With the incredibly ambitious 2021 lineup for Netflix, that boasts 71 titles this year alone, means that the streaming platform has to make way for a fresh slate of incoming TV show and movies.
However, even as they add so many new titles, each month, a few dozen movies are no longer available to watch. Before the start of the new month, check out the library of titles below that will be gone by March 1. This list has a variety of genres, both newer and classic oldies. So check the list and there are some of these titles you haven’t seen yet, now is the perfect time, before it’s too late!
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During the 2021 Disney+ Winter TCA Press Conference, the panel unloaded some major content coming to the streaming platform this spring. Just coming this March, there will be no shortage of content to choose from; a handful of new TV shows and movies, a Premiere Access movie debut and a season finale.
Kicking off the month, on March 5, “Raya and the Last Dragon” the theatrical release/Premier Access animated movie inspired by Southeast Asian folklore. The movie will not be available under the base tier for Disney+ subscribers as there will be an additional charge for access for those subscribers.
Rest assured, there are also many more on the way, with a preview, below, of free-with-subscription new TV shows and movies coming soon.
Next up are for all those Superhero fans, particularly the Avengers , we can look forward to the upcoming “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” and “Marvel Studios: Legends” and (crying) the season finale of “WandaVision”.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier – March 19:
The new series will premiere March 19, 2021 a spinoff starring Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan as their reprised roles of The Falcon and Bucky Barnes. The show will follow the events from “Avengers: Endgame”.
Marvel Studios: Legends – March 12:
The series will feature different characters in the Marvel Universe and debut on March 12, 2021.
“WandaVision” fans, no need to fret, aside from Wanda and Vision kicking off the first episode of “Legends” there will also be more content with Wanda, Vision and Agnes a week after the finale (March 5th with “Assembled: The Making of WandaVision” showcasing behind-the-scenes on the inspiration and challenges of the show.
Mighty Ducks: Game Changer – March 26:
Also dropping at the end of March, the moving picking up on the iconic blast from the past movie “Mighty Ducks”. Emilio Estevez is back as Coach Gordon Bombay to lead a whole new group of skaters in “Game Changers”.
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Much to look forward to in May and June 2021
Other exciting streaming titles that Disney+ recently dropped include premiere dates coming later in the spring including “StarWars: The Bad Batch” coming May 4th and Marvel Studio’ “Loki” staring June 11.
The new year means new shows plus the debut of new seasons
Apple launched a new YT video, giving Apple TV+ watchers a glimpse of what to expect as the coming year unfolds. It’s a lot! The video breaks it all down with an exclusive preview of new TV shows, as well as films coming to the platform very soon.
There are now so many streaming platforms: Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Discovery+, with a new one launching on March 4th, Paramount+ (Teaming up with ViacomCBS).
Apple TV+, although live for some time now, can be viewed as one of the newcomers in the streaming game. With that, it’s not always easy to decide if you should jump aboard to pay for yet another monthly subscription if you aren’t already a user.
For those that do not currently have Apple TV, subscription starts at $4.99 per month with a 7 day free trial. For that low of a price and the handful of new TV shows and movies coming this year, it may be a perfect time to try. However, if you are a buyer of Apple products such as an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac, it includes one year of Apple TV+ for free.
The two minute clip unloads lots of titles. New shows and movies: Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry, Cherry, Foundation, Lisey’s Story, Losing Alice, The Mosquito Coast, Mr. Corman, Palmer, Schmigadoon!, Physical and many more.
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In addition, there will be returns of successful shows included: Central Park, Dickinson, For All Mankind, Ghostwriter, Home Before Dark, The Morning Show, Mythic Quest, See, Servant, Trying, and Truth Be Told.
Here’s a taste of some of the full trailers for most of the upcoming titles to be hitting the streaming service in in the next several weeks.
Billie Eilish Documentary – February 26:
Cherry with Tom Holland – March 12:
The Mosquito Coast – April 30:
Mythic Quest Season 2 – May 7:
Foundation – Fall 2021:
Most titles will be premiering late Spring and Summer 2021. From the previews alone, it seems that all the different titles will be well worth the wait. Apple TV+ even gave a teaser video of the highly anticipated adaption of Isaac Asminov’s “Foundation” sci-fi novels.
