Netflix: we’re all addicted, right? Here at Tn2 we can’t go a day without tuning into the streaming mammoth for at least an hour (or like 23). We’re consummate professionals here in the office so to aid your next Netflix binge here are the new releases, the ones to watch and the dates you need to know. It’s Tn2 Magazine’s Netflix Picks.
TV
[dropcap]L[/dropcap]ooking for the perfect summer binge-watch? Want to catch up on established favourites or discover something new? TN2 has got you covered.
New
Gypsy (June 30th):
Not to be confused with the 1959 Broadway musical of the same name, Gypsy is the latest addition to Netflix’s cohort of twisty psychological thrillers. This one is about a therapist whose work finds her drawn into the lives of her patients. Nowhere Boy director Sam Taylor-Johnson helms the early episodes and Naomi Watts stars. *Love*
My Only Love Song (June 9th):
Worth taking note of as Netflix adds another show designed to capitalise on the increasing popularity of ‘kdramas’ (South Korean miniseries with a distinctive, heightened storytelling style – Netflix’s other titles include Boys Over Flowers and Hello, My Twenties). Those unfamiliar with the sometimes outlandish concepts which are the norm in kdrama may find the story of a celebrity who runs away from a show gone wrong only to find herself in a time-travelling van which takes her back to the past and to a potential love interest… an interesting testing ground.
Returning
Orange is the New Black (June 9th), starring Taylor Schilling, Laurie Prepon, Uzo Aduba and a host of other fan favourites as the inmates of Litchfield Penitentiary are back. One of the breakout hits of Netflix’s original programming, the climactic events of last year’s clutch of episodes look set to send aftershocks well into the fifth season of this cutting, unforgettable comedy-drama.
Orphan Black (June 10th), sees Canadian powerhouse Tatiana Maslany play a diverse group of clones – often in the same scene at the same time thanks to the series’ slick and clever production. Sense8 with a Jason Bourne aesthetic, this high-stakes, genre-bending sci-fi used to air on BBC Three but will head to Netflix for its fifth, and reportedly final, season.
Blink and you’ll miss it:
Private Practice (seasons 1-6) leaves Netflix on June 6th.
If you’re a fan of medical melodrama, this Grey’s Anatomy spin-off functions effectively as a stand-alone with occasional crossovers, its own cast and a sunny LA setting, it has all the tangled relationships, last-minute saves and dramatic season finales we’ve come to expect from a Shonda Rhimes production.
Film
[dropcap]H[/dropcap]ere are 5 new Netflix additions to get you through the month of June. From comedy to horror, there’s something for everyone!
1. Hunter Gatherer
Hunter Gatherer is a new Netflix gem. When Ashley gets out of prison after three years, he has grand ideas of what his life will be like. Things don’t go even close to plan, particularly when his girlfriend, Linda, no longer reciprocates his love. Upon meeting an intriguing character, Jeremy, the film takes an amusing and emotive turn. Hunter Gatherer is a gentle film exploring Ashley’s relationships with those around him. It is funny and heart-warming while effectively illustrating the systematic discrimination Ashley faces after leaving prison.
2. Pitch Perfect 2
Because who doesn’t love a bit of American college drama and scandal in the form of a musical?! With Pitch Perfect 3 set to release in cinemas this December, it’s the perfect excuse for this guilty pleasure. The sequel to Pitch Perfect is full of hilarity and fantastic musical performances. The singing group Barden Bellas are hit with national embarrassment when “Fat Amy” (Rebel Wilson) has an extraordinary wardrobe malfunction whilst performing in front of an audience including President Obama. They are forced to overcome internal problems in order to excel at the upcoming world championships in Copenhagen. The film has a strong sense of female empowerment with the all-female Barden Bellas overcoming misogynistic critics and performing Beyoncé’s Who Runs the World (Girls) as their final number.
3. Selma
An incredibly moving account of Martin Luther King Jr.’s battle for black voting rights and the marches from Selma to Montgomery. Selma perfectly captures the shocking and immensely difficult struggle for equality that black Americans faced in 1965, and still proves itself to be painfully relevant today. The film does not shy away from showing the true reality of the situation; containing vivid scenes of extreme racism, violence and fear. Community, love and hope shine through and are a source of constant motivation for the activists to persevere. The film also thoughtfully explores King’s personal life and relationship with his wife. With fantastic performances by David Oyelowo, Oprah Winfrey and Tom Wilkinson to name but a few, Selma is a compelling and powerful film.
4. The Cabin in the Woods
Five college students pack up their stuff and go on a weekend trip to, yes, a cabin in the woods. Not only an usual destination for students to go, it also turns out to be a horrifyingly bad mistake. They find themselves experiencing increasingly chilling situations, with dramatic consequences. Although this film wasn’t really my cup of tea (because I spilt it all over myself- I don’t react well to fear) it does not disappoint. If horror films are your thing, this is certainly a good one. It is exciting and full of bizarre developments making it unpredictable and unique from all the others.
5. Stranger than Fiction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E92XXOXaeZc
Harold’s routine, mundane life as a tax inspector gets suddenly upended when he starts to hear a voice narrating his life like a story. He soon learns that he is the ill-fated protagonist of an author’s recent work and sets out to find her and change his fate before it is too late. Will Ferrell captures the confusion and desperation of Harold’s surreal situation with his usual witty mannerisms.
Join us again next month when our TV and Film teams hit up the best of July.