‘Gotti” needlessly scrambles chronology about New York crime boss
There might be a good movie to be made about the New York crime boss John Gotti starring John Travolta, but the slapdash “Gotti” is not that picture.
There’s a few scenes which are involving, including an interlude in which Gotti’s longtime pal (Pruitt Taylor Vince) arranges a hit behind his back, but the movie needlessly scrambles the chronology; so one minute Gotti is an up-and-comer, and the next minute he’s in prison serving a life sentence. That said, Travolta fans will want to take a look at the film thanks to the actor’s ability to occasionally elevate the lackluster material with his star power. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu.
Also new to VOD and streaming
The Seagull: Based on the play by Anton Chekhov, this sharp tragicomedy, set at a lakeside estate outside Moscow, centers on an aging actress (Annette Bening) who discovers that her younger lover (Corey Stoll) is smitten with a country girl (Saoirse Ronan) who’s also being pursued by Bening’s troubled son (Billy Howle). While an attempt to shake up the timeline doesn’t work, this masterful look at unrequited love, and the complicated bonds between parents and children, boasts one of Bening’s best-ever performances, and that’s saying something. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu.
Ghost Stories: Here’s a horror movie which pulls the rug out from under you in the last act, and turns into something deeper, darker and more resonant. It centers on a TV host (Andy Nyman) who debunks all things paranormal. But his skepticism is tested by the cases of three strangers (Paul Whitehouse, Alex Lawther, Martin Freeman) who are haunted by things that go bump in the night. In the end “Ghost Stories” is all about guilt, and how it can inflame your fears and destroy your life. This is one smart, occasionally surreal chiller. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu.
The Source: Chuck Workman’s fascinating documentary about the Beats intercuts footage of Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs with readings of their work by John Turturro, Johnny Depp and Dennis Hopper. While Workman does a fine job exploring the Beats’ early days, as well as their influence on the next generation of hippies, he glides over some drama of the period, including Burroughs’ fatal shooting of his wife. “The Source” isn’t definitive, but it is an engrossing, fast-paced look at a handful of writers who succeeded in shaking up the status quo. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu.
Madame Secretary: Season 4: In the years since “The West Wing” went off the air, few political dramas have captured the show’s blend of humor and highstakes drama as well as this underrated Beltway thriller starring Tea Leoni as a principled pol. Leoni is fun to watch, whether she’s dealing with international issues, such as the murder of a foreign diplomat, or personal milestones, like sending her daughter off to college. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu.
American Horror Story: Cult: The great Sarah Paulson is front and center for the latest 11 episodes of the nerve-shredding series from Ryan Murphy. Paulson plays a restaurant owner who, along with her chef wife (Alison Pill), becomes entangled with a politically motivated cult leader (Evan Peters) plotting a murder spree. Set post-election, “Cult” finds a way to scare you silly with knife-wielding killer clowns while also commenting on politics, terrorism and the art of gaslighting. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu.
The Looming Tower: A Limited Series: Based on Lawrence Wright’s bestselling book, this superb 10-episode Hulu series chronicles how the rivalry between the FBI and CIA may have helped set the stage for 9/11. Members of the two agencies, represented by a CIA chief (Peter Sarsgaard) and an FBI head (Jeff Daniels), were chasing the same leads and routinely withholding information, with tragic results. “The Looming Tower” is must-see TV. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu.
Supergirl: The Complete Third Season: One of the most charming superheroes in the DC Universe, Kara Danvers/Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) is back just in time to do battle with Morgan Edge and Reign, among others. While the Girl of Steel is as capable as ever of saving National City, she is a bit more vulnerable in her personal life. Luckily she has her sister (Chyler Leigh) to help her through the tough times. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu.