Streaming Roulette, August: Pray away those freaky requiems

New month. Time for another round of Streaming Roulette where we point out a handful or two of random titles that are newly streaming and just for fun, freeze frame them at totally random places in the scroll bar...

[No dialogue. Confused, looking around.]

FREAKY (2020) on HBOMax
This must be when the serial killer and the teenager find themselves in each others bodies, in this horror comedy riff on the Freaky Friday template. We didn't see this one (did you?) but are a tiny bit curious. Tangent: Do you ever wonder how actors and musicians feel when they watch movies and see their own faces as set decoration, on character's bedroom walls? (Hi Brendon Urie.)

-Do you miss her?
-Every day. You?
-I didn't know your wife so I can't say that I do.
-[Laughter]

IN HER SHOES (2005) on Amazon Prime
Shirley Maclaine snagged a Golden Globe nomination for this dramedy about two estranged sisters (Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette) who meet a grandmother (Maclaine) they didn't know existed. Vaguely remember this being better than its reviews back in 2005 but haven't seen it since. It was also the subject of an episode of "This Had Oscar Buzz" 

[voice on phone] I miss him so much but he thinks I'm rejecting him because I won't call him my daughter.

PRAY AWAY (2021) on Netflix 
A new documentary focusing on ex-leaders of the "gay conversion therapy" movement.  

[horn blaring]

KINGDOM: ASHIN OF THE NORTH (2021) on Netflix
Strangely Netflix has not connected this new release to its origin series under "new episodes" but it is essentially a prequel to the two-seasons of South Korea's sensational zombie epidemic / royal thriller Kingdom. We haven't watched this yet but the series itself had amazing craft work, strong performances, and exciting direction. Can't recommend the series highly enough and the existence of this prequel suggests we're not getting a third season after the long break due to COVID.

- I'm gonna switch gears here. According to your book you ended up at UC Berkeley?
- 84 to 89

MAGNOLIA (1999) on Netflix
Ohmygod. Remember how sensational this interview scene was between Tom Cruise's misogynist guru and a non-intimidated reporter (April Grace)? Cruise totally earned that Oscar nomination (the outcome of that year's Best Supporting Actor Oscar race is one of the saddest ever given the five star brilliance on offer from a few of the nominees) but Grace should have been instantly in-demand after this. If we'd had the Film Bitch Awards back then she would have been nominated for Best Performance in a Limited or Cameo role with ease, maybe even won. She sparred with an on-fire Cruise with real beat-for-beat expressive strength and presence. In related news: I deeply miss when Paul Thomas Anderson made ensemble films. I'm not sure what prompted his turn to more typical "focus on one character" films but it was a shame in some ways since few directors ever hope to be the next Altman like PTA once did. 

[music and camera snapping sounds]

PRINCESS TAM-TAM (1935) on Criterion
Criterion is running a series on Josephine Baker right now. In this one she's a shepherd girl pretending to be a princess who becomes a sensation of the Parisian nightlife. 

Where am I? Where am I?

THE THIN RED LINE (1998) on Hulu
Landed on the very upsetting scene where Woody Harrelson accidentally blows himself up. God he's a great actor. They way he repeats that line 'Where am I?' without sound the second time but just his lips moving is so harrowing. A fine picture if not my favourite Malick. Think that's The New World but it varies. You?

-God does not love evil-doers. I guess that means you.
-Shut up.

NAZ & MAALIK (2016) on Hulu
Have you ever seen this indie about two closeted Muslim teenagers? 

I finally asked myself. What's her fix? Television, right?!

REQUIEM FOR A DREAM (2000) on HBOMax
We sometimes forget that we once loved Jared Leto. It was many moons ago from the time of Jordan Catalano leaning on lockers through to this Darren Aronofsky breakout picture in which he's very good as a junkie. Jennifer Connelly and Ellen Burstyn are even better, though, in Oscar statue worthy performances.

also streaming on Netflix

• 30 Rock (all seasons)
• Beethoven
• Beethoven's 2nd
• Beowulf
• Catch Me If You Can
• Darwin's Game
• Deep Blue Sea
• Django Unchained
• The Edge of Seventeen (1998 and 2016 - not sure which one is the new one to streaming but they're both good movies and they're both on Netflix)
• Ferris Bueller's Day Off
• Five Feet Apart (2019)
• Friday Night Lights (all seasons)
• Good Luck Chuck
• The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia
• Inception
• The Lincoln Lawyer
• The Losers
• The Machinist
• Major Payne
• My Girl
• My Girl 2
• The Net
• The Original Kings of Comedy
• Pineapple Express
• Poms
• Seabiscuit
• Space Cowboys
• Team America: World Police

later this month

• Beckett (2021) - August 27th, starring John David Washington
• The Chair (season 1) - August 27th starring Sandra Oh
• He's All That (2021) - August 27th, gender flipped remake of "She's All That"
• The Kissing Booth 3 (2021) - August 11th
• Like Crazy (2011) -August 19th
• Sweet Girl (2021) - August 20th, starring Jason Momoa
• Vivo (2021) - August 6th, Lin-Manuel Miranda animated musical

