What's New on TV, Netflix, Digital, and DVD/Blu-ray This Week: August 1-7
At a loss for what to watch this week? From new TV, we've got you covered.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
"Batman: The Killing Joke"
From "Batman v Superman" and "Suicide Squad" to "The Killing Joke," this is a big year for the Caped Crusader and the Clown Prince of Crime. This animated adaptation of the infamous 1988 graphic novel -- following Batgirl/Barbara Gordon (Tara Strong) and Batman/Bruce Wayne (Kevin Conroy), and sharing a version of the Joker's (Mark Hamill) origin story -- just premiered at Comic-Con, and had a brief theatrical release before its digital debut July 26. It's out on DVD and Blu-ray August 2, so you can see if the buzz and controversy were warranted.
"The Lobster"
There's a good chance you'll be hearing more about this film at the 2017 Oscars. The critically acclaimed drama offers an edgy, absurdist perspective on relationships and conformity, and it arrives on DVD and Blu-ray August 2. Colin Farrell stars as Davis, who has just been dumped by his wife in a world where single people have 45 days to find true love, or else they are turned into the animal of their choice and released into the woods. (!) He ends up escaping to join a rebel faction called The Loners, where he meets a woman (Rachel Weisz) who stirs up unexpected feelings. The Blu-ray and DVD include the behind-the-scenes featurette "The Fabric of Attraction: Concocting The Lobster."
"Meet the Blacks"
This comedy send-up of the horror film "The Purge" arrives on Blu-ray, DVD, Digital, and On Demand August 2. Carl Black (Mike Epps) moves his family to Beverly Hills for a better life, but their arrival coincides with the annual purge, where crime is legal for 12 hours. Bonus features include "The Making of Meet the Blacks," the "Hit the Gas" music video, behind the scenes of "Hit the Gas," a "Don't Hate Wiring!" parody commercial, and outtakes.
Check out this exclusive behind-the-scenes clip with the cast discussing working with Mike Tyson, who co-stars in the movie:
"The Trust"
Nicolas Cage and Elijah Wood play Las Vegas cops who stumble on the location of a hidden vault belonging to local drug dealers. Things don't go according to plan from there in this twisty crime thriller, which is out on DVD, Blu-ray, and Digital HD on August 2. Bonus features include the featurettes "The Dynamics of a Duo: Nicolas Cage and Elijah Wood" and "The Visuals of Vegas," plus audio commentary with directors Alex and Benjamin Brewer.
"Louder Than Bombs"
Jesse Eisenberg, Gabriel Byrne, Devin Druid, Amy Ryan, David Strathairn, and Isabelle Huppert star in this drama arriving on DVD August 2. Here's the synopsis: "Three years after the death of his war photographer wife, a man keeps everyday life going with his shy teenage son. A planned exhibition of his wife's photographs prompts his older son to return to the house he grew up in - and for the first time in a while, the father and the two brothers are living under the same roof." Extras include director's commentary by Joachim Trier, and a behind-the-scenes making-of featurette.
New Video on Demand, Rental Streaming, and Digital
"The Huntsman: Winter's War"
Heck with summer, "Winter's War" is arriving on Digital HD August 2, before the Blu-ray, DVD, and On Demand releases August 23. The home release will include an all-new extended edition, plus bonus features. Charlize Theron (evil Queen Ravenna) and Chris Hemsworth (Huntsman Eric) reprise their roles from "Snow White and the Huntsman" in this prequel/sequel to the 2012 film, which also stars Emily Blunt as Ravenna's sister Freya and Jessica Chastain as Eric's fellow warrior and love, Sara.
"Game of Thrones" Season 6
The most recent season of HBO's dragon drama will be available for download on Digital HD (iTunes, Vudu, Amazon Video, Google Play, Flixter, etc.) starting Monday, August 1. Bonus features include "Bran's Journey," "The Dothraki World," "Inside Game of Thrones: Prosthetics," and "The Game Revealed."
Check out this portion of "Bran's Journey," with the cast and crew talking about THAT sequence from "The Door":
"Sun Choke"
In this psychological thriller -- available on VOD and iTunes August 2, before its limited theatrical release August 5 -- Sarah Hagan plays a woman recovering from a violent psychotic break. She's subjected to a bizarre daily holistic health regimen, enforced by her lifelong caretaker, but when she develops an obsession with a stranger, her demons begin to surface. The early reviews for this one are pretty encouraging, if you don't mind narrative ambiguity.
"High-Rise"
Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller, Luke Evans, and Elisabeth Moss star in this adaptation of J.G. Ballard's classic 1975 novel about a high-rise building where wealthy individuals occupy the top floors with the best amenities, and the people stuck on the lower floors suffer blackouts and other service disruptions, leading to class warfare and revolts. The film is out on Digital HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on August 2. Bonus features include audio commentary from Tom Hiddleston, director Ben Wheatley, and producer Jeremy Thomas; an in-depth look at adapting the novel from the page to the screen; a look at the '70s set design, special effects, and more.
