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Tag: documentaries

  • ‘The Armstrong Lie’ Gets an Official Trailer

    One month ago, a teaser clip surfaced for the upcoming documentary The Armstrong Lie. It featured now-infamous cyclist Lance Armstrong fresh off his Oprah interview vamping about being misunderstood. The unapologetic stance Armstrong takes in the clip foreshadows a documentary filled with conflicting feelings and outright untruths.

    Now, an official trailer for The Armstrong Lie shows that the documentary just might be the most damning expose on the athlete yet seen. It shows Armstrong at the height of his success and fame, making yet another comeback and attempt at the Tour de France. From there it’s all downhill, with Armstrong himself calling out lies he told with a straight face and testimonials from former friends and teammates about his abrasive and confrontational personality:

    The Armstrong Lie was directed by Alex Gibney, the Academy Award-winning director of Taxi to the Dark Side. The movie follows the downfall of Lance Armstrong, from his remarkable streak of Tour de France victories to being stripped of those victories when he was finally caught in a web of doping allegations. The movie is set to be released in New York and Los Angeles on November 8.

  • More Episodes Of Popular TV Shows Are Coming To Netflix

    Netflix is a revolving door of movie and television content, particularly on the streaming side of things. Though titles often disappear from availability, new ones are also frequently added. Sometimes these come in the form of Netflix original shows or even exclusive access to certain programming, but sometimes it’s just older titles that many find to be still worth watching.

    Content is added to Netflix streaming each week, and it can be difficult to keep up with what’s available all the time. With that, here’s a look at some new additions.

    Note: This is for the U.S.

    It’s going to be another big week for television content, documentaries and stand-up comedy for Netflix. We also learned this past week that Netflix has acquired award-winning documentary BrideGroom, got That ’70s Show back and will soon release an exclusive stand-up special from Marc Maron. We even managed to hear a little bit more about the second season of Orange is the New Black.

    Available on 10/4:

    Baby Daddy: Season 2

    New York bartender Ben unexpectedly becomes a parent when an ex-girlfriend drops off a baby girl for him to raise. But with lots of help from his mother and a childhood friend who secretly has a crush on him, he steps into the role of dad.

    Melissa & Joey: Season 3

    Single politician Melissa has her life turned upside-down when she is made guardian of her niece, Lennox, and nephew, Ryder. She hires Joe, an unemployed stockbroker, as a live-in “manny” (male nanny) to help out, a job he hopes will be temporary.

    Available on 10/5:

    Dan Cummins: Crazy with a Capital F

    No stranger to the stand-up stage or late-night talk shows, Dan Cummins has built his rep on being crazy when it comes to his comedy, and this off-the-wall set filmed live inside the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane, Wash., doesn’t disappoint.

    Mother India: Life Through the Eyes of the Orphan

    Narrated by Rebecca St. James (Grammy Award Winning Artist), Mother India is a compelling documentary capturing the stories of abandoned and orphaned kids living in India. For one week, David and Shawn stepped into the lives of 25 boys and girls living alongside the railway station in the southern town of Tenali (Andhra Pradesh). With over 31 million orphans in India, the stories that emerge reflect the complexity of the issues and the challenge of rescuing kids from a life of begging and addiction. Find out what happens when these two friends eat, sleep, and play among this ‘family’ of street kids in an effort to experience life through their eyes. You’ll never be the same.

    The Fosters: Season 1

    Executive-produced by Jennifer Lopez, this offbeat drama follows an interracial lesbian couple — one a police officer, the other a school vice principal — and their multiethnic brood of biological, adopted and foster children.

    Toddlers & Tiaras: Season 5

    From “flippers” and feathers to sequins and “sexy babies,” this over-the-top TLC series captures the behind-the-scenes dramas of childhood beauty pageants … and the cringe-worthy antics of hyper-passionate stage parents.

    Available on 10/7:

    Beauty and the Beast: Season 1

    In this twist on the classic fairy tale, Catherine Chandler, a New York City homicide detective, and Vincent, a veteran turned into a beast by a military experiment gone awry, become allies after they meet by chance.

    Mindless Behavior: All Around the World

    Go behind the scenes with R&B/hip-hop boy band Mindless Behavior as they take the U.S. by storm in their exhilarating first major headlining tour. Home movies, interviews and concert footage offer an insightful look at these rising stars.

    Available on 10/8:

    90210: Season 5

    In this spinoff of the 1990s series, aspiring actress Annie and her adopted brother, Dixon, deal with nonstop drama at their exclusive new high school, where tumultuous friendships and roller coaster romances rule.

    Al Murray: The Pub Landlord Live – The Only Way is Epic

    Britain’s favourite publican returns with his critically acclaimed new show. Recorded at an epic lock in at Brighton’s Theatre Royal, The Pub Landlord serves up his unique satirical brew of ale-inspired acumen and bar-room buffoonery.

    Bones: Season 8

    Socially awkward forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan teams up with intuitive FBI agent Seeley Booth to investigate crimes that have left scant evidence behind: namely, the bones of the deceased.

    Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23: Seasons 1-2

    After Midwesterner June moves to Manhattan and finds her dreams of city living dashed, her hopes are punctured further when she’s swindled by her roommate, Chloe. Much to Chloe’s surprise, June turns the tables, and a beautiful friendship begins.

    Gossip Girl: Season 6

    Kristen Bell provides the voice of an anonymous blogger who narrates the action in this hit series set in an exclusive New York City boarding school. The plot centers on the day-to-day dramas of the school’s most privileged students.

    Lee Nelson: Live

    Filmed at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire on his sensational sell-out Lee Nelson Live tour, this show is an unmissable mix of banter, games and gags, making it unlike any other live stand-up!

