Movies Update: Oscar Predictions and More

Plus, test your knowledge of Oscars history.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story April 23, 2021 By Mekado Murphy Movies Editor Hey, movie fans! After an extended awards season, Oscars weekend is finally here. The ceremony is on Sunday and we have plenty to get you prepared. The Projectionist, Kyle Buchanan, has made his predictions. You can use them to make your own and just maybe win that Oscars pool. And you can test your knowledge of Oscars history with our quiz. We also show you what it's like to win an Oscar and ask how it must be for two co-stars to compete for an award in the same category. Want to go further behind the scenes of this year's nominees? I spoke to almost every director of this year's best picture-nominated movies, and Kyle and I had a chat about what to expect with Sunday's broadcast. Would you like to create some Oscar-worthy movie shots yourself, using just your phone? We came up with a nifty way, courtesy of films like "Vertigo." Beyond the Oscars, plenty of new releases are heading your way. This week's movies include video game-inspired thrills, a new documentary on "Sesame Street," a comedy about a single father and his surrogate, a Netflix space movie and so much more. Or if you're just looking for an explosion or five, we have a list of the best recent action movies to stream right now. Enjoy the movies! David Lee/Netflix, via Associated Press; Disney/Pixar The Projectionist Oscars 2021 Predictions: Who Will Win Best Picture, Actor and Actress? Our expert is here to help you catch up to one of the strangest awards seasons on record. Here is what he thinks will win. By Kyle Buchanan Gabriel Bouys/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Oscars 2021 Quiz: Test Your Knowledge Who was the first Black woman to win best actress? Who were the first Asian men to win best actor? Answer these 10 questions and see how you fare against other movie lovers. By Kathryn Shattuck Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE OSCARS Searchlight Pictures 2021 Oscar Nominations: Full Ballot See this year's Oscar nominees and make your picks. Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images Quick, Here's All You Need to Know About the Oscars Theaters were shut but the ceremony is still happening? Yep! In a podcast, our awards experts catch you up. Searchlight Pictures Behind the Scenes of the 2021 Best Picture Nominees I spoke with directors of the films competing for the top prize at the Oscars. Here are my takeaways. By Mekado Murphy Warner Bros When Co-Stars Compete at the Oscars, Who Wins? Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield of "Judas and the Black Messiah" are going head-to-head for best supporting actor. Here's how they might fare. By Ben Zauzmer Make Your Own Vertigo Shot You've seen the shot: that woozy moment when a character's world is transformed. Here's how it works. By Mekado Murphy STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Netflix Five Action Movies to Stream Right Now Looking for some high-octane thrills? We scour the streaming services to find the right options for you. By Robert Daniels Magnolia Pictures Beyond the Algorithm 'Skate Kitchen,' 'Night Moves' and More Streaming Gems Enjoy these options that are off the beaten path. By Jason Bailey Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS' PICKS Icarus Films Critic's Pick 'Paris Calligrammes' Review: Recalling the 1960s With Fondness and Passion The German artist and filmmaker Ulrike Ottinger takes us on an unhurried journey through her past. By Glenn Kenny Tiffany Roohani/Bleecker Street Critic's Pick 'Together Together' Review: A Conceivable Plan A man and his surrogate navigate a bumpy road to fatherhood in this endearing dramatic comedy. By Jeannette Catsoulis Mubi Critic's Pick 'Red Moon Tide' Review: A Village Paralyzed in Grief Subjects stand frozen against majestic landscapes in Lois Patiño's meditation on how Galician mythology intersects with a village's search for souls lost at sea. By Natalia Winkelman MOVIE REVIEWS 'Mortal Kombat' Review: Battered and Bloody The latest screen adaptation of the video game shows again that trying to construct a coherent plot around these characters is a fatal trap. By Ben Kenigsberg 'Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street' Review: Making of a Sunny Day Even nostalgia-resistant viewers can learn something from this documentary version of a book on the making of the show. By Ben Kenigsberg 'My Wonderful Wanda' Review: The Secret Life of a Caretaker The writer/director Bettina Oberli weaves a satirical family drama knotted with infidelity, among other complications. By Kristen Yoonsoo Kim 'Sisters With Transistors' Review: How Women Pioneered Electronic Music This far-reaching documentary from Lisa Rovner looks back at the female composers and artists who shaped modern music. By Glenn Kenny 'Tu Me Manques' Review: Traces of a Lost Love A conservative father who could not accept his son's sexuality is led on a contemplative tour of queer life in New York in this Bolivian film. By Teo Bugbee 'Wet Season' Review: Teacher's Pet An immigrant schoolteacher finds solace in a relationship with one of her students in this suggestive drama from Singapore. By Beatrice Loayza '8 Billion Angels' Review: Giving Earth Top Billing This documentary about climate injustice feels defanged by its unfocused structure. By Devika Girish 'Stowaway' Review: An Outer-Space Drama, Lacking Gravity This Netflix film pushes a crew of space explorers to moral and physical extremes when an unexpected passenger accidentally compromises their oxygen supply. 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