Netflix
Netflix Defends Controversial Film Cuties as “Social Commentary” Against Sexualization of Children
Netflix is defending its newly released film, Cuties, against claims that it overly sexualizes its young subjects. Cuties (or Mignonnes) is a French comedy-drama that won Maïmouna Doucouré the Directing Award-Dramatic at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. It centers on a 11-year-old Senegalese girl named Amy who seeks to understand her identity while living in Paris. She comes across a group of girls in a twerking dance squad, and begins to seek freedom and acceptance by joining their sexualized troupe. Since launching on Netflix on September 9th, the film has received intense backlash. Now, Netflix has issued a statement defending the movie. “Cuties is a social commentary against the sexualization of young children,” a Netflix spokesperson told Variety. “It’s an award-winning film and a pow...
Netflix’s The Devil All the Time Is a Messy Southern Gothic Stew: Review
The Pitch: Set against the mud-covered backdrop of southern Ohio and West Virginia in the ’50s and ’60s, we see the ways that faith, violence, and lost innocence play out against an interconnecting web of characters. There’s Willard Russell (Bill Skarsgård), whose experiences in WWII haunt him even as he tries to make a life back home with a sweet waitress (Haley Bennett). There’s also Carl (Jason Clarke) and Sandy (Riley Keough), who get their kicks picking up hitchhikers, photographing them, then slaughtering them. There’s Sandy’s brother, Lee (Sebastian Stan), a portly, corrupt sheriff constantly gunning for re-election and turning a blind eye to his sister’s wrongdoing. Caught in the middle of it all is Alvin (Tom Holland), Willard’s orphaned son, trying to navigate his way throug...
Adam Sandler Reunites with Julie Bowen in Trailer for Netflix’s Hubie Halloween: Watch
Adam Sandler is leaving the Diamond District and heading to Halloweentown — or rather, Salem, Massachusetts. The blockbuster comic is back just in time for the season of the witch with his latest Netflix comedy, Hubie Halloween. Today, the streaming giant has unleashed the movie’s first trailer ahead of its October 7th premiere. Directed by Steven Brill (Heavyweights, Little Nicky), this spooky comedy follows Hubie DuBois (Sandler), a kooky, albeit good-natured, community volunteer who stumbles upon a real-life murder case on Halloween night. The problem is he’s something of a laughing stock across Salem to both adults and children alike. As with any of Sandler’s flicks, Hubie Halloween is chock full his go-to pals: Kevin James, Steve Buscemi, Rob Schneider, and Colin Quinn. However, old-s...
Netflix and Chills Halloween Schedule: The Haunting of Bly Manor, Adam Sandler, Unsolved Mysteries, and More
Netflix is getting into the spooky business. Today, the streaming giant announced their Fall programming, which they’ve aptly dubbed Netflix and Chills. This includes new movies, shows, and all kinds of tricks and treats for the living room. Among the many highlights is Mike Flanagan’s new miniseries The Haunting of Bly Manor, Adam Sandler’s kooky new comedy Hubie Halloween, Ben Wheatley’s reimagining of Rebecca, and a second volume of Unsolved Mysteries. That’s all without mentioning Ryan Murphy’s creepy Cuckoo’s Nest prequel series Ratched, Rachel Talalay’s A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting, and a number of children’s programming like The Worst Witch and A Go! Go! Cory Carson Halloween. Peruse the full calendar below and stay tuned for more things to go bump in your night. Let’s no...
In The Duchess, Katherine Ryan Plays a Single Mum With a Beautiful Wardrobe – Here’s Why That’s So Important
Things you don’t typically see being worn on the morning school run: ballgowns, funeral attire, and satin pyjamas. Oh, and a jumper that says “world’s smallest p*ssy” worn over the top of the most fabulous feather-hemmed pyjamas. But that’s exactly what we see Katherine Ryan wearing at the school gates in her new scripted Netflix series The Duchess. The styling in the opening scene is just a slice of what’s to come in the rest of the show and plays an important role in the narrative. The Duchess is Ryan’s first-scripted series that she not only stars in, but also wrote and produced. The six-part, semi-biographical series follows a single mum whose name is also Katherine ( confusing, yes, but Katherine the comedian said she was “too lazy”...
David Fincher’s Mank Gets First Look from Netflix
Lest we forget that one of the more highly anticipated films of 2020 comes from David Fincher. Mank is his first feature since 2014’s Gone Girl and finds the veteran filmmaker pairing up with Oscar-winning actor Gary Oldman to tell the story of Citizen Kane co-writer Herman Mankiewicz. Today, in celebration of that iconic film’s 79th anniversary, Netflix has unleashed its first look. As promised, Manx is presented in sterling black in white — a first for Fincher — and the six photos available prove the shift has only given his razor-sharp portraits even more depth. Below, you can see first looks at Oldman as Mankiewicz, Amanda Seyfried as Marion Davies, and Charles Dance as William Randolph Hearst. If you weren’t hyped before, well, get ready now. Mank is a curious project f...