 

COLLECTIONS streaming on Criterion Channel

• Director John Huston (19 films including Key Largo, The African Queen, and Night of the Iguana)
• Director Nikos Papatakis (5 films including Gloria Mundi)
• Director Michelle Parkerson (4 films including Odds and Ends)
• Josephine Baker (4 films including Princess Tam-Tam, and ZouZou)
• Jean Harlow (14 films including Dinner at Eight and Red Dust)
• The Ranown Westerns (6 films including Decision at Sundown)

Individual films also streaming on Criterion Channel

• Amores Perros (2000)
• The Big Chill (1983)
• The Inheritance (2021)
• La Piscine (1969)
• The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)

later this month

• Teknolust, Lore, Youssou N’Dour: I Bring What I Love, Chronicle of a Summer (1961)

also streaming on Hulu

• Hamilton's Pharmacopia: Complete Season 3 (Vice)
• 10 to Midnight (1983)
• 21 (2008)
• 30 Days Of Night (2007)
• 30 Minutes Or Less (2011)
• All About E (2015)
• Alpha & Omega (2010)
• Are We There Yet? (2005)
• The Artist (2011)
• As Good as It Gets (1997)
• Attack The Block (2011)
• The Baby-Sitters Club (1995)
• Bagdad Cafe (1988)
• The Beast Within (1982)
• Black Swan (2009)
• Blood Games (1991)
• Blood On Satan's Claw (1970)
• Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
• Bullhead (2011)
• Cherry Pop (2017)
• Christina's House (2001)
• Contagion (2011)
• Every Breath You Take (2021)
• The Final Girls (2015)
• First Knight (1995)
• Fish Don't Blink (2002)
• Fred Claus (2007)
• Freelancers (2012)
• French Postcards (1979)
• From Prada To Nada (2011)
• Garbo Talks (1984)
• Getting Go: The Go Doc Project (2013)
• The Girl King (2015)
• The Grudge (2004)
• Gulliver's Travels (2009)
• Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957)
• The Hawaiians (1970)
• Heart of Midnight (1989)
• Heartbreakers (2001)
• Henry Gamble's Birthday Party (2015)
• Henry V (1989)
• Hondo (1953)
• The Hot Chick (2002)
• The Hunter (1980)
• I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
• I Love You, Don't Touch Me! (1998)
• It's Kind Of A Funny Story (2010)
• Jack And Jill (2011)
• The Killing Streets (1991)
• King Arthur (2004)
• Kingpin (1996)
• The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000)
• Liz in September (2014)
• Mad Max (1980)
• Miami Blues (1990)
• Mirror Mirror (2012)
• Mud (2013)
• My Bloody Valentine (1981)
• Naz & Maalik (2015)
• Pieta (2012)
• Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
• Plaza Suite (1971)
• Roadhouse 66 (1984)
• Romy And Michele's High School Reunion (1997)
• Rudy (1993)
• Shane (1953)
• Shark Tale (2002)
• Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)
• The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)
• Special Effects (1984)
• Spellbinder (1988)
• Thelma & Louise (1991)
• The Thin Red Line (1998)
• Those People (2015)
• Toy Soldiers (1991)
• Transcendence (2014)
• Under The Tuscan Sun (2003)
• The Vatican Tapes (2015)
• Watchmen (2009)

later this month

• Princess Cyd, Together Together, The Hate U Give, Skeleton Twins, Chaos Walking, 

also streaming on Prime...

