Kneel Before VOD: July 25th
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
Charlie Hunnam stars in the expensive adaptation nobody asked for. Director Guy Ritchie's Arthurian tale has shaped up to be one of the biggest bombs of the year, but you can support it by buying it digitally today. For what it's worth, fans of Ritchie's style of flashy slick action should dig this, as the director's tricks usually reserved for cool British guys shooting people are translated to cool British guys in the Middle Ages stabbing people.
Snatched
Hollywood legend Goldie Hawn makes her long awaited return to the big screen to star alongside comedy superstar Amy Schumer. Unfortunately, the promising sounding action-comedy film doesn't quite click. There's fun to be had with some gags but they are few and far between, lost in a sea of mediocre jokes and moderately entertaining action scenes. The script could have used a lot more work but it's nice to see Hawn again and hopefully we don't have to wait another fifteen years. (Read Rob's review of Snatched.)
Netflix: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Netflix's strong Disney partnership continues with the release of the first live-action Star Wars spinoff movie onto the platform. Gareth Edwards directs the bridge-gaping story of Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), the daughter of an Empire engineer, who joins a rebel crew on a suicide mission to acquire the plans to the Death Star, thus playing a pivotal role in the plot that eventually took it down. The film's full of the same sterling visual quality you expect from the billion dollar franchise, and I actually found this to be a more fun adventure than The Force Awakens. (Read Tyler's review of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.)
Ozark
In Ozark, Justin Bateman stars as a Chicago money launderer for a Mexican drug cartel who relocates his family and severs ties after the heat starts coming down on him. His new home in the Missouri Ozark isn't as peaceful as he'd hoped. Bateman shines, delivering one of his very best performances, and the well-written drama should satiate those who are searching for more Breaking Bad.
Amazon Prime: Hell Baby
Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant AKA "the only comedy writers in Hollywood, apparently" co-write and direct this horror spoof that works due to the sheer talent in front of the camera. The razor thin plot of a couple moving into a haunted house is just an excuse to corral some of the brightest stars in comedy and see them have fun with cheese. Rob Corddry, Leslie Bibb, Keegan-Michael Key, Michael Ian Black, Riki Lindhome, and Rob Huebel are just a few who lend their talents. The Big Sick and Silicon Valley star Kumail Nanjiani particularly stands out in a show-stealing scene.
Also Streaming: Miss Sloane
HBO Go: Hacksaw Ridge
The true story of Hacksaw Ridge is so incredible that you can't believe it hasn't been told before in film. Desmond Doss was a WWII draftee, the conscientious objector who never picked up a weapon yet went on to save 75 lives and earned the Congressional Medal of Honor. Mel Gibson's film doesn't do much differently than any other WWII movie, but it's still winning thanks to an Oscar-nominated lead performance by Andrew Garfield and its powerful message.
Hulu Plus: Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
Dirk Gently (Samuel Barnett) is a detective who believes in instinct and fate more than anything. One day his path crosses with Todd (Elijah Wood), a mild mannered bellhop who gets reluctantly roped into coming along with Dirk on his dangerous adventures. The show is based on Douglas Adams' book series of the same name, and I found it to be a hugely enjoyable experience. Laughs come often, and the snappy dialogue and peculiar nature is enough to sink its hooks into you.
FilmStruck: Fallen Angels
Director Wong Kar-Wai recently celebrated his 51st birthday, so why not celebrate with one of his most celebrated films? The 1995 film follows Wong (Leon Jai), a hitman who falls for his partner (Michele Reis), and He (Takeshi Kaneshiro) a mute thief who falls for a woman, Cherry (Charlie Young). The two stories are loosely connected as the wandering film is much more interested in dreamy visuals than plot.
