Tenet, The Old Guard, Da 5 Bloods, Lucky Grandma, The Lovebirds

[trailer_spot]

Tenet     HD720p 120MB   HD1080p 205MB
Second trailer for the latest time-bending movie written and directed by Christopher Nolan (Inception, Dunkirk, Interstellar). As it is often the case with his films, the plot is kept tightly under wraps. It is described as an action epic revolving around international espionage, time travel, and evolution. Cast members include John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Clemence Poesy, Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh, Dimple Kapadia, Himesh Patel, Denzil Smith and Martin Donovan.
As always, decide for yourself, if you want to see more footage beforehand. Still scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release in July.

The Old Guard     HD1080p 51MB
Action movie based on a graphic novel. Forever is harder than it looks. Led by a warrior named Andy (Charlize Theron), a covert group of tight-knit mercenaries with a mysterious inability to die have fought to protect the mortal world for centuries. But when the team is recruited to take on an emergency mission and their extraordinary abilities are suddenly exposed, it’s up to Andy and Nile (Kiki Layne), the newest soldier to join their ranks, to help the group eliminate the threat of those who seek to replicate and monetize their power by any means necessary. Matthias Schoenaerts, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Marwan Kenzari are also part of the cast. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Secret Life of Bees, Love & Basketball, Beyond the Lights).
Will start streaming on Netflix July 10th, which I fear isn't a sign of quality.

Da 5 Bloods     HD720p 41MB
Trailer for the latest movie directed by Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman, Malcolm X, Chi-Raq). It tells the story of four African-American Vets — Paul (Delroy Lindo), Otis (Clarke Peters), Eddie (Norm Lewis), and Melvin (Isiah Whitlock, Jr.) — who return to Vietnam. Searching for the remains of their fallen Squad Leader (Chadwick Boseman) and the promise of buried treasure, our heroes, joined by Paul's concerned son (Jonathan Majors), battle forces of Man and Nature — while confronted by the lasting ravages of The Immorality of The Vietnam War. Jean Reno and Mélanie Thierry are also part of the cast.
Will start streaming on Netflix June 12th.

Lucky Grandma     HD720p 63MB
Comedic drama (in Chinese) set in the heart of Chinatown, New York, about an ornery, chain-smoking, newly widowed 80-year-old Grandma who is eager to live life as an independent woman, despite the worry of her family. When a local fortune teller predicts a most auspicious day in her future, she decides to head to the casino and goes all in, only to land herself on the wrong side of luck ... suddenly attracting the attention of some local gangsters. Desperate to protect herself, Grandma employs the services of a bodyguard from a rival gang and soon finds herself right in the middle of a Chinatown gang war.
This looks like fun. Now available via streaming services.

The Lovebirds     HD1080p 31MB
Action-comedy about a couple (Issa Rae, Kumail Nanjiani) that experiences a defining moment in their relationship when they are unintentionally embroiled in a murder mystery. As their journey to clear their names takes them from one extreme – and hilarious – circumstance to the next, they must figure out how they, and their relationship, can survive the night.Paul Sparks, Anna Camp and Kyle Bornheimer are also part of the cast. Directed by Michael Showalter (The Big Sick).
Looks not as funny as it should be. Started streaming on Netflix today.

Comments

[kore]

Still scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release in July.

Ohh boy!

....Old Guard sounds like one of those movies I desperately want to be good, but probably won't be. sigh.

[trailer_spot]

Yeah, sadly hard to imagine that the movie will have a truly worldwide release in the traditional sense.

The Old Guard: I will try to set my expectations low enough to increase the chances that I will be pleasantly surprised. :)

[loopychew]

It's kind of amazing that Tenet is as tenacious as it is. I'm afraid it's going to die on that hill, even if the footage makes it obvious that Large Format is absolutely the way to go for watching this.

Gina Prince-Bythewood has earned enough of my trust when it comes to character studies. I honestly have no idea how that applies here, but I'll watch it.

Lucky Grandma looks brilliant and I think I'll watch it on home release.

Lovebirds is getting pretty good reviews, and Michael Showalter's pedigree is enough that I feel good about it.

[trailer_spot]

Tenet: It seems wrong to try to start with such a (potential) blockbuster around the world. Maybe it will run 10-15 weeks due to distancing rules and the lack of competition. But it still creates the wrong incentive.

The Old Guard: The director and the cast are an interesting combination. But so far it looks rather generic.

Lovebirds: It's probably because of the The Big Sick connection why I was disappointed by the trailer. I was hoping for it to be a little more "sophisticated".
That it reminds me of Stuber and Date Night also made me suspicious that it's made by Netflix algorithm. But as you mention, the reviews are not that bad.

[loopychew]

Something about the phrase “Netflix algorithm” bugs me. Definitely in the case of Lovebirds it literally isn’t (although Date Night and Stuber aren’t either, though I get what you mean), but I guess it’s because Netflix has actually produced some good movies in house? Even the algorithm produced “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.”

[loopychew]

I watched it and I don't think it'll rise above your "Netflix algorithm" standard. It's funny but it lacks the emotional core of The Big Sick (not that it doesn't try, but that one had a stronger foundational core) or the outlandishness of Wet Hot American Summer or They Came Together (also not for lack of trying, but somehow it remains semi-grounded). Still, given that the basic premise is Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae bickering, I didn't walk away without a smile on my face, but I'm also thankful it wasn't a night-at-the-cinema movie (where I think my GF's mood would have been heavily influenced by the audience and I think it would be hit or miss).

So, in other words, perfect match for the "Netflix algorithm." Even if the phrase itself sounds more demeaning than it should.

[trailer_spot]

I've seen it too, and I think we are very much in agreement. The murder plot is just silly, and the "romcom" part mostly formulaic (even if it has a different starting point than other romcoms). But as you say, the conversations and the bickering between Nanjiani and Rae still makes it enjoyable to watch. I didn't regret it.
A highlight was the highly random use of a Queen lyric. :)

To attribute the term algorithm solely to Netflix is probably unfair since all the other studios do the same thing. But because we know that Netflix explicitly uses an algorithm to make recommendations to its users it is more closely associated with them.