“Mute” (available Friday on Netflix): Duncan Jones, son of David Bowie, made a great film in 2009 (“Moon”), a decent one in 2011 (“Source Code”) and a horrendous one in 2016 (“Warcraft”). Now, he heads over to Netflix, the bottomless well of money, seeking redemption with “Mute,” a sci-fi thriller starring Alexander Skarsgard as a mute bartender looking for his missing girlfriend in futuristic Berlin. The film also stars Paul Rudd and Justin Theroux as a pair of U.S. army surgeons named, respectively, Cactus Bill and Duck. And, yeah, I’m there. “Mute” looks like the quintessential “Let’s just try it and see how it is” Friday night movie that Netflix is quickly establishing as its own genre. It might be good, it might be bad, it’ll probably be a little of both. But whatever the case, it’s on and it’s really easy to watch.“The Joel McHale Show With Joel McHale” … [Read more...] about New movies and TV streaming on Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Showtime and Amazon Prime
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As It Saves the Sitcom Once Again, Amazon’s Catastrophe Is Anything But
The spat between Rob (Rob Delaney) and Sharon (Sharon Horgan) that opens the second-season premiere depicts exactly what brought the unlikely couple together — and what may drive them apart. Sharp, caustic and ever so slightly mean-spirited, Rob and Sharon usually reserve their wit for making fun of other couples, but now they've turned on one another. Sharon, pregnant and miserable, is deep into watching a reality show when Rob tries his best to woo her away. Unfortunately for Rob, his sexual prowess is no match for trashy TV and a coffee mug full of ice cream. Their petty sniping results in hurt feelings, stormy exits and enthusiastic make-up sex (Him: "Put your finger in my asshole!" Her, trying to reach around her giant belly: "How?!"). Once they're interrupted mid-thrust by an inquisitive toddler and a barking dog, we're really off to the races.What first made Catastrophe so compelling and surprising is muted in this latest season, released by Amazon on April 13. The … [Read more...] about As It Saves the Sitcom Once Again, Amazon’s Catastrophe Is Anything But
Inside Amazon’s $250M ‘Lord of the Rings’ Deal: “It’s Very Much a Creature of the Times”
Nearly 45 years after his death, J.R.R. Tolkien scored the biggest Hollywood deal of 2017. Since the British author doesn't return phone calls anymore, it took a phalanx of lawyers and dealmakers to bring to fruition what is poised to be the most expensive TV show ever. On Nov. 13, Amazon Studios beat out Netflix for a $250 million rights deal with the Tolkien estate, publisher HarperCollins and New Line Cinema that includes a five-season commitment to bring The Lord of the Rings to the small screen. With the clock ticking, Amazon must be in production within two years, according to the terms of the pact. When production expenses like casting, producers and visual effects are factored in, the series is expected to cost north of $1 billion. Within weeks of Amazon chief Jeff Bezos' directive last September to his since-ousted content chief Roy Price to bring in the next Game of Thrones, negotiations were underway that also involved publisher HarperCollins and New Line. Greenberg … [Read more...] about Inside Amazon’s $250M ‘Lord of the Rings’ Deal: “It’s Very Much a Creature of the Times”
Pentagon Reportedly Eying Amazon for Lucrative IT Contract Despite Trump’s Attacks
As President Donald Trump continues to wage war with Amazon, the Department of Defense is reportedly considering the company as their first choice for a multi-billion dollar computer deal. While most people might be familiar with Amazon as an online mega-retailer, the company has provided cloud computing services to U.S. intelligence agencies through contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Trump has not made mention of that fact recently, but he has talked about how Amazon supposedly abuses the tax and postal systems while using Washington Post — owned by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos — as a lobbyist of sorts. The Pentagon is currently taking applications from multiple companies looking to ink a DOD cloud-services contract that may be worth up to $10 billion. While the deal won’t be finalized for months, Business Insider reports that the DOD will probably award the contract to Amazon, and officials are already taking steps to adapt to the company’s government … [Read more...] about Pentagon Reportedly Eying Amazon for Lucrative IT Contract Despite Trump’s Attacks
Trump Blasts Washington Post Over ‘Phony’ Headline on China Trade War Story: ‘Amazon’s Chief Lobbyist’
Earlier this week, Vanity Fair‘s Gabriel Sherman reported, through a source, that President Donald Trump has been consumed of late by the following question: “[H]ow can I fuck with [Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos]?” Trump’s answer, apparently, is to go after Amazon — and the Bezos-owned Washington Post for good measure — on Twitter. In a Thursday morning Tweet, Trump blasted the paper for its headline on a story about the escalating trade conflict with China. “The Fake News Washington Post, Amazon’s ‘chief lobbyist,’ has another (of many) phony headlines, “Trump Defiant As China Adds Trade Penalties.” WRONG!” Trump wrote. “Should read, “Trump Defiant as U.S. Adds Trade Penalties, Will End Barriers And Massive I.P. Theft.” Typically bad reporting!” The Fake News Washington Post, Amazon’s “chief lobbyist,” has another (of many) phony headlines, “Trump Defiant As China … [Read more...] about Trump Blasts Washington Post Over ‘Phony’ Headline on China Trade War Story: ‘Amazon’s Chief Lobbyist’