEW RELEASES
Adrift (2009 Brazil, dir Heitor Dhalia, stars Vincent Cassel, Camilla Belle; Netflix)
Big Mommas: Like Father Like Son (2011 USA, dir John Whitesell, stars Martin Lawrence, Brandon T. Jackson; Blu-ray/Netflix)
A Cold Day in Hell (2011 USA, dir Christopher Forbes, stars Michael Madsen; Netflix)
The Con Artist (2010 USA, dir Risa Bramon Garcia, stars Donald Sutherland, Rebecca Romijn)
Hall Pass (2011 USA, dir Bobby & Peter Farrelly, stars Owen Wilson; Blu-ray/Netflix)
Jackass 3.5: The Unrated Movie (2011 USA, dir Jeff Tremaine, stars Jason Acuña; Netflix)
Kill the Irishman (2001 USA, dir Jonathan Hensleigh, stars Ray Stevenson; Blu-ray/Netflix)
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (2010 Hong Kong, dir Andrew Lau, stars Donnie Yen, Shu Qi; Blu-ray/Netflix)
Monogamy (2011 USA, dir Dana Adam Shapiro, stars Rashida Jones, Chris Messina; Netflix)
Mooz-Lum (2010 USA, dir Qasim Basir, stars Evan Ross, Danny Glover; Netflix)
N-Secure (2010 USA, dir David M. Matthews, stars Cordell Moore; Blu-ray/Netflix)
Red Riding Hood (2011 USA, dir Catherine Hardwicke, stars Amanda Seyfried; Blu-ray/Netflix)
Vanishing of the Bees (2010 USA, dir George Langsworthy, Maryam Henein, stars Ellen Page; Netflix)
CLASSIC PICK OF THE WEEK
Insignificance Criterion Collection
I honestly know little about this, but the description sounds intriguing: “Director Nicolas Roeg’s portrait of 1950s America finds four people — unnamed analogs of Joseph McCarthy, Joe DiMaggio, Marilyn Monroe and Albert Einstein — gathered at a hotel, discussing Communism, sports, fame and the theory of relativity.” And it’s Criterion. So there’s that.
1985 UK. Director: Nicolas Roeg. Starring: Michael Emil, Theresa Russell.
Amazon DVD | Amazon Blu-ray | Netflix
The Makioka Sisters Criterion Collection
Criterion’s moving outside my frame of reference this week, but this appears to be one of Kon Ichikawa’s most prominent works, about four sisters in 1930s Japan, navigating a background of privilege, war, and cultural customs.
1983 Japan. Director: Kon Ichikawa. Starring: Keiko Kishi, Yoshiko Sakuma.
Amazon DVD | Amazon Blu-ray | Netflix
OTHER CLASSIC/OLDER TITLES
The 36th Precinct [aka 36] (2004 France, dir Olivier Marchal, stars Daniel Auteuil; Blu-ray/Netflix)
John Leguizamo’s Freak (1998 USA, dir Spike Lee, stars John Leguizamo; Netflix)
Probe (1972 USA, dir Russ Mayberry, stars Hugh O’Brian, Burgess Meredith)
BLU-RAY PICKS OF THE WEEK
The Cincinnati Kid
It’s McQueen vs. Robinson in a high-stakes poker game set in Depression-era New Orleans. I’m certainly interested to see two such iconic actors battle it out, whatever the arena.
1965 USA. Director: Norman Jewison. Starring: Steve McQueen, Edward G. Robinson.
Amazon Blu-ray | Amazon DVD | Netflix
Supernatural: Season Two
I’ve not gotten into Supernatural myself, but I know a lot of people who have, and what better way to enjoy the eye candy that Padalecki and Ackles indubitably are than blu-ray?