The future is a robot, yes they can climb, run and are singing and dancing up a storm
Meet Cleo, she’s a next-gen robot, that besides looking very human-like, with her realistic hair, skin, eyes, teeth and body movements, this robot can even do impersonations. Watch the Youtube video, below, from the company that created her, as she belts out a version of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On”.
Although she can in no way compare to the superstar artist, yet, the expressions and feelings are uncanny, while also a little creepy. It’s getting to be a shock to the system, watching how humans can engineer robots to do more and more life-like actions!
According to the company, Engineered Arts, Cleo is built off the Mesmer platform, its robot system for building lifelike humanoid machines that include sophisticated design components:
Firmware – Motor control for speed, position and torque
Software – For control of Animation, interaction, audio and lighting
Cleo was created, according to the company, with advanced technology for entertainment purposes. The future and scope of roles for robots appears to be limitless. AI and advances to robot technology can bring aids and have many useful purposes, particularly to help with challenges that have arisen and continue to arise as humanity tries to come to terms with its own uncertain future.
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Take Sophia the robot. Built by Hanson Robotics, the company has plans to mass produce these types of robots to collaborate with healthcare professionals and help during the covid-19 pandemic.
— Sophia the Robot | The Global Robot Ambassador (@RealSophiaRobot) January 25, 2021
Up next:
Dancing Robots from Boston Dynamics in sync with ‘Do You Love Me’
Cleo and Sophia aren’t the only Robots that can perform. The crew at Boston Dynamics, the company responsible for creating highly sophisticated robots that can tackle highly complex tasks, have a line of robotic “creatures” that have to be seen to be believed. Just a few challenges its robots are able to perform include: climbing rugged terrain, lifting heavy materials, and even helping doctors.
There is one more task that can be added to the list, they can learn dance choreography. The company shared a video of its three robots named Atlas (known for navigating), Handle (known for carrying heavy loads) and Spot (the dog robot) showing off impressive dance moves to the hit song from movie “Dirty Dancing”. Back in 2018, the company shared another dancing video of Spot grooving to ‘Uptown Funk’.
Get ready for an entertaining showcase of hilarious yet predatory wickedness
Watch out for Marla Grayson in Netflix’s “I Care a Lot”, she’s truly bad, bad to the bone. The crooked legal guardian played by Rosamund Pike is all about the next opportunity.
Grayson and business partner Fran are hawks, able to easily identify rich powerless older clients. She traps them in her care by declaring them mentally incompetent and then drains all their savings.
Marla then meets her latest mark, Jennifer Peterson, played by Dianne Wiest who has a nice amount in her savings and no apparent living relatives.
This time around, she may have finally met her match, when up pops some unexpected baggage she was definitely not prepared for. Those that have watched the movie have called it “diabolical ruthlessness“, “unapologetically sour” and “a sleekly unnerving thriller“.
In addition to Pike and Wiest, the film stars Peter Dinklage, Eiza González, Chris Messina, Alicia Witt, Isiah Whitlock Jr. and Macon Blair. Available to stream starting February 19, 2021 on Netflix.
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Watch the drama on Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century
The film that was added to the AP best films and National Society of Film Critics 2020, as well as an Oscar contender will now be available for viewers to watch starting February 19, 2021. Movie-goers can either visit the big screen available anywhere movie theaters are open, or opt for a stay-at-home watch.
The movie, starring Frances McDomand will be on the Hulu platform and will premiere on its regular service tier, meaning that as long as you are a subscriber, there will be no additional purchases necessary.
The concept is sure to be relatable for many, as it deals with struggles to survive in hard economic times, and follows her journey and experience traveling across the American Heartland looking for ways to get back on her feet.
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The story is based on the book of the same title, telling a tale of darker side of the American economy, one where many low-cost labor pools have resulted in many transient older adults, Americans that have to be incredibly resilient and find creative ways in order to survive.
The movie with Frances McDormand, who plays as a widow, unable to afford her home during the recession, sells her home and packs up all her necessities into her van. There she embarks on journey through the American West, living in her van, as a modern-day, nomad, picking up seasonal work and relying on the compassion and generosity in her travels. Written, edited and produced by Chloe Zhao.
Don’t miss the most celebrated film of the season. Tickets are available now.
