[Weekly Netflix Fix] Inglourious Basterds, Before I Disappear
The lead-up to a new month always results in some weaker Netflix Instant offerings. However, while the overall collection of new titles may be lacking this week, they're buoyed by two very strong entries: Quentin Tarantino's instant classic Inglourious Basterds and SXSW 2014 darling, Before I Disappear (of which we conducted interviews with Emmy Rossum and Fatima Ptacek and Shawn Christensen and Paul Wesley). Check out our interviews for Before I Disappear, watch the film, then find the rest of the new Netflix Instant additions below.
Inglourious Basterds
Transporter: Season 1
Richie Rich: Season 2
Zombeavers
Welcome to the Punch
The Best of the F.B.I. Files
The Boxtrolls
Graceland: Season 1
Between: Season 1
Before I Go to Sleep
30 for 30: Sole Man
Before I Disappear
Best of the New Detectives
Bill Nye, the Science Guy
Bratz: Diamondz
Chasing Life
En la boca del lobo
The F.B.I. Files H2O: Mermaid Adventures
Jen Kirkman: I'm Gonna Die Alone
Love and Honor
Meet the Mormons
Mysterious Ways
The New Detectives: Case Studies in...
Northern Borders
The Other One: ...Bob Weir
The People vs. George Lucas
The Prince
Return to the Philippines
Road to the NHL Stadium Series
Say Ahh...
Chasing Life: Season 1
Road to the NHL Stadium Series: Season 1
Taxi Brooklyn: Season 1
H20: Mermaid Adventures: Season 1
Graceland: Season 2
Nature's Weirdest Events: Series 1
Sin-ui Hansu
Taxi Brooklyn
Tracers
Transporter: The Series
Wolfy: The Incredible Secret
Twin Peaks Revival Expands to 18 Episodes, Reunites with David Lynch
The Twin Peaks revival faced a huge roadblock in its quest to return last month when series creator/director David Lynch walked out on the production over money disputes with Showtime. At the time, it seemed like all was lost for the cult favorite TV series, with many questioning who was truly at fault over the breakup. However, a few weeks ago, Lynch and Showtime were able to settle their differences and re-negotiated a new contract.
For Twin Peaks fans, the news continues to get better. Not only is Lynch returning to direct all nine episodes that were originally ordered, the episode order for the season has doubled to 18 episodes. Rumors about Lynch's departure swirled about his vision extending past the original nine episode order, and the announcement all but confirms the source of conflict. As I said at the time, "...with some like Lynch, anything less than full commitment would probably garner a weaker product," and that appears to be very true in this instance.
Situations like this are rare in the entertainment industry, but it's great to see Showtime understands and respects Lynch's artistic vision. Hopefully, this whole situation will be nothing more than a curious footnote come the show's return.
[via /Film]
Robert Rodriguez Directing Live-Action Jonny Quest Film
Color me surprised - Sin City: A Dame to Kill For director Robert Rodriguez is making his return to the family-friendly market with his next film. It's being reported that Rodriguez is officially attached to direct a live-action film adaptation of the 1960s Hanna-Barbera cartoon, Jonny Quest.
The news comes at a crucial time in Hollywood where beloved children's franchises like Jem and the Holograms, Peanuts, and Power Rangers are finding modern film adaptations after years of (questionably) successful film adaptations of other shows like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, G.I. Joe, and Transformers.
While Rodriguez is most notably recognized for his ultra-stylized Sin City films, the director has found more success with his other franchise: Spy Kids. Rodriguez should find no trouble translating his abilities shaped by the four Spy Kids films with the Jonny Quest adaptation, given the two series' common threads of family-centric importance and action/adventure/spy/sci-fi settings.
Rodriguez will co-write the film's screenplay with Terry Rossio (Aladdin, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Lone Ranger) based on a draft written by Dan Mazeau (Wrath of the Titans, The Flash). Previously, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Zac Efron were on board for a proposed Jonny Quest adaptation, but the project never took off.
