Streaming Preview: New Films To Watch From Home This Weekend

CHICAGO, IL (Nov. 19, 2020) — Staying home is the most effective remedy for preventing the spread of coronavirus. As the cases of the virus surge and several states enact stay-home advisories and new mitigations, streaming services are offering ample new entertainment to keep audiences occupied this weekend.

"The Nest"
Carrie Coon and Jude Law star in this Sundance Film Festival hit about a family in the 1980s uprooting their lives to move to London for a failing business venture. Slow, dark and mostly dismal, Canadian filmmaker Sean Durkin’s movie does not exactly provide an enjoyable escape, but “The Nest” does offer subtle and noteworthy performances from its talented leads that have critics talking as awards season approaches. Opened on VOD Nov. 17 via IFC Films.

"The Test & The Art of Thinking"
Filmmaker Michael Arlen Davis offers a glimpse into the logic - or lack thereof - behind the distribution of the high school SAT and the role it plays in college admission. This film argues that the test is antiquated, deliberately confusing and terrible at gauging aptitude or intellect. Nothing the average high school student doesn’t already know, but it might serve parents and educators well by showing them what the future of standardized testing could be - especially amid a pandemic and the dawn of a new presidential administration. Opened on VOD, iTunes, Amazon and GATHR Nov. 17.

"A Teacher"
Kate Mara plays the titular teacher in this disturbing FX drama about a woman who engages in a romantic relationship with an underage student. Young Nick Robinson is, as always, a standout of the 10-episode series, consistently elevating his material in young-adult roles from “The Kings of Summer” to “Love, Simon.” From filmmaker Hannah Fidell and based on her 2013 movie of the same name, four episodes of “A Teacher” are already streaming on Hulu, with 30-minute installments dropping every Tuesday.

"Truth Is the Only Client: The Official Investigation of the Murder of John F. Kennedy"
Though the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy has been written about in more than 1,000 books and countless films and television specials, this new documentary from Todd Kwait and Rob Stegman prides itself on focusing on the facts of “the most important murder case in world history.” Leaning away from conspiracy theories or even the often-repeated events of the infamous November day in Dallas, the film interviews members of the commission created by Lyndon B. Johnson to fairly investigate the public, gruesome killing of the president. Opened on VOD Nov. 17 from Gravitas Ventures.

"The Great British Baking Show"
The baking competition famous for easing viewer anxiety and providing hours of quarantine entertainment drops the penultimate episode of the new season Nov. 20. Semi-finals week finds four bakers competing for a spot in the finale, giving laggies the chance to catch up on the whole season, shot this summer in England with strict COVID-19 safety protocols. New episodes drop on Netflix every Friday.