Movies Update: ‘The Rescue,’ the Oscar Race and the Future of Movies

Plus, is moviegoing undemocratic?

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story October 8, 2021 By Mekado Murphy Movies Editor Hey, movie fans! The new James Bond film is finally in U.S. theaters. Watch an action scene from it and hear the director Cary Joji Fukunaga explain how it was made. (It involved a nifty little stunt trick called the Texas Switch.) The 2018 operation to save the Thai soccer team trapped in a cave is examined in heart-stopping detail in the documentary "The Rescue," from the makers of the Oscar-winning "Free Solo." Our reporter Nicole Sperling spoke to the filmmakers about the movie, which Jessica Kiang called "involving and moving" in her review. The New York Film Festival is wrapping up this weekend, and the Oscar race has already begun. Kyle Buchanan looked at where things stand this early on. And as we creep toward Halloween, the horror movies are steadily accumulating. We have reviews of the two latest entries in the "Welcome to the Blumhouse" streaming anthology, "Madres" and "The Manor." Additionally, there's the fourth installment in a horror anthology, "V/H/S/94" (a Critic's Pick), a creepy folk horror tale (also a Critic's Pick), "Lamb," as well as an isolation thriller, "Knocking." Enjoy the movies! National Geographic 'The Rescue' Review: Going All In on a Risky Mission Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin's documentary recounts the 2018 Thailand cave rescue. By Jessica Kiang Rob Youngson/Focus Features The Projectionist The 2022 Oscar Race Has Begun. Here's Who Is Already Ahead. After the fall film festivals, several major contenders have emerged, including "Belfast," "King Richard" and "The Power of the Dog." By Kyle Buchanan Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS' PICKS A24 Critic's Pick 'Lamb' Review: Oh No, Not My Baby! A strange birth on an Icelandic farm bodes ill for a grieving couple in this eerie debut feature. By Jeannette Catsoulis Shudder Critic's Pick 'V/H/S/94' Review: The Right Snuff This lo-fi horror omnibus is a grisly, gory gem. By Calum Marsh Jessica Earnshaw/Hulu/ABC News Critic's Pick 'Jacinta' Review: A Neverending Cycle of Hurt This haunting documentary by Jessica Earnshaw traces the journey of a young woman struggling with addiction after her release from prison. By Beatrice Loayza ANATOMY OF A SCENE Nicola Dove/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Anatomy of a Scene Watch Daniel Craig in Action in 'No Time to Die' The director Cary Joji Fukunaga narrates a sequence featuring the actor as James Bond. By Mekado Murphy MOVIE REVIEWS Alfonso Bresciani/Amazon Studios 'Madres' and 'The Manor' Review: Maligned Women Uncover the Truth Two horror films about marginalized women uncovering conspiracies join Amazon's "Welcome to the Blumhouse" anthology series. By Lena Wilson Jane Stephens/RLJE Films 'South of Heaven' Review: Anything for Love Jason Sudeikis plays a paroled felon who vows to give his dying lover the best year of her life. By Amy Nicholson Nicola Dove/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios 'No Time to Die' Review: His Word Is His Bond The 25th episode in the venerable franchise — and Daniel Craig's last as 007 — finds its hero in a somber mood. By A.O. Scott Christophe Beaucarne/Icarus Films 'Suzanna Andler' Review: French Riviera Blues This film takes place in a single afternoon, as Suzanna, played by Charlotte Gainsbourg, contemplates her bourgeois marriage. By Teo Bugbee Bleecker Street, via Associated Press 'Mass' Review: Stages of Grief Years after a school shooting, two couples meet to discuss their children — the one whose life was taken, and the one who took his life. By Teo Bugbee Icarus Films 'Prism' Review: Taking a Clear View of Bias in Moviemaking In this documentary, three filmmakers put together their own segments that ponder their profession's culpability. By Lisa Kennedy Yellow Veil Pictures 'Knocking' Review: Domestic Disturbances A character's suspicions about a mysterious tapping noise turn into a thriller about the horrors of isolation. By Nicolas Rapold Music Box Films 'Golden Voices' Review: In Tel Aviv, With an Unappreciated Talent Two voice actors from Russia struggle for a fresh start. By Glenn Kenny Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT NEWS & FEATURES Kirsty Griffin/Netflix Critic's Notebook The Future of Movies Collides With the Past at the New York Film Festival Memory and storytelling are intriguingly intertwined in work by world-class filmmakers that confounds and intrigues. By A.O. Scott Ricardo Nagaoka for The New York Times Their Thai Cave Rescue Film Was Done. Then 87 Hours of Footage Arrived. For their heart-pounding documentary, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin faced a thorny tangle of rights, permissions and personalities. By Nicole Sperling Barry Wetcher/Warner Bros. How the 'Many Saints of Newark' Stars Remade Key 'Sopranos' Roles Actors in the prequel had to put their stamp on favorite characters from the original series, whether they had watched it or not. By Dave Itzkoff Rozette Rago for The New York Times A Big Hollywood Premiere That Was a Long Time Coming The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures was over budget and years behind schedule, and some feared it would be a flop. Its new director, Bill Kramer, helped get it back on track. By Adam Nagourney Neon Critic's Notebook Is Moviegoing Undemocratic? The plan to distribute the art-house film "Memoria" in one theater at a time has set off a heated debate over whether the idea is elitist or inspired. By A.O. Scott STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Jignesh C. Panchal/Pooja Entertainment Stream These 5 Action Films Now This month's picks include an animated odyssey filled with dragons, a pandemic-set post-apocalyptic Western and more. By Robert Daniels The Best Movies and Shows on Hulu Right Now We've handpicked the finest movies and television shows currently streaming on Hulu in the United States. Take a look. By Jason Bailey Magnolia Pictures. The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video Right Now New films, and classics, just keep coming, but you don't have to drill down to find the finest selections to stream. We'll do the heavy lifting. You press play. By Jason Bailey 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. 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