    No Woman, No Cry

    Explore the grave issue of maternal mortality through this documentary, which profiles several pregnant women from around the world whose lack of access to basic health care and nutrition places them and their unborn children in unnecessary danger. Christy Turlington Burns directs this eye-opening movie that includes a compelling story from the United States, which holds a higher maternal mortality rate than Western Europe.

    Raising Hope: Season 3

    Slacker Jimmy suddenly finds himself a father after a one-night stand with a murderer, but his eccentric family — including his dim-bulb father, sarcastic mother and addled great-grandmother — reluctantly pitches in to help with the new arrival.

    The Following: Season 1

    When escaped serial killer Joe Carroll goes on a new killing spree, reclusive former FBI agent Ryan Hardy is called in, having captured Carroll nine years ago. Hardy soon discovers that Carroll has a loyal following of killers ready to terrorize.

    The World Before Her

    Exploring the contrast between the world of Western-style beauty pageants and Hindu fundamentalism, The World Before Her delivers a provocative portrait of India, the role of women in its society and cultural conflicts during a key transitional era.

    Available 10/9:

    Arrow: Season 1

    This adaptation of the story of DC Comics’ Green Arrow stars Stephen Amell as the titular character, an affluent playboy who becomes an archer superhero at night, saving the city from villains with his special arrows.

    Crash & Bernstein: Season 1

    Wyatt Bernstein, the only boy in his family, creates a puppet he names Crash who comes to life as the brother he always wanted.

    Movie 43 (2013)

    Kate Winslet, Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts, Jeremy Allen White, Anna Faris, Chris Pratt, Kieran Culkin, Emma Stone, Jason Sudeikis, Justin Long, Leslie Bibb, Uma Thurman, Kristen Bell, Bobby Cannavale, John Hodgman, Halle Berry, Seann William Scott, Elizabeth Banks, Stephen Merchant, Nicole Polizzi, Johnny Knoxville, Richard Gere, Jack McBrayer, Kate Bosworth, Gerard Butler, Terrence Howard, Chloë Grace Moretz, Josh Duhamel

    An eye-popping cast stars in this sketch-comedy pastiche, the new millennium’s take on classics such as The Kentucky Fried Movie. Stars from Kate Winslet to Justin Long to Richard Gere provide the laughs for nearly a dozen new and veteran directors.

    Image: ABC – Apartment23 Facebook Page

  • Netflix Acquires Award-Winning Documentary ‘BrideGroom’

    Netflix said earlier this year that it would be bringing more documentaries and stand-up comedy specials to its service, and continues to make good on that promise.

    Netflix announced today that it is has acquired BrideGroom, an award-winning documentary about two gay men – Tom and Shane – whose relationship was cut short when one of them died in a tragic accident.

    The film has won a great deal of critical acclaim and awards, including the Audience Awards for Best Documentary at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival, the 2013 Toronto Inside Out Festival and the 2013 Little Rock Film Festival. It also won Outstanding Documentary Feature at the 2013 Outfest in LA.

    Former President Bill Clinton has commented on the film, saying, “This is really, on one level, a wonderful, sad, heartbreaking yet exhilarating and life affirming story, and on another level, it’s a story about our nation’s struggle to make one more step in forming a more perfect union, for which marriage is both the symbol and substance.”

    Writer/director Linda Bloodworth-Thomason said, “Tom and Shane were each other’s first and only loves. They are devoted, hardworking, unassuming and funny. Each is from a small town and each, in his own way, is imbued with the best kind of small town values. They are, in fact, the sort of young people who hold within themselves the promise of America. And that is why I want to bring to life, on film, this real life Romeo and Romeo—so that all who condemn them, might come face to face with exactly what it is they are opposing.”

    Crone, who is one of the film’s producers, said, “BrideGroom is not about revenge or politics. It is a film about love, forgiveness, and about finding the courage to be who you are when the world says you shouldn’t. This is my fairy tale, and Tom is, and always will be, my happy ending.”

    The film will be available to Netflix subscribers on October 27th. It has a rating of 8.6 on IMDB.

    Image: BrideGroomMovie.com

  • ‘Room 237’ Is Now Available On Netflix

    Room 237, the much talked-about documentary exploring theories about Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (loosely based on the Stephen King novel of the same name), has now become available on Netflix (both streaming and DVD).

    While the film is listed as a 2012 release, it only saw its limited theatrical run beginning in March before making its way to DVD this month.

    While reviews are very mixed among Netflix users so far, Room 237 has a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes (61% audience score). The film, directed by Rodney Ascher, explores some pretty interesting (albeit highly debated) ideas about The Shining, which have drawn significant interest on the Internet from hard core Kubrick fans for years.

    Here’s the Netflix description for Room 237:

    Room 237

    If your’e interested in the possible subtexts of Kubrick’s film, I’d also highly recommend checking out a collection of videos on the topic from Rob Ager and Collative Learning. They will give you plenty more to think about while watching The Shining the next time (and probably every other time after that).

  • Russell Peters Netflix Special, Docu-Series Get Trailer

    Earlier this month, we learned that Netflix was readying an exclusive stand-up comedy special from Russell Peters called Notorious. It was reported that this would debut on October 14th along with a four-part docu-series following Peters on tour. This can all be confirmed now as Netflix has released a trailer for both the special and the series. The trailer confirms the release date as well.

    In case you haven’t noticed, Netflix has cranked up the dial on comedy content, and is now putting out quite a few exclusive specials from stand-up comedians. Currently available specials include those from John Hodgman, Rob Schneider, Doug Stanhope, Mike Birbiglia, Kathleen Madigan, Moshe Kasher and Broken Lizard’s Steve Lemme and Kevin Heffernan.

    Also on the menu are specials from Aziz Ansari, Marc Maron and others I’m sure.

    The Peters special is 70 minutes long, according to Deadline. It and the series will both be available in all countries where Netflix is available.

