Movies Update: 'American Factory' and More

Plus, will "The Irishman" come to a theater near you?

View in browser|nytimes.com AUGUST 23, 2019

By Kyle Buchanan

Hey, movie fans!

The big news this week was the "Spider-Man" split: Just as "Spider-Man: Far From Home" became Sony's biggest grosser ever, the studio decided they could make further standalone Spidey films without the creative help of Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige. Sony had been lending Spider-Man to Disney, the company that owns nearly every major Marvel character except the young web-slinger, to integrate him into that studio's pre-existing Marvel cinematic universe, and though Spidey's presence in films like Disney's "Avengers: Endgame" surely boosted the box-office of Sony's own Spider-Man films, Sony balked when Disney asked for a bigger share of the profits.

Fans are outraged, but will they notice a major difference when Tom Holland and Zendaya return for the next Spider-Man movie? They may miss the pop-ins from other Marvel characters, but it could be time for Holland's Spider-Man to stand on his own two feet: He's now fought two consecutive villains with a vendetta against Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark, a character who isn't even in these movies anymore. Still, the biggest loss to future films may be Feige's steady stewardship. Retaining him would have been expensive, but what other executive in Hollywood can claim so golden a touch?

Don't expect any Marvel-sized blockbusters at the box office this weekend: The wide releases include the Gerard Butler sequel "Angel Has Fallen," the cheeky horror chase "Ready or Not" and the faith-based "Overcomer." In more limited release are the crowd-pleasing Sundance comedy "Brittany Runs a Marathon" and the Milwaukee-set Critic's Pick, "Give Me Liberty." Documentaries this week include "American Factory," "Jawline" and "Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles."

ADVERTISEMENT

Victoria Will/Invision, via Associated Press New Scorsese Mob Epic Has Netflix and Theaters at Odds Will "The Irishman," starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, come to a theater near you? It depends. by nicole sperling

MOVIE REVIEWS Netflix critic's pick Review: The New Global Haves and Have-Nots The documentary "American Factory" looks at what happened when a Chinese company took over a closed General Motors plant in Ohio. by manohla dargis Music Box Films critic's pick 'Give Me Liberty' Review: A Wild Ride With a Virtuoso of Chaos In this jolt of a movie, a driver and a passenger hurtle through Milwaukee together, finding each other as they open up a world. by manohla dargis Simon Varsano/Lionsgate 'Angel Has Fallen' Review: Returning to Grace, One Bullet at a Time The hero of "Olympus Has Fallen" and "London Has Fallen" finds himself on the run in a sequel steeped in today's headlines. by ben kenigsberg Eric Zachanowich/Fox Searchlight 'Ready or Not' Review: The Run-and-Slay Bride Samara Weaving gives heart to this efficiently blood-drenched harpooning of soul-sucking greed and inbred family values. by jeannette catsoulis Courtesy of Sundance Institute/Abramorama 'Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool' Review: A Complicated Artist This documentary looks at the many sides of the innovative trumpeter and bandleader. by glenn kenny Anna Kooris/Amazon Studios 'Brittany Runs a Marathon' Review: Racing With a Heavy Heart This comedy glosses over its protagonist's emotional wounds and instead aims to treat what's physical. by teo bugbee Ambi Distribution 'Friedkin Uncut' Review: An Acclaimed Director Accepts Many Compliments In a new documentary, Quentin Tarantino, Willem Dafoe and others genuflect at the altar of William Friedkin, the director behind "The French Connection" and "The Exorcist." by glenn kenny IFC Films 'Vita & Virginia' Review: A Real-Life Affair Made Lifeless This film about Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolfe is a droopy tale of dissatisfied women and their brushed-aside men. by jeannette catsoulis

ADVERTISEMENT

ANATOMY OF A SCENE anatomy of a scene How Brittany Starts Running in 'Brittany Runs a Marathon' The writer and director Paul Downs Colaizzo discusses a sequence where the lead character of his film, Brittany (Jillian Bell) tries to begin an exercise routine. by mekado murphy

NEWS & FEATURES A Film Career Built on Videotape (Sex and Lies, Too) We look back at Steven Soderbergh's first feature, "Sex, Lies and Videotape," and how it changed the independent film landscape. by amy nicholson Did the Avengers Just Lose Spider-Man? Fans Reel at Sony-Disney Split After months of negotiations, the two companies could not reach a deal for further cooperation over the comic book character. This could affect the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. by niraj chokshi Jillian Bell on 'Brittany Runs a Marathon' and Chasing Down Roles The comedian puts laughing matters aside — for now, at least — to go deep in "Brittany Runs a Marathon." by kathryn shattuck

STREAMING streaming movie review 'The Banana Splits Movie' Review: Tra La La Ahhhhhh! The fun-loving fur balls of a classic Hanna-Barbera children's show get a cinematic reboot. This time they're out for blood. by ben kenigsberg

CRITICS' PICKS critic's pick Genèse Review: Crossing Borders Between Films Philippe Lesage takes chances, and succeeds with boldly original form and narrative. by ben kenigsberg critic's pick 'Jawline' Review: Lives Measured in Follower Counts Behind the laughs in this new documentary about social-media stars lies an unsettling account of the Generation-Z influencer economy. by ben kenigsberg

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.

NEED HELP?

Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance.

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. Subscribe to The Times |Get The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your Email|Privacy Policy|Contact Us The New York Times Company 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018