Movies Update: 'Parasite,' 'Gemini Man' and More

Plus, More on that Joker dance.

View in browser|nytimes.com October 11, 2019

By Kyle Buchanan

Hey, movie fans! It's your faithful Carpetbagger.

This week's wide releases include "Gemini Man," Ang Lee's high-concept, high-frame-rate action-thriller starring Will Smith and his digitally-youthful doppelganger, as well as the comedy "Jexi" and an animated take on "The Addams Family." Streaming services can boast two big star vehicles in Netflix's "The King," starring Timothée Chalamet (now in theaters, streaming Nov. 1), and Hulu's horror-comedy "Little Monsters," with Lupita Nyong'o.

Still, for my money (and hopefully yours), the week's most notable release is Bong Joon Ho's thrilling, funny, take-no-prisoners "Parasite," which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and could make Oscar history. No film from South Korea has ever been nominated for the international-film Oscar, and I expect "Parasite" to not only be the front-runner for that award but also make a strong bid to enter the races for best original screenplay, best director and best picture.

But why wait until the Oscars give their delayed imprimatur? Go see "Parasite" before its twists and themes are spoiled for you, and get in on the ground floor for one of 2019's most exciting films.

ADVERTISEMENT

Neon   Critic's Pick 'Parasite' Review: The Lower Depths Rise With a Vengeance In Bong Joon Ho's new film, a destitute family occupies a wealthy household in an elaborate scheme that goes comically — then horribly — wrong. By Manohla Dargis

MOVIE REVIEWS 'Gemini Man' Review: That Assassin Looks a Lot Like Will Smith This globe-trotting action thriller directed by Ang Lee is largely forgettable, except for one co-star. by a.o. scott 'Jexi' Review: When a Smartphone Calls You Dumb Rose Byrne voices a very aggressive virtual phone assistant who roasts Adam Devine in this comedy from the writers of "The Hangover." by glenn kenny 'The Addams Family' Review: A Mostly Snappy Reboot This animated film from the directors of "Sausage Party" is pretty much the diversion you would expect. by ben kenigsberg 'The King' Review: Once More Unto the Breach (but Why?) In this period drama, Timothée Chalamet plays the prince who becomes King Henry V (with little help from Shakespeare). by manohla dargis 'Mister America' Review: The Returns Are In: Diminishing Tim Heidecker plays a bumbling candidate for district attorney in this satire with inspired moments but not much momentum. by ben kenigsberg 'Emanuel' Review: Race, Religion, Thoughts and Prayers Through interviews with victims' families, survivors and others, Brian Ivie's documentary revisits the 2015 massacre at a historic black church in Charleston. by ben kenigsberg 'Mary' Review: Death and the Maiden (Voyage) Recycled scares and a slew of visual clichés trap Emily Mortimer and Gary Oldman in this standard-issue possession tale. by jeannette catsoulis 'Je T'Aime Moi Non Plus' Review: Serge Gainsbourg's Oddball Directorial Debut The 1976 film, which features a young Jane Birkin and Joe Dallesandro, debuts in New York in a new restoration this week. by glenn kenny

ADVERTISEMENT

ANATOMY OF A SCENE Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros.   Anatomy Of A Scene Watch Joaquin Phoenix Do a Creepy Dance in 'Joker' The director Todd Phillips narrates a scene from the film. By Mekado Murphy

NEWS & FEATURES Rozette Rago for The New York Times   Will Smith vs. Will Smith vs. Ang Lee With "Gemini Man," about an assassin and his much younger clone, the actor was forced to confront his career choices — and his director's view of his career choices. By Robert Ito Fox Searchlight Pictures, via Everett Collection   'Boys Don't Cry' 20 Years Later: For Trans Men, a Divisive Legacy Was the movie a landmark in representation or distressingly exploitative? It was both and so much more. By Trish Bendix Amazon Studios   Behind Amazon's Sudden Change in Its Film Strategy After poor box-office numbers for Mindy Kaling's "Late Night," the company shrank its ambitious release plan for a big fall movie, "The Aeronauts." By Nicole Sperling Mamadi Doumbouya for The New York Times   Talk The Disruptive World of Edward Norton The actor on why he has (mostly) ditched Hollywood for the tech world. By David Marchese Netflix   Netflix Goes All Out to Wow Children as Streaming Wars Intensify Faced with new competition like Disney Plus, the streaming service has quietly prepared a barrage of shows and movies for children and families. By Brooks Barnes Warner Bros.   Critic's Notebook The Real Threat of 'Joker' Is Hiding in Plain Sight What the film wants to say — about mental illness or class divisions in society — is not as interesting as what it accidentally says about whiteness. By Lawrence Ware

STREAMING The Best Movies and TV Shows Coming to Netflix, Amazon and More in October Every month, subscription streaming services add a new batch of titles to their libraries. Here are the ones we think are most interesting for October. by jennifer vineyard streaming movie review 'Little Monsters' Review: Zombies Hunger Down Under Lupita Nyong'o saves kindergartners from zombies — and the movie from total schlock — in this wan Australian horror comedy. by elisabeth vincentelli

CRITICS' PICKS critic's pick 'In My Room' Review: Alone Again, Unnaturally A mass extinction forces a miserable man to dramatically reshape his life in Ulrich Köhler's uncommonly subtle character study. by jeannette catsoulis critic's pick 'Pain and Glory' Review: Almodóvar's Dazzling Art of Self-Creation Antonio Banderas plays a filmmaker in crisis in Pedro Almodóvar's movie about loss, love, imagination and memory. by manohla dargis

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. 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