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Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week.

Clouds (Disney+)
Starring: Fin Argus, Neve Campbell, Tom Everett Scott, Sabrina Carpenter, Lil Rel Howery, and Madison Iseman
Synopsis: This latest from Disney is a true story, based on the life of young musician Zach Sobiech, who as a high school senior discovered his cancer was terminal. Instead of wallowing, Zach (Argus) attempts to live life to the fullest and live out his dreams, which includes being a singer/songwriter. Zach and his best friend, Sammy (Carpenter), write and perform a song that gains national attention. This one has a sweet story that really becomes more striking by the end. In the early going I felt like this was "A Walk to Remember" for a new generation, which isn't meant as a slight, and there are elements of that here. But this movie tugged at my heart-strings quite a bit by the end. Campbell and Everett Scott are strong as Zach's parents, and Iseman does a nice job as his love interest. Howery, who's got good comedic chops, has a neat role as Zach's teacher. This is a solid film and a good addition to the Disney+ lineup of offerings. I thought this was one of the more engaging and emotional films I've seen this year, and one that's certainly worth checking out.
Rating: PG-13 for brief strong language.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

The Forty Year Old Version (Netflix)
Starring: Radha Blank, Peter Kim, and Oswin Benjamin
About: This film is obviously a passion project for its star. Blank wrote and directed the film, and is the star here. It's about a down-on-her-luck writer, nearing 40, who reinvents herself as a rapper. The film is set in New York and feels like a love letter to her part of the city. It's in black-and-white and has a unique look, while also having an interesting story and some moments of humor. The cast does a decent job, and I was really taken with the trailer, which seemed funny and engaging. The actual film, which runs a touch over two hours, didn't feel as engaging all the way through. Blank has talent, and this film feels personal and is obviously autobiographical. It did quite well at the Sundance Film Festival, where it debuted in January and was quickly snapped up by Netflix. The film was released on the streaming platform on October 9, and it shows a fierce commitment to story and projection from its lead. It's also about a certain period of life, following your heart and passions, and the city where it's set. Again, I appreciated the craft and the work from Blank, but the story didn't resonate with me strongly. I appreciated some of the more humorous moments, but as a whole I thought it was a bit dull. It's a fascinating effort, but didn't quite work for me.
Rating: R for pervasive language, sexual content, some drug use and brief nudity.
Verdict: Two star out of four.

Rebecca (Netflix)
Starring: Armie Hammer, Lily James, and Kristen Scott Thomas
Synopsis: In 1940, Alfred Hitchcock's first America film was "Rebecca," based on the novel from Daphne Du Maurier. It was a solid film, and considered a classic part of his cinematic legacy. Now, 80 years later, we're getting a re-make, also based on the novel, that covers the story in largely the same way. Hammer and James play the leads, a pair of lovers who meet on vacation in Europe and marry before returning to his family estate. There, the long-time housekeeper (Thomas) still holds affinity to the first wife who passed away, Rebecca, and makes sure that the new Mrs. de Winter (James) doesn't have an easy time slipping into the role. This one has a few twists and turns (if you've seen the original or read the novel, this likely won't come as a surprise). It looks nice, a credit to director Ben Wheatley who tries to give this a solid look. There is some beauty in the settings and in the manor where much of the action takes place. Hammer, James and Thomas are all fine, if unimpressive, in their roles, too. I get the idea of re-making this kind of film for Netflix, and the mid-October release date seems timed well for the season and the style of film. This isn't bad, it just feels unnecessary. It's fine, but we'd all probably be a little better off watching the original Hitchcock film instead.
Rating: PG-13 for some sexual content, partial nudity, thematic elements and smoking.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix)
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jeremy Strong, Mark Rylance, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Frank Langella
Synopsis: This new film from Netflix is one of their likely award contenders for 2020. It comes from Aaron Sorkin, who wrote the screenplay and directed this star-studded cast. It's based on the 1968 riots in Chicago during the Democratic National Convention, and the subsequent trial that put seven activists and the head of the Black Panthers on trial for conspiracy. This covers the historical events, but it draws some obvious parallels to the crazy times we live in. This one has some fun courtroom scenes and some great performances from a very strong cast. I particularly liked Rylance in the role as the lead defense attorney and Langella in the role as the judge, who is basically the biggest villain of the film. Cohen is good in an interesting role, as is Strong. This is a solid cast with some good writing and some fun sequences. This is one of the best films I've seen this year, and I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up as an Academy Award contender. This is a must-see addition to the Netflix lineup.
Rating: R for language throughout, some violence, bloody images and drug use.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.