Movies Update: The Year's Best Movies to Stream, and More

Plus, join a viewing party for “Some Like It Hot.”

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story May 29, 2020 By A.O. Scott and Manohla Dargis Hey movie fans, we're throwing another viewing party! “I’m tired of getting the fuzzy end of the lollipop,” says Sugar “Kane” Kowalczyk, the ukulele player with a soft spot for saxophonists. A lot of us know how she feels. Everyone could use a little candy right now, and we can’t think of a sweeter way to spend time than with Sugar and her pals Jo and Daphne watching “Some Like It Hot.” Even if it’s your first encounter with this 1959 comedy — directed by Billy Wilder from a script that he wrote with I.A.L. Diamond — it spoils nothing to know that Jo and Daphne are really Joe and Jerry, and are played by Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. Marilyn Monroe, at the height of her comedic powers, is Sugar, who sings “I Wanna Be Loved By You” (and she is) and whose walk Jerry likens to “Jell-O on springs.” “Some Like It Hot” consistently appears in polls of the greatest movies of all time. Whether it’s your first time watching it or your 50th, and whether you’re interested in Marilyn mythology or gender theory, we are eager for your thoughts. The film can be streamed or rented; here’s a guide. Stop by in the comments section of this article afterward — the cutoff is Monday at 6 p.m. Eastern — and please bring your ukulele. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT KC Bailey/Netflix   The Best Films of 2020 (So Far), and They’re All Streaming Yes, it’s been a weird year for movies, but our chief critics have still found plenty of gems. Here are their top picks. By Stephanie Goodman HBO   ‘On the Record’ Review: A Black Woman Says ‘#MeToo’ This documentary about allegations against the music mogul Russell Simmons generated controversy at Sundance when Oprah Winfrey pulled out as an executive producer. By Devika Girish Amazon Studios   ‘The Vast of Night’ Review: There’s More to Fear Than Fear Itself In a small New Mexico town in the 1950s, an eerie throbbing sound and a lot of questions send two friends in search of answers. By Manohla Dargis STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Central Motion Pictures Corporation   Gateway Movies Looking for an Introduction to Taiwan’s Greatest Filmmaker? Start Here For years, Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s work was hard to find in the United States. Now that the movies are streaming, all you need to do is pay attention. By Ben Kenigsberg Alexia Webster   6 Things to Do at Home This Weekend Our culture writers offer suggestions for what to watch or listen to while we’re housebound. David Bornfriend/A24   The 50 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now We’ve plucked out the 50 best films currently streaming on Netflix in the United States. Take a look. By Jason Bailey ABC   The Best Movies and Shows on Hulu Right Now We’ve hand-picked the finest movies and television shows currently streaming on Hulu in the United States. Take a look. By Jason Bailey Lucasfilm/Disney   The 50 Best Things to Watch on Disney Plus Right Now The new streaming platform has hundreds of movie and TV titles from Disney, Star Wars, Marvel and more. These are our favorites. By Scott Tobias Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ANATOMY OF A SCENE Amazon Studios   ‘The Vast of Night’ | Anatomy of a Scene The director Andrew Patterson discusses a switchboard sequence from his science-fiction drama featuring Sierra McCormick. By Mekado Murphy MOVIE REVIEWS (STREAMING, ON DEMAND AND VIRTUAL CINEMAS) Glen Wilson/Focus Features   ‘The High Note’ Review: A Little Pitchy Dakota Johnson and Tracee Ellis Ross anchor this timid recording-industry story about a pop superstar and her ambitious assistant. By Jeannette Catsoulis Netflix   ‘I’m No Longer Here’ Review: A Boy Adrift In this thoughtful portrait of cultural identity, a teen from Monterrey, Mexico forges a new life in Queens. By Natalia Winkelman Gravitas Ventures   ‘I Will Make You Mine’ Review: Three Times a Lady Three women struggle with feelings for the same man in this gentle, partly improvised drama. By Jeannette Catsoulis First Run Features   ‘Street Fighting Men’ Review: Reviving Detroit From Within Stories of the death and rebirth of this city are familiar, but Andrew James’s documentary conveys the experience of living there. By Glenn Kenny Butternut Productions   ‘Stage: The Culinary Internship’ Review: Apprentices With Eclectic Appetites In this documentary, aspiring chefs push their limits (and the limits of modern cuisine). By Ben Kenigsberg Daniel Traub/Icarus Films   ‘Into Her Own’ Review: A Sculptor’s Monumental Achievements For Ursula von Rydingsvard, it essentially takes a village to create a sculpture. By Glenn Kenny Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS’ PICKS Lewis Klahr, via Wexner Center for the Arts   Critic’s Pick ‘Circumstantial Pleasures’ Review: The Lyrical Junkman Cometh A new movie by Lewis Klahr, who makes striking, personal assemblages out of cultural detritus. By Manohla Dargis Distrib Films   Critic’s Pick ‘Papicha’ Review: Fashion Statement A young Algerian woman rebels against religious extremism in Mounia Meddour’s vibrant film. By Jeannette Catsoulis How are we doing? We’d love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to moviesupdate@nytimes.com. Like this email? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up here. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Movies Update from The New York Times. To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. 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