What do you enjoy watching in November?
Our focus this November is on men and men’s health issues.
There are many excellent films dealing with men’s physical and mental health issues, such as Brian’s Song, 50/50, Manchester by the Sea, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Silver Linings Playbook, and The King of Staten Island. I encourage you to watch any or all of them.
However, this month I decided to include my favorite Thanksgiving movie, a few action films, and some family friendly movies for the November recess. I also included a couple of documentary films and the story of Louise Brown the first baby born using IVF.
Streaming information is subject to change without notice.
Planes Trains and Automobiles – What can I say about my favorite Thanksgiving movie? John Candy and Steve Martin are magic together. I laugh and my heart aches for Del Griffith (John Candy). I empathize with Neal Page (Steve Martin), the perfect straight man to Griffith’s over the top character. It’s funny, unbelievable, yet incredibly real. Available to stream on Paramount+ or buy on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store as a download or rent on Microsoft Store, Apple TV, Amazon Video, or FlixFling online.
Waves - stars Taylor Russell, Alexa Demas, Kelvin Harrison, Jr, Lucas Hedges, Sterling K. Brown, and Justin R. Chan. This film follows the emotional journey of a suburban American family as they deal with a tragic loss and its consequences. Watch for a fee on YouTube, Google Play Movies and TV, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home
Black Rain – Stars Michael Douglas, Andy Garcia, Ken Takakura, Yusaku Matsuda, and Kate Capshaw. Nick (Douglas) and Charlie (Garcia) are NYC policemen who witness a murder in a bar and apprehend the assailant, Sato (Matsuda) who turns out to be the member of a Japanese crime family. After they escort him back to Japan to stand trial, he escapes forcing them to navigate the seedy underworld of Japan’s Yakuza to find him. Premieres November 1 on Paramount+
Oblivion -Stars Tom Cruise and Olga Kurylenko. In this futuristic drama, Jack harper (Cruise) is a security repairman on Earth dealing with the devastation caused by a long war with aliens. Near the end of his assignment, he rescues a beautiful woman from a downed spacecraft and begins to lose his hold on reality. Premieres November 1 on Hulu
10 Days of a Curious Man – when a young woman goes missing in Istanbul, a jaded writer looking for her and a good story becomes tangled up in a deadly chain of events. Coming to Netflix on November 7
Disenchanted – stars Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, Maya Rudolph, and James Marsden. Ten years after their happily ever after in Enchanted, Gissele (Adams), Robert (Dempsey), and Morgan Philip (Gabriella Baldacchino) are living in Manhattan with baby, Sofia. When the city becomes too much, Gissele decides to move the family to Monroeville and chaos ensues when she uses a magic wand gifted to Sofia to try to make her family perfect. Premieres November 18 on Disney+
Mickey the Story of a Mouse – This documentary fills in all the blanks about the creation of Walt Disney’s loveable mouse. Premieres November 18 on Disney+
Joy – Stars Bill Nighy, Thomasin McKenzie, and James Norton. It is the true story of the world’s first in vitro fertilization baby, Louise Brown. Premieres November 22 on Netflix
The Piano Lesson – Based on the 1987 play of the same name by Pittsburgh playwright August Wilson. The Charles family struggles with their family legacy as they try to determine the fate of their heirloom piano and what it has brought to their family through the years. Premieres November 22 on Netflix
Good Night Oppy – This documentary narrated by Angela Bassett chronicles the design and implementation of the Mars rovers, two robots that landed on Mars in 2004. The rovers traveled around on Mars, figuring out that there was probably water on the surface of the planet at one point. As they explored, the rovers seemed to develop their own personalities. In addition to archival footage and interviews with the designers and scientists, the documentary includes CGI, courtesy of Industrial Light & Magic, to put you on the planet along with the two rovers. Oppy, is the name given to the second, longer-lasting robot named Opportunity. Premieres November 23 on Prime Video