Though known for a tsunami of anti-trump and pro-biden campaign ads, so successful that they may have help defeat Trump last November, this clip is designed to bring out the dramatic and deadly truth of the Insurrection at the Capitol on January 6th, 2021
Beginning by calling for justice for officer Brian Sicknick, who died as a result of the Capitol riot, the clip builds to point out the simple truth that the death and destruction of that day was fomented, not only by Trump in his speech in Washington D.C. shortly before the terrorist riot, but by the incitement and lies that were so blatantly and vehemently broadcast to his followers in the weeks and months before.
The video begins with a somber statement:
“In the Capitol Rotunda, the remains of a brave man rest in a place of honor, he died a hero, and now Brian Sicknick deserves justice.”
In many ways, by the very nature of a Senate impeachment trial, somehow simple unavoidable facts seem to become unfocused in the process: That a good, heroic man died protecting democracy and those that were in the Capitol that day to try and practice it.
Dark, Suspenseful, Thriller and Swedish, yes please
Netflix has released a number of crime related documentary series like that of “Crime Scene” and “Night Stalker”. Want the crime, but also want some fiction? Check out the new Swedish thriller, “Red Dot”, the film has jumped up to the top 10 ranks and is worth a watch.
The movie centers on a hiking trip a couple takes to rekindle their marriage, yet its not long before the two find themselves instead fleeing to save their lives. The couple, David and Nadja struggle against the unforgiving wilderness and an unknown shooter.
Thanks to Netflix, viewers are getting a wider selection of titles to watch. This thriller is just one foreign film with rising popularity that is continuing the tradition of other recent foreign release successes, like that of Lupin. And based on those that have already watched, get ready for a crazy and intense ending!
Off the rails, coke-filled tirade, Deuxième édition ?
Donald Trump Jr. had a mouthful to say during an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News. Even as the impeachment trail highlights is granular detail just how egregious the crimes of his father actually were, he was still living in the past using whataboutism to somehow compare BLM peaceful and justified protests to a murmurous attack with the goal of overthrowing the legitimate government of the United States of America:
“You sort of highlighted all the hypocrisy that we saw during 10 months of rioting, looting, arson, in-your-face type of politics. Candidly, whatever my father said on January 6th was mild in comparison, but if you were to take his speech and compare it to literally any stump speech ever given in the history of politics, you would see absolutely no deviation.”
Was violently attacking the legislative branch to overturn democracy not "hardball"? pic.twitter.com/C2FYK85gfT
It’s, unfortunately for Donny Jr., a bit late to try to dig out of this situation with nonsensical propaganda as if somehow the reality can be talked out of existence on Fox with buddy Hannity. More likely is that Don Jr. himself will face criminal charges, after his imagined political future already lies in the dust and detritus of his father’s downfall.
Carone claims she wants to bring back “conservative values”
Even if you don’t know the name Mellissa Carone, most that have social media or watched any television will be able to recall the image or the likeness to this woman.
Back in December of 2020, Carone, almost instantly became a parody when she appeared alongside Rudy Giuliani during an Oversight hearing. Videos from SNL, TikTok and even Amy Schumer popped up, with the main selling point that she appeared drunk, some coining her the “wine lady” or “drunk lady”.
Mellissa Carone is making news again, as the 33 year old Republican is reportedly going to run for the 46th District seat, according to a recent filing with Michigan Secretary of State’s office.
She also criticized Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the state’s three top Democrats. Michigan needs “conservative values” back, Carone said.
Trump sent a resignation letter to The Screen Actors Guild and its a pretty petty one. His response to the labor union came after its move to expel him due to his role in inciting violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6, which resulted in five deaths.
I write to you today regarding the so-called Disciplinary Committee hearing aimed at revoking my union membership. Who cares!
While I’m not familiar with your work, I’m very proud of my work on movies such as Home Alone 2, Zoolander and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps; and television shows including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Saturday Night Live, and of course, one of the most successful shows in television history, The Apprentice – to name just a few!
I’ve also greatly helped the cable news television business (said to be a dying platform with not much time left until I got involved in politics), and created thousands of jobs at networks such as MSDNC and Fake News CNN, among many others.
Which brings me to your blatant attempt at free media attention to distract from your dismal record as a union. Your organization has done little for its members, and nothing for me – besides collecting dues and promoting dangerous un-American policies and ideas – as evident by your massive unemployment rates and lawsuits from celebrated actors, who even recorded a video asking, “Why isn’t the union fighting for me?”
These, however, are policy failures. Your disciplinary failures are even more egregious.
I no longer wish to be associated with your union.
