Movies Streaming This Week: 'The Grey,' 'Melancholia'
DVDs? Pshaw! These days, streaming video is the perfect medium for those of us too technologically advanced (read: lazy) to buy or rent DVDs and put them in a player.
But with all the streaming options out there, it’s hard to keep track of what movies are new and available. Here's where your friends at Film.com swoop in to help. In this new weekly column, we'll highlight the new releases you can stream through iTunes, Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu and other outlets. We also showcase some classic films that have recently sprung up, and even point out titles you can see for free (legally!).
This week, Reese Witherspoon is adored by Tom Hardy and Chris Pine in the action comedy "This Means War," Johnny Depp lends his voice to the Oscar-winner "Rango" and Liam Neeson gets wild in "The Grey." And if you've sworn never to pay to see an Adam Sandler movie, don't worry, there's one you can sneak in for free.
NEW RELEASES
‘Safe House’
Ryan Reynolds plays young CIA agent Matt Weston, who is assigned to “housekeep” ex-CIA turned criminal Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington) after acquiring a file from a rogue MI6 agent. But when the safe house is compromised, Weston and Frost find themselves in a cat and mouse game with a mercenary.
Why Stream It: Denzel in bad guy mode is always fun.
Available On: iTunes, Amazon Instant
‘Red Tails’
In this fictionalized portrayal of the Tuskegee training program during World War II, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Terrence Howard give a group of Tuskegee airmen the chance to finally fight for their country, after they've endured racism through their training and most of the war.
Why Stream It: This is George Lucas’ first producing work outside of those ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Indiana Jones’ films since the mid- ’90s. Check to see if he’s still got it.
Available On: iTunes, Amazon Instant
After CIA agents Foster (Chris Pine) and Tuck (Tom Hardy) realize they’ve been dating a woman named Lauren (Reese Witherspoon), the two commence a “Spy vs. Spy”-like obsession to sabotage each other’s dates with her. But when an international criminal surfaces to avenge his brother’s death at the hands of Foster and Tuck, Lauren finds herself in the middle of a serious situation.
Why Stream It: The action is lively, and the chemistry between Pine and Hardy makes the movie work.
Available On: iTunes, Amazon Instant
‘Newlyweds’
In Edward Burns’ latest low-budget directing-writing-starring-producing effort, the NYC native explores family and marriage as Buzzy, whose life is turned upside down after his half-sister shows up at his doorstep unannounced.
Why Stream It: It's a solid dramedy with great location shoots around NYC.
Available On: iTunes, Amazon Instant
‘Melancholia’
Lars von Trier explores his usual themes of depression and isolation in this powerful end-of-world drama that includes amazing performances by Kristen Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg.
Why Stream It: Though it’s the end of the world, von Trier takes us out with beauty and amazing classical music choices.
Available On: iTunes, Netflix, Amazon Instant, YouTube
‘Rango’
In this clever animated feature, Johnny Depp teams with his "Pirates of the Caribbean" director Gore Verbinski to voice a chameleon named Rango who stumbles upon the town of Dirt, a desert outpost in desperate need of a sheriff. Playing the tough guy when entering town, Rango soon finds himself taking on the job and unearthing some shady activity.
Why Stream It: It's fun to catch all the classic movie references buried through the film, from “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” to “Chinatown.”
Available On: iTunes, Netflix, Amazon Instant
‘The Grey’
John Ottway (Liam Neeson) becomes the last hope for his team of oil workers when their plane crashes in a blizzard -- right smack in the middle of an area crawling with pissed-off grey wolves.
Why Stream It: Liam Neeson vs. wild animals ... need we say more?
Available On: iTunes, Amazon Instant
‘The Vow’
Rachel McAdams returns to familiar territory starring in this tear-jerker opposite Channing Tatum; the two play a couple whose lives are shattered after Paige (McAdams) falls in a coma following a car accident and awakens to severe memory loss. Her husband Leo (Tatum) is then determined to win her back.
Why Stream It: Everyone needs a good cry now and then. Or you could just stare at Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum for a while.
Available On: iTunes, Amazon Instant, YouTube
OLDIES BUT GOODIES
‘Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak’
With the recent death of children’s literature legend Maurice Sendak, the 40-minute doc by Spike Jonze and Lance Bangs has found a new life. This intimate look at Sendak delves into the life and work of a man never shy to say what was on his mind.
Available On: Hulu (free)
‘Drugstore Cowboy’
Gus Van Sant’s breakout film stars Matt Dillon as drug addict Bob Hughes, who travels the Pacific Northwest with his crew robbing pharmacies and hospitals to support their habit. But when Bob tries to clean up, he realizes it’s not just drugs he has to kick.
Available On: iTunes, Netflix, Amazon Instant, YouTube
This popular Adam Sandler comedy brings together all the Sandler goodies: outlandish moments, hot chicks like Leslie Mann, Kristy Swanson and Joey Lauren Adams, and appearances by regulars Rob Schneider and Steve Buscemi. Take a break and return to the comic’s heyday.
Available On: iTunes, Netflix, Amazon Instant, Crackle (free)
