Musical, Mysterious, and Mind-Blowing Movies to Watch This November
Five movies for any mood to stream on Peacock this month.
Marisa Abela in Back to Black
In the mood for a moving biopic? | Back to Black
Sam Taylor-Johnson's Back to Black explores the life and songs of the legendary Amy Winehouse. From her early days singing to her family to her later sold-out concert appearances, Winehouse (Marisa Abela) made every song she sang a personal connection with the listener. Featuring music from the Winehouse’s iconic Back to Black album, as well as from artists—like The Shangri-Las, Billie Holiday, Minnie Riperton, Dinah Washington, and Sarah Vaughan—who influenced the singer-songwriter, the film chronicles the making of the titular album. Variety writes that Abela’s “performance nails Amy Winehouse in every look, mood, utterance, and musical expression.”
The official trailer for Back to Black
Priya Kansara and Ritu Arya in Polite Society
In the mood for a fun action comedy? | Polite Society
In Nida Manzoor’s Polite Society, Ria (Priya Kansara) and Leah Khan (Ritu Arya) are teenage sisters ready to take on the world. When the suave Salim (Akshay Khanna) and his controlling mother (Nimra Bucha) try to arrange a marriage for Lena, Ria and her friends spring into action to get her back. A magnificent mashup of genres and styles, Polite Society has it all. The Austin Chronicle writes, “Come for the action and loving send-up of martial arts films, and stay for the sisterly support that shines through.”
The official trailer for Polite Society
Anya Taylor-Joy and Thomasin McKenzie in Last Night in Soho
In the mood for a time-traveling fright ride? | Last Night in Soho
A virtuoso of genre, Edgar Wright takes the horror film to new and spooky heights in Last Night in Soho. Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie) is a young fashion student who mysteriously finds herself whisked back to the Swinging Sixties when she makes a psychic connection with an aspiring singer, Sandie (Anya Taylor-Joy), from that time. What starts as a lark, revisiting a time period that Eloise has long dreamed of, turns into a nightmare as Soho’s seamier side rises to the surface. Smart and scary, Last Night in Soho provides, according to The Film Stage, “an absolute rollercoaster, a Halloween fun ride down the grimy London sewers.”
The official trailer for Last Night in Soho
Alicia Vikander and Justin Chon in Blue Bayou
In the mood for a tender, timely drama? | Blue Bayou
In Blue Bayou, writer-director-star Justin Chon weaves together a moving tale about family ties and political confusion in today’s America. Antonio (Chon), a Korean-American adoptee, is about to fulfill all his dreams. Work is going well. He and his wife (Alicia Vikander) are about to have a new child to add to their family. A scuffle with the police, however, threatens to undo all his happiness when the investigation reveals a clerical error that could get him deported back to Korea. Based on tragic real-life cases, the story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. The San Francisco Chronicle writes, “Vikander's meaty performance…and Chon's intense triple-threat commitment help make it a must-see.”
The official trailer for Blue Bayou
Oscar Isaac in The Card Counter
In the mood for a suspense-filled drama? | The Card Counter
In Paul Schrader’s The Card Counter, Oscar Isaac plays William Tell, an ex-con who reclaims his life by demonstrating remarkable precision and control in the way he plays high-stakes games on the casino circuit. The limits of his control are tested when he tries to save a young man (Tye Sheridan) from his worst impulses. With a talented cast that includes Tiffany Haddish and Willem Dafoe, the film provides a fascinating look into the mysterious world of professional poker. The Chicago Sun-Times writes, “In one of the year’s best films, Oscar Isaac plays a gambler who knows when to walk away.”
The official trailer for The Card Counter