As a result of the coronavirus
outbreak, Hollywood has been forced to make some changes. With theaters shut
down, the deadline for digital releases has been moved up. Movies which have recently premiered (or are slated to open in the
following weeks) have stuck filmmakers between a rock and a hard place: with
discouraging box-office results and no solution in sight.
Several studios, like NBC
Universal, in anticipation of making some money, have disclosed plans to put a rush on their digital
releases. Much ahead of their schedule, the studios are hoping to make up for lost
funds while providing entertainment for Americans holed up at home. In some
instances, the studios will release these movies only weeks after the theater
premieres, rather than after the typical couple of months.
Beginning March 20, the
first set of movies was digitally released. The next set followed on March 24.
The majority of the movies will be accessible on platforms like iTunes, Amazon
Prime, some cable providers, and gaming systems like Xbox and PlayStation.
Unfortunately, most of the
platforms will offer these digital releases at higher prices (about $20 per
purchase or rental). It is important to note, though, that this price is not
too far from that of going to the movie theaters in general. Think about how
expensive popcorn, Icees, and tickets can be.
If you are looking for the
right movie for you, check out the guide below for the first week of these quick
turnaround digital releases.
AVAILABLE NOW:
Emma
As the OG of romantic
comedies, Emma is among the few Jane Austen stories which lean heavily on dark satire. Emma, created by photographer and music
video director Autumn de Wilde, hits the nail on the head. This adaptation of Emma, with lovely Anya Taylor-Joy at the
helm, dredges up the craziness of the insanely wealthy (and those who surround
them) during the 19th century: the pretensions, the ruffles that hide the
brutalities of everyday life, and, of course, absolute apathy.
How to watch it: Emma can be digitally rented or bought on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Prime,
and FandangoNow.
The Hunt
A bunch of hicks awaken in
the middle of a field, to quickly discover that they are being hunted as a
pastime by a set of elites. The question remains: Who are these hunters and are
they really elites? The Hunt is a satirical take, which aims to make fun
of everyone involved. Yet it misses the point as to what satire is supposed to
do and how it works. Instead of overemphasizing the concept it intends to impale, The Hunt duplicates
them unyieldingly. Instead of pointing to a specific behavior or ethos that led
to our national turmoil, the movie points to the symptoms as the problem--placing
emphasis on slogans and bywords and hot-button phrases we throw around in the
media. The Hunt, if not jumping face-first, at least plays right into
themes of cynicism and nihilism.
How to watch it: The Hunt can be watched via iTunes,
Google Play, Amazon Prime, FandangoNow, and a number of other on-demand
services.
The Invisible Man
The Invisible Man, bizarrely opportune, went
to theaters days after Harvey Weinstein was convicted on two sex crime charges.
Elizabeth Moss plays a wife, desperately hoping to get away from the abusive
grasp of her husband, a man who has discovered a means to be invisible. As
viewers, we have the chance to endure the complete and utter dread of a victim
gone unbelieved and look on into the multiple forms that abusers use to exploit
their victims. The Invisible Man
explores the toxic manner in which abusers make themselves seem like the
victim, rather than the other way around. The story stands the test of time,
reflecting a reality for many, many Americans, who struggle to escape abusive
relationships.
How to watch it: You can rent or buy The Invisible Man on iTunes, Google
Play, Amazon Prime, FandangoNow, and other on-demand streaming services.
Onward
Onward explores the lives of two
brothers, in search of their late father. The movie is set in a world once
racked and rampant with magic that has since become mundane. The plot makes use
of the fantastical elements, utilized by Tolkien and fantasy role-playing game
creators alike, but mixes in the bland parts of everyday realities. Onward does a fantastic job in crafting
the loving relationship between the two brothers, awarding the movie its unique
impression of the magical world.Onward, like many other Pixar films,
combines the bittersweet with the sweet and hysterical, making it a movie for
families to enjoy together.
How to watch it: Onward can be found, for rental or
purchase, on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Prime, and FandangoNow. And if none of
these options tickle your fancy, the movie is set to arrive on Disney+ today.