    Netflix currently has two other Russell Peters stand-up titles available for streaming.

    While it’s not a stand-up special, and really it’s as sad as it is funny, Netflix launched another exclusive comedy offering earlier this month with the Ricky Gervais show Derek:

    Image: Netflix (YouTube)

  • Upcoming Netflix Content Includes Nick Offerman And Strange Beards

    Netflix is a revolving door of movie and television content, particularly on the streaming side of things. Though titles often disappear from availability, new ones are also frequently added. Sometimes these come in the form of Netflix original shows or even exclusive access to certain programming, but sometimes it’s just older titles that many find to be still worth watching.

    Content is added to Netflix streaming each week, and it can be difficult to keep up with what’s available all the time. With that, here’s a look at some new additions.

    Note: This is for the U.S.

    Over the past week, we’ve seen Netflix add a bunch of Disney content, documentaries, television content, movies and stand-up comedy. On Thursday, Derek, the newest Netflix Original debuted.

    Now, a bunch more stuff is coming. Here are some things you can expect over the coming week.

    Available 9/14:

    Whisker Wars: Season 2 (Season 1 currently avail)

    Bearding is a sport of growing, grooming and presenting facial hair. With competitors all over the world, Beard Team USA hopes to stage an upset at the World Championship Competition in Norway and bring home the World title.

    Available 9/15:

    Katt Williams: Kattpacalypse

    Urban comic Katt Williams ushers in Kattpacalypse, exploding with more energy than an atomic bomb and riffing on everything from Doomsday to Obama. The high-octane set was filmed live on New Year’s Eve

    I Killed My Mother (2009)
    Anne Dorval, Xavier Dolan, François Arnaud, Suzanne Clement, Patricia Tulasne, Niels Schneider, Monique Spaziani, Pierre Chagnon

    This semiautobiographical drama chronicles the caustic relationship between gay teenager Hubert and his overburdened mother Chantale, who grapple with the notion that although they can’t seem to live together, they’re not sure they can live apart.

    If I Were You (2012)

    Marcia Gay Harden, Leonor Watling, Aidan Quinn, Joseph Kell, Valerie Mahaffey, Gary Piquer, Michael Therriault

    In a bungled plot to pay back her husband’s infidelity, a jilted wife finds herself forced to star as King Lear in a spectacularly terrible production, with her husband’s younger lover playing the role of the king’s fool.

    Sushi: The Global Catch (2012)

    Tracing the history of sushi from its origins as Japanese street food to its current status as a worldwide menu staple, this documentary examines the cultural traditions of sushi and the costs of its popularity.

    The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceausescu (2010)

    Track the rise and fall of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu through this innovative historical documentary, which constructs his portrait by only using archival footage from speeches, pubic appearances, international visits and home movies. Culling more than 1,000 hours of recordings, director Andrei Ujica spent four years creating this detailed epic, which strives to reveal the powerful leader’s true character.

    23:59 (2011)

    Tedd Chan, Stella Chung, Henley Hii, Lawrence Koh, Tommy Kuan, Josh Lai, Mark Lee, Susan Leong, Benjamin Lim

    When an army recruit is found dead during a routine march at exactly 23:59, his fellow soldiers are forced to confront the terrifying secret that’s haunting their jungle island training camp.

    Spiral: Season 4 (Seasons 1-3 currently avail)

    This gritty crime drama set in the dark underbelly of Paris follows police captain Laure Berthaud, her two lieutenants, a judge, a prosecutor and a lawyer as they investigate and prosecute crimes.

    Bob Saget: That’s What I’m Talkin’ About

    In “That’s What I’m Talking About,” Bob Saget takes to the stage with a song in his heart. A filthy, filthy song to be exact. He lets loose and embraces the dark side, and you’ll thank him for it. He tells his favorite dirty jokes, and tells stories of his dad, the guy who made him like this. He also pulls out a guitar for some songs that they probably won’t be playing on “Full House,” but will make you roll in the aisles.

    Along Came Polly (2004)

    Ben Stiller, Jennifer Aniston, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Debra Messing, Alec Baldwin, Hank Azaria, Bryan Brown, Jsu Garcia, Michele Lee, Bob Dishy, Missi Pyle

    After his wife dumps him on their honeymoon for their scuba-diving instructor, uptight Reuben reconnects with Polly, an irreverent childhood friend who teaches him to live life on the edge.

    Available 9/16:

    Call the Midwife: Series 2 (Season 1 currently avail)

    Set in the 1950s, this period drama based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth follows new midwife Jenny Lee and the other midwives and nuns working in a nursing convent in an impoverished section of London’s East End.

    I Don’t Know How She Does It (2011)

    Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, Christina Hendricks, Kelsey Grammer, Seth Meyers, Olivia Munn, Jane Curtin

    In this affable yuppie comedy, Kate Reddy is a successful executive, wife and mom whose personal and professional lives hang in precarious balance. When Kate takes on a new job challenge, she and her brood have some serious prioritizing to do.

    Love Actually (2003)

    Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, Alan Rickman, Keira Knightley, Rowan Atkinson

    Writer-director Richard Curtis’s charming treatise on romance and relationships is an all-star ensemble comedy that tells 10 separate (but intertwining) London love stories, leading up to a spirited climax on Christmas Eve.

    The Kids Are All Right (2010)

    Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson,

    Joni and Laser, the children of same-sex parents Nic and Jules, become curious about their sperm-donor dad and set out to make him part of their family unit. But his arrival complicates the household dynamics.

    Hank: Five Years from the Brink (2013)

    Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson tells a story of leadership under pressure and explains how he persuaded banks, Congress and presidential candidates to approve nearly $1 trillion in bailouts, a move even he found morally reprehensible.

    Available 9/17:

    Hating Breitbart (2012)

    This feature-length documentary explores the life and influence of Andrew Breitbart, a right-wing icon and new-media pioneer whose sudden and untimely death at the age of 43 made for an unsettled legacy.

