TV & movies

The latest news and reviews of TV shows and movies.

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Amazon buys Shia LaBeouf's semi-autobiographical 'Honey Boy'
It's no secret that Amazon has been on a buying spree at Sundance, but its latest acquisition is an unusual one. The internet giant has snapped up Honey Boy, a Shia LaBeouf drama influenced by the actor's childhood and created as part of his rehab program. It's not the hugest purchase at Sundance with a $5 million price tag (Amazon paid $14 million for The Report), but it has a well-known cast beyond LaBeouf. Musician FKA Twigs, Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea) and Natasha Lyonne (Orange is the New Black).
Criterion's classic film streaming service arrives April 8th
Criterion's curated selection of films will be available for you to stream again in a few short months. The standalone Criterion Channel service will arrive on April 8th in the US and Canada, and you'll be able to stream the movies on desktop, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, iOS and Android.
Netflix is letting Zack Snyder loose on a zombie action flick
Zack Snyder is teaming up with Netflix on a heist movie set amid the zombie apocalypse. The streaming service -- which only recently announced a price hike in its quest to make a profit -- could splurge up to $90 million on Snyder's Army of the Dead, according to The Hollywood Reporter (THR).
‘Wired’ is a multi-scene movie painted and animated in VR
Movies that have been painted and animated with a VR headset are nothing new. Most, however, are single scenes that loop like an animated GIF. The camera might move around, highlighting small details, but there isn't much of a story. Wired, meanwhile, is different. It's one of the first pieces of VR animation (that is, created inside VR) with multiple scenes and a discernible narrative. The gorgeous short follows a boy exploring a world that doesn't have wireless technology. He falls from a cable above some enormous skyscrapers, provoking nearby residents to look up and appreciate the sky. The film was created by a single person: Zeyu Ren, a design student and motion graphics artist in New York. He started the project after watching Alex's Sci-Fi World, a jaw-dropping loop created by Matt Schaefer with Oculus Quill, a Facebook-owned 3D painting and animation package. Intrigued, he started experimenting with the Rift headset owned by his college, the Rhode Island School of Design.
Samsung will replace plastic packaging with eco-friendly materials
Samsung is once more improving its environmental footprint in response to pressure. The company has outlined plans to begin replacing plastic packaging with more sustainable materials. From the first half of 2019 onward, it'll ditch regular plastic in boxes for phones, appliances and other products with bioplastics, recycled plastics and paper. It's even changing product designs to reduce its waste -- phone chargers will have a matte finish that doesn't require a plastic protection film to remain pristine during shipping.
Netflix scoops up Ron Howard's 'Hillbilly Elegy' movie
Netflix is continuing its relentless charge to bring big-name filmmakers into its fold. This time around, it's scooped up an adaptation of JD Vance's bestselling memoir Hillbilly Elegy, with Ron Howard set to direct. Filming is slated to start later this year, but no one has been cast as yet.
T-Mobile's Metro is launching a 'snackable' video service in February
T-Mobile didn't launch a TV service in 2018, but it will have a little something up its sleeve in the near future. In the wake of a rumor from Cheddar, video provider Xumo has confirmed that it's partnering with the carrier's prepaid Metro brand on a "snackable content app" that would launch on two smartphones in February. The original rumor had named Xumo, but claimed that the product was closer to a TV service and that it would be pre-installed on multiple Samsung phones.
PlayStation Vue adds Cheddar's online-only news channels
Cheddar's internet-only news channels have been available on cord-cutting services ranging from Hulu to YouTube TV, but there's been a glaring omission: PlayStation Vue. That ends today. Sony has added both Cheddar Business (the more tech-focused channel) and Cheddar News (general news) to Vue's bundles, making it easy to keep up with the day's news when you're done playing Red Dead. Anyone can access Cheddar Business regardless of tier, but you'll need to pony up for an Elite or Ultra package to get Cheddar News.
Netflix is turning Mark Millar comic 'Reborn' into a feature film
Netflix isn't done announcing movies that stem from its acquisition of Millarworld. The internet giant has unveiled plans for a feature-length film based on Reborn, a fantasy comic series from Mark Millar and Greg Capullo. The story centers on Bonnie Black, a woman who learns first-hand that people go to a land of "monsters and dragons" when they die -- and realizes that her late husband is mysteriously absent. It's too early for a release schedule or cast, but Netflix already has some major personalities attached to the production.
Hulu cuts the price of its basic service to $6 per month
Hulu is becoming more affordable... so long as you're not a big fan of live TV. The service will cut the price of its basic tier from $8 to $6 per month as of February 26th for new subscribers, and with new billing cycles for existing customers after the 26th. If you're fine with on-demand video and can live with ads, it's that much more affordable to watch Handmaid's Tale or catch up on shows from TV networks. It's a not-so-subtle dig at Netflix's recent price hikes. However, subscribers to pricier tiers aren't getting this sweet deal.
