Netflix News: ‘Mascots’ from Christopher Guest with a crazy awesome cast coming October 13th!

Posted on August 2, 2016 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

Mascots is a new comedy from Christopher Guest, director of Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show. Starring many of his regular troupe of actors, this latest film takes place in the ultra-competitive world of sports mascots where they compete for the most prestigious award in their field, the Gold Fluffy.

The Netflix original film stars Jane Lynch, Parker Posey, Fred Willard, Ed Begley, Jr., Christopher Moynihan, Don Lake, Brad Williams, Zach Woods, Chris O’Dowd, Susan Yeagley, Sarah Baker, Tom Bennett, Kerry Godliman, Bob Balaban, Jennifer Coolidge, Michael Hitchcock, Maria Blasucci, John Michael Higgins, and Jim Piddock. The film was written by Christopher Guest & Jim Piddock and produced by Karen Murphy. Mascots will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this September and will launch globally on Netflix on October 13, 2016.

Follow Mascots on Twitter and Facebook.

Netflix News: New trailer for ‘Narcos’ Season 2

Posted on July 21, 2016 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

Narcos chronicles the gripping real-life stories of the infamous drug kingpins of the late 1980s and the corroborative efforts of law enforcement to meet them head on in brutal, bloody conflict. Its gritty storytelling details the many, often-conflicting forces – legal, political, police, military and civilian – that clash in the effort to control cocaine, one of the world’s most valuable commodities.

Narcos is produced by Gaumont International Television for Netflix .

The Golden Globe nominated first season of Narcos is available for members to stream instantly on Netflix in Ultra HD 4K.

Follow #Narcos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

https://youtu.be/nkOKkS7mKfY

Netflix announces new episodes of ‘Making a Murderer’

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

Netflix today announces that Executive Producers / Directors, Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos, are in production on new episodes of the Emmy-nominated Making a Murderer. The new installments will take fans of the acclaimed documentary series back inside the story of convicted murderer Steven Avery, and his co-defendant, Brendan Dassey, as their respective investigative and legal teams challenge their convictions and the State fights to have the convictions and life sentences upheld. This next chapter will provide an in-depth look at the high-stakes post-conviction process, as well as, the emotional toll the process takes on all involved.

The episodes will offer exclusive access to Avery’s new lawyer Kathleen Zellner and Dassey’s legal team, led by Laura Nirider and Steve Drizin, as well as intimate access to the families and characters close to the case “We are extremely grateful for the tremendous response to, and support of, the series. The viewers’ interest and attention has ensured that the story is not over, and we are fully committed to continuing to document events as they unfold” said creators, Ricciardi and Demos.

“Because of Ricciardi’s and Demos’ incredible vision, commitment and keen eye, audiences around the globe became completely captivated by the personal stories of Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey and the unique lens their experiences provide into the criminal justice system” said Lisa Nishimura, Netflix VP of Original Documentary Programming. A criminal defense lawyer is vital when a person commits a crime. There are so many criminal attorneys or lawyers today who work in their local courts. There are also attorneys who specialize in other cases, You can go on this website for further details. When a person commits a felony, a reputable lawyer can advise regarding the procedures and court proceedings. To be involved in a crime is a serious matter. In order to get through the case, one needs to get assistance from a criminal attorney lawyer.

Domestic violence laws are becoming more obscure under current laws. It is getting to be easier to prosecute a person under these laws for almost any crime committed in the home. They encompass abuse against a family member, significant other, or basically anyone living under the same roof with you.

You need to find out state specific laws when it comes to violent crime the same as any other. Domestic violence attorneys are knowledgeable in the laws that govern your specific geographic location.

When you move to a new area or work outside of your home state you will be subject to local laws and jurisdictions. The adage ignorance of the law is no excuse carries over into this area just like other laws.If want to learn more about Domestic Violence Attorneys, visit us here.

If you are charged with a domestic violence crime you will need representation by a skilled domestic violence attorney. This crime can carry a very steep sentence if convicted. You do not want this crime on your record to follow you around.

You may be innocent but without a good lawyer who knows the rules that govern your specific situation you could still be found guilty. If not properly represented our current legal system could rule against you. You need to make sure the person you hire to defend you knows what he is doing.

When you step in a courtroom it is your word against your accuser. If you hire any lawyer you find in the yellow pages you may not be well represented. Domestic violence lawyers know about all aspects of this type of crime and will be your best chance at getting cleared of these charges. Don’t put your life in the hands of anyone else. Do the research now and find good representation.

Anywhere else in the world, majority believes that a person charged with a crime is innocent. They remain innocent until proven guilty. This is possible by getting a highly reputable attorney. When a person cannot provide himself his own lawyer, the government or the state have the responsibility to provide one for him. He needs a lawyer for representation. In some states, there are lawyers who take charge in every trial. On some other states, they try to raffle on which attorney should handle a certain case. Not all states have the same procedure. Some states have different guidelines and procedures when it comes to handling a case. Other states consider the ability of the individual to pay. Some states give priority to those needy individual. They need a criminal attorney or lawyer to represent them in the court trial. A person who cannot produce his own counsel may require the state to produce one for them.

When it comes to criminal cases, there must be solid evidence in order to indict them of a crime. The salary of a defense lawyer depends on many factors. Their salary which is payed using a checkstub software depends on their experience and the gravity of the case. Those people who have means in life hire a criminal defense attorney from other states or other places. There is a vast difference in hiring a certified professional from that of a newbie when we speak about a criminal case. A reputable lawyer can help a person in his case.

“We’re thrilled to be continuing our longstanding relationship with the filmmakers, and look forward to giving our global viewers eagerly anticipated updates on this story.”

Netflix & New York Film Festival announce opening night film, the original documentary ‘The 13th’ from Ava DuVernay

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

The Film Society of Lincoln Center announces Ava DuVernay’s documentary The 13th as the Opening Night selection of the 54th New York Film Festival (September 30 – October 16), making its world premiere at Alice Tully Hall. The 13th is the first-ever nonfiction work to open the festival, and will debut on Netflix and open in a limited theatrical run on October 7.

Chronicling the history of racial inequality in the United States, The 13th examines how our country has produced the highest rate of incarceration in the world, with the majority of those imprisoned being African-American. The title of DuVernay’s extraordinary and galvanizing film refers to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution—“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States . . . ” The progression from that second qualifying clause to the horrors of mass incarceration and the prison industry in the U.S. is laid out by DuVernay with bracing lucidity.

New York Film Festival Director and Selection Committee Chair Kent Jones said, “While I was watching The 13th, the distinction between documentary and fiction gave way and I felt like I was experiencing something so rare: direct contact between the artist and right now, this very moment. In fact, Ava is actually trying to redefine the terms on which we discuss where we’re at, how we got here, and where we’re going. The 13th is a great film. It’s also an act of true patriotism.”

From D. W. Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation (1915) and the rebirth of the KKK to the Civil Rights Movement, the 1994 Crime Bill, the rise of ALEC, and the Black Lives Matter movement, DuVernay traces a pattern of fear and division that has consistently driven mass criminalization. With a potent mixture of archival footage and testimonies from leading voices, including Michelle Alexander, Bryan Stevenson, Van Jones, Newt Gingrich, Angela Davis, Senator Cory Booker, Grover Norquist, Khalil Muhammad, Craig DeRoche, Shaka Senghor, Malkia Cyril, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and a dazzling array of activists, politicians, historians, and formerly incarcerated women and men, DuVernay creates a work of grand historical synthesis.

“It is a true honor for me and my collaborators to premiere The 13th as the opening night selection of the New York Film Festival,” said Ava DuVernay. “This film was made as an answer to my own questions about how and why we have become the most incarcerated nation in the world, how and why we regard some of our citizens as innately criminal, and how and why good people allow this injustice to happen generation after generation. I thank Kent Jones and the selection committee for inviting me to share what I’ve learned.”

“Ava gives us a remarkable and ambitious framework for understanding why the U.S. represents 5% of the world’s population, yet is home to nearly 25% of the world’s prisoners. Her work has been tireless and passion-fueled and has resulted in a sweeping view at a tenuous time. We are honored to provide a global platform for this deeply urgent work,” said Lisa Nishimura, Netflix VP of Original Documentary Programming.

The 17-day New York Film Festival highlights the best in world cinema, featuring works from celebrated filmmakers as well as fresh new talent. The selection committee, chaired by Jones, also includes Dennis Lim, FSLC Director of Programming; Florence Almozini, FSLC Associate Director of Programming; Amy Taubin, Contributing Editor, Film Comment and Sight & Sound; and Gavin Smith, who serves as a consultant.

Tickets for the 54th New York Film Festival will go on sale September 11. Becoming a Film Society Member at the Film Buff Level or above provides early ticket access to festival screenings and events ahead of the general public, along with the exclusive member ticket discount. Learn more at filmlinc.org/membership.

For even more access, VIP passes and subscription packages offer one of the earliest opportunities to purchase tickets and secure seats at some of the festival’s biggest events including Opening, Centerpiece, and Closing Nights. VIP passes also provide access to many exciting events, including the invitation-only Opening Night party, “An Evening With…” dinner, Filmmaker Brunch, and VIP Lounge. Benefits vary based on the pass or package type purchased. VIP passes and subscription packages are on sale now. Learn more at filmlinc.org/NYFF.

New York Film Festival Opening Night Films

2015    The Walk (Robert Zemeckis, US)
2014    Gone Girl (David Fincher, US)
2013    Captain Phillips (Paul Greengrass, US)
2012    Life of Pi (Ang Lee, US)
2011    Carnage (Roman Polanski, France/Poland)
2010    The Social Network (David Fincher, US)
2009    Wild Grass (Alain Resnais, France)
2008    The Class (Laurent Cantet, France)
2007    The Darjeeling Limited (Wes Anderson, US)
2006    The Queen (Stephen Frears, UK)
2005    Good Night, and Good Luck. (George Clooney, US)
2004    Look at Me (Agnès Jaoui, France)
2003    Mystic River (Clint Eastwood, US)
2002    About Schmidt (Alexander Payne, US)
2001    Va savoir (Jacques Rivette, France)
2000    Dancer in the Dark (Lars von Trier, Denmark)
1999    All About My Mother (Pedro Almodóvar, Spain)
1998    Celebrity (Woody Allen, US)
1997    The Ice Storm (Ang Lee, US)
1996    Secrets & Lies (Mike Leigh, UK)
1995    Shanghai Triad (Zhang Yimou, China)
1994    Pulp Fiction (Quentin Tarantino, US)
1993    Short Cuts (Robert Altman, US)
1992    Olivier Olivier (Agnieszka Holland, France)
1991    The Double Life of Veronique (Krzysztof Kieslowski, Poland/France)
1990    Miller’s Crossing (Joel Coen, US)
1989    Too Beautiful for You (Bertrand Blier, France)
1988    Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Pedro Almodóvar, Spain)
1987    Dark Eyes (Nikita Mikhalkov, Soviet Union)
1986    Down by Law (Jim Jarmusch, US)
1985    Ran (Akira Kurosawa, Japan)
1984    Country (Richard Pearce, US)
1983    The Big Chill (Lawrence Kasdan, US)
1982    Veronika Voss (Rainer Werner Fassbinder, West Germany)
1981    Chariots of Fire (Hugh Hudson, UK)
1980    Melvin and Howard (Jonathan Demme, US)
1979    Luna (Bernardo Bertolucci, Italy/US)
1978    A Wedding (Robert Altman, US)
1977    One Sings, the Other Doesn’t (Agnès Varda, France)
1976    Small Change (François Truffaut, France)
1975    Conversation Piece (Luchino Visconti, Italy)
1974    Don’t Cry with Your Mouth Full (Pascal Thomas, France)
1973    Day for Night (François Truffaut, France)
1972    Chloe in the Afternoon (Eric Rohmer, France)
1971    The Debut (Gleb Panfilov, Soviet Union)
1970    The Wild Child (François Truffaut, France)
1969    Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (Paul Mazursky, US)
1968    Capricious Summer (Jiri Menzel, Czechoslovakia)
1967    The Battle of Algiers (Gillo Pontecorvo, Italy/Algeria)
1966    Loves of a Blonde (Milos Forman, Czechoslovakia)
1965    Alphaville (Jean-Luc Godard, France)
1964    Hamlet (Grigori Kozintsev, USSR)
1963    The Exterminating Angel (Luis Buñuel, Mexico)

FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER
The Film Society of Lincoln Center is devoted to supporting the art and elevating the craft of cinema. The only branch of the world-renowned arts complex Lincoln Center to shine a light on the everlasting yet evolving importance of the moving image, this nonprofit organization was founded in 1969 to celebrate American and international film. Via year-round programming and discussions; its annual New York Film Festival; and its publications, including Film Comment, the U.S.’s premier magazine about films and film culture, the Film Society endeavors to make the discussion and appreciation of cinema accessible to a broader audience, as well as to ensure that it will remain an essential art form for years to come.

The Film Society receives generous, year-round support from American Airlines, The New York Times, The Kobal Collection, Variety, Loews Regency Hotel, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York State Council on the Arts.

Support for the New York Film Festival is also generously provided by Jaeger-LeCoultre.

For more information, visit www.filmlinc.org and follow @filmlinc on Twitter.

Netflix News: First look at Tilda Swinton in ‘Okja’ from ‘Snowpiercer’ director Boon Joon Ho

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

Okja stars Tilda Swinton (Hail, Caesar!, Moonrise Kingdom), Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler, Southpaw) and Paul Dano (Love & Mercy, 12 Years a Slave) in a bold, global adventure. Okja was written by Bong and Jon Ronson (Frank) and follows Mija, a young girl who must risk everything to prevent a powerful, multi-national company from kidnapping her best friend – a massive animal named ‘Okja’. Mija will be played by Seohyun An.

Okja will premiere globally on Netflix in 2017 and will also have a limited day and date theatrical release in the US.

Flixtape by Netflix – 5 things to know about creating your own playlists!

Posted on July 18, 2016 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

I’ve wanted this for years. I read about how people create their own channels in the sci-fi novel Ready Player One, and now Netflix has finally created it!

https://flixtape.netflix.com

You don’t have to be logged in to create, but you do have to be logged in to play.
You can search title, genres, but not actors or directors.
Cover art is not the image, but the drawing around it. Click and hold on the circle with the pencil inside to see different options.
You can share via Facebook, Twitter or a shareable link. *The short link doesn’t seem to be working as of now (7:53am 7/18/16), but since it copies for you, just paste once it pops up “Link Copied” and it’ll work.*
You aren’t able to access these playlists inside Netflix, so you’ve got to keep track of them.

I created a Quentin Tarantino Mixtape to get you started!

Netflix July Guide: 16 original content series & movies to keep you inside this summer

Posted on July 1, 2016 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

Last Chance U

BoJack Horseman Season 3 premiering on Netflix on July 22, 2016. The series stars Will Arnett, Aaron Paul and Amy Sedaris. (Photo Netflix)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny

July 1

BUCCANEER MEDIA FOR ITV MARCELLA Pictured: ANNA FRIEL as Marcella. This image is the copyright of ITV and must only be used in relation to MARCELLA.

Marcella – Season 1

Global Original – Excluding the UK and Ireland

Set in contemporary London and starring Anna Friel, Marcella – from internationally renowned screenwriter and novelist Hans Rosenfeldt (The Bridge) – centers on the psychological struggles of a Metropolitan police officer at a crisis point in her personal life, driven by rejection and intuition.

Returning to the Met’s Murder Squad after a 12-year career break, Marcella is a detective in her late 30’s who gave up her fast-tracked role to marry and devote her life to starting a family. With the abrupt end to her marriage to the love of her life and isolated from her children at boarding school, Marcella returns to work – her sense of self shattered.

She is immediately assigned to one of her old cases that she first worked on in 2003. A spate of recent killings has occurred, all carrying the same hallmarks as those unsolved murders committed over a decade ago. Has the killer re-appeared or is this a copycat murderer? How will Marcella cope with returning to duty when her own temperament is so fragile and vulnerable? Will throwing herself into her work provide the answers she’s seeking or lead her dangerously into territory she must avoid at all costs?

For some weird reason, Netflix didn’t put this on their Youtube, but I found it.