As such, this letter is to inform you of my immediate resignation from SAG-AFTRA. You have done nothing for me.
SAG-AFTRA response, with a permanent ban
Upon Trump’s letter of resignation from the union, SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris and National Executive Director David White, simply responded, “Thank you.”
On Feb 7, the union took future action and released an additional statement: “Preventing Donald Trump from ever rejoining SAG-AFTRA is more than a symbolic step,” said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris. “It is a resounding statement that threatening or inciting harm against fellow members will not be tolerated. An attack against one is an attack against all.”
Reactions from John Stewart and the Twitterverse
I too, renounce SAG-AFTRA!!! You have let me down as well, done nothing…I will no longer abide your gross abdication of…oh wait…I’m just shitty at acting…never mind. President Jon Stewart
Upcoming drama focusing on the complicated matters of Love
Zendaya, most recently known for her HBO episodic work in “Euphoria” is making a return to the big screen for the Netflix. The actress will be joining John David Washington (“Tenet”) in the romance film “Malcolm & Marie”, which was shot in black and white.
The upcoming film was created by Sam Levinson (also writer, producer and director of “Euphoria”) and was among the first films that were put together during the pandemic. It has been reported that the production team went above and beyond with precautions to be compliant with the covid-19 protocols.
“Malcolm & Marie” focuses in on a couple’s conversation regarding their past relationships.
The film, which is scheduled for release Feb. 5, has already started to stir up talks of an Academy Award nomination for Zendaya, and as can be hinted from trailer she gives highly charged, emotional performance.
“I am so grateful to this cast and crew, many of whom are my ‘Euphoria’ family, for coming together during such uncertain times. We felt privileged to be able to make this film together and we did so with a lot of love. We are all thrilled that it has ended up with Netflix which is unparalleled in allowing filmmakers the freedom to tell their stories that reach audiences all over the world.”
Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer / Netflix
Streaming started January 13. This historical limited series is a documentary that follows the young detective Gil Carrillo and legendary homicide investigator Frank Salerno as they work expeditiously to catch the “Night Stalker”. Beneath the sunlit glamour of 1985 LA lurks a relentlessly evil serial killer. In this true-crime story, two detectives won’t rest until they catch Richard Ramirez, who was eventually arrested for his terrible crimes.
A gradual climb up the internal Netflix chart has kicked the limited series up to #3 for the weekend. The quality of the presentation seems to be the draw and the time frame that it deals with – the mid-eighties – has been au du jour of late – with Wonder Woman 1984 and other films that focus on that unique decade and its zeitgeist. Check out the trailer below if you want a taste:
Get ready for a wave of fantasy coming to the Netflix streaming platform. A new series based and adapted from on the Grisha trilogy “Shadow & Bone” by author Leigh Bardugo.
The stories are based on Russian folklore and follows the young orphan, Alina Starkov, played by Jessie Mei Li, who discovers something big. She finds out that she is a Grisha, which is the rare ability to manipulate the elements. Set in the Kingdom of Ravka. Other young actors that will be cast include: Ben Barnes as General Kirigan, Kit Young as Jesper Fahey, Amita Suman as Inej Ghafa, Freddy Carter as Kat Brekker and many others.
Netflix describes the series:
“Sinister forces plot against a young soldier when she reveals a magical power that might unite her world”.
-NETFLIX
The teaser trailer dropped late last year and is set for release this spring, currently for April 23, 2021. The first part of the series (Season 1) will include 8 1-hour long episodes.
Shadow and Bone
Click to see “Shadow and Bone” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Enter the Grishaverse with Book One of the Shadow and Bone Trilogy by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom.
Soldier. Summoner. Saint. Orphaned and expendable, Alina Starkov is a soldier who knows she may not survive her first trek across the Shadow Fold―a swath of unnatural darkness crawling with monsters. But when her regiment is attacked, Alina unleashes dormant magic not even she knew she possessed.
Now Alina will enter a lavish world of royalty and intrigue as she trains with the Grisha, her country’s magical military elite―and falls under the spell of their notorious leader, the Darkling. He believes Alina can summon a force capable of destroying the Shadow Fold and reuniting their war-ravaged country, but only if she can master her untamed gift.
As the threat to the kingdom mounts and Alina unlocks the secrets of her past, she will make a dangerous discovery that could threaten all she loves and the very future of a nation.
