Love ‘La La Land’? Digital film purchase includes plenty of bonus features
Here’s a look at an interesting new release available to rent or own from cable and digital providers and a few titles that have recently hit streaming services.
Video on Demand
“La La Land”: Damien Chazelle’s candy-coated ode to Hollywood’s glory days (with a splash of Jacques Demy for good measure) was nominated for 14 Academy Awards but will now always be remembered for not winning best picture. It still ended up taking home six awards, including best actress for Emma Stone, best cinematography and, of course, best original song. Stone and her co-star Ryan Gosling have been paired together before (in “Crazy, Stupid, Love”), and their chemistry is unmistakable. A relatively melancholy tale of star-crossed lovers, it is gorgeously shot, ridiculously charming and packed with songs that will be embedded in your brain for weeks, if not months after viewing. Digital purchase on iTunes includes several hours worth of bonus features including an audio commentary, 10 behindthe-scenes featurettes and exclusive interviews. (Digital and cable VOD)
Also on streaming services
“American Honey”: British filmmaker Andrea Arnold (“Fish Tank”) took inspiration from, of all things, a song by the country music band Lady Antebellum for her latest feature. She took a big risk by casting an unknown woman named Sasha Lane with no prior acting experience in the leading role of the film, but it paid off. Lane is positively stunning as Star, a teenage runaway who joins a traveling group of ne’erdo-wells who sell magazine subscriptions door-to-door across the country. She falls for Jake (Shia LeBeouf ), the eldest member of the group who sort of takes her under his wing even though he’s beholden to the group’s kingpin, Krystal (Riley Keough). Shot in her now-signature 4:3 Academy ratio, Arnold’s artfully square framing is on-the-nose for these characters whose questionable life decisions are keeping them trapped in this life. Don’t let the 162-minute running time scare you off; this one is perfect for adventurous viewers. (Amazon Prime on April 27)
“Queen Of Katwe”: Based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi, Disney and ESPN Films brought in acclaimed director Mira Nair (“Monsoon Wedding”) for this heartwarming biopic of a teenage girl from the slums of Uganda who became a world champion chess player. Shot entirely in Africa with a cast of many people who had never been in front of a camera before, it is anchored by Lupita Nyong’o (“12 Years A Slave”), David Oyelowo (“Selma”), and a truly outstanding debut performance by Madina Nalwanga as Phiona. There are limits to how exciting a movie about chess can be, but Nair builds up the story with a vibrant urgency that puts it up against any of the best underdog stories you’ve ever seen. (Netflix)