Got NEON? Got Netflix? Got a healthy VOD rental/buying habit? Perhaps you’re perfecting your movie museum with DVDs and Blu-rays? Whatever pleasure takes your leisure, there’s plenty of new stuff to consider every month – from blockbusters to new series, as well as direct-to-home-video content. Every month we profile the best watches on the major on demand/streaming options.
New to Neon
Sisters
Tina Fey (the fun troublemaker) and Amy Poehler (the dull goody-two-shoes) are siblings who think they’re too damn old to throw a house party – but do it anyway. “There are a few solid knee-slappers… Maya Rudolph and John Cena are standouts among the supporting cast.” -Daniel Rutledge, Flicks. Now on Neon
Younger: Season 3
Third season of the romantic comedy show about a 41-year-old single mother who, after being mistaken for a 26-year-old, seizes the chance to live youthfully in both her career and her love life. Now on Neon
No Tomorrow: Season 1
First series of the romantic fantasy series. Evie, a risk-averse quality-control assessor, is drawn to fun-loving thrill-seeker Xavier. Thing is, he believes the world will end in exactly eight months and 12 days. Despite not believing a word of this coming apocalypse, Evie joins Xavier in crossing off his bucket list. Now on Neon
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Terry Gilliam’s cult classic adaptation of Hunter S Thompson’s tale that was – for better or worse – incredibly faithful to the book. Stars Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro. Now on Neon
Our Brand is Crisis
Sandra Bullock leads this political comedy as a hot-shot campaign strategist who takes her renowned skills to South America. “David Gordon Green’s latest unpredictable addition to his resume is offbeat and appealing on some levels…” -Hollywood Reporter. Now on Neon
Freeheld
Romantic drama following a New Jersey police lieutenant (Julianne Moore) with terminal lung cancer, forced to go to court to have her pension benefits passed on to her same-sex partner (Ellen Page) – a right that was only given to heterosexual couples. “If ever there was a story that illustrates the crappy hand dealt to same-sex couples, it’s here in Freeheld.” -Paul Casserly, Flicks. Now on Neon
I’ll See You In My Dreams
An elderly widow doesn’t let her age or situation stop her from making a fresh start in this breezy comedic tale. “Has a disarming lightness of touch that keeps the proceedings buoyant, even when they inevitably brush up against mortality.” -Hollywood Reporter. Now on Neon
Starship Troopers
Futuristic military satire from Paul Verhoeven (RoboCop, Total Recall) where the battle for humanity is fought between space marines and giant alien bugs. On Neon from 27th November
New to Netflix
Hook
Spielberg’s 1991 family adventure about a grown-up Peter Pan (Robin Williams) and a still-angry Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman). Nominated for five Academy Awards – mainly for production. Now on Netflix
The Crown: Season 1
Original series focused on Queen Elizabeth II as a 25-year-old newlywed who is suddenly thrust with major responsibility as a royal leader. Co-stars Matt Smith (Doctor Who) as her husband Philip and John Lithgow (Interstellar) as Winston Churchill. Now on Netflix
True Memoirs of an International Assassin
Kevin James leads this action-comedy as the author of a bestselling fictional memoir about his (fake) life as an assassin. Problem is, the publisher released it as a “true” biopic, and now the writer is being mistaken for a real professional killer. Now on Netflix
The Ivory Game
Suspenseful on-the-ground documentary follows activists and investigators as they put their lives on the line to battle the illegal African ivory trade. Co-produced by Leonardo DiCaprio. “Sweeping, thoughtful and often wrenching…” -Hollywood Reporter. Now on Netflix
Hope Springs
Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones are a couple trying to reignite their 30 year marriage with an intense weekend of marriage and sex therapy, courtesy of a relationship guru (Steve Carell). “An altogether pleasant surprise: a mainstream dramedy that frankly and intelligently addresses the challenges facing a couple after 31 years of marriage.” -Variety. Now on Netflix
Layer Cake
British crime caper from pre-Kingsman Matthew Vaughn starring pre-Bond Daniel Craig as a drug dealing middle-man on the brink of retirement. “Flashy, way-above-average British gangster movie with an excellent performance from Daniel Craig.” -The Guardian. On Netflix from 16th November
Divines
A shrewd teenager and her wisecracking best friend plan to get rich or die trying by following in the footsteps of a flashy female drug dealer. On Netflix from 18th November
Mercy
Two brothers clash with their half-siblings when a visit home to see their dying mother surfaces old secrets and becomes a fight for survival. On Netflix from 22nd November
New to Everything Else
Three Wise Cousins
The hit New Zealand comedy about a 22-year-old Samoan-Kiwi looking to impress a woman who only wants to go out with a ‘real island guy’. So, he journeys to Samoa to get advice from those who can teach him best – his cousins. “Fans of the Sione’s Wedding films will lap up this colourful and charming Kiwi-Samoan comedy.” -James Croot, Stuff.co.nz. Available from 24th September
The Fits
An 11-year-old girl trains to become a boxer, but takes a sudden interest in dance in this “hypnotic” 72 minute drama from Anna Rose Holmer. “Is more than a transporting film experience. It’s cinema poetry in motion.” -Rolling Stone. Available now
Finding Dory
Disney Pixar’s sequel to the 2003 Academy Award-winning family animated hit Finding Nemo, following Dory’s own quest when she actually remembers something about her past. “Does it reach the emotional heights of its original? No. Is it funnier? Surprisingly, yes.” -Liam Maguren, Flicks. Available now
Green Room
Patrick Stewart is a ruthless neo-Nazi in this confined-space thriller, targeting an innocent indie punk band who saw something they can’t unsee. “Brings proper scares and smarts to the punk-horror subgenre.” -Matt Glasby, Flicks. Available now
Imperium
Daniel Radcliffe is an inexperienced FBI informant sent to infiltrate a radical white supremacist group in this thriller inspired by real events. “Particularly chilling in the current political climate.” -Empire. Available now
My Scientology Movie
Reporter of weird things, Louis Theroux, heads to Los Angeles to try and understand the psychology of Scientology. “Chilling and informing…” -Steve Newall, Flicks. Available now
Heart of a Dog
Musician, performance artist and all-round multimedia sensation Laurie Anderson directs this cinematic essay on love that starts with the death of her dog Lolabelle. “Its roving, free-associative structure brings together all manner of richly eccentric musings on the evasions of memory, the limitations of language and storytelling…” -Variety. Available now