Welcome to Ravka . . . a world of science and superstition where nothing is what it seems.
Promising content continues to go live each week in 2021
Netflix announced earlier this year, they will be rolling out some major content each week and will premier a brand new movie every week of 2021. With the upcoming price hike for another $1 for the standard account and $2 for the premium subscription, it seems like the streaming platform is giving viewers a bang for their buck..
New movie releases will have all the various genres covered! (action, sequels, dramas, musicals and more). Below are the movie releases for January, 29, 2021.
This British, period piece, based on real life events, casts Ralph Fiennes, Carey Mulligan and Lily James. The movies tells the story: on the eve of World World II, a British widow hires a self-taught archaeologist and embarks on the historically important excavation of Sutton Hoo in 1938. Digging up a mysterious formation on her land, leads to a staggering find.
Below Zero / January 29
A Spanish gritty action thriller movie (Bajocero) that has English voice-over features is set when a prisoner transfer van is attacked. The cop, Martin, who is in charge must fight those inside and outside while dealing with a silent foe: surviving the icy temperatures.
When you just want to find the best without sorting trough all the rest
With all various streaming platforms so readily accessible, it can be a real struggle to figure out what to watch on any given day. Aside from new releases, there are often a handful of recent or classic movies and Amazon originals you may have overlooked. Amazon Prime videos can also be tricky to navigate as you can search practically any TV show or movie, but that doesn’t always mean it will be free to watch for subscribers. It can be a real let-down to finally find the movie you want to watch and realize it’s going to cost you $, sometimes mega $ if it is a current release.
Unlike Netflix, where the same movies keep circulating within various sub-categories of curated recommendations, the problem with Amazon is that there are virtually unlimited choices but the sections featuring the “included with Prime” options are, similar to Netflix, confusing to navigate at times. It’s almost as if they want to make it appear as if there are many more available than is actually the case, even as you stumble on the same titles again and again in a different mixture.
Below are the top 10 movies we recommend to watch on Amazon Prime video ( including both the best new releases along with some not-so-new quality classics):
On one incredible night in 1964, four icons of sports, music, and activism gathered to celebrate one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. When underdog Cassius Clay, soon to be called Muhammad Ali, (Eli Goree), defeats heavy weight champion Sonny Liston at the Miami Convention Hall, Clay memorialized the event with three of his friends: Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.) and Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge).Based on the award-winning play of the same name, and directed by Regina King, One Night In Miami… is a fictional account inspired by the historic night these four formidable figures spent together. It looks at the struggles these men faced and the vital role they each played in the civil rights movement and cultural upheaval of the 1960s. More than 40 years later, their conversations on racial injustice, religion, and personal responsibility still resonate.
Sylvie’s Love / 2020
Sylvie has a summer romance with a saxophonist who takes a summer job at her father’s record store in Harlem. When they reconnect years later, they discover that their feelings for each other have not faded with the years.
Acclaimed writer and director Rian Johnson (Brick, Looper, Star Wars: The Last Jedi) pays tribute to mystery mastermind Agatha Christie in KNIVES OUT, a fresh, modern-day murder mystery where everyone is a suspect. 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. With an all-star ensemble cast including Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Collette, Don Johnson, Michael Shannon, LaKeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford and Jaeden Martell, KNIVES OUT is a fun, witty and stylish whodunit guaranteed to keep audiences guessing until the very end.
Sound of Metal / 2019
During a series of adrenaline-fueled one-night gigs, itinerant punk-metal drummer Ruben (Riz Ahmed) begins to experience intermittent hearing loss. When a specialist tells him his condition will rapidly worsen, he thinks his music career — and with it his life — is over. His bandmate and girlfriend Lou (Olivia Cooke) checks the recovering heroin addict into a secluded sober house for the deaf in hopes it will prevent a relapse and help him learn to adapt to his new situation. But after being welcomed into a community that accepts him just as he is, Ruben has to choose between his equilibrium and the drive to reclaim the life he once knew. Utilizing startling, innovative sound design techniques, director Darius Marder takes audiences inside Ruben’s experience to vividly recreate his journey into a rarely examined world.
