Movies Update: Sundance and More

Plus, what films might be nominated for Oscars?

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story January 20, 2023 By Mekado Murphy Movies Editor Hey, movie fans! The Sundance Film Festival is back. Or, more specifically, back in person. The previous two iterations have been virtual viewing affairs because of the pandemic. But this year the festival has gone hybrid, with screenings taking place both in Park City, Utah, and online. Our reporter Nicole Sperling wrote about some of the people of color who are financing movies at the festival that highlight underrepresented voices. From Utah back to Hollywood, the Oscar nominations are just around the corner. Our awards expert Kyle Buchanan gave his thoughts on what films and artists might make the cut when nominees are announced Tuesday morning. If you're looking for new movies, a handful are out this week in theaters, including "Alice, Darling," a drama starring Anna Kendrick as a woman who tries to pull away from an abusive relationship. In her review, Manohla Dargis wrote, "The sense that there's more going on under Kendrick's likable persona works well for both her character and for this movie." Also out is "Missing," a thriller starring Storm Reid that plays out on a computer screen. While the critic Amy Nicholson noted that some of the screen-based actions can get tedious, she wrote, "There's some pleasure in a brains-over-brawn quest that flatters us to fancy that we might be clever enough to solve it ourselves." Enjoy the movies! Alex Welsh for The New York Times 'The Ability to Say Yes' to Stories Long Neglected on the Screen People of color are financing a number of movies at the Sundance Film Festival focused on elevating underrepresented voices. By Nicole Sperling Krista Schlueter for The New York Times THE PROJECTIONIST What Will Be Nominated for Oscars on Tuesday? What Won't Be? It's an unusually wide open year for the Academy Awards. But our expert has a good idea about what will make the cut. Here are his projections. By Kyle Buchanan A24 CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK At the Movies, Bagels, Onions and a Side Dish of Nothing Both "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and the "Knives Out" sequel delve into the abyss, where life has no meaning. What they do next is surprising. By Maya Phillips Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS' PICKS Film Movement CRITIC'S PICK 'The Last Autumn' Review: The Majesty of Shepherds This observational documentary about an aging farming couple on the Icelandic coast unfolds like an elegy to a life lived off the land. By Devika Girish Vertigo Releasing CRITIC'S PICK 'After Love' Review: The Other Woman In this intelligent melodrama by the director Aleem Khan, a British woman discovers her husband has been leading a double life. By Beatrice Loayza MOVIE REVIEWS Lionsgate 'Alice, Darling' Review: That's What Friends Are For Anna Kendrick stars in a drama about a woman in an abusive relationship who finds refuge with two girlfriends during a getaway. By Manohla Dargis Temma Hankin/Screen Gems/Sony Pictures 'Missing' Review: Mom's Lost in the Matrix This thriller, about a teenage girl whose mother disappears, plays out on a computer screen. By Amy Nicholson Karen Kuehn/A24 'When You Finish Saving the World' Review: Mother and Son Disunion Julianne Moore plays a parent to a son (Finn Wolfhard) with whom she fails to see eye-to-eye in this comedy directed by Jesse Eisenberg. By Jeannette Catsoulis Ron Batzdorff/Warner Bros 'House Party' Review: A Rager Gone South Directed by Calmatic, "House Party" reboots the 1990 Kid 'n Play cult comedy with the help of LeBron James. By Brandon Yu Red Water Entertainment 'Back to the Wharf' Review: Ghosts of the Past Li Xiaofeng's film turns a crime soap opera into an allegory about China's head-spinning modernization. By Brandon Yu Screen Media 'Virtually Heroes' Review: Game Over, Man After a decade on the shelf, this action comedy is streaming for the first time. But while the action is dated, the comedy is antique. By Calum Marsh Peter Bennett 'Only in Theaters' Review: A Family Business in Changing Times Laemmle theaters have fed generations of Los Angeles cinephiles. This documentary looks at their past and present. By Glenn Kenny Strand Releasing 'In From the Side' Review: Love and Rugby Play a Losing Game In Matt Carter's gay rugby film, sports and romance smash together like two players from opposing teams. By Kyle Turner Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT NEWS & FEATURES Pool photo by Alex Tabak Alec Baldwin Will Be Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter in 'Rust' Killing A gun that Mr. Baldwin was rehearsing with went off, killing the film's cinematographer. The armorer responsible for weapons on set also faces manslaughter charges. By Julia Jacobs and Graham Bowley Universal Pictures REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK A Doll That Wears Sunglasses With Attitude? Oh, 'M3gan' Is a Gay Movie. The title robot — reminiscent of the loyal but messy straight women that gay men are protective of — is progress for a genre with a shameful history. By Erik Piepenburg STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Warner Bros. Pictures The 50 Best Movies on HBO Max Right Now In addition to new Warner and HBO films, the streamer has a treasure trove of Golden Age classics, indie flicks and foreign films. Start with these. By Scott Tobias Photofest 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 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. You received this email because you signed up for Movies Update from The New York Times. To stop receiving Movies Update, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018