From weird science experiments to poignant dramas to Michelle Obama’s story.
With theaters still closed due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the future of the movies this year is still up in the air. But film releases have not slowed down. Each weekend, on streaming services and through “virtual theatrical” releases, new and newly available movies arrive to delight cinephiles of all stripes.
This weekend’s offerings range from a teenage self-reinvention romp to a documentary about a former first lady finding her own voice. Two modest but stunning dramas about ties between neighbors and families have premiered as well as a startling documentary about cycles of childhood abuse. And there’s the strange story of a group of eight people who locked themselves inside a “biosphere” for two years. (Most of the films that were newly released in recentweeksarealsostillavailableto watch.)
Here are six of the best movies, from a range of genres, that premiered this week and are available to watch at home — some for a few bucks on digital services, some through virtual theatrical engagements, and some to subscribers on streaming platforms.
Like her memoir of the same name, Becoming chronicles Michelle Obama’s experiences after her husband’s presidency ended, in her own words. But the film doesn’t only focus on Obama’s story. It occasionally moves its focus away from Obama (and her famous husband, who appears only briefly) and onto some of the women and girls she encountered during her Becoming book tour, during which she met with small groups to talk about their lives and their futures. Obama does share intimate details of her life in the film as well, but years of being a highly scrutinized public figure have polished her to a sheen; these are carefully chosen details, thought out and planned. But that doesn’t detract from her charisma or the authority she commands. Becoming’s most inspirational moments come when we see Obama’s willingness to admit that she’s struggled to find who she is, and, in turn, when we hear her urge others toward fearlessly doing the same.
How to watch it:Becoming is streaming on Netflix.
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Driveways is surprising at every turn. It’s a modest and gentle story about a boy named Cody (Lucas Jaye) who feels out of place, and his friendship with the Korean War vet named Del (Brian Dennehy, who passed away in April) who lives next door. But it’s not the film you might expect from that setup. Instead, the shifts that come from Del and Cody’s friendship are muted, almost imperceptible. Del finds something new to live for. Cody discovers a new community.
