Movies Update: The Slap and More

Plus, "Morbius" hits theaters and Kim's Video is back (sort of).

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story April 1, 2022 By Stephanie Goodman Film Editor For weeks, my film desk colleagues and I had been preparing for the Oscars, which meant, among other things, identifying likely story lines for the evening. We focused on how the preshow for eight awards not broadcast live would work, how the three hosts would mesh and most of all whether the Russian invasion of Ukraine would be addressed. Well, you know what happened. None of these topics really mattered after the slap seen round the world. The Times reporters Nicole Sperling, Julia Jacobs, Matt Stevens and others have been doggedly covering the fallout since Will Smith struck Chris Rock on the live global broadcast, and you can count on them to bring you the latest developments, including the results of the academy's formal review and whether sanctions will be imposed. In the meantime, there have been many, many takes (and will surely be many more), but I wanted to point out especially our critic at large Wesley Morris's examination of why the moment was so shocking, and our co-chief film critics Manohla Dargis and A.O. Scott's conversation about how the telecast as a whole did a poor job celebrating movies. Beyond the Oscars, we're heading into a busy time for releases. "Morbius," Jared Leto's new Marvel outing, is in theaters, and "against the odds," Dargis writes, "it provides all you want" for a diversion. Scott recommends "Babi Yar: Context," the latest documentary from Sergei Loznitsa, a Ukrainian filmmaker who has made a two-decade career out of examining history in his part of the world. And speaking of history, the late, much-lamented New York institution Kim's Video is back! Well kind of, it's a yarn that involves Alamo Drafthouse, thousands of titles separated from their cases, and the meaning of a video rental store in 2022. Enjoy the movies! Ruth Fremson/The New York Times The Best and Worst Moments of the 2022 Oscars The night made history, from That Slap to milestone wins by Troy Kotsur and Ariana DeBose, and a rousing performance by Beyoncé. By The New York Times Jay Maidment/Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures 'Morbius' Review: The Other Bat, Man Jared Leto bares his teeth as a neo-vampire who walks by day and tries to keep his monstrous thirst at bay in the latest Marvel adaptation. By Manohla Dargis Kim's Video Is Back. What Even Is a Video Store in 2022? Alamo Drafthouse bought the seminal New York chain's collection in an effort to make rentals a draw for moviegoers. Can one disrupted business help another? By Gabe Cohn and Adam Powell Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS' PICKS Film Forum Critic's Pick 'Babi Yar: Context' Review: Unearthing Footage of a Nazi Massacre Sergei Loznitsa's new documentary, about the mass murder of Ukrainian Jews in 1941, arrives in theaters with a grim context of its own. By A.O. Scott IFC Films Critic's Pick 'Nitram' Review: Slouching Toward Infamy In this unnerving drama based on a true crime, a lonely outsider reaches his breaking point. By Jeannette Catsoulis Branko Starcevic/Focus Features Critic's Pick 'You Won't Be Alone' Review: Season of the Witch A supernaturally altered young woman learns how to be human in this mesmerizing folk-horror tale. By Jeannette Catsoulis MOVIE REVIEWS Vlad Cioplea/Paramount Pictures 'The Contractor' Review: The Pine Identity Chris Pine and Ben Foster team up to play mercenaries in a solid thriller about losing your faith and finding yourself in a violent reckoning. By Manohla Dargis Netflix 'Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood' Review: OK, Boomer Richard Linklater's new animated film tells the story of the moon landing with some tongue-in-cheek revisionism. By A.O. Scott Laura Radford/Netflix 'The Bubble' Review: Swabs, Camera, Action Judd Apatow's new film is a comedy about actors trying to make a dinosaur movie during the pandemic that plays more like a documentary of actors trying to make a Covid comedy. By Ben Kenigsberg 20th Century Studios/Disney+ 'Better Nate Than Ever' Review: Castaway Seeks Broadway Hearty performances elevate this effusive Disney+ family comedy, even as the movie itself is awkward in its handling of its core subject. By Amy Nicholson HBO 'How to Survive a Pandemic' Review: Racing for a Shot The director David France's new documentary, about the global effort to develop and disseminate vaccines for the coronavirus, inspires striking candor from some of its subjects. By Devika Girish Cohen Media Group 'Gagarine' Review: Head in the Clouds Fanny Liatard and Jérémy Trouilh re-envision the demolition of the housing project Cité Gagarine — an aspirational symbol of French communism — with a heavy dose of magical realism. By Beatrice Loayza Lionsgate 'The Devil You Know' Review: A Thriller Thinner Than Blood This misbegotten family drama, starring a squandered all-Black ensemble, begins with stolen baseball cards. By Robert Daniels Warner Bros. Pictures 'Moonshot' Review: Found in Space Cole Sprouse and Lana Condor have a meet-cute en route to Mars in the young adult rom-com "Moonshot," streaming on HBO Max. By Calum Marsh Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT NEWS & FEATURES Emma Mcintyre/Getty Images Oscars Producer Did Not Want Will Smith Physically Removed After Slap Will Packer, the producer of the telecast, said that Smith had been asked to leave after slapping Chris Rock, and then there were discussions of having him physically removed. By Matt Stevens Ruth Fremson/The New York Times Critics' notebook Does the Academy Hold Movies in Contempt? Our Critics Wonder. Whatever you make of the slap, the telecast as a whole was a frustrating night of television that seemed based on a misunderstanding of what makes films great. By Manohla Dargis and A.O. Scott Ruth Fremson/The New York Times critic's notebook The Slap Wasn't the Only Astonishing Thing About the Oscars One stretch of the broadcast featured a remarkable convergence of Black celebrities, our critic writes. But in the midst of it all, Will Smith's victory became a defeat. By Wesley Morris Cedrine Scheidig for The New York Times A Filmmaker's Journey to the Center of Celine Dion In her kooky, rambunctious biopic "Aline," the French comedian Valérie Lemercier drew from her own life to play the Quebecois pop star at every stage of hers. By Elisabeth Vincentelli Henry Nicholls/Reuters Bruce Willis Has Aphasia and Is 'Stepping Away' From His Career The news of his diagnosis, initially announced by his ex-wife, Demi Moore, prompted an outpouring of support and appreciation for Willis from fans, stars and other notable figures. By Maya Salam Apple TV+ Representation or Stereotype? Deaf Viewers Are Torn Over 'CODA' They're hesitant to criticize the Oscar-winning film because it showcases deaf actors and lives, but some find its hearing perspective frustrating or even upsetting. By Amanda Morris Claire Folger/20th Century Studios and Hulu Critic's NOTEBOOK When the Master of the Erotic Thriller Fails to Thrill Adrian Lyne used to make deranged romps animated by conservative masculine anxieties. By the time of "Deep Water," his muse — the all-powerful white man — had lost his grip. By Amanda Hess Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS MPI/Dark Sky Films Five Horror Movies to Stream Now This month's picks are proof that it doesn't take big bucks to scare people's pants off with undead messiahs, unseen demons and uncanny commotions. By Erik Piepenburg Peter Prato/Annapurna Pictures Beyond the Algorithm 'The Square,' 'Sorry to Bother You' and More Streaming Gems This month's offbeat streaming recommendations include several very dark satires, a handful of engaging indies, and two documentaries that cinephiles will adore. By Jason Bailey IFC Films Stream These Three Great Documentaries This month's nonfiction picks include a surprising look at a World War II veteran and a fresh dive into footage shot during the first year of Putin's presidency. By Ben Kenigsberg How are we doing? We'd love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to moviesupdate@nytimes.com. Like this email? 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