As restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic continue, settling down to a good movie on the weekends has become a ritual for many of us. That's good, the Netflix catalog and others are full of excellent feature films.

To help you in your quest for the perfect film, CNET's editorial staff selects programs seen and appreciated in streaming each week. On the program this time, The Lost City of Z, Hearts Beat Loud and Love and Monsters, content that will make you have a good time.

What movies to watch this weekend on Netflix?

An excellent adventure film: The Lost City of Z

The film in summary

Recognized British colonel, Percy Fawcett is about to become a father. One day, the Royal Geographical Society of England makes him an enticing offer: to go to the Amazon to map the area between Brazil and Bolivia. This is how the story of one of the greatest explorers of the 20th century begins, torn between his family and his thirst for discovery.

CNET editorial review

After filming his native New York in Little Odessa, Two Lovers or The Immigrant, director James Gray decided to radically change the landscape. This time, its hero, played by Charlie Hunnam, is British and spends most of his time in the Amazon jungle.

Colonel Percy Fawcett, a man as ambitious as he was passionate about his quest, really existed. His ambition was the same as that of the character of The Lost City of Z: to discover a lost Indian civilization in the Amazon jungle.

This passion quickly turns into an obsession that will take over his family, whose members are embodied by Sienna Miller and the young Tom Holland.

James Gray likes to explore big themes in these films. The Lost City of Z tells the story of a man's desire for glory and adventure to prove his worth to English high society.

It is also the story of a father who abandons his son to better find him. As in Ad Astra, his last film, the question of filiation is therefore essential.

To replicate the experience of 20th century explorers, James Gray took his entire crew to the jungle for the shoot. The photography is successful and immersive, without overdoing it.

The Lost City of Z is a majestic and epic movie. It lasts two hours and that's good, the result is worth it.

An independent film full of charm: Hearts Beat Loud

The film in summary

Sam is about to leave to study in California, far from his native New York and his father, a former musician who owns a vinyl store in New York. The latter resents the departure of his daughter and tries to convince her to embark on a musical adventure with him.

CNET editorial review

Hearts Beat Loud is one of those films that often goes unnoticed when it is released in theaters (or in the case of France, directly on DVD). It's always nice that these works can get a second life and maybe find their audience on Netflix.

Because Hearts Beat Loud is worth the detour. Without much pretension, this small independent film manages to move us with its father / daughter duo very well embodied by Nick Offerman and Kiersey Clemons.

Nick Offerman is far from the role of Ron Swanson in Parks and Recreation, a somewhat misanthropic government employee. This does not prevent him from shining in this role of loving father who is just afraid of losing his daughter.

It is to give her a reason to stay in New York that he forces her hand by broadcasting a song they wrote together.

Precisely, the songs of the tandem are very nice and are likely to stay in your head for a long time. The voices of Clemons and Offerman harmonize perfectly and their performances are filled with an infectious energy.

There are no bad feelings in Hearts Beat Loud, it's a love letter to music and family. Without revolutionizing cinema, this feel good feature film is refreshing and perfect for relaxing this weekend.

An effective sci-fi film: Love and Monsters

The film in summary

Seven years ago, the world was invaded by monsters forcing humans to hide underground. Joel is one of the survivors. One day, he manages to reconnect with Aimee, his girlfriend from high school, who lives in a colony on the coast. The young man will then decide to join her, at his own risk.

CNET editorial review

Don't jump into Love and Monsters while waiting for an epic sci-fi movie like First Contact or War of the Worlds. If it falls well into the science fiction category, it looks more like an independent film.

Dylan O'Brien (Teen Wolf, the Labyrinth saga) plays the main role and perfectly interprets Joel, this hero as awkward as he is endearing. Luckily for him, he does occasionally get lucky.

During his journey, he will cross paths with an eight-year-old girl (Ariana Greenblatt) and an old-timer (Michael Rooker) who will help him face the creatures that live on Earth.

It is pleasant to meet such a wide variety of monsters, as horrible as they are cute. The special effects team must have had a lot of fun imagining these mutant insects. It's a very good job, since it even allowed him to reap a nomination for the next Oscars.

Love and Monsters is one of those films, too rare these days, that do good. It is a fun and original work that mixes genres brilliantly and above all, was produced without a pharaonic budget. Yet another proof that cinema can renew itself and that you have to give small films like this a chance, even if they are not perfect.