    The Mole Man of Belmont Avenue (2013)

    Justin DiGiacomo, Mike Bradecich, John LaFlamboy, Nicholas Barron, Cat Bernier, Brian Boland, Paul Clayton, Dana DeLorenzo, Robert Englund

    Two slacker slumlords discover a mysterious creature is hiding in the basement of their brownstone and trying to eat every living thing in the building one by one. Now, it’s up to them to stop this beast, before it eats all of their paying tenants.

    Somebody Up There Likes Me (2012)

    Nick Offerman, Keith Poulson, Jess Weixler, Stephanie Hunt, Marshall Bell, Kate Lyn Sheil, Kevin Corrigan, Jonathan Togo, Megan Mullally, Anna Margaret Hollyman

    This comic fable chronicles 35 years in the lives of good friends Sal and Max — including a love triangle with Lyla, the woman they both adore. As they make their way through major life events, a magic suitcase prevents Max from getting older.

    New Girl: Season 2

    This smart sitcom revolves around Jessica Day, a socially awkward schoolteacher who’s still trying to rebound from a recent breakup when she moves in with three single guys, all ready to help her understand the ways of the world.

    65_RedRoses (2009)

    This intimate journey takes an unflinching look into the life of Eva Markvoort, a spirited young woman suffering from cystic fibrosis. Turning to the Internet for support, Eva forms a strong bond with two other girls also battling the disease.

    Crime After Crime (2011)

    Convicted of killing her brutally abusive boyfriend in 1983, Deborah Peagler languished in prison for 20 years. When California legislation allowing incarcerated domestic-violence survivors to reopen their cases becomes law, a pair of novice attorneys agree to take on her case. Armed with evidence of their client’s innocence, the two encounter a bewildering maze of bureaucratic procedures and political corruption as they seek justice.

    Available 9/18:

    Side Effects (2013)

    Rooney Mara, Jude Law, Channing Tatum, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Vinessa Shaw, Andrea Bogart, David Costabile, Polly Draper

    Emily copes with her depression by taking antidepressant medication. But when her dire state apparently spirals out of control due to her husband’s prison release, she turns to a new medication that alters her life forever.

    Nine (2009)

    Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, Judi Dench, Fergie, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren, Giuseppe Spitaleri, Elio Germano, Martina Stella

    Film director Guido Contini faces a midlife crisis and struggles to complete his latest movie while juggling relationships with several women — including his wife, his mistress and his mother — in this musical based on the Broadway smash.

    Available 9/19:

    Shadow Dancer (2012)

    Clive Owen, Andrea Riseborough, Gillian Anderson, Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Brid Brennan, David Wilmot, Stuart Graham, Martin McCann

    Collette, a single mother and career IRA terrorist, is captured after an abortive bombing in London and faces an excruciating ultimatum. She can either turn against her lifelong compatriots or go to prison and be separated forever from her son.

    Sherri Shepherd: It’s My Time to Talk

    Emmy award winning talk show host Sherri Shepherd of ABC’s The View returns back to her roots of stand-up comedy and tells everything she’s been thinking, but unable to say without being interrupted, in her new Stand Up Comedy special entitled “It’s My Time To Talk”. Sherri tells all the thoughts going on in her head when she was the “shocker elimination” on Dancing With The Stars as well as the numerous brain farts while doing Hot Topics on The View. With comical precision, Sherri tries to convince herself that she’s still a mini-skirt wearing, low cleavage, thigh high boot mama meanwhile her body is screaming, reading glasses, Lipitor & orthotic shoes. Sherri has an edge that lets everyone know that she is a grown woman, while being so likeable, every member of the church wants to follow her on Twitter. Learning that being a newlywed herself presents its own shocking experiences, Sherri is going to tell how to do it all scared.

    Check out more recent additions here.

    Image: Whisker Wars (IFC)

  • Lance Armstrong Rambles About Lying in New Documentary Teaser

    Alex Gibney won an Academy Award in 2008 for his documentary Taxi to the Dark Side. The following year, Gibney began following infamous cyclist Lance Armstrong as he attempted to come back from retirement to win yet another Tour de France. What was supposed to be an inspirational look at one of the most celebrated athletes in the U.S. became a close look at the downfall of an image that was too good to be true.

    For years Lance Armstrong had been accused of doping during his Tour de France days. The cyclist always rejected the claims and passed mandatory tests. However, in 2010 U.S. authorities began taking a serious interest in the allegations, and several of Armstrong’s former team members later testified against Armstrong. Last year, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency leveled sanctions against Armstrong for the use of doping, and the man was stripped of all of his Tour de France titles. Though he had continued to deny doping allegations throughout 2012, Armstrong came clean to Oprah Winfrey in a much-publicized January 2013 interview.

    All of this has been captured in Gibney’s new movie, titled The Armstrong Lie. The movie will be screened at the Toronto Film Festival this weekend, and is almost guaranteed to be one of the most uncomfortable sports documentaries ever made. A small snippet of the movie was released today, showing Armstrong just after his Oprah interview, rambling about still being misunderstood:

  • Coming To Netflix Next Week: Disney Movies, Documentaries & Exclusives

    Coming To Netflix Next Week: Disney Movies, Documentaries & Exclusives

    Netflix is a revolving door of movie and television content, particularly on the streaming side of things. Though titles often disappear from availability, new ones are also frequently added. Sometimes these come in the form of Netflix original shows or even exclusive access to certain programming, but sometimes it’s just older titles that many find to be still worth watching.

    Content is added to Netflix streaming each week, and it can be difficult to keep up with what’s available all the time. With that, here’s a look at some new additions.

    Note: This is for the U.S.

