Plenty of Award Candidates Among February Streaming Recommendations

by Julian Spivey

Photos courtesy of Netflix, Searchlight Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures

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Malcolm & Marie (Netflix) – 2/5
Director Sam Levinson’s romance-drama “Malcolm & Marie,” which premieres on Netflix on Friday, February 5, has been drawing potential award buzz for its lead actors John David Washington and Zendaya. Washington plays a film director and Zendaya his girlfriend and the two see their relationship tested on the night of his latest film’s premiere while waiting for critical reviews to come in. On an interesting note, the film, which was made entirely in black and white cinematography, was the first feature film to entirely be written, financed and produced during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Deadline. “Malcolm & Marie” seems similar to other films released over the last few months “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “One Night in Miami in that it simply puts talented actors in a room and turns them loose 

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Judas and the Black Messiah (HBO Max) – 2/12
Shaka King’s “Judas and the Black Messiah” will no doubt be a must-watch for Black History Month this year as it tells the story of Fred Hampton, the chairman of the Black Panther Party in the late ‘60s and his betrayal at the hands of William O’Neal. Oscar-nominated actor Daniel Kaluuya portrays Hampton, while Lakeith Stanfield plays O’Neal. “Judas and the Black Messiah” is part of the deal between Warner Bros. Pictures and HBO Max to debut movies on the streaming service and in theaters (where they are open) during 2021 as a result of the ongoing pandemic in the country and as a result of that the movie will only be available on the service for a month. Recently “Judas and the Black Messiah” was listed as one of the 10 best American films of the last year by the American Film Institute, so it’s pretty much a must-watch for any serious movie watcher. It premieres on Friday, February 12. 

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Nomadland (Hulu) 2/19
When I was compiling a list of films that appeared on the most “best films of 2020” list for this website in late December the film that appeared on the most lists was Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland,” which is sure to be one of the front-runners during award season this year. Zhao’s film, which she also wrote, edited and co-produced, is based on the 2017 non-fiction book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century by Jessica Bruder and stars multiple-time Oscar-winner Frances McDormand in the lead role as a woman who leaves her small town to travel around the American West after some upheaval in her life. Based on the critical response to “Nomadland” I was thrilled to hear it was soon coming to Hulu. It premieres Friday, February 19.  

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“The Muppet Show” Complete Series (Disney+) – 2/19
For the first time ever all five seasons of Jim Henson’s original “The Muppet Show,” which aired from September 5, 1976 through May 23, 1981 in syndication in the U.S., will be available for streaming when it premieres on Disney+ on Friday, February 19. On one of my monthly recommendation lists last year the new Muppets series “Muppets Now” on Disney+ made the cut, but that turned out to be pretty disappointing with a much too frenetic pace that mimicked today’s fast-paced social media world. So, I’m hoping the original is more my style, and with special guests like Steve Martin, Elton John, Alice Cooper, Julie Andrews, Gene Kelly and more I’m sure it’s bound to be an awesome throwback. I’ve seen some clips on YouTube here and there over the years and particularly enjoy Roger Miller’s zaniness mixed in with that of the Muppets. It should be a lot of fun! 

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The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Hulu) – 2/26
I’ve been waiting for this movie for some time. The tragic story of jazz legend Billie Holiday and what the government of this country did to her is infuriating, but because of that it’s one that also makes for a supremely interesting story to be told. “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” directed by Lee Daniels, premieres on Hulu on Friday, February 25. I can’t wait to see this film, as the story already interests me a great deal, but I do have a couple of question marks going into it: 1) Lee Daniels can at times delve too much into melodramatics (I’m thinking specifically of much of the run of his Fox TV series “Empire”) and Andra Day, who portrays Holiday in the film, is a terrific singer, but I don’t know yet what kind of acting performance she’s capable of giving. I hope these are things I won’t be worried about at all come February 26.