In the age of subscription streaming services, film aficionados can feel confined in the mainstream media that Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Video have to offer. Movie buffs have to look far and wide to stream well-crafted Hollywood classics, cult favorites, and arthouse independent films. Turner Classic Films, in part with the Criterion Collection, have sought out to bring hope to the film community by creating FilmStruck: a digital passageway into the world’s greatest independent film library.
FilmStruck shares a common goal with its parent companies: present films the way their creators envisioned them to be seen. FilmStruck is more concerned with building a robust and renowned library than creating original series or releasing popular titles. Each and every one of FilmStruck’s critically acclaimed 500+ classic films are High-Definition restorations, meticulously hand-picked by film enthusiasts. What sets FilmStruck apart from conventional streaming services is their augmented media features. Augmented media adds valuable context and a wealth of insight into director’s deliberate techniques, allowing viewers to further their knowledge and appreciation for the already-beloved films. Other bonus features include thematic programming (inspired by Turner Classic Films), director profiles, guest-curated series, commentary tracks, and live streaming events for a well-rounded viewing experience. In addition, each title is thoughtfully organized by genre, theme and director; never again do streamers need to forage through a carousel of below-par films just to find one that will suffice. FilmStruck cinephiles will notice a shift in their cinematic mentality from What do I want to watch? to Why do I want to watch?
IB Film student, Grace Copeland, expressed her excitement over the new service: “FilmStruck is a brilliant idea. A medium where you can instantly watch hard-to-find films, nonetheless get insight directly from their directors is desperately needed in the film community.” However, exceptional cinema comes with a small monthly fee. Starting in November, FilmStruck will be streaming from filmstruck.com, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, iOS and Android devices starting at $6.99/month. Dedicated FilmStruck fans can pay an increased fee of $10.99 to access thousands of Criterion masterpieces and special features.