Movies Update: Remembering Sidney Poitier

Plus, reviews of "The 355," "A Hero" and more.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story January 7, 2022 By Mekado Murphy Movies Editor Hey, movie fans. The trailblazing actor Sidney Poitier has died at the age of 94, and there's been an outpouring of tributes from Hollywood, and the world. Our critic A.O. Scott wrote that "Poitier was more than a pioneer; he was a revolutionary. He didn't just make it in Hollywood. He remade Hollywood." Our critic Manohla Dargis wrote that while Poitier "will be rightly remembered as a towering figure in the civil rights movement," she added that "we should also honor and be grateful for his beauty, what it meant and what it did." Former President Barack Obama reminded us that Poitier "opened doors for a generation of actors." The actress Kerry Washington wrote that "we lost an elegant king today" and the actress Lee Grant, who appeared with Poitier in "In the Heat of the Night," remembered that he was a "force of nature." And Harry Belafonte, Poitier's longtime friend and frequent collaborator, said in a statement, "He was truly my brother and partner in trying to make this world a little better. He certainly made mine a whole lot better." Read more live updates and tributes, and check out this guide to where you can stream his greatest performances. New to theaters this week is the women-led espionage thriller "The 355" and the latest drama from the two-time Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi, "A Hero." Enjoy the movies. Sam Falk/The New York Times Sidney Poitier, Who Paved the Way for Black Actors in Film, Dies at 94 The first Black performer to win the Academy Award for best actor, for "Lilies of the Field," he once said he felt "as if I were representing 15, 18 million people with every move I made." By William Grimes Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS' PICKS Amirhossein Shojaei/Amazon Studios critic's pick 'A Hero' Review: Debts No Honest Man Can Pay In the latest film from the two-time Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi, a good Samaritan comes under suspicion. By A.O. Scott The Cinema Guild Critic's Pick 'Expedition Content' Review: Anthropological Maneuvers in the Dark An engrossing documentary looks back at a 1961 expedition to New Guinea and the creation of the landmark ethnographic film that resulted. By Manohla Dargis MOVIE REVIEWS Robert Viglasky/Universal Pictures 'The 355' Review: Exile in Bondville Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Lupita Nyong'o, Diane Kruger and Fan Bingbing star in an espionage thriller that's slick but banal. By Amy Nicholson Sunpunks Productions 'American Gadfly' Review: A Candid Candidacy This documentary goes behind the scenes of Mike Gravel's oddball run for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. By Ben Kenigsberg IFC Midnight 'See for Me' Review: Steal Away A young blind woman is menaced by a crew of robbers in this forgettable thriller. By Jeannette Catsoulis STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Mirish Company/Alamy Stream These 11 Great Performances by Sidney Poitier As an actor and filmmaker, he strove to bring layered Black individuals to the screen at a time when that was rare. By Noel Murray Dark Sky Films Five Horror Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include a family blood pact, a mother under attack, twins with a deadly secret, a father with demons and a couple that's way too attached. By Erik Piepenburg Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT NEWS & FEATURES Monica Almeida/The New York Times Peter Bogdanovich, 82, Director Whose Career Was a Hollywood Drama, Dies Within one decade, the '70s, he was transformed from one of the most celebrated of filmmakers, notably for "The Last Picture Show," into one of the most ostracized. By Margalit Fox Chris Pizzello/Invision, via Associated Press What Is Happening With the 2022 Golden Globes? A guide to everything we know about the 79th annual Golden Globes on Sunday night. By Sarah Bahr Claire Folger/Amazon Studios Critic's Notebook 'The Tender Bar': A Tale of Drinking That Ducks Alcoholism Though the memoir this film is based on confronts the issue of addiction to alcohol, the adaptation skirts the topic and its deeper implications. By Chris Vognar Rozette Rago for The New York Times Hollywood Glamour Is Pandemic-Proof at the Polo Lounge A clubby gathering spot attracts a who's who of the film industry, and reminds them of a time when movies were still king. By Brooks Barnes 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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