[Weekly Netflix Fix] Fruitvale Station
By now, we all know Netflix Instant's mid-month updates are lacking, and this week is no different. However, the amazing (and unfortunately relevant) Fruitvale Station has finally been added to the service. Stop what you're doing and watch this powerful film. The rest of this week's updates are below.
Girlhood
La chambre bleue
In the Bedroom
Tinker Bell and the Legend of the...
First Period
12 Horas 2 Minutos
After
Bandidos Legendarios de México
Bienvenida Realidad
Canciones de la granja: Vol. 1
Canciones de la granja: Vol. 2
The Cardenas Era
Clean Spirit
Cyber-Seniors
Dawg Fight
Earthquake of Mexico
El Asesinato de Trotsky
El Carnaval de Barranquilla
El Dorado
El Escape de Hitler
Fists of Legend
Galinha Pintadinha
Gaturro, the Series
Give Me Shelter
Granite Flats
The Killer
La Batalla de Zacatecas
La Masacre de Tlatelolco
La Prepago
La Red Nazi en México
Lottie Dottie Chicken
Magnicidios
Magnicidios II
María la del Barrio
Mengele, the Angel of Death
Mundo Gaturro
Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai
Once Upon ay Time in Mumbai Dobaara!
Pancho Villa, Aquí y Allí
A Pope For Everyone
Porque el amor manda
The Quest
Revolucion Mexicana
Rondas y Clasicos Infantiles
Scintilla
The Quest: Season 1
When Calls the Heart: Season 1
Lottie Dottie Chicken: Season 1
Metastasis: Season 1
Young & Hungry: Season 1
Granite Flats: Season 1
Porque el amor manda: Season 1
Galinha Pintadinha: Season 1
La Prepago: Season 1
Granite Flats: Season 2
Granite Flats: Season 3
Grand Hotel: Season 3
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown: Season 4
The Soccer Nanny
Temporada de Zopilotes
Toobys
When Calls the Heart
Young & Hungry
Zapata, Lives
Corky Romano
The Enforcer
Fist of Legend
[REC] 4: Apocalipsis
The Universe: Season 4
Fruitvale Station
[Weekly Netflix Fix] The Sixth Sense
It's a light week for this week's Weekly Netflix Fix. The Sixth Sense makes its return to Netflix Instant... but is also the only highlight. You can find the full list of new Netflix additions below.
Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet
Little Hope Was Arson
The Longest Week
Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan: Demon...
Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan: Demon Capital: Season 1
Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne: Season 1
Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet: Season 1
Heaven's Lost Property: Season 1
Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne: Season 2
Heaven's Lost Property: Season 2
The Sixth Sense
Grace and Frankie: Season 1
American Dad!: Season 7
Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas
Dirty Girl
Jinn
The Liberator
Rabbit Hole
Slugterra: Slug Fu Showdown
White Haired Witch
Bratz: Pampered Petz
Late Phases
Russell Madness
Extraterrestrial
Icetastrophe
Magical Universe
Sagrada: The Mystery of Creation
The Sleepwalker
Tip Top
The American Idol Season 14 Winner Is...
Since this is the second to last finale American Idol will ever get to celebrate, they went for the completely awesome "kitchen sink" method. The finale was full of so many weird choices that perfectly reflect the show's constant struggle to appeal to millenials while refusing to get rid of its old fashioned ways. You had the terrible kid Daniel Seavey performing with New Kids on the Block, Pitbull showed up in like three different performances (with Chris Brown and then Prince Royce), three of the Jackson 5 members sang with another child Tyanna Jones, Janelle Monae slayed with her weird new single (which is completely different from anything she's done so far), Jamie Foxx performed with Rayvon, Fall Out Boy was there for some reason, Vance Joy didn't let Quentin sing much, Jax finally got some closure from her terribly quick elimination after her performance proved she was better than the remaining two finalists, Ford cars were given away weirdly while Season 12 winner Candice Glover sadly stood in the background unacknowledged, Clark Beckham sang with Michael McDonald and it worked way better than you'd think, and finally Nick Fradiani sang with a guy I swear was his twin.
Suffice to say, it was a weird, weird show to cap off such an awkward growing season. As Scott Borchetta stated, the winner this season will present at the Country Music Awards and perform at the Country Music Television awards. So I'm sure the winner will have a very solid country album. After hearing all of that, I'm so glad Jax didn't win since she's way too interesting to be forced into a country holding. Okay, that's enough stalling.
The winner of American Idol Season 14 is...
...Nick Fradiani.
I had predicted he'd take the title after he seemed to pick the right three songs to perform during the final round, and as I said in that article, Nick's going to do pretty much what his new label, Big Machine Records, tells him to do. After Clark Beckham fought with the man in charge to keep his musicality, he was sent into a down spiral from which he never quite recovered. All the while Nick was the Little Engine that Could just kept chugging along at the same pace, never changing his style or performances, and never causing a ruckus.
As quite possibly the most boring American Idol winner in its 14 season history, Nick will paradoxically make a ton of money over a long career. America eats that up with a damn spoon. If he can fare better than Season 12 "winner" Candice Glover or Season 13 "winner" Caleb Johnson (who both weren't invited to sing at their successor's finales), Nick could be okay. We'll just have to wait until next year to see what the final season has in store.
The Simpsons Loses Harry Shearer (Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders, etc.)
Following the news that The Simpsons will be renewed for two more seasons, long-time Simpsons vet Harry Shearer has turned to Twitter to announce his departure from the show. Reports indicate Shearer was the only hold-out from the main cast due to his interests outside of voicing many iconic characters. The actor tweeted his announcement late last night:
from James L. Brooks' lawyer: "show will go on, Harry will not be part of it, wish him the best.". (1/2)
— Harry Shearer (@theharryshearer) May 14, 2015
This because I wanted what we've always had: the freedom to do other work. Of course, I wish him the very best. (2/2)
— Harry Shearer (@theharryshearer) May 14, 2015
Thanks, Simpsons fans, for your support.
— Harry Shearer (@theharryshearer) May 14, 2015
The many characters Shearer voiced, including Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders, Waylon Smithers, Reverend Lovejoy, Dr. Hibbert, Lenny Leonard, Otto Mann, Rainier Wolfcastle, and many others will reportedly be re-cast. However, CNN Money reports the rumors may be a bit premature and that Shearer and The Simpsons producers are still currently negotiating a new deal, despite the aforementioned Twitter announcement.
This is a huge blow to the storied series and dedicated Simpsons fans. However, TV show holdouts are nothing new, and re-tooled contracts tend to pull through in the 11th hour. However, if this truly is Shearer's departure from the show, we wish him nothing but the best.
[via USA Today]
Rosario Dawson Signs Exclusive TV Contract with Marvel and Netflix
It's no secret that we're huge fans of Marvel's Daredevil, with dear old Alex Katz bluntly stating the series is "Marvel's best [and] most important work." While re-watching the season finale late last week, my friends and I noted just how perfect the casting is from Vincent D'Onofrio's pitch perfect Wilson Fisk to Charlie Cox's noble Matt Murdock to even Elden Henson's Foggy Nelson (BASH BROTHERS!). One surprising highlight was Rosario Dawson's turn as Claire Temple, a trained nurse who tends to Daredevil's injuries. While she only appeared in a handful of episodes, Dawson added extra pizazz and slight star power to the show.
It only makes sense, then, that Marvel and Netflix would want to bring the talented actress back for more. Over the weekend, Deadline announced that Dawson will be returning for the second season of Marvel's Daredevil. What's more, she's entering an exclusive TV contract that opens up the possibilities for her to appear in Netflix and Marvel's other upcoming shows.
Nobody will ever complain about Rosario Dawson getting more screen time, and it helps that her Marvel character is not only intriguing, but can easily fit into the other upcoming series. Marvel's Daredevil Season 2 is slated for a 2016 return, so it won't be too long until we get to revisit Claire's healing powers.
[via /Film]