Clockwise from top left: Tom & Jerry (Image: Warner Bros. Pictures), The United States Vs. Billie Holiday (Photo: Takashi Seida), Judas And The Black Messiah (Photo: Glen Wilson), To All The Boys: Always And Forever (Photo: Katie Yu/Netflix), Willy’s Wonderland (Photo: Screen Media Films)Graphic: Natalie Peeples
Another month, another slate of films hedging their bets between the slow reopening of movie theaters and the endless scroll of content available from home. This is a more prestigious February than most, what with studios angling to capitalize on the extended Oscar eligibility calendar; just about every week brings a potential contender, as well as belated wider releases of some of the previous year’s best-reviewed films (like Nomadland and The Father). Those with tastes that trend less respectable can look forward to Nic Cage in a Five Nights At Freddy’s riff, a classic cartoon animal duo on HBO Max, and the third installment in a Netflix rom-com trilogy. Keep reading to find out what’s coming to a living room—and, yes, some theaters—near you. And before trekking out to see a movie on the big screen, please read up on the health risks.
Netflix February 5
Like , Zendaya and John David Washington apparently kept busy enough during the pandemic to make a whole damn movie. This one doesn’t acknowledge COVID-19, but it plays more directly to its limitations: It’s a two-hander set in a single location, the well-appointed home where filmmaker Malcolm (Washington) has it out with girlfriend Marie (Zendaya) following the premiere of his new film. The onscreen strife was loosely inspired by writer/director Sam Levinson neglecting to thank his wife at the premiere of his film (in retrospect, maybe that was a kindness?). Levinson then workshopped the script with hisstar Zendaya, shot the whole thing in black and white, and completed it in time for last-minute Oscar consideration in the expanded 2020-plus eligibility period. —and not just because long stretches of the movie are a rant against film critics and their theories about artistic intent.
“this latest revival of MGM’s infamous cat and mouse duo (who, bizarrely, appear to be the only animated animals in their entire world”Uh… except for the multiple other animated animals in the Tom & Jerry trailer. Did you watch it?(Note: I’m not suggesting anybody else watch it. Just the people who get paid to write about it.)
Looking forward to Nomadland and Judas. Glad they’ll be beamed straight into my home.Suprised there’s no blurb about Minari.My local drive-in is showing Little Fish. Has anybody seen it?
As someone with actual experience with news in Yuba County, the actual county itself is much crazier than this and yet it would garner little to no media attention. The newspaper there is a shell of what it used to be, and its situated between two media markets: One that runs every news network’s local broadcast out of one building and the other covers too big of an area to look north. If you want a place to set up grift without a lot of attention, Yuba County’s a great place.
“The writer-director casts Frances McDormand, in one of her best performances in ages…”I’m intrigued. As dogshit as I thought Three Billboards was, McDormand was excellent in it.
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The World to Come could very well be very good, but the trailer feels so close to the in-movie trailer for the RDJ gay monk movie from Tropic Thunder.
“this latest revival of MGM’s infamous cat and mouse duo (who, bizarrely, appear to be the only animated animals in their entire world”Uh… except for the multiple other animated animals in the Tom & Jerry trailer. Did you watch it?(Note: I’m not suggesting anybody else watch it. Just the people who get paid to write about it.)
Blithe Spirit and I Care A Lot look like the top picks here.
Looking forward to Nomadland and Judas. Glad they’ll be beamed straight into my home.Suprised there’s no blurb about Minari.My local drive-in is showing Little Fish. Has anybody seen it?
As someone with actual experience with news in Yuba County, the actual county itself is much crazier than this and yet it would garner little to no media attention. The newspaper there is a shell of what it used to be, and its situated between two media markets: One that runs every news network’s local broadcast out of one building and the other covers too big of an area to look north. If you want a place to set up grift without a lot of attention, Yuba County’s a great place.
I can’t decide what to call my Hedwig and the Angry Inch / Earwig And The Witch mashup. “Earwig and the Angry Winch”, I think.
“The writer-director casts Frances McDormand, in one of her best performances in ages…”I’m intrigued. As dogshit as I thought Three Billboards was, McDormand was excellent in it.