• 21 (2008)
• Aliens (1986)
• All About Steve (2009)
• Anaconda (1997)
• Annie (1982)
• Attack The Block (2011)
• Borat (2006)
• Catch Me If You Can (2002)
• Center Stage (2000)
• Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990)
• Elektra (2005)
• Escape From Alcatraz (1979)
• Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)
• Freedomland (2006)
• Hook (1991)
• The Insider (2000)
• The Iron Lady (2011)
• Jaws (first four movies)
• Knowing (2009)
• La Bamba (1987)
• Legend of Zorro (2005)
• Lincoln Lawyer (2011)
• Machete (2010)
• Made Of Honor (2008)
• Max Payne (2008)
• Moneyball (2011)
• Mud (2013)
• My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
• The Natural (1984)
• Patriot Games (1992)
• Pearl Harbor (2001)
• Predator and Predator 2(1987-1990)
• The Roomate (2011)
• Seabiscuit (2003)
• Secret Window (2004)
• Sideways (2004)
• Slither (2006)
• Something's Gotta Give (2003)
• Soul Surfer (2011)
• The Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009)
• Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys (2008)
• Water For Elephants (2011)
• You, Me And Dupree (2006)

later this month

• Annette (2021) August 20th
• Courier (2021) August 27th
• Modern Love (Season 2) August 13th
• Val (2021), August 6th, doc on Val Kilmer

also streaming on Disney+

• Garfield 
• Jungle Cruise (premiere pricing)

later this month

• Aquamarine (2006) August 13th
• Cruella (2021) August 27th leaves premiere pricing becomes free
• Eragon (2006) August 20th
• Mrs Doubtfire (1993) August 6th
• What If? (2021) August 11th new animated Marvel series

also streaming

• 2 Days in the Valley (1996)
• 9/11: Fifteen Years Later (2016)
• A Mighty Wind (2003)
• A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014)
• The Accidental Spy (2002)*
• The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl (2005)
• Americano (2017)
• Anna to the Infinite Power (1982)
• Backtrack (2016)
• Basic Instinct (1992)
• Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction (2006)
• Best in Show (2000)
• Betrayal at Attica (2021)
• The Betrayed (2008)
• The Birdcage (1996)
• Black Death (2010)
• Blue Ruin (2014)
• Brown Sugar (2002)
• Changeling (2008)
• Chasing Mavericks  (2012)
• Collateral (2004)
• Constantine (2005)
• Deep Cover (1992)
• The Devil's Double (2011)
• Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
• Dolphin Tale (2011)
• The Double (2014)
• Empire of the Sun (1987)
• The End (1978)
• Envy (2004)
• Epic (2013)
• Extranjero (aka Foreigner) (2018)
• For Your Consideration (2006)
• Freaky (2020)
• Freejack (1992)
• The Fugitive (1993)
• Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)
• The Great Gatsby (1974)
• The Great Gatsby (2013)
• Gun Shy (2017)
• Hangman (2017)
• Heaven Can Wait (1978)
• Hitchcock (2012)
• Horror of Dracula (1958)
• How to Deal (2003)
• Hudson Hawk (1991)
• Humpday (2009)
• Imperium (2016)
• Inception (2010)
• Joe (2014)
• Johnny English Reborn (2011)
• Julia (2009)
• Last Action Hero (1993)
• Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993) 
• The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)
• Malcolm X (1992)
• Man Down (2016)
• The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)
• Mean Streets (1973)
• Mr. Soul! (2018)
• New in Town (2009)
• Nobody Walks (2012)
• Nurse 3D (2013)
• One Hour Photo (2002)
• The Out-of-Towners (1999)
• Popeye (1980)
• The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984)
• The Prince (2014)
• The Reader (2008)
• Red (2008)
• Red Riding Hood (2011)
• Requiem for a Dream (2000)
• Scary Movie (2000)
• The Score (2001)
• Sex and the City (2008)
• Sex and the City 2 (2010)
• The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
• Spawn (1997)
• The Spirit (2008)
• The Square (2017)
• Stand and Deliver (1988)
• Tango & Cash (1989)
• Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo (2006)
• Thirteen Ghosts (2001)
• Vice (2015)
• War (2007)
• Woodstock (Director's Cut) 
• You've Got Mail (1998)

later this month

• Jurassic Park (first three movies) - August 14th
• Magic Mike XXL (2015) - August 28th
• The Suicide Squad (2021) - August 6th... also in theaters
• The White Lotus Hotel (2021) - Finale on August 15th

Comments

[Truth Teller]

Leto is a super douche but an undeniably electric screen presence.

[DAVID]

Justice for IN HER SHOES!!!

[Jonathan]

"I deeply miss when Paul Thomas Anderson made ensemble films."

INHERENT VICE was just three movies ago...

[César Gaytán]

In my own awards April Grace is the winner as Best Incidental Performance from 1999.

It would be great if the Film Bitch Awards could combine two "ceremonies" by year, one of the actual year and one from the past. For example: The next year published the awards of 2021 and 1999, next year from 2022 and 1998 and like that succesively.