YouTube TV covers all of the US
YouTube TV has come a long, long way from when you could only use it in a handful of cities. As of January 23rd, the streaming service is effectively available nationwide thanks to an expansion to 95 additional markets. It technically reaches 'just' 98 percent of Americans right now, but will reach the remaining portion "shortly thereafter." This helps YouTube TV's local coverage too -- more than 90 percent of its markets now have local affiliates from the top four broadcasters.
Netflix's 'Roma' leads streaming at the Oscars with ten nominations
It won't surprise you to hear that Netflix is particularly eager for awards this year, and it looks like that thirst might pay off at the Oscars. Alfonso Cuarón's Roma is clearly a front runner after receiving no less than ten nominations, including Best Picture, Leading Actress (Yaliza Aparicio), Directing, Foreign Language Film, Supporting Actress (Marina de Tavira), Cinematography, Original Screenplay, Production Design, Sound Editing and Sound Mixing. It'll be surprising if the movie doesn't pick up at least one of the iconic statuettes.
Netflix renews 'The Kominsky Method' after Golden Globe wins
Netflix isn't shy about its pursuit of critical glory. The streaming giant has renewed The Kominsky Method for a second season just a couple of weeks after it won two Golden Globe awards for best actor in a musical or comedy (Michael Douglas) and best musical or comedy series. The company isn't wasting time, either. Production on the new season's eight episodes will start later in January, with Douglas, Alan Arkin and other core cast members reprising their roles. It's not certain when the new run will be ready.
Apple gets first crack at documentaries from Ron Howard
Apple may have more than a few documentaries on tap for its upcoming streaming video service. Variety has learned that Apple has a "first-look" deal with Imagine Documentaries, the production company from Ron Howard and Brian Grazer. The move will give Apple the chance to snap up non-fiction works before other companies can jump in. While this won't guarantee that Apple will buy everything Imagine makes, it could leave competitors with shows that Apple either doesn't think will sell or don't fit its family-friendly culture.
Showtime offers a peek at Desus and Mero's talk show
How will podcasters Desus and Mero handle a late-night talk show on Showtime? You now have a slightly better idea. Showtime has posted a teaser for Desus & Mero that has the duo shopping for set decorations ahead of their February 21st premiere. It's very much in the spirit of their earlier work, with the rapid-fire riffing and irreverence you'd hope for -- this isn't going to be some quiet, restrained discussion of the day's affairs.
Sling TV adds personalized recommendations, starting on Apple TV
Sling TV is introducing an arguably overdue feature for insatiable viewers: personalized recommendations. As of January 17th, Apple TV users will receive custom-tailored suggestions for live and on-demand programs, whether it's a channel, a movie or a sports match. You can find it in the My TV section in a carousel alongside favorites.
Netflix announces ‘Space Force’ comedy series starring Steve Carell
If you've missed The Office and Steve Carell's Michael Scott, Netflix's latest series announcement may be a bit of welcome news. In a video, which you can see below, Netflix has revealed a new workplace comedy called Space Force, which will center on the (fictional) folks tasked with getting President Trump's Space Force up and running.
Cord cutting has grown by 50 percent in the last eight years
A new Nielsen study has found that the number of cord cutters in the US has grown by 48 percent over the past eight years. Apparently, 16 million homes no longer have traditional cable or satellite TV subscriptions, which means 14 percent of all households with TVs in the US exclusively watch over-the-air programming. That's still a relatively small percentage overall, but it shows a trend that could grow even more over time. Those 16 million homes are divided into two groups: one consists of older folks who mainly rely on their antenna, while the other is composed of tech-savvy younger people with subscriptions to streaming services.
LG sale slashes OLED TV prices by up to $1,000
It's that special time of year for TV makers -- that is, the desperate scramble to sell TVs to Super Bowl viewers looking for an upgrade. And LG is determined to capitalize on that football fandom. The company has launched a sale that cuts the prices on its B8 series OLED TVs from now through February 2nd. The 55-inch model is now down to $1,500, a sharp $800 drop versus the original $2,300 sticker price. And if you crave a bigger picture, the 65-inch version is down a full $1,000 to $2,300. Neither is exactly cheap, but they're far more alluring if you've been waiting for an excuse to indulge in OLED's high contrast ratios and fast response times.
‘10 Cloverfield Lane’ director joins ‘Uncharted’ movie
The long-awaited Uncharted movie has a new director. Dan Trachtenberg, known for 10 Cloverfield Lane, has joined the Uncharted project, Variety reports, taking over the helm after director Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum, Stranger Things) stepped down due to scheduling conflicts. Levy was initially announced as the film's director back in 2016, and the following year, Sony revealed that actor Tom Holland would play Nathan Drake, Uncharted's treasure hunter protagonist.

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