From a screenplay by Shia LaBeouf, based on his own experiences, award-winning filmmaker Alma Har’el brings to life a young actor’s stormy childhood and early adult years as he struggles to reconcile with his father and deal with his mental health. Fictionalizing his ascent to stardom, and subsequent crash-landing into rehab and recovery, Har’el casts Noah Jupe and Lucas Hedges as Otis Lort, navigating different stages in a frenetic career. LaBeouf takes on the therapeutic challenge of playing a version of his own father, an ex-rodeo clown and a felon. Dancer-singer FKA twigs plays a neighbor and kindred spirit to the younger Otis. Har’el’s feature narrative debut is a one-of-a-kind collaboration between filmmaker and subject, exploring art as medicine and imagination as hope through the life and times of a talented, traumatized performer who dares to go in search of himself.
You Were never Really Here / 2018
A traumatized veteran, unafraid of violence, tracks down missing girls for a living. When a job spins out of control, Joe’s nightmares overtake him as a conspiracy is uncovered leading to what may be his death trip or his awakening.
Based on author David Grann’s nonfiction bestseller, “The Lost City of Z” tells the incredible true story of British explorer Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam), who journeys into the Amazon at the dawn of the 20th century and discovers evidence of a previously unknown, advanced civilization that may have once inhabited the region. Despite being ridiculed by the scientific establishment who regard indigenous populations as “savages,” the determined Fawcett—supported by his devoted wife (Sienna Miller), son (Tom Holland) and aide-de-camp (Robert Pattinson)—returns time and again to his beloved jungle in an attempt to prove his case, culminating in his mysterious disappearance in 1925. An epically scaled tale of courage and passion, told in writer/director James Gray’s classic filmmaking style, “The Lost City of Z” is a stirring tribute to the exploratory spirit and a conflicted adventurer driven to the verge of obsession.
The Big Sick / 2017
Based on the real-life courtship between Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, THE BIG SICK tells the story of Pakistan-born aspiring comedian Kumail (Nanjiani), who connects with grad student Emily (Kazan) after one of his standup sets. However, what they thought would be just a one-night stand blossoms into the real thing, which complicates the life that is expected of Kumail by his traditional Muslim parents. When Emily is beset with a mystery illness, it forces Kumail to navigate the medical crisis with her parents, Beth and Terry (Holly Hunter and Ray Romano) who he’s never met, while dealing with the emotional tug-of-war between his family and his heart.
Trying to reverse a family curse, brothers Jimmy (Channing Tatum) and Clyde Logan (Adam Driver) set out to execute an elaborate robbery during the legendary Coca-Cola 600 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Manchester by the Sea / 2016
After the death of his older brother Joe (Kyle Chandler), Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) is shocked to learn that Joe has made him sole guardian of his nephew Patrick (Lucas Hedges). Taking leave of his job, Lee reluctantly returns to Manchester-by- the-Sea to care for Patrick, a spirited15-year- old, and is forced to deal with a past that separated him from his wife Randi (MichelleWilliams) and the community where he was born and raised. Bonded by the man who held their family together, Lee and Patrick struggle to adjust to a world without him.
Classical, new and skillful presentation make spoken english optional
Omar Sy plays Assane Diop in ‘Lupin’, a limited Netflix series that has become a somewhat unexpected hit. While there have been some successful streaming hits with original French production and english sub-titles, this time it’s not an impediment but a feature.
This observation – that a challenge to read rather than only hear the shows, is followed by many more pleasant and highly satisfying surprises, as the viewer is pulled into the larger story. (some may have dubbed english available, but subtitles provide the meaning without forsaking the nuance of the original acting performances)
The first French language series to hit #1 on the platform, the Netflix original series, produced by Gaumont and created by George Kay, in collaboration with François Uzan, was viewed by over 70 million households, in estimates, during its first month.
The title gives away the first layer of the story – that it is based on the main character’s obsession with the Arsène Lupin novels by Maurice Leblanc, which began after Assane Diop, played by Omar Sy, received one of the novels as a gift from his father, (Fargass Assandé), for his birthday.
The depth of Assane’s lifelong obsession with Arsène Lupin, and the degree to which it gave him a purpose in life, a unique identity and more, is the base fabric and foundation of the tale.
The basic concept is that the impressionable, highly intelligent boy, transforms himself into “Lupin, gentleman thief” all with no more than intense, diligent and concentrated study of the book(s).
A harmony of elements…
But the way that it is told – with various flashbacks to Assane’s formative teen years, contrasted with the “today” narrative and then interspersed with various time-frames to emphasize moments in the long journey of his life, is where the story leaps off the screen.
The fact that his ex-wife, Claire (Ludivine Sagnier) with whom he has a son, Raoul (Etan Simon), around the age, Assane, himself, was when he was gifted the book that changed his life, and she was a big part his life ever since he was a teenager, makes for a circular story that has a ring of truth and yet the beauty of a dream.
The casting – Sy’s ability to portray the character at various ages, along with the teenage versions of both Assane and Claire makes the flashbacks extremely satisfying, like films within the film, Mamadou Haidara as Young Assane and Ludmilla Makowski as Young Claire are particularly well cast and play off each other with delicious chemistry.
The sparing use of technology, in the portrayal of the heist scenes, which gradually changes with each episode, give the modern setting a classical feeling that is entirely appropriate and a nice touch, as so many modern dramas fumble with the task of how to portray cell phone addiction and social media without either oversimplification or over use as a screen device.
From acting performances to the casting, scene realization and more, all intertwine with elegance, much like a Lupin novel
The story builds with each episode and the fifth and final installment of part one, ends on a cliffhanger, as is expected, but the various threads of the story each have the feeling of only having begun to bear fruit, leading to even more lust for a continuation.
Fortunately, Netflix has already finished production on the second batch and the release has been confirmed for later in 2021.
Any who enjoyed and absorbed the first part of the series, up until the dangling final moments, will only have to wait months, not years for the conclusion, or at least the continuation of the saga. Stay tuned.
As the year gets it’s “legs” more and more often there’s a fresh batch of streaming releases popping up. There are so many different platforms where you can stream: Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+ and on and on.
Not only are there a lot of different platforms with various pricing plans and specialties, for example on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video there are tons of videos available as pay-per-view (with an uncharge that can be significant), while Netflix is all included (and therefore has a more limited choice).
Add onto all that the fact that each platform is trying to win your attention and loyalty by producing and acquiring new content as often as possible. So, to make things a little bit easier, we’ve gathered some of the notable new and upcoming releases for one platform (and others in our similar articles on the various platforms).
Here’s the news on what will be available to watch on Disney+.
Pixar Popcorn
The series follow everyone’s favorite Pixar characters in shorts, including from movies: “Toy Story”, “Finding Nemo”, “The Incredible”, “Cars”, “Coco” and more .
WandaVision
Marvel Cinematic Universe characters Wanda and Vision are living in an the idealized suburbs, hiding their super-powers from everyone around them, when the two begin to suspect that everything is not what it seams. Starring Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Evan Peters and Kat Dennings.
Isle of Dogs
Directed by Wes Anderson, this animated film is about when, by executive decree, all the canine pets of Megasaki City are exiled to a vast garbage-dump called Trash Island, 12-year-old Atari sets off alone in a miniature Junior-Turbo Prop and flies across the river in search of his bodyguard-dog, Spots. There, with the assistance of a pack of newly-found mongrel friends, he begins an epic journey that will decide the fate and future of the entire Prefecture. With voices from big name actors including: Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Bryan Cranston and Edward Norton.
Wild Uganda
Above: Wild Uganda / NatGeo
From NatGeo: Uganda is still what travelers consider an ‘insider tip’. Off the tourist map, a place still in the shadows of its past. Visitors, including scientists and conservationists, had a difficult time in the civil war-stricken country. Poaching had endangered many of Uganda’s most iconic animals including Mountain gorillas, cave elephants, the chimpanzees and even the tree-dwelling lions. But now the national parks have been restored and Uganda’s wildlife is once again thriving. This is a celebration of their survival.
First a middle-finger toward tradition by skipping the Inauguration, then reactions to the entire debacle begin
So much to unpack – like an abused child we all stand in seeming disbelief as the maniac-in-chief finally recedes from view. Thanks to twitter for giving us a well deserved foretaste of a Trump-less future by deleting his account a week-plus ago.
In typical fashion Trump took a government jet to Mar-a-lago while making sure that Biden did not receive the customary loan of any government jet and had to fly private. Many will take solace in the uncertain and unlikely to be pleasant future for the accused insurrectionist, and still many more have celebrated, how else, with twitter memes specially designed for the occaision. Below we’ve gathered a few:
The systemic issues that led to a Trump presidency will not simply disappear once he's out of office. In fact Trump himself, the media's obsession with him, and the hold he has over his cultish supporters won't even disappear once he's out of office. That said, pic.twitter.com/yekw9mWe9E
Not surprising, but always a pleasure, her dress was over-the-top and voice rung out to the heavens
Near the opening of the well planned and nearly perfectly executed inauguration ceremony, Lady Gaga sang her powerful rendition of the National Anthem and did not disappoint.
