New to Streaming: Anora, Armand, Sing Sing, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, Baby Invasion, and More

      Each week, we spotlight notable titles that have recently been added to streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week's picks below, and catch up on past selections here.

      **Anora (Sean Baker)**

      Sean Baker’s *Anora* broadens his filmmaking perspective, marking his fifth consecutive story revolving around sex workers while aiming for greater awards and commercial acclaim. This film blends romance with a frantic romp through New York City, exploring themes of loss, love, and social inequality. Baker intends to take audiences on an emotional rollercoaster, culminating in a haunting desolation that becomes apparent once the film's superficial glamor dissipates. Featuring a standout performance by Mikey Madison along with a strong supporting cast, *Anora* spins until it suddenly halts, leaving behind a profound silence from both the characters and the viewers. – Michael F.

      **Where to Stream:** Hulu

      **Armand (Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel)**

      After her breakout performance in *The Worst Person in the World* in 2021, Renate Reinsve's activities in 2022 and 2023 may have seemed relatively quiet, but she was involved in several projects that have now been released. Starring in *Armand*, which is Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel’s feature debut and the grandson of Liv Ullmann and Ingmar Bergman, Reinsve follows her work in *A Different Man*, *Handling the Undead*, *Another End*, and *Presumed Innocent*. Savina Petkova noted in her Cannes review of Norway’s selection for Best International Film, “How does a child’s life differ from that of adults today? What is it like growing up in a world that’s always online? Are we capable of complete protection? These are questions contemporary cinema has grappled with recently. Various classroom dramas, including 2023’s *The Teacher’s Lounge*, have examined the intricate dynamics between school and personal life, often stemming from a singular incident. *Armand* takes a microscopic yet macro approach, avoiding judgment. Consequently, the film occupies a moral grey area between truth and deception, accusation and defense, centering its focus on the characters’ psychological states. Elisabeth (Renate Reinsve) is summoned to an urgent parent-teacher meeting after her six-year-old son Armand faces accusations of boundary violations with his classmate Jon. What truly transpired remains unknown.”

      **Where to Stream:** VOD

      **Baby Invasion (Harmony Korine)**

      *Baby Invasion* is a work of significant artistic ambition, setting a new benchmark for cinematic absurdism where every audio-visual aspect is disregarded. It prioritizes pushing boundaries over mere entertainment, aiming to provoke discussions about the essence of film and the outdated "rules" and devices it has outgrown. Korine relentlessly engages the audience in this dialogue, as he has always excelled at doing. – Luke H. (full review)

      **Where to Stream:** VOD

      **Den of Thieves 2: Pantera (Christian Gudegast)**

      What a relief it is, after the year-end seriousness of *The Brutalist* and *Nosferatu*, to return to enjoyable January pulp cinema. After seven years in development, *Den of Thieves 2: Pantera* brings us back into the realms of hard-drinking cop Big Nick (Gerard Butler) and aspiring master thief Donnie (O’Shea Jackson Jr.). The original *Den of Thieves*, despite some backhanded acknowledgment from its ardent supporters as a “douchebag *Heat*,” has surprisingly endured—partly due to a blend of ambition and sleaze reminiscent of its grizzled protagonists. – Ethan V. (full review)

      **Where to Stream:** Netflix

      **Exhibiting Forgiveness (Titus Kaphar)**

      “Your heavenly Father will forgive you if you forgive those who sin against you; but if you refuse to forgive them, he will not forgive you.” This Matthew gospel underpins Titus Kaphar’s feature debut *Exhibiting Forgiveness*, an emotionally charged story that examines the intersection of art and the unexpected resurgence of past traumas. Led by André Holland's strikingly poignant performance, the cast enhances a script that aims to connect emotionally but falls short in depth compared to the art it presents. – Jordan R. (full review)

      **Where to Stream:** Hulu

      **Force of Nature: The Dry 2 (Robert Connolly)**

      If justice prevails, viewers will have the pleasure of an Aaron Falk mystery every few years indefinitely. *Force of Nature: The Dry 2*, directed and written by Robert Connolly and based on Jane Harper’s novel, introduces a fresh case and does not require audiences to have seen its engaging predecessor, *The Dry*. Set against the fictional Giralang Ranges, an intricate rainforest, the film was filmed in various locations across Victoria,