‘The Bouncer,’ ‘Pearl’ and More Streaming Gems

‘The Bouncer’ (2019)

Stream it on Amazon Prime Video.

It was very easy, for quite some time, to dismiss Jean-Claude Van Damme as just another blank-slate action star. But something truly fascinating has happened as he’s grown older — in his best roles, he’s leaned into his vulnerability, playing his age rather than ignoring it. He no longer seems like a guy who can win every fight, so his fights are far more interesting. His face, like Clint Eastwood’s, has grown richer as its lines grow deeper and harder, and like Eastwood, he does his best acting when he seems to be doing nothing at all. This rough-and-tumble crime thriller from the gifted action director Julien Leclercq (“Sentinelle”) gives Van Damme plenty of character moments — it’s quieter and moodier than your typical bone-cruncher — but when the action beats arrive, they’re lean, mean and effective.

‘A Bigger Splash’ (2016)

Stream it on Max.

With the director Luca Guadagnino’s new film “Queer” on the fall festival circuit, it’s a fine time to check out this sun-soaked psychological thriller, which also serves as an excellent adieu to the summer season. It finds the rock star Marianne (Tilda Swinton) and her boyfriend, Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts), relaxing poolside on the Sicilian island of Pantelleria when they’re visited by two unexpected guests: the music producer Harry (Ralph Fiennes) and his recently discovered daughter, Penelope (Dakota Johnson). Sparks fly, tempers flare and libidos follow; every performance is a stunner, and Guadagnino navigates each turn of events with sly grace.

‘Pearl’ (2022)

Stream it on Netflix.