Marco Polo

Marco Polo Season 2

Marco Polo

Marco Polo Season 2

Marco Polo

Marco Polo Season 2

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny

Marco Polo S2

Marco Polo

Marco Polo – Season 2

Global Original – Available in Ultra 4K HD & HDR

In a world replete with greed, betrayal, sexual intrigue and rivalry, Marco Polo is based on the famed explorer’s adventures in Kublai Khan’s court in 13th century China.

Between – Season 2

Global Original – All territories except Canada

Between is the story of a town under siege from a mysterious disease that has wiped out everybody except those 21 years old and under. The series explores the power vacuum that results when a government has quarantined a 10-mile diameter area and left the inhabitants to fend for themselves.

July 4th

Kuromukuro

Global Original – Outside Japan

A mysterious relic is discovered during the construction of a dam. In order to study the artifact, the United Nations Kurobe Research Institute is established. Scholars from all over the world gather here, their children attending Tateyama International High School. Among them is the Institute Director’s daughter, Yukina Shirahane. In the summer of 2016, a samurai rises once again.

Can’t find an English trailer! Bad Netflix!

July 7th

Brahman Naman

Global Original

Written by Naman Ramachandran and produced by Steve Barron and Celine Loop, Brahman Naman is directed by leading Indian indie director Q, following Gandu, Tasher Desh and Ludo. Brahman Naman stars Shashank Arora as Naman, Tanmay Dhanania and Chaitanya Varad as his sidekicks, and features Biswa Kalyan Rath, Vaiswath Shankar, Sindhu Sreenivasa Murthy and Sid Mallya.

Set in Bangalore in the 1980s, Brahman Naman follows the exploits of Naman, a quick witted, high school quiz champ who leads his hopelessly nerdy friends on a trip to Calcutta to win a major college prize. Young, smart and full of heart, the trio are determined to win the quiz – and to lose their virginity along the way.

https://youtu.be/_4LER3S-t-E

July 8th

Word Party

Global Original

Word Party is a vocabulary building show from The Jim Henson Company that follows four adorable baby animals as they sing, dance and play. The show invites our youngest viewers to help teach the baby animals new words, practice these new words themselves, and celebrate these achievements with a “Word Party!” Word Party is produced using the groundbreaking Henson Digital Puppetry Studio, a proprietary technology from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop that allows puppeteers to perform digitally animated characters in real time – enabling the animation to be more lifelike and spontaneous.

Probably don’t need to see a trailer.

July 14th

Magi: The Adventures of Sinbad

Global Original – Original outside of Japan

Years before he ascends the throne, Sinbad grows up in a fishing village. After his father dies, his mother asks Yunan to take Sinbad under his wing.

July 15th

Rebirth

Global Original

A twisted psychological thriller from writer/director Karl Mueller (Mr. Jones) and producer Ross Dinerstein (The Pact, The Nightmare). Long-lost buddy Zack gets suburban dad Kyle on a bus to a Rebirth seminar, sending him down a rabbit hole of psychodrama, seduction and violence.

No trailer? Ugh.

Stranger Things

Stranger Things Season 1

Stranger Things

analise-do-trailer-da-quinta-temporada-de-the-walking-dead-14-the-walking-dead-season-5-episode-2-strangers-3-goods-bads

Stranger Things – Season 1

Global Original

Tony Robbins: I am Not Your Guru. Photo credit: Courtesy of Third Eye Motion Picture Company/Netflix

Tony Robbins: I am Not Your Guru. Photo credit: Courtesy of Third Eye Motion Picture Company/Netflix

Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru

Global Original

Each year, over 2,500 people converge on Boca Raton, Florida, to spend six days with the life and business strategist Tony Robbins for his mammoth seminar Date with Destiny. For Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru, Robbins opened his doors to esteemed documentary filmmaker Joe Berlinger (Brother’s Keeper, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, the Paradise Losttriology) for his twelfth feature documentary. Granted unprecedented access (Robbins has never previously admitted a camera crew to the seminar), Berlinger treats audience to the actual, visceral experience of joining the ecstatic temporary community for six life-changing days in the company of the larger-than-life Robbins, filled with theatrics, blaring dance and rock music, meditation, tears, heartbreaking public confessions and laughter. Going behind-the-scenes to capture the intricate design and production of aDate With Destiny, Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru is an emotional tour-de-force of cinéma vérité that pulls back the curtain on Tony Robbins and unveils the inner-workings of this mega event, its zealous participants and the man himself.

Degrassi

Degrassi: Next Class – Season 2

Global Original – Original outside of Canada, Australia, France

Degrassi: Next Class is a pull-no-punches dramatic series that tackles the real-life issues of high school students. Telling the stories of “Generation Z,” the series focuses on a group of teens as they begin their journey into adulthood.

July 22nd

Degrassi

BoJack Horseman Season 3 premiering on Netflix on July 22, 2016. The series stars Will Arnett, Aaron Paul and Amy Sedaris. (Photo Netflix)

Degrassi

Bojack Horseman – Season 3

Global Original

Will Arnett voices BoJack, the failed legendary 90’s sitcom star from the favorite family sitcom Horsin’ Around, who has been trying to find his way through a muddle of self-loathing, whisky and failed relationships. Now, in the presence of his human sidekick Todd (Aaron Paul) and his feline agent and ex-paramour Princess Carolyn (Amy Sedaris), BoJack is primed for his comeback…

https://youtu.be/VESKjoxAmZg

July 24th

Popples – Season 3

Global Original

Popples is a high-energy comedy series about an amazing species of creatures that can pop into and out of a ball. The story is driven by the optimistic comedic enthusiasm of the BPP’s (Best Popple Pals): Bubbles, Sunny, Lulu, Izzy and Yikes. Always wanting to help their friends, neighbors and each other, their efforts often times backfire in hilarious ways and they must spend the rest of the episode trying to unwind the mayhem they’ve caused. Luckily they always manage to save the day in their own POP-tastic way!