    The past week has been great for horror movies and TV shows on Netflix. In the upcoming week, subscribers will be getting a bunch of Disney content and documentaries, as well as a Netflix-exclusive stand-up special from Kathleen Madigan, and finally the Netflix debut of Ricky Gervais’ Derek.

    Here are some of the titles you’ll soon see appearing.

    Available 9/9:

    Kronk’s New Groove (2005)

    Patrick Warburton, Tracey Ullman, Eartha Kitt, David Spade, John Goodman, Wendie Malick, John Mahoney, Anthony Ghannam, Gatlin Green

    Kronk, the sorceress Yzma’s bodybuilder assistant, grabs the spotlight in this animated sequel. Mischief and mayhem take over when Kronk finds out that his father is coming to visit, and as he tries to win Dad’s approval, he leaves no stone unturned.

    Leroy & Stitch (2006)

    Tia Carrere, Daveigh Chase, David Ogden Stiers, Kevin McDonald, Chris Sanders, Kevin Michael Richardson, Rob Paulsen, Jeff Bennett, Zoe Caldwell, Ving Rhames, Liliana Mumy

    When the evil Dr. Hamsterviel forces Dr. Jumba to create Stitch’s evil twin — a creature he dubs Leroy — and uses it to clone a mesmerizing army of fake Stitches, it’s up to Lilo to reunite the gang and save the day.

    Lilo & Stitch (2002)

    Daveigh Chase, Chris Sanders, Tia Carrere, David Ogden Stiers, Kevin McDonald, Ving Rhames, Zoe Caldwell, Jason Scott Lee, Kevin Michael Richardson

    A lonely Hawaiian girl named Lilo — who’s being raised by her older sister after their parents die — adopts a funny-looking dog and names him “Stitch,” not realizing her new best friend is, in fact, a wacky alien created by a mad scientist.

    Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has A Glitch (2005)

    Chris Sanders, Dakota Fanning, Tia Carrere, David Ogden Stiers, Kevin McDonald, Kunewa Mook, Jason Scott Lee

    Just as rowdy alien Stitch begins settling in with his new adopted family, he suddenly goes haywire: It seems his molecular structure is off-kilter, restoring his destructive behavior. Can plucky island girl Lilo find a way to set things right?

    Stitch! The Movie (2003)

    Daveigh Chase, Chris Sanders, Tia Carrere, David Ogden Stiers, Kevin McDonald, Ving Rhames, Kevin Michael Richardson, Jeff Bennett

    Knowing he’s not alone in the universe, Stitch, also known as Experiment 626, is joined by Lilo, Pleakley and Jumba as he sets out to free the other 625 alien experiments (including a lazy sandwich maker and an electrical havoc-wreaker).

    The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)

    David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt, Patrick Warburton, Wendie Malick, Kellyann Kelso, Stephen J. Anderson, Tom Jones

    In this animated Disney adventure, South American emperor Kuzco experiences a reversal of fortune when his power-hungry adviser Yzma turns him into a llama. Exiled to the wilderness, Kuzco turns to kindly villager Pacha for help.

    Available 9/10:

    Army Wives: Season 7

    This drama series follows the emotional ups and downs of four women and one man, each married to a soldier and living on an army base where they contend with infidelity, PTSD, their spouses’s long deployments and other heartaches.

    Becoming Chaz (2010)

    This gripping documentary from directors Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato follows the deeply emotional journey of Chastity Bono, daughter of entertainers Sonny and Cher, as she embarks on a program of gender reassignment to become a man. Focusing on the emotional ramifications of her decision as much as the hormone shots, surgery and other changes to her body, this film chroncles one person’s odyssey to become the man he always knew he was.

    Lizzie (2013)

    Amanda Baker, Don Swayze, Corbin Bernsen, Gary Busey, Caitlin Carmichael, Cindy Baer, Shawna Waldron, Gerry Bednob, Eric Fischer

    The brutal 1892 hatchet murders of the infamous Lizzie Borden acquittal come alive when present-day Lizzie Allen moves back into her childhood home. Suffering from amnesia, she struggles to uncover the mysteries of her youth — and the distant past.

    Radio Unnameable (2012)

    David Amram, Judy Collins, Robert Downey Sr., Marshall Efron, Arlo Guthrie

    The story of legendary New York City disc jockey Bob Fass who pioneered free expression on the airwaves with his long running FM program ‘Radio Unnameable’.

    Tent City, U.S.A. (2012)

    Due to economic recession, a growing number of people are finding themselves in a position they never imagined: homeless. Nearly 100 homeless individuals have formed Nashville’s Tent City, which is located under a bridge close to the city’s center.

    War Witch (2012)

    Rachel Mwanza, Alain Lino Mic Eli Bastien, Serge Kanyinda, Mizinga Mwinga, Ralph Prosper, Jean Kabuya, Diane Uwamahoro, Jupiter Bokondji

    In sub-Saharan Africa, 12-year-old Komona is kidnapped by rebel soldiers who force her to kill her parents and join their ranks. Over the next two years, Komona clings to life despite her horrific experiences and tries to pacify her parents’ ghosts.

    Available 9/11:

    Kathleen Madigan: Madigan Again (2013)

    Kathleen Madigan of “Last Comic Standing” busts her comedy moves in this special filmed at the Royal Oak Music Theatre in Detroit.

    Rules of Engagement: Season 7

    Three diverse perspectives on love and relationships are examined in this ensemble sitcom about longtime married couple Jeff and Audrey, the newly engaged Adam and Jennifer, and cynical bachelor Russell.

    Available 9/12:

    Derek: Season 1

    Ricky Gervais creates and stars in Derek, a comedy-drama about a loyal nursing home caretaker who sees only the good in his quirky coworkers as they struggle against prejudice and shrinking budgets to care for their elderly residents.

