Filmspotting: Streaming Video Unit (SVU)

It’s that time of year on the Filmspotting: Streaming Video Unit podcast in which Matt and Alison come up with arbitrary categories in order to hand out nonexistent prizes to movies that will never hear about them — yes, it’s the 2016 SVUvie Awards. But first, a discussion of The Lobster, as well as that all important question of which animal we’d choose to spend the rest of our lives as.Opening Break: "Train to Busan" "Equity" "Southside With You"Listeners Choice Review: "The Lobster"The 2016 SVUvie AwardsBehind the 8-Ball: 3 New Releases2 Listener Recommendations1 Random Film From Our Netflix "My Lists" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a year packed with unwanted sequels and underwhelming big-budget studio movies, Matt and Alison take solace in last year’s pop-perfect CREED, then recommend some other second films from Sundance breakout directors that you can stream at home right now.Opening Break: "Demon" "Don’t Think Twice" "The Eyes of My Mother"Listeners Choice Review: "Creed"Queue Shots: What Directors of Sundance Breakout Debuts Did For Their Follow-up Film Behind the 8-Ball: 3 New Releases2 Listener Recommendations1 Random Film From Our Netflix "My Lists" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In their first ever Chicago live appearance at the first ever Chicago Podcast Festival, Matt and Alison take the stage at Schubas Tavern to recommend some streaming films to go to for a little comfort in tough times. And witness the debut of the awe-inspiring SVUvotron 5000!Opening BreakQueue Shots: Cinematic Comfort FoodThe SVUvotron 5000Behind the 8-Ball: 3 New Releases2 Listener Recommendations1 Random Film From Netflix "My Lists" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on a new Filmspotting: SVU, Alison and Matt head to Los Angeles, where Nicolas Winding Refn tells a tale of the fashion industry gone mad in THE NEON DEMON. Plus with awards season almost upon us, Matt and Alison catch up with some great movies from 2016 that are already available to rent or stream at home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ava DuVernay may be hard at work on Disney's $100 million "A Wrinkle in Time now, but the first thing she did after directing the Oscar-nominated 2014 Selma was to quietly make 13TH, a documentary about mass incarceration and racial injustice in the U.S. that is painfully timely. This week, Matt and Alison talk about the Netflix original and about form versus content, and recommend some other nonfiction work from directors best known for their fiction films, available right now on rental and streaming.Opening Break: "In a Valley of Violence" "Our Kind of Traitor" "USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage"Listeners Choice Review: "13th"Queue Shots: Nonfiction Films From Directors Known For FictionBehind the 8-Ball: 3 New Releases2 Listener Recommendations1 Random Film From Netflix "My Lists" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the new SVU, Matt and Alison review the new Amazon Prime series FLEABAG. And since the show’s main character frequently breaks the fourth wall to talk to viewers, they’re also recommending fourth-wall-breaking movies available to rent or stream at home right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Singer and Alison Willmore just returned from a week at the Toronto Film Festival, and they're discussing all of the highlights from LA LA LAND to MOONLIGHT. Plus, Alison and Matt break down the arthouse horror hit The Witch, which is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime.Opening Break: Goat / The ShallowsListeners Choice Review: The WitchBehind the 8-Ball: 3 New ReleasesMatt: Raiders! / The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years / Roman HolidayAlison: Fleabag / Nuts! / Sunset Song2 Listener Recommendations Matt: Kill Zone 2 / Sleeping GiantAlison: The Last Panthers / Today’s Special1 Random Film From Our QueuesMatt: I’ll Have What Phil’s HavingAlison: ClevermanListeners Choice Options:Crisis in Six Scenes (Amazon Prime)Easy (Netflix)Fleabag (Amazon Prime) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt and Alison took time out from their trip to the Toronto International Film Festival to discuss the offerings from Amazon Prime's latest Pilot Season: THE TICK, JEAN-CLAUDE VAN JOHNSON and I LOVE DICK. Plus, if you like these pilots, they have some other recommendations for films you might enjoy that are available to rent or stream right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With America in the midst of one of the craziest elections in recent memory, it's the perfect time to watch a political documentary and on the new episode of Filmspotting: Streaming Video Unit, Matt Singer and Alison Willmore recommend some of their favorites that are available right now on rental and streaming. And speaking of crazy elections and political documentaries, they also review the recent doc WEINER about the rise and fall (sorry) of former Congressman and New York City Mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Acclaimed at the Cannes Film Festival, and an award winner and huge box office hit in France, THE LITTLE PRINCE was nonetheless dropped by its original U.S. distributor. Instead of a theatrical release, it went straight to Netflix, which is where Matt and Alison watched it for their review on the new episode of SVU. Plus, they recommend other stop-motion animated movies you can watch at home right now, and respond to your feedback about their controversial review of STRANGER THINGS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices