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FilmWeek: Our Reviews Of 'Becoming,' 'Rewind,' 'Spaceship Earth' And More Movies You Can Stream From Home
Former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama in a still from the new documentary on her life "Becoming" (Courtesy of Netflix)
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Every week, AirTalk host Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics spend an hour talking about new movies.
This week, Christy Lemire, Claudia Puig and Peter Rainer join Larry to review this weekend’s releases and share some of their recommendations:
- Available on Netflix
Here's what Claudia said:
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"If you loved the book, you’re gonna love the movie. Michelle Obama is such a warm, smart and likeable presence. And spending 90 minutes with her is such a wonderful treat. You feel reassured and inspired, and I found myself watching the film with a big, goofy grin on my face a lot of the time. There’s no huge revelations here [but] there are some wonderful, fairly intimate and candid moments.”
- Available on iTunes (also premiering on PBS May 11 — check your local listings for air times)
Peter’s topline:
"It’s a really powerful documentary ... part of an unfortunate genre about families with a cycle of child abuse. It’s quite shocking and revelatory. [Director] Sasha Joseph Neulinger is extraordinarily brave to come forward in the way he did, and it’s a film that I think represents a sort of healing, to the extent that that could be for him.”
- Laemmle’s Virtual Cinema, The Frida Virtual Cinema, streaming on Hulu, and VOD (Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, FandangoNow, Vudu, DirecTV & Dish)
Christy says:
"Well the timing just couldn’t be more perfect for a movie about being stuck indoors for two years straight! And these people chose to do it in the name of science and exploration and learning! It’s fascinating and weird, but it doesn’t quite go deep enough.”
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- Available on VOD (Amazon Prime & Google Play)
Here’s Christy’s review:
“This is such a lovely and delicate and quietly moving film. It’s about a single mom [Hong Chau] and her son who drive to upstate New York after her sister’s death to clean out her house. They strike up an unlikely friendship with the war veteran who lives next door, played by the late Brian Dennehy. They explore a kind of subtle racism when this Asian family moves in. It’s very lovely and much needed, like a warm hug.”
- “Arkansas” on Spectrum On Demand, DirecTV On Demand, iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, FandangoNow & Amazon Prime
- "Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind” on HBO
- "Intrigo: Dear Agnes” on DirecTV On Demand, iTunes, Google Play, FandangoNow, Amazon Prime & YouTube)
- “Walkaway Joe” on iTunes, Google Play, FandangoNOW & Vudu
- "Valley Girl” on iTunes, Google Play & Amazon Prime
- “On A Magical Night” at Laemmle’s Virtual Cinema & The Frida Virtual Cinema
ABOUT OUR CRITICS:
- Peter Rainer is a film critic for the Christian Science Monitor
- Claudia Puig is president of the Los Angeles Film Critics’ Association; she tweets @claudiapuig
- Christy Lemire is a film critic for RogerEbert.com and co-host of the "Breakfast All Day" podcast; she tweets @christylemire
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