Netflix will stream The Artist and other Weinstein Company films before they appear on cable

In an instance of arrogant game recognizing arrogant game, The Weinstein Company has signed an exclusive deal with Netflix—its analogue in being initially groundbreaking, then undone by its own braggadacio, then slowly clawing its way to redemption—that will allow Netflix to stream the Weinsteins’ movies before they appear on pay cable channels. These include recent releases such as The Artist, Ralph Fiennes’ Coriolanus, Madonna’s W.E., France’s The Intouchables and Sarah’s Key, and the high-school football documentary Undefeated, all of which will premiere on Netflix within a year of their theatrical releases, all of which will be welcome additions to Netflix’s frequently dire New Releases section. Especially W.E., which you can now get drunk and make fun of without the sobering hassle of first acquiring the DVD.