What's New To Streaming In June 2020
Plus: Ten great movies that explore the black experience in America
There’s quite a bit going on in the world right now. I know -- understatement of the year. In case you need a brief distraction from everything this weekend, we wanted to give you the best of what’s new to streaming this month.
However, below we have listed ten excellent movies and documentaries by black filmmakers that explore the black experience in America. They are all worth watching, especially right now when we should be elevating black voices and perspectives in the midst of the pain and unrest due to systemic racism and injustice. There are obviously more important and tangible ways to respond, but we hope these movies (and more like them) can play a role in educating, starting conversations, and increasing empathy -- all in an effort to further the change that this country so desperately needs.
Fruitvale Station
Do the Right Thing
13th
OJ: Made In America
Selma
Boyz N The Hood
If Beale Street Could Talk
Moonlight
Malcolm X
I Am Not Your Negro
And one final recommendation before we get to the best of what’s new to streaming: Just Mercy. This is a legal drama that came out last year about world-renowned civil rights defense attorney Bryan Stevenson working to free a wrongly condemned death row prisoner. The film’s studio, Warner Bros., has made Just Mercy available for free on digital platforms (such as Apple and Amazon) during the month of June. It’s a powerful and vital story that is absolutely worth checking out. And please donate to Stevenson’s Equal Justice Initiative if you are able.
Drew recommends…
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (streaming on Hulu)
I can often be too much of a cynic. When I see a “heartwarming story” in the news or on social media I sometimes have to fight the impulse to think that it’s “too good to be true” or “not the whole story.” I’m almost confused by people that are earnest and heartfelt with no trace of irony or self-awareness. Maybe that’s why I’ve become so enamored with Mister Rogers. He’s like Kryptonite for cynics.
I remember watching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood when I was a kid. That theme song has stuck with me for a long time, even if I didn’t think about Fred Rogers much at all after I stopped watching his show. Only in the last few years did I start to consider him anew. A couple years ago, the extraordinary documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor? came out and prompted me to think about what this man meant to multiple generations of children, as well as what we could learn from him today.
You probably know the great Tom Hanks plays Mister Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. It’s a perfect piece of casting, but the movie is not a straightforward biopic of the famous man, and it’s all the better for it. No, the main character is Lloyd (Matthew Rhys), a jaded magazine writer assigned to write a profile on Mister Rogers. Lloyd has had issues with his irresponsible father and tries to resist the charm of everyone’s favorite neighbor as he gets to know the man.
With a steady hand, director Marielle Heller keeps her movie right on the line between sentimentality and schmaltz. Of course, Hanks has something to do with that. His performance is not so much a spot-on impression as much as a capture of the spirit and essence of Mister Rogers’ truly genuine kindness and decency. This turns A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood into a warm, tender, and sincere film that can disarm the harshest cynic.
But that’s the power of Mister Rogers. He may have died 17 years ago, but his example lives on. Here’s a man that genuinely lived out the ideals of generosity, empathy, and grace to an almost saintly degree. Although, as his wife Joanne has pointed out, there’s a problem in raising Fred Rogers to the status of saint, because then that makes his message and behavior unattainable. In the last few years, I’ve learned from Mister Rogers’ legacy that I don’t have to be so skeptical and pessimistic. He’s taught me that his bright empathy and optimism is actually within our grasp.
Ford v Ferrari (streaming on HBO June 20th)
I’m sorry if you missed Ford v Ferrari in theaters, because it was a hell of a ride on the big screen. However, it’s still absolutely worth checking out at home. This true story of how Ford challenged Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1966 is good old-fashioned riveting Hollywood entertainment.
American car designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and brash driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale) team up to lead Ford against the king of race cars, Enzo Ferrari. Damon and Bale deliver some of their best recent work in two roles that allow them to flex some movie star muscle while still portraying real-life people. Bale gets the flashier role, but Damon catches your eye as a man past his prime fighting through corporate meddling to do the impossible.
The race scenes are spectacular in every sense, as director James Mangold (Logan, Walk the Line) shoots them with intensity and verve. However, it’s the unexpected story turns and the emotional performances from the actors that may catch you off guard. This is an enjoyable sports drama that fortunately does not play it right down the middle.
Billy recommends…
Twister (streaming on Netflix)
In my bio for the reason I wanted to be a part of Do You LIke Apples I mentioned the movie Twister, so I am happy to be given the opportunity to recommend this absolutely bonkers movie. This one stars Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt with a supporting cast of “that guys” that seemingly never ends. There are movies that are so bad it’s good and then there are movies that have no business being this good.
A movie about a group of storm chasers trying to advance the world’s understanding of tornadoes with state of the art technology called “The Dorothy” is about as silly as it gets. Because of that the actors need to play it as straight as they can so that the audience can buy in. The actors that can convince an audience of the weirdness are character actors. Character actors are typically loud and flamboyant with their roles. When done right that can suck in even the most casual movie fan. One or two of these types of actors would do fine, right? Maybe so, but the people who cast Twister decided to get the best ones in the business. Bill Paxton and Philip Seymour Hoffman being two of the best actors to ever live as two buds on the good guy team. Helen Hunt being the perfect mixture of leading lady persona and quirkiness as the smart and witty love interest. Cary Elwes, our beloved Wesley, is the entitled corporate sellout for the rival storm chasing tornado team. Rival storm chasing tornado team… that is the best sentence I will ever write.
Like I said above, Twister has no business being this good. The combo of playing it straight with some of the most convincing actors to ever live lets this two-hour movie fly by as fast as the most unpredictable tornado. Throw this on this weekend for a moment of levity that only an insane blockbuster movie can bring.
Knives Out (streaming on Amazon Prime June 12th)
Knives Out is the opposite of a movie like Twister. When you hear that director Rian Johnson is going to direct a crime mystery with a star-studded cast you know at the very least it will be entertaining. Luckily for us we got one of the best movies of the 2010s.
Daniel Craig leads the way as the modern day version of Detective Poirot. He is given a Southern twang rather than a British accent and his ability to see every little detail is otherworldly. The family in question is the Thrombey family. Each one of them is a suspect after the business tycoon father/grandfather Harlan Thrombey’s death. All of the interactions between the family members is seen through their sweet and innocent caregiver Marta. Despite not being family by the end of his life she was the closest person to him.
After each layer is pulled back more mysteries are created leading to a non stop thrill ride that is surprisingly light. That is where Knives Out sets itself apart from most modern day crime mysteries. It creates emotion in the most subtle ways because most of the characters are frauds. They want to play innocent and moral, but deep down they are sinister to the core. 90% of their interactions are actually quite nice, but once the facade goes away the true nature shines through, allowing the mystery to flow between each character in the movie.
Knives Out is essential viewing and the easiest movie to suggest. It has charisma, mystery, and characters you want to spend time with. During a time of uncertainty of when new movies are going to come back, this is one that is new enough to where you may feel some normalcy again. Turn on Knives Out as soon as you can or get the hell out of here.