[Cash]

Jennifer Connelly won her Oscar for Requiem For a Dream. Let no one tell you differently.

Shirley, Toni, and Cameron are all great in In Her Shoes. It's definitely one of Cameron's best performances.

[mikenewq]

I highly recommend 'Freaky!' It's a ton of fun and the performances are great - especially (and I can't believe I'm saying it) Vince Vaughn.

[ScottC]

In Her Shoes was so good.

[Jason]

Personally I hated Freaky and ESPECIALLY Vaughn's performance, which is this cartoon idea of a teen girl without ever once seeming anything like the character that Kathryn Newton had been playing up until he took over her body. But most people loved the movie so I'm in the minority on that one!

I just re-watched In her Shoes this week and it is just as wonderful as I'd remembered -- one of Curtis Hanson's best, and probably Cameron Diaz's best performance as well. (Give or take a Being John Malkovich.)

[Danny]

God I love In Her Shoes so so much! I’ve watched it at least 10 times at this point.

Freaky was fun, kind of disposable, but a good time. Jason isn’t wrong in that Vaughn doesn’t seem to have watched any of Kathryn Newton’s dailies before filming, but his performance still ends up funny and sincere in a way that works if you don’t think too hard about it.

[James from Ames]

Amen for the praise for April Grace in that role.

The Kingdom TV show is absolutely beautiful, and featuring actress Doona Bae who's always fantastic. The hats in the show are just mesmerizing.

[DrG]

Thanks for the rundown Nathaniel. Didn’t realize Annette and Val would soon be available to the general public. Was planning to rewatch ‘A Thin Red Line’ after the 1998 retrospective reminded me how long it’s been since I saw it, so this is welcome news that it’s now on Hulu for “free”. Yay!

[Jesus Alonso]

Requiem for a Dream should have swept the noms on 2000

Picture *
Director *
Actor (Leto)
Actress (Burstyn) *
S. Actor (Wayans)
S. Actress (Connelly) *
Screenplay *
Score *
Cinematography *
Film Editing *
Sound Editing
Sound Mixing
Make Up

13 noms, 8 wins.

[Dan]

REQUIEM FOR A DREAM was exhausting.

[Timothy Lyons]

Jonathan - -

Personally, I wouldn’t class Inherent Vice as a true ensemble picture.

Even with Mark Wahlberg as Dirk in the centre, Boogie Nights allowed the focus to shift as it truly allowed the various interpersonal relationships to take the spotlight in turn throughout.

Vice firmly features Joaquin Phoenix’s Doc as it’s indisputable protagonist and the large supporting cast equates to not much more than a (to varying levels cartoony) parade of familiar faces. There is no narrative or emotional investment in these people really.

Not a real ensemble piece IMO.

[Michael R]

I love In Her Shoes so so much. Cameron and Shirley would have both been on my ballot.

[howdareu]

1999 was such a terrific year for films, Fight Club, Eyes Wide Shut, American Beauty…but Magnolia was my favorite, what a powerful experience and Tom Cruise was robbed that Oscar, actually he should have 2 on his shelf, also for Jerry Maguire.
I remember liking In Her Shoes a lot and thinking Cameron Diaz was gonna be Oscar nominated, it’s one of her finest performances.
Although Leto is very full of himself nowadays he is an electrifying presence, Requiem for a Dream, Lord of War & Mr. Nobody are there to prove it. I even liked his GG nod for The Little Things, he’s the best thing in that film.

[Anthony]

I haven't seen "In her Shoes" since it came out but I remember really liking the film. I will need to check it out again.

[Jesus Alonso]

@Dan... that was the whole point of the project. To introduce you into the nightmare that addiction is.

Irony being, I made a 2 minutes long short-film on Addiction, shot in 3 hours and released it at a Film Festival, in 2001, before I actually get to see Requiem for a Dream. But I took a radically different approach.

[Corey]

Ah MAGNOLIA. Where do I start? That movie means so much to me on so many different levels.

I just finally got my first MAGNOLIA tattoo, and have a more elaborate one planned for later this year.

(Ooooh maybe a feature on fan tattoos????)

[Vincenzo]

Julia Roberts rightfully beat everyone for her award in 2000 and no one in their right mind has any sense to think that anyone else would have won that award, not that year and not against that performance. Sorry not sorry.

[NATHANIEL R]

Vincenzo -- i didn't say i wanted to take away Julia's Oscar (she's phenomenal in erin Brockovich) but some years have more than one worthy winner!