2006 USA, creator Eric Kripke, stars Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles.
Amazon Blu-ray | Amazon DVD | Netflix
OTHER BLU-RAYS
The Boondock Saints: Truth and Justice Edition (1999 USA, dir Troy Duffy, stars Willem Dafoe, Sean Patrick Flanery; DVD/Netflix)
Heavy Metal (1981 Canada, dir Gerald Potterton, stars John Candy, Richard Romanus; DVD/Netflix)
Johnny Mnemonic (1995 USA, dir Robert Longo, stars Keanu Reeves, Ice-T; DVD; Netflix)
TELEVISION PICKS OF THE WEEK
Haven: Season 1
Syfy’s original series loosely based on Stephen King’s novella The Colorado Kid isn’t must-see TV, but it was an enjoyable summer show last year, with enough likable characters and mysterious atmosphere to keep it entertaining if not quite gripping.
2010 USA. Creator: Scott Shepherd. Starring: Emily Rose, Lucas Bryant, Eric Balfour.
Amazon DVD | Amazon Blu-ray | Netflix
The Snoop Sisters: Complete Series
Whoa, whoa, whoa. What the hell is this? Oscar-winner Helen Hayes and outstanding character actress Mildred Natwick did a mystery TV series together in their twilight years? I WANT TO WATCH THIS.
1972-74 USA. Director: Leonard Horn. Starring: Helen Hayes, Mildred Natwick.
Amazon DVD
OTHER TELEVISION
The Best of the Dean Martin Variety Show (1965-74 USA, dir Bill Colleran, stars Dean Martin)
Dance in the Vampire Bund: Complete Series (2010 Japan, dir Kikyuki Shinbo, stars Shizaku Ito)
Doctor Who: Frontios (Episode 133) (1984 UK, creator Sydney Newman, stars Peter Davison; Netflix)
The Glades: Season 1 (2010 USA, creator Clifton Campbell, stars Matt Passmore; Netflix)
Man v. Food: Season 3 (2009 USA, stars Adam Richman; Netflix)
Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, Vol. 8 (2011 USA, creator Tyler Perry, stars LaVan Davis; Netflix)
INSTANT WATCH PICKS OF THE WEEK
The Social Network [6/20]
I had this at #3 on my Top Ten List last year; I’m thinking it might’ve moved up to #2 (past Inception). It’s simply brilliantly written, acted, and directed on every level, and I’m pretty stoked it’s going to be on Instant Watch.
2010 USA. Director: David Fincher. Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake.
A Woman, a Gun, and a Noodle Shop [6/17]
Zhang Yimou remaking the Coen brothers’ Blood Simple and adding a heavy dose of Chinese-style slapstick sounds like a terrible idea (and many people thought it was), but I really liked the weird tone it gave the film, and no one can deny how gorgeous the cinematography is.
2009 China. Director: Zhang Yimou. Starring: Honglei Sun, Xiao Shen-Yang, Ni Yan, Dahong Ni.
Vanishing on 7th Street [6/16]
Brad Anderson’s latest moody thriller hits Instant Watch, and I’m glad – it’s one I’ve been wanting to see, but I’m lukewarm enough on Anderson (and reviews for this film have been lukewarm as well) that I was hesitating spending a disc on it.
2010 USA. Director: Brad Anderson. Starring: Hayden Christensen, Thandie Newton, John Leguizamo.
Jodhaa Akbar
I’m pretty sure this has been on Instant Watch before, but I didn’t catch it when it was; one of India’s higher-profile exports in recent years, a period piece starring the lovely Aishwarya Rai.
2007 India. Director: Ashutosh Gowariker. Starring: Aishwarya Rai, Hrithik Roshan, Ila Arun.
Burlesque [6/20]
Yeah, I’ve got pretty much no interest in seeing this, despite my interest in contemporary musicals. But I was amused by the fact that the two 2010 films coming on Instant Watch were this and The Social Network. And it is true that if I were going to watch Burlesque, Instant Watch would be the only possible way.