July 29th

Home: Adventures With Tip & Oh – Season 1

Global Original – Available in the US, Canada, Latin America, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the Nordics, Benelux and France

What happens after a misfit alien named Oh conquers Earth, befriends an adventurous teen girl named Tip and together they save the day? Oh moves in with Tip and her human family and finally discovers the true meaning of home. The galaxy’s dynamic duo are back in DreamWorks Animation’s HOME: ADVENTURES WITH TIP & OH, an all-new Netflix Original Series jam-packed with outrageous laughs and tons of heart. Life on earth will never be the same! The first season will be available to Netflix members in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the Nordics, Benelux and France.

Tallulah

Global Original

Tallulah, the Netflix original film, was written and directed by Sian Heder (Orange is the New Black), and tells the story of young vagabond, Lu (Ellen Page – Whip It, Inception), who lives in a van and is fiercely independent in her hand-to-mouth existence. When a chance encounter incites her to impulsively “rescue” a baby from a negligent mother, Lu, at a loss for what to do, turns to the only responsible adult she knows: Margo (Allison Janney – Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, The Way, Way Back), who mistakenly believes she’s the child’s grandmother. Tammy Blanchard (Into the Woods, Moneyball), Zachary Quinto (Star Trek, Girls), John Benjamin Hickey (The Good Wife, Manhattan) and Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black, The Wiz Live!), also round out the cast.

Last Chance U

Global Original

Last Chance U follows a group of young men training to become the future stars of the NFL. The football players are the latest recruits to Eastern Mississippi Community College (EMCC), an undefeated team with 3 consecutive National Championships under their belt. The EMCC Lions have become a phenomenon in junior college sports, attracting elite athletes, some of whom have been held back by poor academic performance or behavioral issues. Under Coach Buddy Stephens, one of the most successful but least known athletic programs, EMCC graduates more than 20 players per year into football scholarships at four year universities, and nine of his former players currently play in the NFL.

No trailer? I don’t like this pattern.

Netflix News: New trailer for ‘Stranger Things’ coming July 15 – Will it be your next binge?

Posted on June 30, 2016 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

Stranger Things

An innocent night playing Dungeons & Dragons takes a tragic turn for a group of friends in Hawkins Indiana when Will Byers disappears…seemingly into thin air. The year is 1983 and this small town is abuzz with conspiracy theories behind the missing boy’s circumstances. As friends, family and local police search for answers behind his disappearance they are drawn into an extraordinary mystery involving top-secret government experiments, terrifying supernatural forces and the discovery of one very strange little girl. Her appearance and powers appear super human and the boys begin to understand that she might have a sinister connection to their missing friend. With the debut of an impressive young breakout cast (Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Mattarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin and Millie Brown as Eleven), Stranger Things is a love letter to the ubiquitous cult classics of the 80’s.

All episodes debut globally on Netflix Friday July 15th.

Stranger Things stars Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers), Matthew Modine (Dr. Brenner), David Harbour (Chief Hopper), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers), Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler), Millie Brown (Eleven), Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), and Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson), and Cara Buono (Karen Wheeler).

TW: @Stranger_Things
FB: /StrangerThingsTV
Instagram: @StrangerThingsTV
Hashtag: #StrangerThings

Netflix News: 7 Albert Brooks movies streaming tomorrow, including ‘Defending Your Life’

Posted on June 30, 2016 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

Netflix, the world’s leading Internet network, announced today that it was making seven films written and directed by comedian Albert Brooks available for streaming for the first time starting tomorrow, Friday, July 1. The films include: Defending Your Life, which marks its 25th anniversary this year; Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World; Lost in America; Modern Romance; Mother; The Muse; and Real Life.

“Albert Brooks and his films have been a huge influence on American comedy,” said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer at Netflix, “His innovative early short films and comedy albums lead to body of film work that thrives in the culture and keeps us laughing today. We are proud to have our U.S. Netflix members revisit these great works and to help introduce Brooks’ comedies to the next generation of fans.”

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Netflix: ‘Bojack Horseman’ returns with Season 3, Friday July 22nd

Posted on June 29, 2016 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

I’m somewhat smitten with this show. It’s so full of puns that it gets better with every re-watch. I didn’t care for Lisa Kudrow in Season 2; I’m looking forward to more Princess Carolyn and Diane.

BoJack is grappling with his legacy while trudging through an increasingly turbulent Oscar campaign for his star-making turn in the Secretariat biopic. BoJack struggles with how he’ll ultimately be remembered by his fans and what lasting impact he’s made on those closest to him. Also, there are lots of silly puns and talking animal jokes and celebrity cameos and all the other stuff that everybody loves about BoJack Horseman. It’s a very funny and good season of television. Don’t worry.

https://youtu.be/VESKjoxAmZg

Netflix News: Paul Rudd & Craig Roberts in new clip for ‘Fundamentals of Caring’ – June 24th

Posted on June 20, 2016 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

Yes, I’m a fan of Paul Rudd, but I’m also a fan of Craig Roberts. If you haven’t seen Submarine, do yourself a favor and check it out. It’s a fresh spin on a the tired coming-of-age story. It also happens to be on Netflix right now.

