NEW FOR VIEWING
“Respect”: Jennifer Hudson stars as the legendary singer, and was hand-picked for the part by Franklin before her death in 2018. The film also features Forest Whitaker as the singer’s father, C.L. Franklin, Marlon Wayans as her husband and manager, Ted White, and Marc Maron as producer Jerry Wexler.
“With such a talent as Hudson portraying the Queen of Soul, it’s not surprising that the best moments of ”Respect“are the songs, writes Tribune News Service critic Katie Walsh in her review. ”Though Hudson of course excels musically, her performance of Aretha is a bit stiff, too focused on nailing the odd voice and accent she’s chosen. It’s an unnatural performance, rendering the character a bit alien among everyone else, and frustratingly enigmatic.“
Despite the impressive cast and song catalog to draw upon, Walsh writes that ”unfortunately, ‘Respect’ just doesn’t capture the magic of Aretha Franklin, or even her larger than life personality.“
Also new
“Reminiscence”: Sci-fi noir with Hugh Jackman as a private detective who specializes in investigation via people’s memories, only to have his world turned upside down by a mysterious new client.
Four Good Days”: Drama about drug abuse with Mila Kunis as a recovering addict who must stay clean for four days while living with her mother, played by Glenn Close.
“My Salinger Year”: A young woman working for the literary agency of J.D. Salinger in the 1990s starts penning her own responses to fan letters sent to the reclusive author. With Margaret Qualley and Sigourney Weaver.
“A Christmas Gift from Bob”: Holiday-themed sequel to the family film ”A Street Cat Named Bob,“based on author James Bowen’s work.
“Ancient Aliens: Season 14”: The History series continues to explore the possibility of extraterrestrial intervention on Earth.
“Coming Home In the Dark”: A family of four are kidnapped by
two drifters while on a day trip, but the seemingly random act relates to an incident from the father’s youth.
“Emily in Paris: Season One”: Netflix comedy series about a young woman from the Midwest who gets hired by a Paris marketing firm looking for an American perspective.
“DC’S Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Sixth Season”: Season 6 of the CW superhero show finds both the team and Sara Lance dealing with her abduction by aliens at the end of the prior season.
“Old Henry”: A Western about a farmer who invites danger when he decides to help an injured man with a bag of cash who shows up on his doorstep.
“Saved By The Bell: Season One”: Reboot of the 1990s series set at Bayside High that introduces a new generation, with original cast members Elizabeth Berkley and Mario Lopez.
“Snowpiercer: The Complete Second Season”: The end-times train ride continues in Season 2 of the TNT sci-fi series starring Daveed Diggs, Jennifer Connelly and Sean Bean.
“Tina”: HBO documentary film about the extraordinary life and career of singer Tina Turner.
“Witch Hunt”: Horror fantasy film set in the present day, except a world where magic is real but the practice of it is outlawed.
“Younger: The Complete Series”: A 10-disc set featuring all
seven seasons (84 episodes) of the TV Land series about a divorcee posing as a 20-something, plus bonus content that includes deleted scenes, bloopers and commentaries.
“Swan Song ”: Udo Kier stars as a retired hairdresser who busts out of his nursing home to style a dying former client’s hair one last time.
“Surviving Supercon”: Documentary about the husband-wife team who organize one of the nation’s largest pop culture conventions.
Digital HD
“The Drummer”: The interconnected stories of three veterans, each of a different generation, come together in this movie about the traumatic effects of war. Starring Danny Glover.
“The Emperor’s Sword”: Chinese historical action film about the daughter of a general who must stop the rebel who has seized the titular sword and the position of emperor it bestows.
“Hope”: Norwegian film starring Stellan Skarsgard and Andrea Braein Hovig as married artists who find their relationship tested when she is diagnosed with an inoperable tumor.
“Jessie: The Golden Heart”: Romantic drama set in 19thcentury Scotland about the forbidden love between a servant girl and the master of Stratton Castle.