What to watch in theaters and at home this weekend February 26-28, 2021

Tom and Jerry: The Movie

“Tom and Jerry: The Movie” should probably be called “Kayla: The Movie.” Tom and Jerry are essentially supporting characters who act as agents of chaos to disrupt the story of Kayla (Chloe Grace Moretz), a young woman who lies her way into a job at a prestigious hotel that is about to host a high-profile wedding.

The target audience, those under 10, will likely be entertained. Those looking for a sense of nostalgia won’t be satisfied.

Where to watch: Theaters, HBO Max

Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry

Two summers ago, I saw Billie Eilish at the Austin City Limits Festival. I wasn’t there to see her and wasn’t particularly won over by her performance. I was impressed with the kindness of her fans and their enthusiasm. Eilish might not speak to me. She certainly speaks to and for them.

“Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry” wasn’t made for me. It was made for her fans and offers a surprisingly candid behind-the-scenes look at Eilish, her childhood, her writing process, and her struggles with depression. Essential viewing for fans. Something of a curiosity for those of us left on the outside looking in.

Where to watch: AppleTV+

The United States vs. Billie Holiday

“Lady Sings the Blues,” a 1972 biopic that saw Diana Ross playing Billie Holiday, was recently released on Blu-ray and today we’re seeing the release of “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” a new biography about the troubled (and abused) artist featuring a fantastic performance from Andra Day.

Holiday was viewed as confrontational. That’s a veiled way of saying she was too honest. “Strange Fruit,” her signature song, made some uncomfortable. Its lyrics forced the listener to confront the racism that existed outside their windows and within themselves. Powerful people don’t want revolutions. They don’t want change. They want the status quo and Holiday was a direct challenge to that. So, they set out to ruin her by any means necessary.

“The United States vs. Billie Holiday” is a powerful and tragic part of U.S. history that shouldn’t be brushed off.

Where to watch: Hulu

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Looking ahead to next week, “Murder Among the Mormons” comes to Netflix on Wednesday. As one of the major news events of my childhood, the story of the Mark Hofmann bombings is part of my mythos. Directors Jared Hess (“Napoleon Dynamite”) and Tyler Measom (“Sons of Perdition”) have compiled a remarkable amount of new interviews and archival footage that sticks to the facts and avoids getting lost in speculation.

I had 15-minute conversation with Hess and Measom. Here's a sneak peek at what they had to say.