Based on the novel by Jonathan Evison and written, directed and produced by Rob Burnett,The Fundamentals of Caring stars Paul Rudd, Craig Roberts, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Ehle, Megan Ferguson and Frederick Weller.

The film follows the story of Ben, a retired writer who becomes a caregiver after suffering a personal tragedy. After 6 weeks of training, Ben meets his first client, Trevor, a foul-mouthed 18-year-old with muscular dystrophy. One paralyzed emotionally, one paralyzed physically, Ben and Trevor take an impromptu road trip to all the places Trevor has become obsessed with while watching the local news, including their holy grail: the World’s Deepest Pit. Along the way, they pick up a smart-mouthed runaway and a mother-to-be who help test the pair’s survival skills outside of their calculated existence as they come to understand the importance of hope and true friendship.

This could be the best season yet of ‘Orange is the New Black’ – The binge begins tomorrow on Netflix!

Posted on June 16, 2016 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

Illustration by Joe Burdick

Tomorrow Netflix drops all the episodes of the 4th season of Orange is the New Black and so far, reviews are saying it will be the darkest yet! Let the binge-watching begin!

From Jenji Kohan, the creator of “Weeds”, Orange is the New Black is a thought-provoking, funny and evocative show about life in a women’s prison. Based on the bestselling memoir by Piper Kerman, the season four delves into the racial and economic tensions that run rampant in the halls of Litchfield. Overrun with new inmates and overseen by inexperienced guards, the prison undergoes an unprecedented culture war.

https://youtu.be/c6O9rfoz0f8

New Netflix series from Guillermo del Toro ‘Trollhunters’ stars Ron Perlman, Kelsey Grammer and Anton Yelchin – premieres this December

Posted on June 15, 2016 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

Creator and executive producer Guillermo del Toro has announced initial casting on Trollhunters, his epic family event series premiering in December 2016 on Netflix. The announcement was made today at the Annecy Animation Festival in Annecy, France during a career retrospective discussion with del Toro.

Trollhunters features a tale of two fantastical worlds set to collide in an epic saga. Set in the fictional suburb of Arcadia, our unlikely hero, Jim, and his two best friends make a startling discovery that beneath their hometown lies a hidden battle between good trolls and bad, the outcome of which will impact their lives forever.

The cast includes Anton Yelchin as “Jim,” an ordinary teenage boy whose discovery of a mystical amulet sets his life on a course filled with high-stakes adventure; Kelsey Grammer as “Blinky,” a kind-hearted troll who befriends Jim; and Ron Perlman provides the voice of “Bular,” a sinister troll who targets Jim and his friends for battle. Featuring stunning visuals and ambitious, complex storytelling from the rich and creative mind of Guillermo del Toro, Trollhunters raises the bar for family series as a global must-see viewing event for the entire family.

Trollhunters is produced by DreamWorks Animation for Netflix. Guillermo del Toro, Marc Guggenheim (Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow) and Christina Steinberg (Rise of the Guardians, National Treasure) serve as executive producers. Dan Hageman (The Lego Movie) and Kevin Hageman (The Lego Movie) are co-executive producers, and Chad Hammes (Dragons: Race to the Edge) serves as producer.

Trollhunters will premiere on Netflix in December 2016.

Netflix’ ‘Marco Polo’ Season Two trailer! All episodes streaming July 1st

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

In a world replete with greed, betrayal, sexual intrigue and rivalry, Marco Polo is based on the famed explorer’s adventures in Kublai Khan’s court in 13th Century China, and the dark and tempestuous battle for the expanding Mongol empire.

John Fusco, who wrote the Academy-Award nominated feature Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron is executive producer and showrunner along with Dan Minahan, whose previous work includes Homeland and Game of Thrones, with Patrick Macmanus, Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein and Elizabeth Sarnoff as executive producers.

The 10 episode second season includes new and returning cast: Lorenzo Richelmy (Marco Polo), Michelle Yeoh (the Handmaiden), Benedict Wong (Kublai Khan), Joan Chen (Empress Chabi), Zhu Zhu (Kokachin), Tom Wu (Hundred Eyes), Olivia Cheng (Mei Lin), Claudia Kim (Khutulun), Rick Yune (Kaidu), Remy Hii (Prince Jingim), Mahesh Jadu (Ahmad) and Uli Latukefu (Byamba), among others.

Marco Polo season 2 will launch globally on Netflix on July 1, 2016.

First look images of Winona Ryder in Netflix series ‘Stranger Things’ releasing July 15th

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

Stranger Things

Sometimes the truth can be stranger than fiction…

Set in Hawkins Indiana in the 1980’s, Stranger Things chronicles the search for a young boy who vanishes into thin air under highly suspicious circumstances. His mother (Winona Ryder) opens an investigation into the boy’s disappearance with local authorities that unravels a series of mysteries involving top-secret government experiments, terrifying supernatural forces and one very strange little girl. A love letter to the ubiquitous cult classics of the 80’s, Stranger Things is a coming of age story for three boys that draws this quaint community into a world where mysteries lurk beneath the surface.

Starring Winona Ryder, Matthew Modine, David Harbour, Charlie Heaton, Natalia Dyer, and Millie Brown, Stranger Things is executive produced by The Duffer Brothers (Wayward Pines), Shawn Levy (Night at The Museum), and Dan Cohen (Story of Your Life).

Stranger Things makes it’s global debut on Netflix July 15th.

