Movies Update: The New York Film Festival, ‘Antebellum’ and More

Plus, a chat with Janelle Monáe

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story September 18, 2020 By Mekado Murphy Movies Editor Hey, movie fans, Fall movie season is in full effect, and that means festivals. This year, you don’t have to be in New York to attend the New York Film Festival. Most of the offerings in its 58th edition are online. Our critics Manohla Dargis and A.O. Scott share their thoughts on 10 great picks. With the new season, how are reopened cinemas doing? Nicole Sperling and Brooks Barnes report on the slow return to big-screen theatrical viewing. The two big movies of the week are both available for home viewing. “Antebellum,” available on demand and starring Janelle Monáe, revisits the horrors of American slavery (read an interview with Monáe and her directors). And the Netflix period drama “The Devil All the Time” features Tom Holland as a young man battling hard luck and cruel men in a small town. (Hear the director Antonio Campos narrate a particularly tense scene with Holland and Robert Pattinson). Also out is the 1980s-set drama “The Nest,” featuring Jude Law, and the family tale “Blackbird,” with Susan Sarandon. Enjoy the movies! David Lee/HBO Critic’s Notebook 10 Great Movies at the New York Film Festival You Can (Mostly) See Online This year’s edition of the Lincoln Center staple is going virtual and to the Bronx — but there is still plenty to watch. By A.O. Scott and Manohla Dargis Matt Kennedy/Lionsgate ‘Antebellum’ Review: Look Away, Dixie Land Janelle Monáe stars in a muddled attempt to revisit the horrors of American slavery. By A.O. Scott Glen Wilson/Netflix ‘The Devil All the Time’ Review: Down-Home Livin’ and Dyin’ In this period drama, Tom Holland plays a country boy surrounded by Gothic ghouls, including Robert Pattinson’s preacher man. By Manohla Dargis Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS 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 The 50 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now Movies upon movies await, and you don't even have to drill down to find them. By Jason Bailey MOVIE REVIEWS IFC Films   ‘The Nest’ Review: New Home, Old Wounds In Sean Durkin’s film, a move to Britain widens a family’s rifts. By Ben Kenigsberg Pete Souza/Focus Features   ‘The Way I See It’ Review: Hailing Days Not Too Far Past Pete Souza, the White House photographer for the Obama administration, casts a warm eye on the past and a cold eye on the present in this Dawn Porter documentary. By Glenn Kenny From left, Rainn Wilson, Sam Neill, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Mia Wasikowska, Lindsay Duncan, Susan Sarandon and Anson Boon in "Blackbird."   ‘Blackbird’ Review: The Goodbye Girl Susan Sarandon plays a dying matriarch hosting her family one last time in Roger Michell’s vacant tear-jerker. By Jeannette Catsoulis Patti Perret/Bleecker Street   ‘The Secrets We Keep’ Review: Confessions All Around A possible case of mistaken identity has a dark fallout for two couples in post-World War II America. By Ben Kenigsberg Magnet Releasing   ‘Alone’ Review: Catch Her if You Can An emotionally fragile young woman takes a terrifying road trip in John Hyams’s bare-bones thriller. By Jeannette Catsoulis First Run Features   ‘A Chef’s Voyage’ Review: Not the Freshest Ingredients This documentary is a tedious chronicle of a California restaurant staff’s French tour. By Ben Kenigsberg Nathan Smith/Gravitas Ventures   ‘I’ve Got Issues’ Review: Seeking a Point, Starting to Break Sensitive souls wrestle with existential anxiety in Steve Collins’s absurdist comedy. By Jeannette Catsoulis Samuel Goldwyn Films   ‘H Is for Happiness’ Review: Using Fuss to Fight Off a Funk The cuteness and cheer of this film is offset by a refreshingly direct take on depression and despair. By Teo Bugbee Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ANATOMY OF A SCENE Glen Wilson/Netflix   Anatomy Of A Scene How Tom Holland Seeks Revenge in ‘The Devil All the Time’ The director Antonio Campos narrates a look at his period drama featuring Holland and Robert Pattinson. By Mekado Murphy NEWS & FEATURES ‘Antebellum’ and the Horrors of History That Persist Today Janelle Monáe and her directors tackled slavery’s terrible legacy. But re-enacting scenes of bondage demanded reserves of strength. By Candice Frederick critic’s notebook How ‘Goodfellas’ and the Gangster Class of 1990 Changed Hollywood That autumn, “The Godfather Part III” was hotly anticipated. Instead, the Scorsese movie and other crime tales raised the stakes for filmmakers to come. By Jason Bailey Geraldine Viswanathan on Karaoke and Lizzo Dance Breaks The star of “Broken Hearts Gallery” can relate to her character in more ways than one. She, too, has been trying to figure out her next steps. By Nancy Coleman critic’s notebook The Spy Movie That Upset the American Dream “The Spook Who Sat by the Door,” a 1973 parable about institutional racism, was pulled from theaters after only a few weeks. The New York Film Festival is giving new life to the cult film. By J. Hoberman Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS’ PICKS Array   CRITIC’S PICK ‘Residue’ Review: When the Old Neighborhood Is No Longer Yours In Merawi Gerima’s first feature film, a failed screenwriter returns to Washington, D.C., and finds gentrification has overrun his home. By Glenn Kenny Film Movement   Critic’s Pick ‘God of the Piano’ Review: How Far Will Mother Go? A family drama and psychological horror story, this directorial debut examines a parent’s projection of her own failed dreams onto a talented child. By Glenn Kenny Louder A once-a-week blast of pop music coverage, including album reviews, interviews with artists and playlists curated by our critics. Sign up 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? 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