    Available 9/13:

    Skins: Vol. 7

    Boldly taking on controversial teen topics such as drug use and mental illness, this incisive series centers on the tense lives of a group of hormonal teenagers as the friends and wannabe lovers weather their final two years of school.

    Image: Disney (YouTube)

  • “Terms And Conditions May Apply” Doc Is Now Playing

    So what happens when you click “I Agree” on the your favorite service’s Terms of Service agreement? Granted, South Park already shed some much-needed light on the situation, but maybe some folks missed that episode. Whatever the case, now that the NSA and Edward Snowden are trendy talking points, online privacy is again a subject of interest. Of course, the federal government is not the only entity web users have to worry about when they are pursuing their favorite online hubs.

    While folks may be worried about Obama reading their emails, how many of them are aware of the fact they give away much of their privacy by agreeing to the terms set forth by their favorite web service? In other words, do you know what happens when you agree to Google’s, or iTunes, or Facebook’s, or Amazon’s terms and conditions? Thanks to Cullen Hoback and the folks the folks at Hyrax Films Private, we’re a lot closer to learning this lesson all over again, thanks to their documentary, Terms and Conditions May Apply.

    It should be noted that “learning the lesson all over again” is not meant as a slap to the documentary’s creators. Clearly, this is a lesson needs to be taught over and over again.

    If you missed the trailer:

    So yeah, online citizens are producing tons of data that’s being actively collected by just about every web service being used, and it’s not like this is hidden, secret knowledge. Much of it is all right there in the terms and conditions text we all scroll through as quickly as possible. With all the hubbub surrounding the NSA, why aren’t people as concerned about the practice of consumption-based entities collecting much of the same data? Or is this something you just have to accept if you want to play on the Internet?

    Hopefully, a lot of people watch this documentary and start asking the same questions. Speaking of, those who are interested can catch a screening at the following locations:

    Premieres on PIVOT TV Sunday, Aug 11th 8/7c – find your local station: find.pivot.tv/
    Lake Worth – Lake Worth Playhouse – Aug 16-22
    San Diego – Digital Gym – Aug 16-22
    Washington, DC – West End Cinema – August 16-22
    Oakland – The New Parkway Theater – August 20
    Miami – Cosford Cinema @ UM – Sept 20
    Whitehorse, Yukon Terr – Yukon Film Society – Sept 22
    Boulder – Boedecker Theater at Dairy Center – Sept 24-28
    Macon, GA – Douglass Theatre – Oct 22

    Unfortunately, the director was in attendance for earlier screenings, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to catch this particular flick when you can. Maybe (hopefully), the message about online privacy will be heard loud and clear, and more people will understand the concept is more than just a talking point for CNN and Fox News.

  • Here’s The New Stuff You’re About To See On Netflix

    Netflix is a revolving door of movie and television content, particularly on the streaming side of things. Though titles often disappear from availability, new ones are also frequently added. Sometimes these come in the form of Netflix original shows or even exclusive access to certain programming, but sometimes it’s just older titles that many find to be still worth watching.

    Content is added to Netflix streaming each week, and it can be difficult to keep up with what’s available all the time. With that, here’s a look at some new additions.

    Note: This is for the U.S.

    The past week has seen a bunch of new TV content and and some more movies hit Netflix streaming. On Thursday, Netflix announced the availability of all episodes of Goosebumps and The Magic Bus.

    In the coming week, we’re going to be seeing even more TV shows, stand-up comedy performances, some interesting documentaries, and more movies. Here’s a look at some of the titles you’ll soon be able to stream.

    Available on Saturday 8/17:

    High Tech, Low Life (2012)

    Shihe Zhang, Shuguang Zhou

    Meet Tiger and Zola, two “citizen reporters” who travel China chasing the big news stories as it’s never been done before. Outfitted with 21st-century technology, the two face censorship and even imprisonment in their pursuit of the truth.

    Miss Gulag (2007)

    At a Siberian women’s prison known as UF-91/9, inmates vie every year for the beauty pageant title of Miss Spring. Focusing on three entrants, this captivating documentary looks at a new generation of women coming of age in post-Soviet Russia.

    Wilfred: Season 2 (2012)

    Adapted from the Australian TV series, this unconventional comedy follows the surreal experiences of Ryan, a deeply depressed man who becomes convinced that his neighbor’s dog Wilfred is actually a man wearing a costume.

    Available 8/19:

    Ghost Hunt: Season 1 (2006)

    In season one of this supernatural anime series, high school freshman Mai Taniyama discovers that she has psychic abilities, prompting her to join the Shibuya Psychic Research team, whose mission is to obliterate evil from the earth. With some help from a spirit medium, an exorcist, a shrine maiden and a monk — along with the latest in psychic technologies — Mai learns how to access the mysteries of the spirit realm.

    Love/Hate: Seasons 1-3 (2010-2012)

    LOVE/HATE is a gritty crime drama based on Dublin’s criminal underworld. It depicts the drug addiction, squalor and violence of organized crime that has grown in post-boom Ireland. Catastrophic events ignite tension among the drug gang, and family, friends and the community must live with the consequences.

    Spy Kids: All the Time in the World (2011)

    Jessica Alba, Joel McHale, Rowan Blanchard, Mason Cook, Jeremy Piven, Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara, Danny Trejo

    Former Spy Kids Carmen and Juni Cortez return as teenagers to help 10-year-old twin siblings Rebecca and Cecil Wilson save the world with their stepmother, a retired secret agent who’s been called back into service to stop a conniving smuggler.

    Available 8/20:

    This Is Martin Bonner (2013)

    Paul Eenhoorn, Richmond Arquette, Sam Buchanan, Robert Longstreet, Demetrius Grosse, Kristin Slaysman

    Eschewing his old East Coast life, Martin Bonner moves to Nevada and goes to work for a program that prepares prisoners for life on the outside. But when he meets ex-convict Travis Holloway, they forge a bond that surprises them both.

