Wallis revives ‘Annie’
What’s new to watch this week on pay-per-view and streaming services:
Pay-per-view / video on demand
Quvenzhané Wallis, the plucky, Oscar-nominated tyke from “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” plays the sunny singing orphan in the “Annie” remake opposite Jamie Foxx, Rose Byrne and Cameron Diaz. Rated PG. Also available on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital download and for rent at Redbox.
“Song of the Sea,” an Irish fairy tale drawn in storybook images by Irish animator Tomm Moore, was nominated for best animated feature Oscar. The family-friendly, PG-rated tale is on pay-per-view, while his Oscar-nominated debut feature, “The Secret of Kells,” is on Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Chris Rock writes, directs and stars in “Top Five” as a superstar comedian facing a midlife crisis.
Netflix
Stream two of the most acclaimed films of 2014. “Life Itself,” a heartfelt tribute to influential film critic Roger Ebert by filmmaker Steve James, is as much about the way Ebert engaged with life as it is about a life engaging movies and movie fans. “ Force Majeure,” Sweden’s official entry at the Oscars, is a painfully funny family dramedy and a real conversation starter. It’s in Swedish with subtitles. Both are rated R.
Netflix debuts a new original series this week. Kyle Chandler is the sheriff of a small Florida Keys town and Ben Mendolsohn the black sheep brother in “ Bloodline: Season 1,” a drama from the creators of “Damages” (who apply a similar flashback style here). It boasts a great cast – Linda Cardellini, Sam Shepard and Sissy Spacek co-star – and plenty of dark family secrets. All 13 episodes now available.
More binge watch options: “ A Different World: The Complete Series,” the college spin-off of “The Cosby Show,” and “ 3rd Rock from the Sun: Complete Series“ have just been added, and you can catch up with the musical dramedy “ Glee: Season 5,” the animated farce “ Archer: Season 5,” the cops of “ Hawaii Five-0: Season 1-4,” and the Sundance TV drama “ Rectify: Season 2.”
Amazon Prime Instant Video
Terry Gilliam revisits “Brazil” territory in “ The Zero Theorem,” a steampunk sci-fi comedy starring Christoph Waltz as a neurotic computer genius trying to find the meaning of life through a computer program.
Hulu Plus
No one seeks out bad TV unless it is so bad it defies belief. “ The Neighbors“ is just that: a shrill, awkward, practically unintelligible self-produced sitcom from Tommy Wiseau, the writer/director/star of the midnight movie sensation “The Room.” Hulu has the first four episodes. You have been warned.