Cobra Kai Offers Lifelong Lessons on Redemption
“You can’t let the mistakes of your past determine your future.” Cobra Kai is a study in redemption. On August 28th, the former YouTube series hit Netflix with a splash, offering uplifting empowerment and sweet nostalgia that feels like rooting through an old shoebox filled with mixtapes. After all, 1984’s The Karate Kid is a beloved classic that empowered a generation to stand up for themselves (not to mention, catch flies with chopsticks and practicing crane kicks on the playground). But by expanding the narrative, Cobra Kai offers a powerful story of redemption that is a much-needed and much-welcome message for these divided times. The series follows a down-on-his-luck Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), the bleache-blonde bully who tormented Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and ultimately l...
I’m Thinking of Ending Things “Explained”
If you’re reading this, you’ve likely finished Charlie Kaufman’s i’m thinking of ending things, and you’re probably wondering what the hell you just watched. You’re not alone. The general consensus from everyone who’s seen the film is that it’s a dense, labyrinthine meditation on, well, a lot of things. The film chews on memory, ego, grief, time, loss, and the laundry list of existential woes rattles on. It’s all permeable enough that the takeaways to be had are nothing short of infinite, and the film is very self-aware about that notion, so much so that one could argue that was Kaufman’s meta intent. But that’s always been par for the course when it comes to Kaufman. His ironclad resume speaks to a cinematic tradition of turning everyone’s minds into puzzle pieces — and that’s why anythin...
What’s Next for Cobra Kai?
The future is bright for Cobra Kai. Two years after it first premiered on YouTube Red — ha, anyone remember YouTube Red? – The Karate Kid spinoff series is a pop culture phenomenon. Lesson learned? Never doubt the influence of Netflix. For die-hard fans, this development is both aggravating and refreshing. As Johnny Lawrence might say, “Where the hell have you wimps been all this time?” But then again, as Daniel LaRusso might wisely counter, “More fans, more future.” After all, without Netflix, there was no telling whether Cobra Kai would live past its forthcoming third season. If you recall, YouTube was in no place to commit to a fourth season, which means the doors would have most certainly closed on this dojo. Editors’ Picks Given the response and the fact that the show has been N...
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Sign Multi-Year Netflix Deal
Earlier this year, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they would “step back” from some of their royal duties in order to build a new life in North America and become “financially independent.” They’ve since moved to Southern California and appear to be settling in well with the celebrity culture there. Not only have they purchased a mansion worth $15 million near the Kardashians and drawn swarms of paparazzi, but the couple has just inked a multi-year deal with Netflix. As first reported by the New York Times, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will develop documentaries, scripted TV shows, full-length feature films, and children’s programs for the streaming company. According to statements from the Royal Couple, they plan to offer diverse and uplifting stories, such as those relate...
Disastrous Woodstock ’99 is the Focus of a New Netflix Documentary Series
Woodstock ’99 aftermath, photo by Peter R. Barber/AP Despite being envisioned as an event of “peace and love” like its forefather, Woodstock ’99 was a complete shit show. The three-day music festival featuring Limp Bizkit, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine, and Insane Clown Posse devolved into squalid havoc, with arson, injuries, and sexual assaults broadcast live on MTV to horrified audiences around the world. It was the subject of a riveting eight-episode podcast produced by The Ringer, and now, it’s getting the Netflix documentary treatment. You thought Fyre Fest was bad? Hold on to your red baseball caps. Deadline reports that the as-yet-untitled docuseries will be produced by London-based Raw, who brought us the bonkers true story film Don’t F**k With Cats. BB...
Game of Thrones’ David Benioff and D.B. Weiss to Adapt Sci-Fi Epic The Three-Body Problem for Netflix
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss Last year, Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss inked a five-year deal with Netflix reportedly worth $250 million dollars. Today, the pair announced their first project for the streaming platform: a live-action series based on the Chinese sci-fi novel The Three-Body Problem. Released by author Liu Cixin in 2008, the acclaimed book is set during China’s Cultural Revolution and tracks the aftermath of human’s first encounter with aliens. “… A secret military project sends signals into space to establish contact with aliens. An alien civilization on the brink of destruction captures the signal and plans to invade Earth,” reads a synopsis for the novel. “Meanwhile, on Earth, different camps start forming, planning to either welcome the supe...