Stranger Things

Stranger Things Season 1

Netflix announces ‘Dear White People’ – a new comedy series based on Justin Simien’s critically-acclaimed indie film

Posted on May 5, 2016 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

Credit: RICK PROCTOR

10-Episode Series from Lionsgate Explores Race, Sex, Privilege and Power on a Fictional Ivy League Campus

Netflix, the world’s leading internet TV network, will bring exclusively to global members Dear White People, a comedy series based on writer/director/producer Justin Simien’s critically-acclaimed, Sundance award-winning satirical indie film. The series will be produced by Lionsgate, whose sister company Roadside Attractions released the original film in 2014. The 10-episode, 30-minute series will go into production later this year and will premiere on Netflix around the world in 2017.

Set among a diverse group of students of color as they navigate a predominantly white Ivy League college where racial tensions are often swept under the rug, Dear White People is a send up of “post-racial” America that also weaves a universal story about forging one’s own unique path.

The series will be written by Simien (Dear White People), who will also direct the first episode. Devon Shepard (House of Lies, Weeds), Stephanie Allain Bray (Hustle & Flow, Dear White People) and Julia Lebedev (The Dinner, Dear White People) serve as executive producers.

The original film first gained traction in 2012 with a concept trailer, underwritten by director Simien’s tax refund. By 2014, the crowd funded movie made a splash at film festivals, earning the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.

“Justin is a gifted storyteller whose bold, unique vision is perfectly suited to Netflix,” said Cindy Holland, Vice President of Original Content at Netflix. “His original film Dear White People announced the arrival of a fresh, creative voice that had everyone talking, and we’re excited to have Justin create this new series for our members worldwide.”

“We’re proud to expand our partnership with our friends at Netflix on a comedy that tackles racial themes with a combination of intelligence, honesty, irreverence and wit,” said Chris Selak, Executive Vice President, Television, Lionsgate Television. “Our original film with Roadside Attractions catapulted Dear White People into the national conversation about race, and Justin and the rest of the creative team have an opportunity to expand this world and bring its timely and universal themes to a global television audience.”

Writer/director/producer Simien said, “During the film’s release, I had the pleasure to speak with hundreds of students and faculty across a variety of college campuses dealing with these very issues in real time. I’m so grateful to have this platform – not only to give a voice to those too often unheard in our culture, but to also tell great stories from new points of views. From day one, Lionsgate has been remarkably supportive of the vision for the show, and working with Netflix is every bit as harmonious as I’d imagined it would be. Bringing this show to such a vibrant platform is an honor I don’t take lightly.”

Dear White People is Lionsgate’s second original series for Netflix. The critically-acclaimed global blockbuster Orange Is The New Black returns for its fourth season on June 17.

Tribeca Film Festival Review: Written & Directed by Ricky Gervais, the Netflix ‘Special Correspondents’ tries very hard to be an 80s comedy

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

Special Correspondents

Special Correspondents – Netflix April 29th

American politics and media are aptly satirized in this feature by firebrand comedian Ricky Gervais. A pretentious radio journalist and his ineffectual technician botch an assignment in South America, and decide to fabricate an on-the-scene story while hiding out in a New York City apartment. This scheme spirals out of their control when their escalating story becomes a national headline.

If you can accept that this is a silly comedy and go along for the ride, then you’ll enjoy Special Correspondents. I had to keep telling that to myself over and over as each scene was presented as drama, but was obviously farce. From the very beginning, I compared it to the brilliantly funny, Spies Like Us with Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd. What made that film so funny was that both lead characters were ridiculous and there weren’t major conflicts. It tried to follow a modern formula from a silly 80s-type story.

Tribeca Film Festival: ‘Team Foxcatcher’ from Netflix, ‘Always Shine’ & ‘Little Boxes’

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

Of the last few days of the festival, these three films were among my favorites.

Team Foxcatcher

Meant to be a retreat for elite American athletes, Foxcatcher Farms, and all it was intended to represent, was lost in the paranoid downward spiral of its troubled benefactor John Du Pont. Heir to the Du Pont family fortune, John Du Pont funneled his considerable resources into his love of sports—wrestling in particular. Aiming to reinvigorate the US Olympic wrestling team, Du Pont created Foxcatcher, and invited gold medal champion Dave Schultz to lead the charge. What began as an idealistic sports idyll soon deteriorated into suspicion, distrust, and ultimately murder.

Through fascinating archival footage and never-before-seen home videos shot during Schultz’s time at the farm, director Jon Greenhalgh’s absorbing film unpacks the events leading up to Foxcatcher’s well-documented tragedy, exploring the complex and contradictory character of Du Pont, while serving as a poignant memoir to the legacy of Schultz as a champion wrestler, husband, and father. Team Foxcatcher charts a true American tragedy of Olympic dreams, ambition, mental illness, and murder.

—Cara Cusumano

I haven’t seen the Foxcatcher movie with Steve Carrell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo, so I didn’t have any idea what this was about other than wrestling. I was completely shocked at the story, but even more impressed with the storytelling. It builds up slowing, and documents the events through the stories of those who were there.

Fascinating and compelling, it proves once again that truth is stranger than fiction. Releases on Netflix April 29th.