    Highland Park (2013)

    Billy Burke, Danny Glover, Parker Posey, Rockmond Dunbar, Kimberly Elise, John Carroll Lynch, Eric Ladin, Michelle Forbes, Deborah Ann Woll, Bo Derek, Bob Gunton

    HIGHLAND PARK follows a group of high school faculty members and their desire to improve their community. Confronted with overwhelming problems and limited resources, their lives and priorities change when money seemingly falls into their lap.

    Miss Representation (2011)

    Explore how the media’s often disparaging portrayals of women contribute to the under-representation of females in positions of power, creating another generation of women defined by beauty and sexuality, and not by their capacity as leaders.

    Serving Life (2011)

    Forest Whitaker

    Filmed in a notorious Louisiana prison, this moving documentary chronicles the work of some inmates who find a sense of redemption for their past crimes by volunteering in the jail’s hospice, offering compassion to other prisoners as they die.

    Available: 8/21

    A Haunted House (2013)

    Marlon Wayans, Essence Atkins, Cedric the Entertainer, Nick Swardson, David Koechner, Alanna Ubach, Dave Sheridan, Liana Mendoza, Affion Crockett, Jamie Noel

    In this spoof of horror films like Paranormal Activity, Marlon Wayans stars as an immature guy who’s frightened when he learns the girlfriend who just moved in with him has been possessed by a demonic spirit.

    Available: 8/22

    CSI: NY: Season 9 (Seasons 1-8 already available)

    Science in the service of crime fighting comes to the Big Apple in the second spinoff of the “CSI” franchise. Gary Sinise stars as workaholic detective Mac Taylor, who guides an elite squad of forensics investigators determined to nab the criminals.

    Available 8/23:

    Doug Stanhope: Beer Hall Putsch (2013)

    Doug Stanhope’s new hour-long stand-up special filmed at Oregon’s legendary club Dante’s on Thursday, April 4th, 2013.

    Mike Birbiglia: My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend (2013)

    In Mike Birbiglia’s My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend, Mike shares a lifetime of romantic blunders and miscues that most adults would spend a lifetime trying to forget. On this painfully honest journey, Birbiglia struggles to find reason in an area where it may be impossible to find — love.

    Dredd (2012)

    Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headey, Wood Harris, Langley Kirkwood, Junior Singo, Luke Tyler, Jason Cope, Domhnall Gleeson, Warrick Grier

    In the future, catastrophic wars have transformed Earth into a barren wasteland with the remaining population crowded into megacities, where all-powerful cops — including the ultraviolent Judge Dredd — are on the hunt for drug-dealing terrorists.

    Other titles that recently became available include: Fairy Tale: Season 1, My Strange Addiction: Season 3, Eve of Destruction, Haven, Revolution: Season 1, Solomon Kane, Immortalized, and See Girl Run. More here.

  • ‘After Tiller’ Abortion Documentary Trailer Released

    This year was the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade. The ruling cleared the way for legal abortion across the U.S., but abortion rights in the country have been incrementally rolled back since that time.

    There are now only four doctors in the U.S. that perform late-term (third trimester) abortions. A new documentary titled After Tiller follows these four remaining doctors, who risk their lives and endure nearly constant harassment to provide their services.

    The movie’s title refers to Dr. George Tiller, a Kansas doctor who provided late-term abortions. Tiller was assassinated by anti-abortion activist Scott Roeder in 2009.

    After Tiller premiered in January at the Sundance Film Festival, and has been floating around the U.S. movie festival circuit since April. The movie is scheduled to have a limited release in New York City this fall. The Daily Beast this week premiered a new trailer for the documentary, showing what appears to be an emotional look at abortion in the U.S. and the most extreme portions of the movement against it.

  • Eric Schmidt Discusses ‘Pandora’s Promise’ With Director Robert Stone

    In a recent “At Google” talk, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt sat down with Robert Stone, Director of the documentary Pandora’s Promise, along with some of the cast.

    Google has now made the video public for all to watch.

    Here’s the film’s description (via YouTube):

    The recent reactor meltdowns in Japan have ignited passionate worldwide debate about energy and the future of nuclear power. Pandora’s Promise is a feature-length documentary that explores how and why mankind’s most feared and controversial technological discovery is now passionately embraced by many of those who once led the charge against it. The film is anchored around the personal narratives of a growing number of leading former anti-nuclear activists and pioneering scientists who, in the face of considerable controversy, are directly challenging the anti-nuclear orthodoxy that is a founding tenet of the mainstream environmental movement. Their stories and ideas will be brought to life through a combination of incredible archival footage from 1945 to the present and original filming across the globe.

    Operating as history, cultural meditation and contemporary exploration, Pandora’s Promise aims to inspire a serious and realistic debate over what is without question the most important question of our time: how do we continue to power modern civilization without destroying it?

    More recent At Google talks here.

  • ‘Terms And Conditions May Apply’ Gets New Trailer (Featuring Classic Mark Zuckerberg)

    ‘Terms And Conditions May Apply’ Gets New Trailer (Featuring Classic Mark Zuckerberg)

    There’s a new trailer out for the documentary, “Terms and Conditions May Apply”. The film, which focuses on major Internet companies like Google, Facebook and Twitter, and the user privacy associated with them, premiered at Sundance earlier this year.

    The movie was made by Cullen Hoback, who made Monster Camp, and FrICTION.

    Obviously user privacy is a pretty big issue right now in light of recent events. This should only help the film’s release.

  • Ricky Naputi: 900 lb. Man Gets New TLC Show

    It’s well-known that a large number of Americans are overweight, and predictions seem to indicate that the issue will only get worse as time goes on. What isn’t as well-known is that the U.S. territory of Guam may be even worse.

