Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

The following are capsule reviews of theatrical movies available now for streaming or scheduled for broadcast on network or cable television during the week of March 30, as well as notes on TV programming for the same week. Televised films may or may not be edited for language, nudity, violence and sexual situations while the programs listed have not been reviewed and therefore are not necessarily recommended by OSV News.

Streaming Now

“Contagion” (2011; Amazon Prime)

Director Steven Soderbergh reimagines the all-star disaster movie genre with a compelling tale of a deadly virus’ uncontrolled march across the planet. A Minneapolis woman (Gwyneth Paltrow) returns from a business trip to Hong Kong and drops dead, and soon everyone she encountered along the way meets their maker. It’s an unknown virus, and as a pandemic erupts and millions fall, doctors from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet) and the World Health Organization (Marion Cotillard) race against time to find the cure. Getting in their way is an enterprising blogger (Jude Law) who cries conspiracy, fomenting unrest in the streets. Disturbing images of dying people, corpses and autopsies, a reference to an adulterous relationship and fleeting rough language. The OSV News classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

“Trap” (2024; Netflix)

A suburban family man who is also a brutal serial killer (Josh Hartnett) brings his teen daughter (Ariel Donoghue) to a concert by her favorite pop star (Saleka Night Shyamalan) only to discover that the authorities (led by profiler Hayley Mills) had a clue indicating he would be there and now have him completely surrounded. Writer-director M. Night Shyamalan’s thriller, which also features Alison Pill as the murderer’s wife, is an odd mix of interesting plot twists and yawning improbabilities. But the action is restrained, objectionable elements are few and, to the extent that any message is conveyed, it’s that decent people can be almost as resourceful as a homicidal maniac. Probably acceptable for older teens. Mature themes, brief harsh violence, a few gory images, a couple of instances each of profanity and crass talk, numerous milder oaths, a single rough term. The OSV News classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

“The Truman Show” (1998; Hulu)

Beguiling fantasy in which a 30-year-old man (Jim Carrey) eventually discovers his life from day one has been secretly televised 24 hours a day and all the people in his tranquil island community, such as his parents and wife, are paid actors. Director Peter Weir’s bracing tale is emotionally involving while only scratching the surface of its moral themes concerning blatant media intrusion and control. Mature theme, marital discord and a few instances of profanity. The OSV News classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

Looking Ahead

Sunday, March 30, 5:45-8 p.m. EDT (TCM) “A Night to Remember” (1958). Vivid British dramatization of the tragic end to the 1912 maiden voyage of the Titanic, the so-called unsinkable luxury liner, after it hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic and went down with some 1,400 victims, leaving only 706 survivors. Directed by Roy Ward Baker from Eric Ambler’s adaptation of Walter Lord’s book, the story of the voyage is told through numerous vignettes of the passengers, both famous and ordinary, with one of the ship’s officers (Kenneth More) providing some narrative continuity, especially during the scenes of panic, confusion and resignation aboard the sinking vessel whose end moves viewers with its sense of human loss. Menacing situations mixed with uplifting ones. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-I — general patronage. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association.

Tuesday, April 1, 9-11 p.m. EDT (PBS) “Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story.” This episode of the series “American Masters” recounts how, after the tragic death of her mother, Judy Garland, young Liza Minnelli — facing personal and professional challenges — sought out mentors to help her polish her talents as an actress, singer and dancer.

Wednesday, April 2, 10:15-midnight EDT (TCM) “Black Narcissus” (1946). Engrossing British adaptation of Rumer Godden’s novel about the difficulties confronting an Anglican community of nuns (headed by Deborah Kerr) in a remote area of northern India where a native student (Jean Simmons) and an English administrator (David Farrar) upset their spiritual peace. Directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger; the community’s religious mission in an exotic alien environment is handled with sensitivity, with most of the dramatic conflict stemming from the human foibles of the characters. Sexual situations and innuendo. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-II — adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association. (Part of a series of religiously-themed movies, beginning with “Going My Way” (1944), 8-10:15 p.m. EDT, and concluding with “The Nun’s Story” (1959), 7-9:45 a.m. EDT, Thursday, April 3.)

Thursday, April 3, 2-4 p.m. EDT (EWTN) “Mass of Installation.” Live coverage as former Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago Robert G. Casey is installed as archbishop of Cincinnati. Part of the occasional series “Cathedrals Across America” (TV-G — general audience).

Friday, April 4, 8-10:30 p.m. EDT (AMC) “Air” (2023). Forceful fact-based drama, set in 1984, charts the efforts of a marketing executive (Matt Damon) to rescue the failing basketball division of Nike by signing rookie Michael Jordan and creating the Air Jordan brand. After winning over the company’s initially skeptical founder and CEO (Ben Affleck), he teams with the head of his department (Jason Bateman) and a co-worker (Chris Tucker) to foster the project and pitches the idea to Jordan’s irascible agent (Chris Messina). But the person he really needs to convince turns out to be the athlete’s wise and wary mom (Viola Davis). Affleck, who also directed, manages to build suspense despite the obviously well-known outcome of his story (scripted by Alex Convery). Viewers will be cheering his protagonist on as the visionary businessman uses ingenuity, innovative thinking and persistence to overcome long odds. The film’s macho milieu, however, is marked by relentless swearing, making this a fit choice for grown-ups only. A few uses of profanity, numerous milder oaths, pervasive rough and much crude language, an obscene gesture. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating was R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Saturday, April 5, 8-9:39 p.m. EDT (Cinemax) “Hercules” (2014). Dwayne Johnson plays the strongman of the title in director Brett Ratner’s mildly demythologizing take on his legendary exploits. Based on Steve Moore’s graphic novel “Hercules: The Thracian Wars,” this passable adventure finds the hero — who may or may not be a demigod — leading a band of super-skilled mercenaries (Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell, Aksel Hennie, Ingrid Bolso Berdal and Reece Ritchie) around the political patchwork of ancient Greece. He and his followers get more than they bargained for, however, when, at the behest of a fetching princess (Rebecca Ferguson), they agree to help her father (John Hurt), the king of Thrace, rid his realm of a marauding rebel (Tobias Santelmann). The odd witticism and some on-target messages about believing in oneself and putting strength at the service of goodness are scattered through Ryan J. Condal and Evan Spiliotopoulos’ script. But the real agenda of Ratner’s sweeping film is large-scale combat and plenty of it. Constant, mostly bloodless violence, some gory images, a glimpse of rear nudity, occasional sexual references, at least one use of the F-word, a handful of crude and crass terms. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating was PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

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