Streaming Roulette May: Circus of Books, Song of the Sea, Etc...
Saturday, May 2, 2020 at 10:00PM
NATHANIEL R in Bad Education, Circus of Books, The Lighthouse, streaming

by Nathaniel R

If you're new to the site this is how we share new streaming offerings for the month. We select a handful or two of titles and just randomly hit a place on the scroll bar to see what the film looks like - no cheating.  Ready? Let's play...

I'm sorry it's just upsetting to me to hear that.

Circus of Books (2020) on Netflix
Sometimes expectations can get too high when you hear nothing but raves (including one right here). This documentary about nice Jewish parents running a gay porn shop, is a good film and you absolutely should watch it, don't misunderstand. But the clumsy hand-held camera took us out of the picture way too often. It's curious to land on this image of the daughter/director  because though the scene is moving and the movie wouldn't have been possible without the insider feel, we kept wanting more context from/about the adult children to better illuminate the family drama... which isn't really a sidebar topic, though it often feels that way.

More after the jump including The Half of It, and all-too familiar rants about Angela Bassett's career, and Oscar's Best Animated Feature category...

-It's kind of sweet.
       -It's kind of trite.
-It shows that he cares.
       -It shows he's a moron; Who outruns trains?

The Half Of It (2020) on Netflix
We keep hearing this riff on Cyrano de Bergerac which mixes LGBTQ youth, high school comedy, and immigraton themes, into the very well worn story -- is delightful. It won Tribeca's Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature so we'll get to it as soon as is humanly possible.

I can tell when you're lying.

Bad Education (2020) on HBO
People are enamored of this film about a local schoolboard scandal, especially the performances from Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney, including both members of our team who reviewed it, first Chris at TIFF and then Tony on HBO. Expect Emmy nominations... since HBO bought it at festivals  for their channel so we don't they can pretend it was meant to be in theaters before COVID-19 which is the only way to be eligible for Oscars now if you're a streaming title.

No thankee! The sea... she's the only situation wantin' fer me. 

The Lighthouse (2019) on Amazon Prime
Team Experience was mostly rapturous on this one, including Chris and Jason. But it didn't quite do it for yours truly, "No thankee!" That said the dialogue is a hoot and Robert Pattinson is just about perfect in it. Oh and cinematographer Jarin Blachke completely earned that Oscar nomination. Okay okay, maybe we should give it a second chance. 

We should never have discussed those things in front of her!

Daughters of Darkness (1971) on Amazon Prime
The early 70s featured a flood of lesbian vampire movies (look it up) and no, we don't know why that is but we'd love some clues. This is one of the most famous with Delphine Seyrig as Countess Báthory.

We shared a kiss.

This Means War (2012) on HBO
This is surely one of those movies that people have forgotten existed. Tom Hardy (*drools*) and Chris Pine compete for Reese Witherspoon's lips in this (reportedly) unholy blend of action comedy with rom-com. We've never seen it but we kind of want to given the starpower. Have you? 

Of course I like it. It's beautiful. But I couldn't accept it.

If you Could Only Cook (1935) on Criterion
One of the less famous entries in their current "Starring Jean Arthur" series. This one's a Depression era romantic comedy. We just discussed the inimitable Jean Arthur's career right here. 

I can get us home using my map. Just you wait and see.

Song of the Sea (2014) on Netflix
Still vividly remember seeing this at TIFF in 2013 --  the colors, the design, the linework, the unforgettable owl villain. When is Cartoon Saloon going to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar? It's past time already. We love Disney and Disney/Pixar as much as the next person but when (combined) the Mouse House wins this category 70% of the time (13 out of 19 years!). And no other studio has managed more than a single win. And two of the most consistently brilliant animation studios (Laika and Cartoon Saloon) are still Oscarless after two decades of the category, something might be wrong with the voting structures/rules. Just saying. 

Hey, maybe this is just maneuvers, huh?

Sands of Iwo Jima (1949) on Hulu
Nominated for four Oscars including Best Actor for John Wayne. 

So what you're telling me is that you don't really have a passion for medicine.

How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998) on HBO
How unfortunate that we were robbed of the steamy sex scene with our streaming roulette scrollbar and only got this post-coital image, as sensual as it is.

A fact about the ridiculousness of Hollywood decision makers in the 1990s and 2000s. There were FAR too few star vehicles for Angela Bassett after her 1993 What's Love Got to Do With It breakout! This is the only one that fits the classic definition of "star vehicle". Okay, there are two if you count Waiting to Exhale though that's more of an ensemble piece even though Angela burns the whole place down with her star magnetism. 

ALSO STREAMING IN RIGHT NOW...

newly streaming

later this month (a selection) 

 

 

newly streaming

later this month (selection)

 

newly streaming

later in the month (a selection)

 

newly streaming for May - a selection they usually offer the same films as Hulu (see above) plus a slew of older often B films

later in the month (selection) 

 

newly streaming

 

 

later in the month a selection

 

 

newly streaming

later in month -a selection. * May 27th will feature the launch of HBOMax which is somehow different than HBOGo and HBONow though at the very beginning HBONow members will have access to HBOMax at no additional charge. 

Article originally appeared on The Film Experience (http://thefilmexperience.net/).
See website for complete article licensing information.