Movies Update: ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ and More

Plus, so many Critics' Picks.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story March 24, 2023 By Stephanie Goodman Film Editor Hi, film fans! With "John Wick: Chapter 4" hitting theaters this weekend, we have been discussing the franchise quite a bit. It's the rare series that just about everyone on the film desk really enjoys (and agrees on). Manohla Dargis and I were discussing why the violence in these movies doesn't disturb us more, and I think she got at this in her not-quite-Critic's Pick review when she wrote that the brutal action "is as untethered from reality as it is in zombie flicks" and went on to explain, "No matter what happens, nothing ever feels as poignantly at stake here as Reeves's own ravaged, beautiful, aging body." While the focus in these films is obviously on Wick, for a lone assassin he sure has a lot of friends, as the writer Robert Ito points out, noting, "Everybody knows him, from beat cops and mechanics to club bouncers and hotel concierges." In exploring the chumminess of Wick World, Ito spoke with the screenwriter Michael Finch, who explained that the protagonist has so many pals "because, at the end of the day, he's inherently a good man," then added, "And he's Keanu, so it's very hard to dislike him." If for some reason you're not on board with the Wick series, there are plenty of movies our critics are recommending this week (really, quite a lot!), including, for starters, "Reggie," a documentary on the storied baseball player Reggie Jackson; "The Worst Ones," a provocative critique of filmmaking practices; and "Petite Solange," a divorce story told with compassion. Whatever you end up watching, have fun at the movies! Murray Close/Lionsgate 'John Wick: Chapter 4' Review: There Will Be Blood, Yeah In the latest and longest movie set in Wick World, Keanu Reeves's titular assassin visits Paris and paints the town red. By Manohla Dargis Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS' PICKS Prime Video CRITIC'S PICK 'Reggie' Review: Reggie Jackson on Himself, Racism and, Yes, Baseball Jackson, a.k.a. Mr. October, was called a lot of things during his storied career with the Yankees. A new documentary goes beyond the nicknames. By Glenn Kenny Kino Lorber CRITIC'S PICK 'The Worst Ones' Review: The Gazes of Children In their feature, the directors Lisa Akoka and Romane Gueret build a provocative critique of filmmaking practices. By Lisa Kennedy Several Futures CRITIC'S PICK 'Petite Solange' Review: Coming of Age as Your Parents Divorce Axelle Ropert's carefully calibrated film from France follows a girl experiencing the pain of having to accept her parents as people with faults. By Natalia Winkelman Elliott Erwitt/Greenwich Entertainment CRITIC'S PICK 'Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV' Review: Art Onscreen A new documentary follows the ceaseless innovations of a man who made art out of television sets and found inspiration in disruption. By Nicolas Rapold Cinema Guild CRITIC'S PICK 'Walk Up' Review: Good Friends Make Bad Neighbors Hong Sang-soo's latest film traces the relationships in a small Seoul apartment building as they evolve and grow heavier with complications. By Austin Considine IFC Films CRITIC'S PICK 'The Lost King' Review: A Royal Obsession Sally Hawkins lights a fire under this droll dramedy about the search for the final resting place of Richard III. By Jeannette Catsoulis Mubi CRITIC'S PICK 'The Five Devils' Review: The Scent of the Past Part queer love story, part supernatural psychodrama, the uncanny second feature by Léa Mysius follows a young girl with a magical sense of smell. By Beatrice Loayza Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ANATOMY OF A SCENE Lionsgate ANATOMY OF A SCENE Watch Keanu Reeves and Donnie Yen Battle in 'John Wick: Chapter 4' The director Chad Stahelski narrates a sequence involving John Wick in combat with Caine, a blind assassin. By Mekado Murphy MOVIE REVIEWS Jeong Park/MGM 'A Good Person' Review: Zach Braff's New Chapter The filmmaker behind "Garden State" has created a fully drawn female character in Florence Pugh's grieving addict. But this recovery drama often has too heavy a hand. By Brandon Yu Abramorama 'What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears?' Review: What Goes Up The rise and fall of a classic-rock band is chronicled (shakily) in this documentary. By Calum Marsh Niels Ladefoged/Bullfrog Films 'Ithaka' Review: In Julian Assange They Trust A frustrating new advocacy documentary about the WikiLeaks founder, with appearances by his father and wife, loses its footing on weak assertions and reporting. By Amy Nicholson Level 33 Entertainment 'Kubrick by Kubrick' Review: Stanley Plays Himself A primer on the filmmaker's career and interests won't offer much that will surprise even mild obsessives, but it does pierce some of the mystique. By Ben Kenigsberg NEWS & FEATURES Wolfgang Ennenbach/Focus Features With Films Like 'Inside,' One Actor Does the Heavy Lifting Filmmakers behind movies that place one character in one location discuss the challenges this type of project brings. By Carlos Aguilar Murray Close/Lionsgate John Wick Sure Has a Lot of Friends for a Lone Assassin How does a taciturn solo killer have so many pals? The films' creators can't really explain, but each character has a raison d'être in this world. By Robert Ito Suzie Howell for The New York Times 'Rye Lane' Aims to Show You a Real London Love Story A rare British romantic comedy with Black leads, Raine Allen-Miller's debut feature celebrates London neighborhoods that are changing fast. By Precious Adesina Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS 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. 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. 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