Always Shine

Two women, both actresses with differing degrees of success, travel north from Los Angeles to Big Sur for a weekend vacation in Always Shine, Sophia Takal’s twisty, psychological thriller. Both see the trip as an opportunity to reconnect after years of competition and jealousy has driven a wedge between them, but upon arrival to their isolated, forest retreat, the pair discovers that their once intimate friendship has deteriorated into forced conversations, betrayals both real and imagined, petty jealousies, and deep-seated resentment. As the women allow their feelings to fester, each begins to lose their bearings not only on the true nature of their relationship, but on their own identities. Mackenzie Davis (Halt and Catch Fire) and Caitlin FitzGerald (Masters of Sex) give brave and raw performances as Beth and Anna, two women whose ideas of success are dictated as much by external cultural criterion as their own sense of self-worth. Beautifully photographed and assuredly directed by Takal, Always Shine wraps itself in an evocative shroud of dread and paranoia that lingers long after the final frame.

—Cara Cusumano

On the surface, it’s just a jealous rivalry, but tables turn and suddenly you don’t know what is real anymore. The opening sequence is particularly intense, and sets the stage perfectly for the two women. I also found it quite interesting seeing a woman striking out with a potential suitor, as that’s not normally something depicted. Brilliantly acted and told, this is quite a surprising cinematic treat.

https://youtu.be/jGvfbmmNOqM

Little Boxes

It’s the summer before 6th grade, and Clark is the new-in-town biracial kid in a sea of white. Discovering that to be cool he needs to act ‘more black,’ he fumbles to meet expectations, while his urban intellectual parents Mack and Gina also strive to adjust to small-town living. Equipped for the many inherent challenges of New York, the tight-knit family are ill prepared for the drastically different set of obstacles that their new community presents, and soon find themselves struggling to understand themselves and each other in this new suburban context.

Director Rob Meyer (A Birder’s Guide to Everything) returns to Tribeca with his second feature, a poignant comedy about understanding identity, featuring a robust cast including Melanie Lynskey, Nelsan Ellis, Armani Jackson, Oona Laurence, Janeane Garofalo, and Christine Taylor. Executive Produced by Cary Fukunaga.

—Tilson Allen-Merry

Subtle and upfront at the same time, I loved the honesty and accessibility of the characters. I struggled through the entire film to place lead actor, Neslan Ellis, as I knew I’d seen him in something before. Turns out, he played Lafayette on HBO’s True Blood, which is as far away from the character in this film as you can imagine. He’s absolutely brilliant as the father in this family that moves to the suburbs after a life in New York City. I absolutely adored the film.

Netflix News: Documentary ‘Team Foxcatcher’ showing at Tribeca Film Festival

Posted on March 16, 2016 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

The incredible true and tragic story of world champion wrestler David Schultz, the centerpiece of a national wrestling training program, comes to life in the riveting new Netflix original documentary feature, Team Foxcatcher. The film today announced its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 18 ahead of its global debut on Netflix on April 29.

Michael’s review of Foxcatcher with Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo and Channing Tatum.

Public Screenings at Tribeca Film Festival

Monday, April 18 at 5:45 PM – Regal Cinemas Battery Park
Tuesday, April 19 at 8:00 PM – Regal Cinemas Battery Park
Friday, April 22 at 6:15 PM – Regal Cinemas Battery Park
Saturday, April 23 at 3:15 PM – Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea

From director Jon Greenhalgh, Team Foxcatcher chronicles the paranoid, downward spiral of millionaire John E. DuPont that led to Shultz’s tragic murder on the DuPont property in 1996. This single event shook the international sports world to its core and cut short the life of a loving family man and one of the world’s top athletes. The film was produced by Neil Fazzari. Jeremy Bailer and Ben Hatta served as Executive Producers.

But before the tragedy, the film begins with the rise of Schultz: a remarkable sportsman who emerged as one of the world’s fiercest wrestling competitors. Chasing his olympic dreams, Schultz and his family relocated to the seemingly idyllic Foxcatcher Farms and joined with DuPont – a benefactor with a vision for making the U.S. wrestling program a dominant global force.

Team Foxcatcher tells the story of descent into tragedy largely through the lens of Nancy Schultz, whose incredible footage chronicled her family’s time at Foxcatcher Farms. Archival home videos and first hand interviews show how the charismatic Schultz, an Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion, became the heart of the program and DuPont’s closest confidant. But on the fringes of this powerful partnership emerged a manic, mentally unstable DuPont, fueled by a disturbing obsession with power, wealth and influence. The film builds to the tragic final hours at Foxcatcher Farms, the murder of Dave Schultz, and the two-day police standoff before DuPont was ultimately arrested and charged.

“I’m proud to be a part of this film that was six years in the making to honor the incredible legacy of David,” said Nancy Schultz. “With his ties to the wrestling community, we felt Jon Greenhalgh was the perfect filmmaker to tell this story and pay homage to the kind of man and athlete David was.”

On the 20th anniversary of the shocking events, Team Foxcatcher demystifies a story that gripped the nation and opens up a very private, opaque world where friendship, family, and the composition of national sports training programs were not what they appeared to be. The result is a documentary that fills in new aspects of the story that formed the basis of the 2014 Hollywood feature film.

Netflix News: ‘The Ranch’ teams up Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson & Executive Producers of ‘Two & a Half Men’

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

I couldn’t even get through the entire trailer. It looks to be shot like a TV sitcom and has a laugh track. Seriously. I can’t even.

About The Ranch
Set in present day on a Colorado ranch, this multi-camera comedy series stars Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Sam Elliott and Debra Winger. The show follows Colt’s (Kutcher) return home after a brief and failed semi- pro football career to run the family ranching business with his older brother Jameson “Rooster” (Masterson) and father Beau (Elliott), whom he hasn’t seen in 15 years. Winger stars as Colt’s and Rooster’s mother, Maggie, who runs the local town bar.