Bloodshot
Vin Diesel, starring as Ray
Garrison, plays a retired soldier in search of revenge for his wife's death.
Inspired by the Valiant Comics series crafted by Kevin VanHook, Don Perlin, and
Bob Layton, Bloodshot, though not the
best action movie, is full of shocks and guns and gunfights galore. If you're
feeling overwhelmed by all this coronavirus talk and want something to take
your mind off it completely, this movie is perfect for you. I mean, come on,
it's Vin Diesel.
How to watch it: Bloodshot can be purchased or rented
via iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Prime, FandangoNow, and other instant streaming
services.
Birds of Prey
Birds of Prey stars Margot Robbie as
colorful and violent Harley Quinn. Fresh out of a toxic relationship with the
Joker, Quinn sets out to forget him. The movie offers viewers a chance to watch
Harley and her wicked gang take to the streets--starring Black Canary, played by
Jurnee Smollett-Bell; police detective Renee Montoya, played by Rosie Perez;
assassin Huntress, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead; and street urchin
Cassandra Cain, played by Ella Jay Basco--and inflict chaos on bad, bad men,
among them Ewan McGregor's crime boss Roman Sionis. The movie, though
attempting to hold some feminist substance, offers little to the audience. But
it's always nice to see Margot Robbie on the screen.
How to watch it: Birds of Prey is available for purchase
on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Prime, and FandangoNow. It will be accessible by
rental on April 7.
The Gentlemen
Guy Ritchie, alongside an
assembly of Hollywood's finest men (Hugh Grant, Jeremy Strong, Charlie Hunnam,
Matthew McConaughey, Colin Farrell, and Henry Golding) returns to the silver
screen in a story of rampant crime and disorder. Karen Han of Polygon notes,
"Ritchie is no longer the strongest beast in the forest, and he's aging out of
the game, too ... his brand of humor, which might have flown in the late 90s
and early 2000s, has aged in an ugly way. Every part of The Gentlemen is
classic Ritchie: Scoundrels of all sorts cross paths in an ever-widening web of
crime, with sequences full of fast dialogue and fast cuts. And it comes with a
racist streak that feels severely antiquated."
How to watch it: The Gentleman can be streamed digitally
for purchase on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Prime, FandangoNow, and other
on-demand services.
Just Mercy
A large percentage of
Americans still believe in the death penalty. Just Mercy angles to rewrite the narrative, offering a realistic
account aiming to set fire to the viewers' preconceptionsof injustice and inequality.Inspired by Bryan Stevenson's
bestselling 2014 memoir, Just Mercy details
the life of Stevenson, played by Michael B. Jordan, as he works to help the
wrongfully accused in Alabama. The movie also explores the creation of
Stevenson's organization, the Equal Justice Initiative. Just Mercy zeroes in on the story of Walter "Johnny D" McMillian,
played by Jamie Foxx, a low-income black man convicted in 1987 for the murder
of a white girl, based on a false testimony. The movie is a spirited, ardent
account with a bona fide hero at the helm.
How to watch it: Just Mercy is available for purchase
or rental on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Prime, FandangoNow, and other
on-demand services.
The Way Back
Ben Affleck as Jack, a
mourning alcoholic introvert, delivers a fantastic performance, as his
character finds himself coaching basketball at his high school. Though sounding
like it could be as cliché as ever, The
Way Back doesn't allow for the viewer to get too cozy in one spot. It's a
film centered around an addict who stumbles upon a position as a high school
basketball coach but never quite throws his whole self into it. The gravity of The Way Back--its aversion to taking the
easy way out and Affleck's pledge to allow his personal pains to instruct his
performance--is reminiscent of the type of mid-budget films common in Hollywood
in the 1990s (films that weren't created to win awards). Fans of such movies
will be sure to find just what they are looking for in The Way Back.
How to watch it: The Way Back can be bought or rented via
iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Prime, FandangoNow, and other on-demand services.