    This week, cable TV channel TLC aired a documentary highlighting one man’s weight difficulties on the island of Guam. Titled 900 Pound Man: The Race Against Time, the documentary chronicles Ricky Naputi’s struggle with his size, the troubles he encounters in finding help, and the difficulty he has sticking to doctors’ recommendations.

    Naputi is, for the most part, bedridden and has not been able to go out of the house or shower for “years.” The documentary follows him and his wife as they seek out specialists and try to arrange for a flight to the U.S. mainland, where Naputi could receive life-saving surgery.

    Though Naputi’s weight is disabling, he’s nowhere near the heaviest person ever recorded. The record for world’s heaviest man currently belongs to a U.S. man named Jon Minnoch, who weighed around 1,400 lb. at his peak. He also holds the record for weight loss, after he shed 920 lb. Minnoch died in 1983 at the age of 41 weighing nearly 800 lb.

  • ‘They Call it Myanmar’ Director Robert Lieberman Talks At Google

    Dr. Robert Lieberman, novelist and director of the film, “They Call it Myanmar: Lifting the Curtain,” recently participated in an “At Google” talk, discussing the film.

    The late Roger Ebert included the film among his top documentaries of 2012.

    More recent At Google talks here.

  • Les Blank Dies; Documentary Filmmaker Was 77

    Documentary Filmmaker Les Blank has died at the age of 77.

    Blank’s son, Harrod, reported to the San Francisco Chronicle that his father died of bladder cancer on Sunday at his home in Berkeley, California. Harrod is also a documentary filmmaker.

    Blank directed more than 30 documentaries and documentary shorts during his 40-year career. Many of his documentaries focused on nice music and musicians, including films about blues singers, Appalachian music, Cajun music, polka, tamburitza, and Hawaiian music. Blank also took on other documentary subjects such as director Werner Herzog in the moviea Burden of Dreams and Werner Herzong Eats His Shoe. Blank’s final film was All in This Tea, which follows a California tea importer who searches for organically grown “boutique tea.”

    Though Blank had been creating movies since 1960, it was the documentary short The Blues Accordin’ to Lightnin’ Hopkins that propelled his documentary career. Blank went on to found an independent production company called Flower Films.

    (Image courtesy Petr Novák, Wikipedia)

  • ‘Terms And Conditions May Apply’ Documentary Explores Google, Facebook Privacy

    Often, when major Internet companies make product changes or announce new offerings, people wonder what that means for their privacy. One example in which we’re currently seeing this is with Facebook’s new Graph Search. Google and Facebook in particular have had to answer to the FTC with regards to privacy issues in the past, and both have to undergo regular third-party audits to make sure they remain in compliance.

    Facebook is always making changes to its policies, it seems, and Google launched a major overhaul of its privacy policy last year, enabling it to share data from one product to the next. This continues to draw controversy in some places.

    A new documentary called Terms And Conditions May Apply just premiered at Sundance, which takes a deep look into how our use of Google, Facebook, Twitter and other web products impacts our privacy.

    The movie was made by Cullen Hoback, who made Monster Camp, and FrICTION.

    You can watch the trailer here.

    [via CNET]

  • Mozilla Announces Living Docs Project in Open-Source Documentaries

    Mozilla hopes to revolutionize open-source, Web-based documentaries through its new Living Docs Project, which launched yesterday. The open source non-profit organization announced recently its partnership with The Tribeca Film Institute, The Center for Social Media at American University, ITVS, and BAVC. The goal of the project is to encourage a spirit of open innovation and collaboration in the world of online documentary. Participants will use open source, Web-based production programs and share code and resources, with a focus on the early and frequent release of new iterations of their media.

    “This is about the evolution of the documentary genre,” said Mozilla’s Brett Gaylor, via the Mozilla blog. “We’re bringing filmmakers and developers together to tell stories in ways that have never been attempted before.”

    Interactive documentaries are a relatively new and dynamic medium. They focus on the use of open source programs (like Mozilla Popcorn), free and open collaboration, and a variety of web-based media tools enables filmmakers working in interactive documentary to create unique, non-linear films with a flexibility unavailable to the traditional linear documentary format. Like both open source programs and all creative work published online, interactive documentaries can be released immediately upon completion, then tweaked and edited according to consumer feedback, new technological developments, and the evolution of the story in the filmmakers eye.

    Check out this video of a Living Docs Hack Day by Brett Gaylor.

    Mozilla and its partners will encourage the collaborative filmmaking of the Living Docs Project through a series of “Hack Days.” According to Beyond the Box, Hack Days will highlight new projects, document best practices in interactive filmmaking, share lessons between participants, promote code sharing, and provide funding for the creation of web-based documentaries.

    The first Living Docs hackathon will be held April 28 and 29, at the Hot Docs film festival in Toronto. If you’re an interactive filmmaker, it’s not too late to participate. You can apply here.

    Mozilla recently launched another Web-based filmmaking project, called Firefox Flicks. You can read about it here.

  • Twitter Documentary “Twittamentary” Set To Begin Open Screening [Exclusive]

    The making of a Twitter documentary was announced over two years ago. It’s called Twittamentary (fittingly), and now it’s set to begin screening in communities around the world.

    The film’s director Siok Siok Tan tells WebProNews, “We have lots of exciting plans in 2012. We have just announced an open call for community screenings between February 1st and May 1st.”

    “The first of the community screenings will roll out over Social Media Week in February,” she says. “We are screening in New York City on Feb 15th, London on Feb 17th and will be announcing more Social Media Week events in other locations soon. ”

    Here are a few teasers for the documentary:

    We first interviewed Tan here, where she explained the concept and process of making the film. The following year, we followed up with her, and it was getting a sneak preview in NYC. Now, many communities around the word should have a chance to see it.

    Anyone can organize a screening for their community as long as they meet the guidelines discussed here.