Black Magick Reigns in Netflix Releases for February 2019

February 2019, better known as Year of Our Bast 1 A.B.P (After Black Panther)

The shortest, coldest month of the year arrives with some new offerings from Netflix with plenty of options to hibernate inside until Spring. Along with some spotlight original content in recognition of #BlackHistoryMonth, a potential new HWIC (Head Witch In Charge), and the addition of Dark Horse Comics adaptation The Umbrella Academy.  Something for everyone and more . . .

BLACK HISTORY MONTH NETFLIX – STYLE

In recognition of Black of History Month, Netflix also releases some original and returning content featuring dramatic and documentary content featuring strong melanated leads. The offerings show few signs of enlightening and diverse content, but rather some comedic diversions of Kevin Hart, a film about sports, and a crime series about the unsolved murders of two of Hip-Hop’s god-level MC’s.  A few new offerings, however, show signs of something new…or do they?

Free Rein: Valentine’s DayNETFLIX ORIGINAL (Avail. 2/1/19)

High Flying BirdNETFLIX FILM (Avail. 2/5/19)

“Directed by Academy Award winner Steven Soderbergh (Traffic) from a script by Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight), High Flying Bird features an acclaimed ensemble cast that includes Zazie Beetz, Melvin Gregg, Sonja Sohn, Zachary Quinto, Kyle MacLachlan and Bill Duke, plus appearances from NBA athletes Reggie Jackson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Donovan Mitchell.”

Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black HistoryNETFLIX ORIGINAL (Avail. 2/5/19)

Unsolved: Tupac & Biggie (Avail. 2/27/19)

MY PICKS

Siempre Bruja (Always a Witch)NETFLIX ORIGINAL (Avail. 2/1/19)

The most interesting release comes in the form of Siempre Bruja (Always a Witch), a series that follows Carmen, an 18-year-old Colombian slave and witch, who travels from the 17th century to the present day to save her lover. The story takes place in present day Cartagena. They lost me at “slave.”  Framing any and all black narratives around the most traumatic 1% of “black history,” known as the Transatlantic Slave Trade is a trite and overused conceit. While I am intrigued about an Afro-Latino narrative with a witch as the character, the “slavery” angle feels cheap and problematic. If the lover she is trying to save in the series happens to be her white slave master or slave master’s son, then 2019 is officially compromised.

Not all black narratives are good narratives…I like to think in terms of dividing these films/series into a few categories: Black Art made for and by Black people (New Jack City), Black Art made for white people by Black people (The Hate You Give), Black art made for white people by white people (Detroit), and Black art made by Black people for everybody, but really Black People (arguably, Black Panther). Let’s see where this one falls . . .

ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam CookeNETFLIX ORIGINAL (Available 2/5/19)

Remastered is a new long form documentary series featuring critically-acclaimed directors helming in depth stories of master musicians and their impact on society. The debut episode revolves around Soul music’s legend Sam Cooke, a figure shrouded in immortality for his advocacy of rights for black musicians and his battles with record executives. As a fan of Sam Cooke and his work on Stax Records, I hope this one is good.

The Umbrella AcademyNETFLIX ORIGINAL

Based on the Dark Horse comic created by Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance, The Umbrella Academy, the series follows six adopted kids with special powers who reunite when their father dies. Offbeat and stylish, it offers signs of Netflix not suffering for comic book property content after dumping the Marvel properties.


Dropping on Netflix February 2019

Avail. 2/1/19

About a Boy
American Pie
American Pie 2
American Wedding
As Good as It Gets
Billy Elliot
Dear ExNETFLIX FILM
Final Destination
Hairspray
Hostel
Jaws
Jaws 2
Jaws 3
Jaws: The Revenge
Personal Shopper
Pretty in Pink
Russian DollNETFLIX ORIGINAL

The Edge of Seventeen
True: Happy Hearts DayNETFLIX ORIGINAL
Velvet BuzzsawNETFLIX FILM

Avail. 2/2/19

Bordertown: Season 2NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Romance is a Bonus Book (Streaming Every Saturday)NETFLIX

Avail. 2/3/19

Disney’s Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Avail. 2/5/19

Ray Romano: Right Here, Around the CornerNETFLIX ORIGINAL

El árbol de la sangreNETFLIX FILM
High Flying BirdNETFLIX FILM
Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black HistoryNETFLIX ORIGINAL
One Day at a Time: Season 3NETFLIX ORIGINAL

The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants: Season 2NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Unauthorized LivingNETFLIX ORIGINAL

Avail. 2/9/19

The Break: Season 2NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Avail. 2/10/19

Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj: Volume 2 (Streaming Every Sunday)NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Avail. 2/11/19

Flavorful Origins: Chaoshan CuisineNETFLIX ORIGINAL

Little Women

Avail. 2/14/19

Dating AroundNETFLIX ORIGINAL
Ken Jeong: You Complete Me, HoNETFLIX ORIGINAL

Avail. 2/15/19

Larry Charles’ Dangerous World of ComedyNETFLIX ORIGINAL

The Breaker UpperersNETFLIX FILM
The Dragon Prince: Season 2NETFLIX ORIGINAL

YucatanNETFLIX FILM

Avail. 2/16/19

Black Sea
Studio 54
The 40-Year-Old Virgin

Avail. 2/21/19

The Drug KingNETFLIX FILM

Avail. 2/22/19

Chef’s Table: Volume 6NETFLIX ORIGINAL
FirebrandNETFLIX FILM
GO! Vive a tu maneraNETFLIX ORIGINAL
PaddletonNETFLIX FILM
Paris Is Us (Paris est à nous)NETFLIX FILM
Rebellion: Season 2NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Suburra: Season 2NETFLIX ORIGINAL
The Big Family Cooking Showdown: Season 2NETFLIX ORIGINAL
The Photographer of MauthausenNETFLIX FILM
Workin’ MomsNETFLIX ORIGINAL

Avail. 2/25/19

Dolphin Tale 2

Avail. 2/26/19

Our Idiot Brother

Avail. 2/27/19

Unsolved: Tupac & Biggie

Avail. 2/28/19

Jeopardy!: Collection 2
The Rebound

Gone, Yet Not Forgotten

Some excellent titles will be shuffled away for the winter, so if you have somehow missed out on classics like Black Dynamite, Children of Men, Clerks, The Big Lebowski, you better make quick use of your download access. See the full list below.

Leaving 2/1/19

Black Dynamite
Bride of Chucky
Children of Men
Clerks
Disney’s The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Ella Enchanted
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Queer as Folk: Seasons 1-4
Queer as Folk: The Final Season
Shaun of the Dead
The Big Lebowski
The Bourne Ultimatum
Woman in Gold

Leaving 2/2/19

Cabin Fever

Leaving 2/3/19

Sing

Leaving 2/19/19

Disney’s Girl Meets World: Seasons 1-3

Leaving 2/20/19

Piranha

Cozy up and choose well, but whatever you watch or buy, remember Black is always is in season 🙂

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