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

76 Days (VOD)
Synopsis: I touched on this more in depth on Saturday, and you can read that here. This is a documentary about the 76-day lockdown in Wuhan, China, where the COVID outbreak began. The lockdown began on January 23, 2020, and this film chronicles the work of the Health Care Professionals who were at first overwhelmed, but nevertheless cared for those that came through their doors during the lockdown. This is an emotional journey because of the stories of patients and because you can't help but think about the way this pandemic has impacted all our lives. I thought it was well worth checking out.
Rating: N/A
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

An Imperfect Murder (Netflix)
Starring: Sienna Miller, Alec Baldwin, and Charles Grodin
Synopsis: This short film focuses on a woman who is haunted by therapy and a desperate act. If that sounds unappealing, maybe you've already seen this film. This was a strange movie that never really attempted to tell a story. It was more like a series of asides and esoteric conversations. Particularly strange was the scene between Miller and Grodin, who played a man suffering from dementia. Was it accurate? Probably, but it also used a good chunk of a 71-minute movie that didn't seem to relate to the plot. Then again, what plot? You can, and should, skip this one.
Rating: R for some language and brief drug use.
Verdict: Zero stars out of four.

Bloodshot (Starz)
Starring: Vin Diesel, Eiza González, Lamorne Morris, Guy Pearce, and Sam Heughan
Synopsis: Diesel has made a career of these kind of action films. In this one, he plays a soldier who is brought back from the dead after being murdered. A scientist (Pearce) specializes in making super soldiers through technology, and now he's made an indestructible assassin, Bloodshot (Diesel). Except, of course, he's lying and manipulating his subject. When Bloodshot figures it out, he makes a couple allies (Morris, Gonzalez), and seeks to set it straight. This features some fine and brutal action. It's not the greatest or most complex film, but it has some humorous moments and some decent sequences. I felt like the predictable third act was a bit over-the-top, but that's typical here. It was fine, but not overly compelling. Supposedly a sequel and potential franchise is coming, but that feels like a bit much for what we got here.
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, some suggestive material and language.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

The Call of the Wild (HBO Max)
Starring: Harrison Ford, Omar Sy, Dan Stevens, and Cara Gee
Synopsis: This film came out last February and was one of the few "big" releases that saw the theater in 2020. It's based on the Jack London novel and features some fantastic Alaskan adventures and a cast that includes Harrison Ford. The big move here was the dog at the heart of the story was entirely CGI. This is meant to provide personality, I suppose, as the film is mostly about the dog's journey and the people he stumbles across and impacts. Ford is fine here, but this film isn't very compelling. This is an awesome story, one that has endured for many years. This is a high-profile, big-budget production, but it doesn't land. Stevens, in particular, felt way over-the-top.
Rating: PG for some violence, peril, thematic elements and mild language.
Verdict: One star out of four.

Charlie's Angels (Starz)
Starring: Elizabeth Banks, Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, Ella Balinska, and Patrick Stewart
Synopsis: This is a re-make of a series that's been done a number of times. Released in the Fall of 2019, this is a different take on the world. Banks is one of the leads, and also was the writer/director here. She does a nice job in all those roles, and the trio of new "Angels" in Stewart, Scott and Balinska also do a nice job. Stewart is a good actor, and seems to be having fun here. The cast includes a few fun supporting actors and cameos, and the blend of action and humor works well. The story is fun here, too, and I thought this movie, overall, was better than expected. Clearly it was meant to potentially set up a franchise, which probably won't happen. But I, for one, wouldn't mind another trip into this world. It's not an incredible film, but it's a little light-hearted fun.
Rating: PG-13 for action/violence, language and some suggestive material.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Palmer (Apple TV+)
Starring: Justin Timberlake, Juno Temple, June Squibb, Alisha Wainwright, and Ryder Allen
Synopsis: This new drama drops on Apple TV+ on Friday. It centers on a man, Palmer (Timberlake), who was once a promising football player with a bright future. But an injury derailed his career, and it led to a fall from grace that landed him in prison. As he's released, he goes to live with his grandmother (Squibb) to try and rebuild his life. He finds that his grandmother has taken on a young boy (Allen) whose own mother (Temple) is struggling with her own demons that keep her from being there for her son. At first, Palmer wants to do his own thing but, soon, events force him into the role of caretaker as well, helping him form a relationship he never knew he wanted. Timberlake is a fine actor when given a chance, and has been good in a number of projects. He gives a solid performance here in a story that's a decent showcase for his talents. Director Fisher Stevens does a nice job bringing this all together, but for me the story stalls at times and is a bit dry. We've seen a number of stories like this, so it takes a bit to help one stand out. This one is well made but not exceptional. It's a decent watch and features a good lead performance, but it's mostly just OK. Apple TV+ has produced some exceptional films over the past year, and this one is a more high-profile swing, but it doesn't land with the bang that I'd expected. It's good, but never rises to the level of great.
Rating: R for language, some sexual content/nudity and brief violence.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

The White Tiger (Netflix)
Starring: Adarsh Gourav, Rajkummar Rao, and Priyanka Chopra
Synopsis: This new film, based on the novel and adapted by writer/director Ramin Bahrani gives a snap shot of the struggles of class and caste in India. It centers on a man from a low caste (Gourav) who becomes the driver for a wealthy family. He bonds with the man's son (Rao) and his wife (Chopra), seemingly becoming friends. But a tragic incident leads the man to realize his real place, and motivate him to change his circumstances. This is a darker tale, one that takes some tough twists and turns. It paints an honest, if brutal, picture of the struggles of those not born of privilege in India. It features some good performances and an interesting production. It felt a bit long at times, and there is a narrative construct here that feels odd to me as it doesn't lead directly to anything. Still, this is a decent film that explores a different kind of culture and story. It's worth checking out.
Rating: R for language, violence and sexual material.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.