Movies Update: Cannes, ‘Men’ and More

Plus, "Downton Abbey" is back on the big screen.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story May 20, 2022 By Mekado Murphy Movies Editor Hey, movie fans! Hollywood has been transported to the South of France this week with the Cannes Film Festival underway. We've been reporting all the goings-on, including a star-studded premiere for "Top Gun: Maverick." Our critic Manohla Dargis has an assessment of the films in the early days of the festival and our reporter Kyle Buchanan has an interview with the French actor Vincent Lindon, this year's jury president. Out in theaters is a new entry in the "Downton Abbey" franchise. Amy Nicholson writes that the new film is "amiable enough," but that it "rests most of its extravagant weight on cozy familiarity." If you're looking for a British film that is less refined, you might go for Alex Garland's psychological creep-out "Men," starring Jessie Buckley. While much of it takes place in the English countryside, quaint this movie is not. A.O. Scott calls it "an uneasy amalgam of horror and allegory, full of creepy, gory effects and literary and mythological allusions," and that it "amounts to a sustained and specific indictment of the titular gender." Whichever film you choose, enjoy the movies! Scott Garfield/Paramount Pictures Cannes Film Festival 2022: Politics Mixed With Moments of Grace "Top Gun: Maverick," "Tchaikovsky's Wife" and other movies each get polemical in their own way. But there are scenes of lyrical beauty, as in "Scarlet." By Manohla Dargis Kevin Baker/A24 'Men' Review: Putting the 'Male' in Malevolent Alex Garland's latest film stars Jessie Buckley as a woman whose peaceful trip to the countryside turns creepy and allegorical. By A.O. Scott Ben Blackall/Focus Features 'Downton Abbey: A New Era' Review: Gilded, Aged The latest entry in the "Downton Abbey" franchise is amiable enough — though despite its subtitle, it rests most of its extravagant weight on cozy familiarity. By Amy Nicholson Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS' PICKS Kino Lorber critic's pick 'Fire in the Mountains' Review: The Mother of All Struggles Vinamrata Rai plays a rural Indian woman driven to the edge by family pressures in Ajitpal Singh's tough and generous first feature. By A.O. Scott Icarus Films Critic's Pick 'A New Old Play' Review: Even the Clown Show Must Go On Qiu Jiongjiong's absurdist epic of 20th century China is both a movie and a play, both tragedy and farce. By Austin Considine Screen Media Critic's Pick 'Cordelia' Review: Going Underground A traumatized young woman and a strange musician form an unsettling connection in this disquieting psychodrama. By Jeannette Catsoulis MOVIE REVIEWS Quantrell Colbert/Amazon Studios 'Emergency' Review: Party Over A celebratory evening takes a turn when college friends find a young woman passed out in their house. By Lisa Kennedy Mubi 'Deception' Review: Verbal Fetishism In Arnaud Desplechin's sly adaptation of Philip Roth's 1990 novel, a middle-aged writer draws inspiration for his next book from discussions with his mistress. By Beatrice Loayza Disney+ 'Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers' Review: Remember Them? (No?) This Disney reboot combines animation and live-action comedy with an irreverent, self-referential attitude. By Calum Marsh Blumhouse TV/Epix 'Torn Hearts' Review: Sequins and Savagery In this horror movie with a Southern twang, an aspiring country duo seek guidance from their unhinged icon. By Lena Wilson Dan McFadden/Hulu 'The Valet' Review: A Crowd Pleasing Buddy Comedy What seems like a standard rom-com takes a spin in a different direction. By Beandrea July Cinema Guild 'Cane Fire' Review: Here Am I, Your Plundered Island Burning resentment at colonial exploitation on Kauai, seen through the veil of history's smoke. By Teo Bugbee IFC Films 'Hold Your Fire' Review: Ending a Siege A new documentary directed by Stefan Forbes centers on a 1973 hostage negotiation led by a police officer known for his pioneering techniques. By Concepción de León MSNBC 'Diamond Hands: The Legend of WallStreetBets' Review: Is This Loss? In this documentary, the Reddit users who spawned the GameStop gold rush recall their speculation creation. By Teo Bugbee Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ANATOMY OF A SCENE Kevin Baker/A24 Anatomy of a Scene Watch Jessie Buckley Take a Haunting Tunnel Walk in 'Men' The writer and director Alex Garland narrates a sequence from his film. By Mekado Murphy NEWS & FEATURES Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters At Cannes, Vincent Lindon Still Can't Believe He's Jury President As the star of a Palme d'Or winner, he's seen how the award can change lives, so he takes his duties seriously. By Kyle Buchanan Universal Pictures Crafting a Rom-Com That's True to 21st-Century Gay Life Billy Eichner and the "Bros" team made news by casting queer actors, but they also focused on writing a story that didn't recycle straight tropes. By Alexis Soloski OK McCausland for The New York Times The Business of Making 'Pleasure' The screenwriter-director Ninja Thyberg and the actor Sofia Kappel discuss creating a porn industry drama through a feminist lens. By Beatrice Loayza Olivia Crumm for The New York Times Nobody Makes Films Like Alex Garland. But He Might Stop Making Them. The man behind "Men" says of directing, "I don't particularly enjoy it. It's something I have to force myself to do." By Kyle Buchanan STREAMING Emilie Silvestri/XYZ Films Five Action Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include an action-noir, a South African story of rebellion against apartheid and more. By Robert Daniels Warner Bros. Pictures The 50 Best Movies on HBO Max Right Now In addition to new Warner and HBO films, the streamer has a treasure trove of Golden Age classics, indie flicks and foreign films. Start with these. By Scott Tobias Apple TV+ Five Science-Fiction Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include two moon-titled movies and two of Mahershala Ali. By Elisabeth Vincentelli 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? 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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