2010 USA. Director: Steve Antin. Starring: Christina Aguilera, Cher, Cam Gigandet.
OTHER INSTANT WATCHES (through 6/20)
The Devil’s Own (1997 USA, dir Alan J. Pakula, stars Brad Pitt, Harrison Ford) [6/17]
The Man from Nowhere (2010 South Korea, dir Jeong-beom Lee, stars Bin Won) [6/15]
Meet Bill (2007 USA, dir Melisa Wallack, Bernard Goldmann, stars Aaron Eckhart, Elizabeth Banks) [6/15]
Princess Kaiulani (2009 USA/UK, dir Marc Forby, stars Q’Orianka Kilcher, Barry Pepper) [6/16]
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (2011 USA, creator Steven S. DeKnight, stars John Hannah, Lucy Lawless) [6/17]
See all new and upcoming titles.
ISTANT WATCH EXPIRING PICKS
Criterion (all 6/21)
Closely Watched Trains (1966 Czechoslovakia, dir Jirí Menzel, stars Václav Neckár, Josef Somr)
Europa (1991 Denmark, dir Lars von Trier, stars Jean-Marc Barr, Barbara Sukowa)
General Idi Amin Dada (1974 France, dir Barbet Schroeder, stars Idi Amin Dada)
The Hidden Fortress (1958 Japan, dir Akira Kurosawa, stars Toshirô Mifune, Misa Uehara)
I Vitelloni (1953 Italy, dir Federico Fellini, stars Franco Interlenghi, Alberto Sordi)
Ikiru (1952 Japan, dir Akira Kurosawa, stars Takashi Simura, Shinichi Himori)
La Bete Humaine (1938 France, dir Jean Renoir, stars Jean Gabin, Simone Simon)
Le Corbeau (1943 France, dir Henri-Georges Clouzot, stars Pierre Fresnay, Ginette Leclerc)
The Lower Depths (1936 France, dir Jean Renoir, stars Jean Gabin, Suzy Prim)
M. Hulot’s Holiday (1953 France, dir Jacques Tati, stars Jacques Tati, Nathalie Pascaud)
Mala Noche (1985 USA, dir Gus Van Sant, stars Tim Streeter, Doug Cooeyate)
Man Bites Dog (1992 Belgium, dir Remy Belvaux, Andre Bonzel, Benoit Poelvoorde)
My Life as a Dog (1985 Sweden, dir Lasse Hallström, Anton Glanzelius, Tomas von Brömssen)
Onibaba (1964 Japan, dir Kaneto Shindo, stars Nobuko Otowa, Jitsuko Yoshimura)
Overlord (1975 UK, dir Stuart Cooper, stars Brian Stirner, Nicholas Ball)
Sanjuro (1961 Japan, dir Akira Kurosawa, stars Toshirô Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai)
Sisters (1973 USA, dir Brian De Palma, stars Margo Kidder, Jennifer Salt)
Summertime (1955 USA, dir David Lean, stars Katharine Hepburn, Rossano Brazzi)
Walkabout (1971 UK, dir Nicolas Roeg, stars Lucien John, Jenny Agutter)
Other Expiring Movies and TV
The Five Obstructions (2003 Denmark, dir Lars von Trier, Jorgen Leth, stars Claus Nissen) [6/15]
Fly Away Home (1996 USA, dir Carroll Ballard, stars Anna Paquin, Jeff Daniels) [6/15]
Incendiary (2008 USA, dir Sharon Maguire, stars Michelle Williams, Ewan McGregor) [6/15]
Sanctuary: Season 2 (2009 USA, creator Damian Kindler, stars Amanda Tapping) [6/15]
War Dance (2006 USA, dir Sean Fine, Andrea Nix) [6/15]
Friday (1995 USA, dir F. Gary Gray, stars Ice Cube, Chris Tucker) [6/16]
Fanny (1961 USA, dir Joshua Logan, stars Leslie Caron, Maurice Chevalier) [6/17]
Addicted to Love (1997 USA, dir Griffin Dunne, stars Meg Ryan, Matthew Broderick) [6/19]
Bella (2006 USA, dir Alejandro Gomez Monteverde, stars Tammy Blanchard) [6/20]
The Pillars of the Earth (2010 USA, dir Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, stars Matthew Macfadyen) [6/21]
Bluebeard (2009 France, dir Catherine Breillat, stars Dominique Thomas, Lola Créton) [6/22]