Check out the film's trailer, which features Tom Hiddleston nearly naked on a balcony:
"In the Deep"
Remember: It is NEVER safe to go back in the water. In this thriller, out on Digital/DVD/On Demand August 2, two sisters (Mandy Moore and Claire Holt) get trapped at the bottom of the ocean during a diving expedition, and battle injuries, lack of oxygen, and great white sharks in their fight to reach safety. This film was previously titled "47 Meters Down" before going with "In the Deep," which -- fun fact -- was the original title of Blake Lively's "The Shallows."
"Agatha Raisin & the Quiche of Death" (Acorn TV)
"Catastrophe" star Ashley Jensen plays London PR exec Agatha Raisin in this quintessentially British village mystery based on the bestselling books by M.C. Beaton. In the feature-length pilot movie, Agatha fulfills a lifelong dream of retiring to a small village. Desperate to fit in, she enters the local quiche-baking competition, only to find herself a suspect when her entry kills the judge. Oops! To save her reputation, Agatha sets out to solve the murder. The pilot premieres August 1 at Acorn.tv, and Series 1 premieres August 8.
This week starts a new month, and you know what that means -- a ton of new titles are arriving as of August 1, and a bunch more are leaving. Here are some of the exclusives arriving this week.
"The Little Prince"
This is the first animated feature film adaptation of the beloved story, and it's debuting in the U.S. on Netflix this Friday, August 5. It premiered in May 2015 at the Cannes Film Festival and it was supposed to have a theatrical release in the U.S., but instead it's here. C'est la vie. The all-star vocal cast includes Jeff Bridges, Rachel McAdams, Paul Rudd, Bud Cort, Marion Cotillard, Benicio Del Toro, James Franco, Ricky Gervais, Paul Giamatti, Riley Osborne, Albert Brooks, and Mackenzie Foy. Here's the synopsis from Netflix: "A little girl lives in a very grown-up world with her mother, who tries to prepare her for it. Her neighbor, the Aviator, introduces the girl to an extraordinary world where anything is possible, the world of the Little Prince."
And here's the main trailer:
"Funny or Die Presents: Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie"
You may be familiar with this "Funny or Die" spoof, starring Johnny Depp as Donald Trump, since it made a big splash when it appeared out of nowhere back in February. It's now available for streaming on Netflix, starting August 1. Depp and a dozen other major celebs star in this "lost film" based on Trump's own 1987 advice book. The "TV movie" starts with an intro from Ron Howard, and includes appearances from Alfred Molina, Robert Morse, Patton Oswalt, Jack McBrayer, Michaela Watkins, Henry Winkler, Stephen Merchant, Christopher Lloyd, Kristen Schaal, Andy Richter, Paul Scheer, Rob Huebel, Tymberlee Hill, Alf, Jordan Coleman, Joe Nuñez, and Jeremy Konner.
"David Cross: Making America Great Again"
Speaking of funny and Donald Trump, David Cross (always Tobias Fünke) appears to combine both in his original stand-up comedy special, which takes aim at the current political landscape in a set filmed live at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas. Catch it on Netflix August 5.
TV Worth Watching
"The Bachelorette" (Monday on ABC at 8 p.m.)
It's time for JoJo to choose between Robby Hayes and Aaron Rodgers's estranged brother, Jordan. Even though she probably made her decision a long time before the Season 12 finale (read the spoilers and see if they pan out), ABC still has to stretch this puppy out to make it seem "shocking" and dramatic. Then we have the "After the Final Rose" special where JoJo and her Chosen One can update fans on how they've felt about the tabloid coverage and whatnot.
"Bachelor in Paradise" (Tuesday on ABC at 8 p.m.)
You're not off the hook yet! The Bachelor Nation train stays in motion with the return of "Bachelor in Paradise," collecting rejects from the past few seasons, putting them in a tropical location together, and seeing what happens. This season reportedly ends with three engagements (read those spoilers here) and it's possible one of them may actually result in a real wedding.
"Meet the Donors: Does Money Talk" (Monday on HBO at 9 p.m.)
This in-depth documentary, from Alexandra Pelosi, takes viewers behind the scenes at top-dollar political fundraisers, and chats with dozens of mega-donors from both political parties to find out why they are pouring millions into the 2016 election. The doc debuts August 1, just after the Republican and Democratic conventions, and will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, and HBO On Demand.
Here's the trailer:
"Kingdom" (Wednesday on Audience Network at 9 p.m.)
The Season 2 finale of this drama, starring Frank Grillo as mixed martial arts legend Alvey Kulina, airs August 3. Here's the synopsis for "No Sharp Objects": "The rematch between Jay (Jonathan Tucker) and Ryan (Matt Lauria) for Jay's lightweight title belt could not come at a worse time for a reeling Jay. Alvey rescues an old friend from a bad spot."
2016 Summer Olympics (starts Friday on NBC at 7:30 p.m.)
Welcome to Rio! The 2016 Olympics start with the Opening Ceremony on August 5, from 7:30 p.m. to midnight. On Saturday, August 6, check out the U.S. Women's Soccer Team from 4 to 6 p.m. on NBCSN, then see the men's team in action Sunday from 9 to 11 p.m. on NBCSN. The fun continues until the Closing Ceremony on August 21.
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