Recent Arrivals, Upcoming Departures

When HBO first announced its HBO Now standalone service, the concern among many Prime subscribers was whether this meant the end of HBO's presence on Prime Instant Video. Would the contract on the service's current shows simply be allowed to run out, with no new content made available? If the additions of the last few days are any indication, you can relax: it looks like you've still got time to catch up on The Wire and The Sopranos—not to mention some other great shows that are now available, including the first seasons of Girls, Veep, and the very unlucky Dustin Hoffman-starrer, Luck.

Arrivals (HBO series)

Banshee: Season 1 (2013) (Cinemax)
Girls: Season 1 (2012)
Hung: Seasons 1-3 (2009-11)
In Treatment: Seasons 2-3 (2009-10)
John From Cincinnati: Season 1 (2007)
Luck: Season 1 (2011)


Treme: Season 4 (2013)
True Blood: Season 4 (2011)
Veep: Season 1 (2012)

Also among the new HBO titles is 2012's Game Change, with Julianne Moore kicking butt as Sarah Palin and Ed Harris as John McCain. This joins a number of other quality HBO films on Prime, many of which can be found toward the bottom of the Only On Prime page.

A few other feature films worth noting, some of which also recently showed up on Netflix:

Arrivals (features)

The Aviator (2004)
Martin Scorsese and Leonard DiCaprio show us the looniness that was Howard Hughes, while Cate Blanchett collects her first Oscar. (Hits Netflix on 6/1.)

The Cake Eaters (2007) PRIME ONLY
Kristen Stewart flexes her acting chops, minus the fangs.

The City of Your Final Destination (2009) PRIME ONLY
James Ivory's last film, with an international cast including Laura Linney, Anthony Hopkins, and Charlotte Gainsbourg.

John Sayles directs Danny Glover in Honeydripper

Honeydripper (2007) PRIME ONLY
Prime gets its first title by indie film legend John Sayles, who writes and directs this tale of 1950s rock 'n' roll in the black south.

In the Bedroom (2002)
Exquisitely mounted, gripping indie drama, nominated for five major Academy Awards, that today is mostly forgotten. Stars Nick Stahl, Tom Wilkinson, Sissy Spacek, and a luminous Marisa Tomei.

Rabbit Hole (2010)
Nicole Kidman was nominated for an Oscar in this film adaptation of the acclaimed theatrical drama.

Some of you may have noticed a previously announced date of May 20 for the streaming debut of Lynn Shelton's Laggies (2014), but for whatever reason it has yet to show up. I'll be sure to list it on the New page should it eventually appear. [5/27 Update: Laggies has arrived!]

Departures

Of the PRIME ONLY titles expiring this month, here are the most noteworthy:

Batman (1989) / Batman Returns (1992)
Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993) - one of Woody Allen's funniest, most underrated just-for-laughs comedies
A Rage in Harlem (1991)
Support Your Local Sheriff (1969)
What a Way to Go! (1964) - Shirley MacLaine stars opposite a Who's Who of leading men: Gene Kelly, Dean Martin, Paul Newman, Robert Mitchum, and Dick Van Dyke
You Can Count on Me (2000)

The hapless duo of Broad City

Also worth noting are the disappointing expirations of two extremely funny Comedy Central programs (among a slew of other CC series): season 1 of Broad City (2014) and seasons 1-2 of Inside Amy Schumer (2013-14). Both are created by and starring women, and more than give the lie to the idea that women can't be funny. Unapologetically female-centric, they're also crude, bold, smart, and hilarious. Along with the recently canceled Garfunkel & Oates (currently streaming on Netflix), they represent not only encouraging strides for women in the entertainment business, but fresh ways of finding new things to laugh at that anyone with a sense of humor, male or female, can appreciate. Both shows are available through June 4, so the long weekend is a perfect time to start your bingeing.


EXPIRING TITLES

May 30

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

May 31

And God Created Woman (1988)
Batman (1989) PRIME ONLY
Batman Returns (1992) PRIME ONLY
Cold Mountain (2003)
Dream Lover (1994)
Event Horizon (1997)
Ever After: A Cinderella Story (2008)
Frankie & Johnny (1991)
Groundhog Day (1993)
Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993) PRIME ONLY
Picture Perfect (1997)
A Rage in Harlem (1991) PRIME ONLY
Snatch (2000)
Support Your Local Sheriff (1969) PRIME ONLY
Two Girls and a Guy (1998)
Valley of the Dolls (1967)
What a Way to Go! (1964) PRIME ONLY
You Can Count on Me (2000) PRIME ONLY

June 4

Broad City: Season 1 (2014) PRIME ONLY
Inside Amy Schumer: Seasons 1-2 (2013-14) PRIME ONLY

June 11

Lucky Number Slevin (2006) - possibly returning on 6/22