This week’s biggest release on Netflix is the November 8 premiere of “Nebraska,” Alexander Payne’s latest film about disappointment, dissatisfaction and the possibility of emotional fulfillment in a (this time literally) colorless world. Bruce Dern earned the comeback of a lifetime playing sullen midwesterner Woody Grant, whose firm belief that he’s won $1 million won’t be quelled by his family’s attempts at reason, but June Squibb and Will Forte are equally strong as his insult-throwing wife and put-upon son.
Netflix’s other releases this week are pretty light, but they include “Quartet” (November 10), the directorial debut by Dustin Hoffman starring Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly and Pauline Collins as a quartet of aging opera singers; “Virunga” (November 7), a Netflix Original about Congolese wildlife officials protecting gorillas from poachers and insurgents; and “Louder Than Words” (November 8), starring David Duchovony and Hope Davis as a couple trying to put their lives back together after the death of their daughter.
More thoughts from the Criticwire Network:
“Louder Than Words”
Criticwire Average: D-
Nikola Grazdanovic, The Playlist
“Nebraska”
Criticwire Average: B+
Jason Bailey, Flavorwire
“Quartet”
Criticwire Average: B-
Roger Ebert, The Chicago Sun-Times
“Virunga”
Criticwire Average: A-
Eric Kohn, Indiewire
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