David Farnor | On 18, Aug 2016

Between Stranger Things, Creed, Wolf Hall, Sicario and Brooklyn, you’d be forgiven for not noticing anything else on Netflix UK this month. But every wave of excellent new arrivals comes at the price of having to bid farewell to the titles whose rights have expired, to be renewed at a later date, or, often, never at all.

This is your last chance to stream the following on Netflix UK this summer:

Starman – 18th August

John Carpenter’s 1984 sci-fi romance stars Jeff Bridges as an alien who takes the form of a young widow’s husband.

Death at a Funeral (2007) – 24th August

Peter Dinklage steals the whole show in this British comedy about a funeral for the patriarch of a dysfunctional family, which is interrupted by a mysterious guest’s attempt to reveal a dark secret about the deceased. Matthew Mcfadyen is reliably deadpan in the lead, with support from Kris Marshall, Peter Vaughan, Andy Nyman, Alan Tudyk and the ever-excellent Keeley Hawes.

Hannah and Her Sisters – 24th August

Hannah and Her Sisters opens with a camera drifting through a house party, looking at an unsuspecting Barbara Hershey. Finally, it settles on Michael Caine. His voice is recognisable, but only just, as he stands there in his frumpy jumper and oversized specs. He plays Elliot, a man married to the titular Hannah (Mia Farrow) and also in love with her sister, Lee. Elliot’s rambling mid-life crisis takes us through this painful and brilliant drama, bringing with it all the confusion and chaos of human relationships. One of Woody Allen’s most mature pieces, it will leave you bewitched, bothered and bewildered.

Noah – 27th August

Examining what it takes to blindly follow instructions that will wipe out the rest of humanity, Darren Aronofsky’s version of Noah is bold and idiosyncratic, taking into account everything from fertility and sin to evolution itself. Russell Crowe and Ray Winstone go full pelt in this Biblical epic.

The Adventures of Tintin – 31st August

This 1992 US animated series based on the classic comics is enjoyably passionate about its source material, keeping the plots and simple line-drawing style of Herge’s illustrations – plus an impressively cinematic opening credits sequence. It’s occasionally a tad cheesy, but no less entertaining because of it.

Spies of Warsaw – 31st August

David Tennant stars in this BBC adaptation of Alan Furst’s novels, which sees Colonel Jean-François Mercier, the French military attache in Warsaw, drawn into a world of intrigue and abduction in the Polish capital – and falls into an affair with lawyer Anna Skarbek (Janet Montgomery) along the way. Classy stuff.

Cloverfield – 31st August

What is Clover? In short, it’s a giant monster. Where is it from? No idea. What’s its motivation? Not a clue. All we know for sure is it’s big, mean, and it can decapitate the Statue of Liberty from 50 paces. Matt Reeves’ thoroughly modern monster movie captures the immediate terror of destruction from ground level. Come for the thrills and fascinating creature design. Stay for the subtle, smart framing, which prevents us seeing too much of what’s going on.

Hobo with a Shotgun – 31st August

Rutger Hauer stars in this violent trashy revenge flick that does exactly what it says on the tin.

The House of the Devil – 31st August

Ti West’s breakout horror movie remains one of the genre’s best in recent years.

Lilting – 31st August

Ben Whishaw gives his most subtle performance to date as a young man struggling to come to terms with the death of Kai, his boyfriend. He ends up befriending Kai’s Chinese-speaking mother, Junn, who lives a mundane existence in a nearby nursing home. This debut feature from director Hong Khaou is a magnificent sigh of a movie. (Read our review.)

The Magnificent Seven – 31st August

Before the remake arrives, don’t miss the chance to catch the iconic original western.

Muscle Shoals – 31st August

A documentary that celebrates Rick Hall, the founder of FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and the signature sound he developed.

No Country for Old Men – 31st August

The Coen brothers’ Western, starring Josh Brolin and Kelly MacDonald, follows a Sheriff’s investigation into a psychopath’s trail of killings – and the hunter who finds himself with the killer on his tail. Tommy Lee Jones has never been better as the weary lawman nearing retirement, while Javier Bardem is chilling as the pneumatic cattle gun-wielding Anton.

Whip It – 31st August

Although both sports underdog stories and “kid wanting to do something parents don’t approve of” movies have already been done before, Whip It combines the two with a great cast – Elliot Page as 17-year-old Bliss and Alia “Maeby Funke” Shawkt” are her best friend, Pash. Together, they venture into the violence-and-fishnets world of Roller Derby. The directorial debut of Drew Barrymore, this is a chick flick with actual chicks – and it’s such a relief to see roles like this around.

The Crazies – 1st September

Remakes of horror movies don’t tend to turn out well, but this update of The Crazies is genuinely creepy stuff. As an infection spreads through a small US town, residents begin to, well, go crazy. The reaction of the locals gives this film some bite – and Timothy Olyphant as the sheriff elevates the whole production above generic B-movie – but it’s the sheer visceral thrills on offer that really grab your attention.

 

Other titles leaving Netflix UK in July and August 2016

18th August
Doing Hard Time
The Legend of Billie Jean
The Mountain Men
The Strange Colour of Your Body’s Tears

19th August
Art & Music
Harry the Bunny
Numbers Parade
Tillie Knock Knock

21st August
Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey

23rd August
Just Like a Woman

24th August
A Family Thing
An All Dogs Christmas Carol
French Kiss
Kalifornia
Species III

28th August
Ride Along

31st August
51
A Good Old Fashioned Orgy
A Year in Burgundy
Airplane II: The Sequel
Along Came a Spider
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Asterix The Gaul
Asterix: The Twelve Tasks
The Bastard Sings the Sweetest Song
St. George’s Day (Berlin Job)
Brave
The Cry of the Owl
Days of Thunder
Dragon Eyes
Flame and Citron
Genius Party
Genius Party Beyond
Giggle and Hoot’s Best Ever!
Girl Rising
Hercules
I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell
In the Electric Mist
Joanna Lumley: The Quest for Noah’s Ark
Legion
Life Below Zero
Love the Beast
The Magic Roundabout
Men at Lunch
Milk
Mind Game
Naked Ambition
Note to Self
Nurse
The One
Love & Other Impossible Pursuits
The Prince
Princess Arete
The Ramen Girl
Semisweet: Life in Chocolate
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Transit
The Unbelievers
Uprising

1st September
The Double
Hey Arnold! The Movie
We Are the Freaks

7th September
The Expendables 3
The Unbeatables

8th September
1 Way Up: The Story of Peckham BMX
Kiss of Death

9th September
The Hungover Games

10th September
12 Segundos

12th September
Jay and Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie

14th September
Jack & Diane
Love Wrecked
Savannah
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
Tiny Furniture
Tweeny Witches
Twelve
When I Walk

15th September
An Evening with Kevin Smith
Assault on Wall Street
Hudson Hawk
Les Miserables (1998)
The Marksman
Swing Vote

23rd September
Friday Night Lights

 

With thanks to uk.newonnetflix.info for some of the information.

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