This week: five new 2020 movies, and the best two are about young women in European summers.
ON VIDEO
The August Virgin: In the best movie of summer 2020, a young woman switches up Madrid neighborhoods to mix things up in her life. It’s a lovely and genuine story of self-invention, and it’s on my list of Best Movies of 2020 – So Far. The August Virgin opens today on Virtual Cinemas, like San Rafael’s Rafael or Laemmle’s in LA.
An Easy Girl: A 16-year-old girl is introduced to her 22-year-old cousin’s Eurotrash lifestyle and learns about life; written by its female director, it doesn’t go as you would expect. An Easy Girl is a NYT Critic’s Pick and it is streaming on Netflix.
Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind: A surprisingly interesting documentary about a now genial singer-songwriter that I hadn’t thought of for decades. I watched it at the Laemmle.
The Speed Cubers: This short documentary about a curiosity surprisingly turns into a moving story about love, friendship and profound decency. Streaming on Netflix.
Radioactive: Marie Curie led an amazing life – I knew about the two Nobel prizes, but not about the tragic early death of her husband, the sex scandal, WW I X-ray machines and more. You would think this would make for a scintillating biodoc, but this isn’t. Rosamund Pike is excellent as Curie but can’t save the movie. Streaming on Amazon (included with Prime).
The most eclectic watch-at-home recommendations you’ll find ANYWHERE:
- Summerland: finally arrives at heartwarming
- The Go-Go’s: five women do what men do
- The Booksellers: we collect what we treasure
- Yes, God, Yes: learning that hypocrisy is a choice.
- Dateline-Saigon: the truth will out
- Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado: gentleness and flamboyancy
- Our Kind of Traitor: Skarsgård steals this robust thriller
- Step into Liquid and Riding Giants: Get stoked with the two most bitchin’ surfing documentaries.
- The Truth: Reconciling your truth with another’s. Best Movies of 2020 – So Far.
- John Lewis: Double Trouble: an icon remembered.
- The 11th Green: a thinking person’s conspiracy
- Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo: redemption never gets old
- Driveways: I can’t think of a more authentic movie about intergenerational relationships than this charming, character-driven indie. Best Movies of 2020 – So Far.
- The Lovebirds: A rom com with a playful plot and a truthful relationship.
- The Women’s Balcony: a righteous man must keep his woman happy.
- Electrick Children: magical Mormon runaways in Vegas.
- King in the Wilderness: an icon, floundering.
ON TV
Can you imagine The Maltese Falcon as a screwball comedy? On August 23, Turner Classic Movies has just that – Satan Met a Lady, the earlier, 1936 version of The Maltese Falcon, starring Bette Davis and Warren William, the King of Pre-Code. I’ve written about The three faces of The Maltese Falcon. Satan Met a Lady is lots of fun and well worth watching.