Movies Update: A Guide to Streaming Studio Ghibli Movies and More

Plus, Andy Samberg's movie recommendations.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story July 17, 2020 By Mekado Murphy Hey movie fans, We’re continuing to find interesting ways to keep you entertained while you’re spending a lot more time at home (and have already watched “Hamilton” multiple times). The films of Studio Ghibli, the Japanese animation stalwart, are now available on HBO Max. Here’s a guide on how to dive in. Andy Samberg, the star of the Critic’s Pick Hulu comedy “Palm Springs,” gives us a few of his tips on the best things to watch and listen to. (“Crip Camp” and “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” are among the highlights.) Or check in on the signature style of the cinematographer Freddie Francis for some eye-opening viewing. And new to streaming: Netflix has the thriller “Fatal Affair” and the documentary “Father Soldier Son.” Enjoy the movies. Photographs via Studio Ghibli/ Gkids   Now That Studio Ghibli Is Streaming on HBO Max, Where Do You Start? If you’re new to the riches of the Japanese animation studio, our guide can help you sort through its wonderfully deep catalog. By Nancy Coleman Charles Sykes/Invision, via Associated Press   My TEN Andy Samberg Makes Each Day Count With Thundercat and ‘Not Too Much’ Bourbon The star of “Palm Springs,” on Hulu and at drive-in theaters, also puts A Tribe Called Quest and “Queer Eye” on his list of essentials. By Kathryn Shattuck Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT MOVIE REVIEWS Beth Dubber/Netflix   ‘Fatal Affair’ Review: Close Stalker Nia Long and Omar Epps ignite a dangerous obsession in this hackneyed romantic melodrama. By Jeannette Catsoulis Marcus Yam/Netflix   ‘Father Soldier Son’ Review: Service and Sacrifice This Netflix documentary from New York Times journalists tracks a long-serving soldier and father for a decade after he is grievously wounded in action. By Jessica Kiang Joe McTyre/Virtual Cinemas   ‘Flannery’ Review: Stories About a Writer Flannery O’Connor created a still-disturbing body of work; but this documentary is surprisingly flat. By Glenn Kenny IFC Films   ‘The Painted Bird’ Review: Horrors That Can’t Be Unseen An ambitious adaptation of Jerzy Kosinski’s debut novel doesn’t quite translate to the screen. By Ben Kenigsberg First Run Features   ‘Dateline-Saigon’ Review: Challenging the Official Story This documentary focuses on five reporters who covered the early years of the Vietnam War. By Ben Kenigsberg Samuel Goldwyn Films   ‘Dirt Music’ Review: Damaged Lovers and Dreamy Landscapes In this gorgeous Australian drama, Kelly Macdonald and Garrett Hedlund play lonely souls haunted by their pasts. By Jeannette Catsoulis Eirik Evjen/Quiver Distribution   ‘The Sunlit Night’ Review: A Trip to the Arctic to Find Her Muse Jenny Slate stars as a creatively stunted painter searching for inspiration in the Norwegian summer. By Teo Bugbee Cara Jones/Obscured Pictures   ‘Blessed Child’ Review: Leaving the Fold, but Not Family A former member of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church interrogates her relationship with the movement, widely regarded as a cult. By Ben Kenigsberg Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ANATOMY OF A SCENE Aimee Spinks/Netflix, via Associated Press   Anatomy Of A Scene How Charlize Theron and KiKi Layne Spar in ‘The Old Guard’ The director Gina Prince-Bythewood narrates an action sequence from her film. By Mekado Murphy NEWS & FEATURES Paramount Pictures   Gateway Movies Do Cinematographers Have a Signature? Let’s Try a Test The very different “Elephant Man” and “Cape Fear” share similarities that you might put down to the work of one director of photography, Freddie Francis. By Ben Kenigsberg Hunter Kerhart for The New York Times   Hollywood Stays Away From Facebook Ad Boycott The entertainment business is a big advertiser but has been noticeably silent as other industries protest the social network’s handling of hate speech. By Brooks Barnes and Nicole Sperling David Bornfriend/A24   Telluride Film Festival Cancels 2020 Edition Due to the Pandemic Organizers cited the “the national chaos” around the coronavirus surge. The event is considered a crucial date on the awards-season calendar. By Nicole Sperling Anne-Christine Poujoulat/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images   Kelly Preston, ‘Jerry Maguire’ Star, Dies at 57 Ms. Preston, who was married to John Travolta, was known for her role in “Jerry Maguire” as the hardhearted fiancée of the Tom Cruise character. By Austin Ramzy CRITICS’ PICKS First Run Features   Critic’s Pick ‘F11 and Be There’ Review: Burk Uzzle, a Photographer Worth Knowing This documentary explores the life of Uzzle, who doesn’t have the name recognition of others in his field, but whose work you’ve probably seen and remember. By Glenn Kenny Jessica Perez/Hulu   Critic’s Pick ‘Palm Springs’ Review: Déjà Vu All Over Again Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti star in a fresh and funny comedy that might remind you of something you saw before. By A.O. Scott Aimee Spinks/Netflix   Critic’s Pick ‘The Old Guard’ Review: Fighting to the Death, and Beyond Charlize Theron leads a group of immortal warriors in Gina Prince-Bythewood’s fresh take on the superhero genre. By A.O. Scott Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT How are we doing? We’d love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to moviesupdate@nytimes.com. Like this email? 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