Kelly’s Heroes (1970 USA, dir Brian Hutton, stars Clint Eastwood, Donald Sutherland) [6/22]
Love in the Afternoon (1957 USA, dir Billy WIlder, stars Audrey Hepburn, Gary Cooper) [6/22]
MST3K: Final Justice (1985 USA, dir Greydon Clark, stars Joe Don Baker) [6/22]
MST3K: Mad Monster (1942 USA, dir Sam Newfield, stars Johnny Downs, George Zucco) [6/22]
MST3K: Manhunt in Space (1956 USA, dir Hollingsworth Morse, stars Richard Crane) [6/22]
MST3K: Night of the Blood Beast (1958 USA, dir Bernard L. Kowalski, stars John Baer) [6/22]
MST3K: Santa Claus (1959 Mexico, dir René Cardona, stars José Elías Moreno) [6/22]
MST3K: Soultaker (1990 USA, dir Michael Rissi, stars Joe Estevez, Vivian Schilling) [6/22]
MST3K: The Corpse Vanishes (1942 USA, dir Wallace Fox, stars Bela Lugosi) [6/22]
MST3K: Warrior of the Lost World (1983 USA, dir David Worth, stars Robert Ginty) [6/22]
A Perfect World (1993 USA, dir Clint Eastwood, stars Kevin Costner, Clint Eastwood) [6/22]
Ransom (1996 USA, dir Ron Howard, stars Mel Gibson, Rene Russo) [6/22]
Sleepers (1996 USA, dir Barry Levinson, stars Kevin Bacon, Dustin Hoffman) [6/22]
White Oleander (2002 USA, dir Peter Kosminsky, stars Michelle Pfeiffer, Alison Lohman) [6/22]
The Damned United (2008 UK, dir Tom Hooper, stars Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall) [6/24]
The Air I Breathe (2008 USA, dir Jieho Lee, stars Kevin Bacon, Forest Whitaker) [6/26]
Imitation of Life (1934 USA, dir John M. Stahl, stars Claudette Colbert, Louise Beavers) [6/26]
A Kiss Before Dying (1991 USA, dir James Dearden, stars Matt Dillon, Sean Young) [6/26]
The Land Before Time (1988 USA, dir Don Bluth, stars Judith Barsi, Burke Byrnes) [6/26]
See all expiring titles.
Disclaimers
- Amazon links use my affiliate account, and will kick a small percentage of your purchase back to me. You pay the same price you would anyway.
- Not all new releases are available on Netflix immediately. Some studio films have a 30-day release window before Netflix can rent them, and some smaller releases are not picked up by Netflix immediately. Add them to your “saved” queue if you’re interested; that tells Netflix there is demand for the disc.
- Not all new Blu-ray releases are available on Netflix – Netflix usually buys both DVD and Blu-ray editions of new releases, but if a DVD has already been released, they don’t always get the Blu-ray when it comes out later. Even if I link to Netflix from the Blu-ray section, that doesn’t mean they always have the Blu-ray of that film.
- Instant Watch releases are not always 100% accurate – often the data from the API is not fully accurate until the actual day of release. I always check on release day to make sure things actually do hit Instant Watch, but for things that come out later than Tuesday when I publish this post, I won’t be able to tell.
- Instant Watch expirations are not always 100% accurate – sometimes they don’t expire after all, sometimes things expire with little advance warning. I always check to make sure the data is accurate to the best of my knowledge when I publish the post, but things could still change, especially since I’m giving expiration warnings up to two weeks in advance.
- I rely on Box Office Mojo and InstantWatcher for the majority of the data for these posts, so thank you to them for the work they do.
