Movies Update: ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ and More

Plus, Brontë and Chandler and bears, oh my.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story February 17, 2023 By Mekado Murphy Movies Editor Hey, movie fans! If you've been needing a Marvel movie fix, look no further than the latest from the M.C.U.: "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania." It gave our critic, Manohla Dargis, a shrinking feeling. In her review, she wrote that the film is "a hash of recycled ideas and schtick." If you're an Emily Brontë fan, a new biopic on her life, "Emily," may be more your speed. Dargis had much nicer thoughts on Frances O'Connor's film, calling it "a confident directorial debut and an enjoyably irreverent take on Brontë, one that builds on the scant historical record to construct an imaginary, at times wishful portrait of the artist." And for those who like the writer Raymond Chandler, and his detective invention, Philip Marlowe, a new movie starring Liam Neeson may be up your alley. Though our critic, A.O. Scott wrote that the film "neither dutifully copies nor cleverly updates detective-movie tropes." Whatever your taste, enjoy the movies! Marvel Studios/Disney 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' Review: Splat The latest installment in the Marvel franchise never takes flight despite its hard-working cast, led by Paul Rudd and a new villain played by Jonathan Majors. By Manohla Dargis Michael Wharley/Bleecker Street/Obscure Pictures CRITIC'S PICK 'Emily' Review: A Brontë Sister's Savage, Hardy and Free Life Blending fact with generous, liberating fiction, the director Frances O'Connor brings the author of "Wuthering Heights" to pleasurable life. By Manohla Dargis Open Road Films 'Marlowe' Review: The Adventures of a Worn-Out Gumshoe Liam Neeson and Neil Jordan try to breathe new life into Raymond Chandler's hard-boiled hero. By A.O. Scott ShortsTV 'The 2023 Oscar Nominated Short Films' Review: Bite-Size Global Tales This year's selections include a film about the disappearance of a sibling and one about the appearance of 100,000 walruses. By Jeannette Catsoulis, Amy Nicholson and Ben Kenigsberg Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT MOVIE REVIEWS Grasshopper Film/Gratitude Films 'Pacifiction' Review: Trouble in Paradise Albert Serra's languorous new film is a dreamy meditation on post-colonial geopolitics. By A.O. Scott Alison Cohen Rosa/Apple TV+ 'Sharper' Review: The Big Con The film stars Sebastian Stan and Julianne Moore in a baroque but lackluster story of con artists circling a Manhattan billionaire's fortune. By Nicolas Rapold ITN Studios and Jagged Edge Productions 'Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey' Review: Willy-Nilly Killy Old Bear A childhood favorite gets a threadbare horror treatment. By Kyle Turner Samuel Goldwyn '88' Review: Finding Hate in Numbers In this new political thriller, a campaign finance manager uncovers a corrupt scheme. By Glenn Kenny Dean Francis/Dark Star Pictures 'Lonesome' Review: Using Sex, Finding Intimacy The Australian filmmaker Craig Boreham's drama credibly depicts characters who feel most comfortable communicating through sex. By Teo Bugbee Meridian Hill Pictures/Magic Labs Media 'The First Step' Review: Van Jones Battles for Bipartisanship This well-meaning documentary follows the liberal commentator as he works with both political parties to pass a criminal justice reform bill. By Natalia Winkelman Jeon Young-wook/Netflix 'Unlocked' Review: A Surveillance Thriller Best Left Offline A woman experiences paranoia, loss and bodily danger after a serial killer hacks her phone. By Robert Daniels Well Go USA 'Hidden Blade' Review: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes Tony Leung stars as a spy chief during a shadowy period in midcentury China, when nationalists, communists and imperialists vied for power and souls. By Austin Considine Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT MORE REVIEWS 'Jethica' Review: Slow Stalker Two women battle an unusually persistent admirer in this enjoyably offbeat supernatural comedy. By Jeannette Catsoulis 'Last Night in New York' Review: A Social Chronicler Explains Himself A slew of well-off New Yorkers, many of them not very nice, sing the praises of their "Boswell," David Patrick Columbia, in a new documentary. By Glenn Kenny 'A Radiant Girl' Review: Coming of Age in Paris, 1942 This Holocaust drama could have easily passed for a blissful teen romance; instead, it's an awkwardly rendered portrait of a young Jewish woman in denial. By Beatrice Loayza NEWS & FEATURES Sinna Nasseri for The New York Times THE PROJECTIONIST At the Oscar Nominees Luncheon, a Crowd in Cruise Control The "Top Gun: Maverick" star and producer is mobbed as Austin Butler, Angela Bassett, Ke Huy Quan and others angle to chat with him. By Kyle Buchanan Lynsey Weatherspoon/Orion Pictures, via Associated Press CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK How the Oscars and Grammys Thrive on the Lie of Meritocracy Despite all the markers of excellence, contenders like Danielle Deadwyler, Viola Davis and Beyoncé weren't recognized for the highest honors. Niche awards don't suffice. By Salamishah Tillet Jennelle Fong for The New York Times; Rozette Rago for The New York Times Representation Among BAFTA Nominees Improves After Changes Three years after an all-white lineup of actors was nominated, this year's group is more diverse. By Farah Nayeri Clockwise from top left: Warner Bros.; TriStar Pictures; Miramax; Columbia Pictures What Rom-Coms Teach Us About Love, Life and Meg Ryan's Hair A quiz about familiar (and troubling) romantic-comedy cliches. By Tala Safie and Alexis Soloski Warner Bros. CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK Magic Mike Is Just Trying to Pay the Bills Forget getting ahead in America. The stripper at the heart of the film trilogy is working frantically not to lose his shirt. By Esther Zuckerman Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS The Roku Channel Five Science Fiction Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include aliens, pandemics and post-apocalyptic romance. By Elisabeth Vincentelli John Wilson/Netflix, via Associated Press 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 How are we doing? We'd love your feedback on this newsletter. 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