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Film studios are creating a new normal for entertainment viewing and film releases during the coronavirus pandemic, and maybe for good. NBC/Universal has leapt ahead, releasing some big titles ahead of time on multiple streaming services. Some might balk at the cost (around $20), but if you’re watching at home, everyone gets in on one ticket. Here’s a roundup:
“Emma”: Autumn de Wilde’s delightful invigoration of a Jane Austen chestnut is as bubbly as a bottle of Prosecco. Anna de Taylor is enchanting as the self-absorbed, manipulative busybody, but the supporting cast, particularly Johnny Flynn, so sexy as Mr. Knightley, Josh O’Connor as the strapping Mr. Elton, Miranda Hart as a bumbling-about Mrs. Bates and Bill Nighy doing his Bill Nighy thing make it the frothy watch we need right now (3 stars out of 4; available now).
“The Invisible Man”: The first sequence in Leigh Whannell’s exceptional remake is breathlessly suspenseful. It gives way to a gripping horror parable made all the better due to Elisabeth Moss’s intense Oscar-worthy performance as a woman fleeing an abusive relationship. “Invisible” delivers twists galore but is also a damning portrait of the roadblocks women confront when they are seeking help from being stalked. Underrated Aldis Hodge (who was in the excellent “Clemency,” also streaming now) makes your eyes pop out in a supporting role (3 stars; available now).
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“The Hunt”: Extreme liberals and extreme conservative square off in Craig Zobel’s ultra-violent satire. Betty Gilpin of “Glow” and Hilary Swank are certainly game for this redo of “The Most Dangerous Game,” wherein liberals literally hunt conservatives, although both sides are terrible. A word of advice, don’t get too attached to any character in this film (3 out of 4 stars; available now).
“Birds of Prey and the Fabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn”: Gonzo, colorful and freewheeling, Cathy Yan’s violent, R-rated, over-the-top comic mayhem can be annoying sometimes, but Margot Robbie’s kooky energy as the Joker’s wacked-out ex-girlfriend, seeking her own turf after breaking up with the lug, makes it all worthwhile (2½ stars; available now).
“Resistance”: This one was slated for the closing night of the Cinequest Film Festival, which has been postponed to August. If you don’t want to wait that long, Jonathan Jakubowicz’s traditional but rewarding R-rated dramatization of mime Marcel Marceau’s efforts to save children during World War II can be viewed this week, and it’s a worthwhile watch. Jesse Eisenberg — the recipient of Cinequest’s Maverick Spirit Award — gives one of his best performances yet as Marceau (3 stars, available March 27 on several platforms).
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