Afterward she could be seen chatting animatedly through her mask with former President Obama and others, drawing plenty of attention for her golden dove of peace.
My intention is to acknowledge our past, be healing for our present, and passionate for a future where we work together lovingly. I will sing to the hearts of all people who live on this land. Respectfully and kindly, Lady Gaga. ❤️🤍💙🇺🇸
Marie Kondo wants to help others find joy in the act of tidying up. The opportunity to reassess and bring more awareness to our personal belongings in a more mindful way is her unique approach to cleaning.
Best Known for her bestselling books, “ The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”, “Spark Joy”, more recently Kondo is gaining fans for her Netflix show, “Tidying up with Marie Kondo”.
On a mission to inspire others and to “spark joy”, she’s aided by her expertise in tidying along with her organizational method called KonMarie.
Thoughts of tidying often conjure up an end result of little more than a somewhat cleaner and more tidy outward appearance. Marie Kondo’s special talent is to help illuminate many indirect personal benefits that can arise as a result of confronting your sub-conscious attachments to belongings.
Marie’s unconventional and heart-warming approach is refreshing and helpful in comparison to how most people view cleaning (example: as a dreaded chore).
Take the clothes in your hands and see what you feel. If they make you feel happy and motivated, keep them. On the contrary, if they make you feel guilty or bring you unhappy emotions, let them go. By letting go, you can make space for clothes that make you happy and support you.
Her methods are systematic and start by organizing items based on categories (versus by location). There are five categories that are in a specific order: clothing, books, paper, komono (which encompasses kitchen, bathroom and garage), and lastly, sentimental/emotional items.
As can be seen in her Netflix Show, when first coming into any clients home, Kondo first greets the home, allowing the residents to give thanks to the home for shelter and protection, and as a formal way of communicating the beginning of the tidying process.
Under her system, each category requires you to accumulate all the items together (e.g. gathering clothing from all rooms and creating a large pile) in order to pick up and touch each individual item.
The very act of collecting all belongings within each category forces one to confront the possessions and, in some cases, take a hard look at any excessive materialism.
Only items that spark joy, creating a warm and positive feeling (“holding a puppy feeling”) should be kept and items no longer wanted or needed, are to be thanked and and then let go.
By choosing to keep only items that spark joy and letting go of unnecessary items a cathartic refocus can occur, leading to understanding of what is most important and, ultimately, learning to cherish what you have, in order to achieve greater happiness in life.
Olivia Rodrigo, the 17 year old high school senior made major headlines shattering streaming records with the official release of her debut single “Driver’s License”. Best known for her role in Disney+’s “High School Musical: The Series”, however, the newcomer will now be known for her chart-topping song.
The kind of immediate response and millions of streaming requests is not that common for newer artists, its not typical for a singer that isn’t established to so quickly gain traction and quickly reach the top of the charts. Usually this is reserved for well known artists including the likes of Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, BTS, Ariana Grande, ect.
“I truly do think this is just a lightning-in-a-bottle moment that sort of brought together a number of factors in a way that they haven’t really been brought together recently,”
– Becky Bass / Spotify Global Hits lead
In an Apple Music interview, Rodrigo described “”I wrote the bulk of the song literally crying in my living room, and I think that it definitely has that feel to it,” she continued by describing her inspiration for the song, referencing Gracie Abrahm’s song “Minor” was a major inspiration. “I was driving around my neighborhood, actually listening to really sad songs and crying in the car, and I got home and I was like, ‘Maybe I’ll write a song about this, crying in the car.'”
Some of her fans speculated that the song was about Rodrigo’s breakup with co-star Joshua Bassett.
On Jan. 11, "drivers license" by @Olivia_Rodrigo set the Spotify record for most streams in a day for a non-holiday song.
“Drivers License” broke several Spotify records for the most streams in a single day on Jan 11 for a non-holiday song with 15.17 million global streams. Then in continued its momentum the next day, Jan 12. continuing to beat the previous day, with 17.01 million streams. In addition to Spotify records, Amazon Music reported that Rodrigo now help the record for the most requested song in one day globally via Alexa.
