Movies Update: ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ and More

Plus, Meryl Streep's one weird trick.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story July 15, 2022 By Mekado Murphy Movies Editor Hey, movie fans! Summer continues to chug along with plenty to see both in theaters and on streaming. New on the big screen this week is the film adaptation of the best-selling Delia Owens novel, "Where the Crawdads Sing." The movie stars Daisy Edgar-Jones (read an interview with her here) as the abused and abandoned orphan heroine Kya. In his review, A.O. Scott wrote that "for a story about sex, murder, family secrets and class resentments, the temperature is awfully mild." And "Thor: Love and Thunder" is still playing on multiple screens in pretty much in every multiplex you can think of. This week, we looked at the costumes and had the director, Taika Waititi, break down a scene. Streaming on Amazon is the emotional father-daughter road-trip movie "Don't Make Me Go," starring John Cho and Mia Isaac. Reviewing that film, Amy Nicholson wrote that while the setup might sound treacly, "the director Hannah Marks and the screenwriter Vera Herbert veer from predictability. Life is unpredictable, and the film gambles big to make that point." And over on Netflix is a new adaptation of the Jane Austen novel "Persuasion," starring Dakota Johnson. Its director, Carrie Cracknell, responded to the backlash to the film's trailer. And Teo Bugbee has a review. Enjoy the movies! Michele K Short/Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Classics 'Where the Crawdads Sing' Review: A Wild Heroine, a Soothing Tale Daisy Edgar-Jones stars as an orphaned girl in the marshes of North Carolina in this tame adaptation of Delia Owens's popular novel. By A.O. Scott Nick Wall/Netflix 'Persuasion' Review: The Present Intrudes Into the Past Dakota Johnson smirks her way through a Netflix adaptation of the rekindled romance in Jane Austen's last novel, our critic writes. By Teo Bugbee Meryl Streep's One Weird Trick The dramatic removal of eyeglasses is a cinematic cliché. On Streep, it's a revelation. By Amanda Hess Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS' PICKS Amazon Original Critic's Pick 'Don't Make Me Go' Review: Sharp Curves Ahead for Next 2,000 Miles John Cho and Mia Isaac play a father and daughter on a road trip in this twisty drama, which explores the gulf between familiarity and intimacy. By Amy Nicholson Strand Releasing Critic's Pick 'Marx Can Wait' Review: A Director Digs Into His Brother's Death In a moving new documentary, the Italian filmmaker Marco Bellocchio gathers his fascinating, aging family members to make sense of their brother's suicide. By A.O. Scott IFC Midnight Critic's Pick 'She Will' Review: Payback Is a Witch A traumatized star is supernaturally primed for vengeance in this gorgeously ghostly thriller. By Jeannette Catsoulis ANATOMY OF A SCENE Jasin Boland/Marvel Studios/Disney Anatomy of a Scene Watch Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman Reunite in 'Thor: Love and Thunder' The director Taika Waititi narrates a battle sequence that has the two connecting onscreen again. By Mekado Murphy MOVIE REVIEWS John Medland/Disney+ 'Zombies 3' Review: Take Me to Your Cheerleader In the final installment of this Disney trilogy, the arrival of aliens alters our high school heroes' quests for college — and social — acceptance. By Lena Wilson Greenwich Entertainment 'From Where They Stood' Review: Auschwitz, as Seen by Prisoners Christophe Cognet's documentary pores over photographs, some of them clandestine, taken by prisoners, inside the Nazi concentration camp. By Nicolas Rapold Briarcliff Entertainment 'Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down' Review: A New Mission This documentary from the directors of "RBG" offers a window into the life of the former Democratic congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords after she survived a bullet wound to the head. By Natalia Winkelman Paramount Pictures 'Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank' Review: A Tail of Two Samurai Michael Cera and Samuel L. Jackson lend their voices to this unlikely animated adaptation of Mel Brooks's "Blazing Saddles." By Claire Shaffer GKIDS 'The Deer King' Review: Medicine, Family and Empire A series of Japanese fantasy novels is the basis for this tenderly wrought and brilliantly animated adventure movie. By Concepción de León Film Movement 'Queen of Glory' Review: Back to the Bronx In the writer-director Nana Mensah's amusing and astute feature debut, a death forces a reckoning for a brainy young Ghanaian-American living in both worlds. By Lisa Kennedy Juno Films 'Earwig' Review: Danse Macabre The latest trip down the rabbit hole by the French director Lucile Hadzihalilovic follows a young girl with teeth made of ice and her cadaverous caretaker. By Beatrice Loayza Kino Lorber 'Costa Brava, Lebanon' Review: Paradise Tossed In Mounia Akl's ambitious debut feature, a family's attempts to escape the filth of Beirut go awry when the garbage follows them to their doorstep. By Austin Considine Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT NEWS & FEATURES Luisa Opalesky for The New York Times On Comedy Janeane Garofalo Never Sold Out. What a Relief. That concept might be the reason her trailblazing stand-up career has been overshadowed; it may also be the reason she's still so sharp, our critic argues. By Jason Zinoman Chantal Anderson for The New York Times Daisy Edgar-Jones Would Like the Ingénue Phase of Her Career to End Now The star of "Where the Crawdads Sing" and "Normal People" has quickly become a Hollywood "It" Girl. But what she craves is longevity. By Ashley Spencer Rosie Marks for The New York Times 'Persuasion' Director Thinks Jane Austen Will Be Just Fine After the backlash to the trailer for her Netflix drama, Carrie Cracknell argues that the movie was made with "openhearted respect" for the author. By Alexis Soloski Netflix In Designing 'The Sea Beast,' Animators Sweat the Details A deep dive into the look of the title character in the animated Netflix film. By Gabe Cohn Jasin Boland/Marvel Studios and Disney How the Colorful Costumes of 'Thor: Love and Thunder' Were Made "The Phantom of the Opera," "Big Trouble in Little China" and an archaeology museum all played a part, the designer Mayes Rubeo explains. By Kyle Buchanan STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Bir Film/Netflix Five Action Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include films about women in defense and a kidnapping prank gone wrong. By Robert Daniels Lauren Greenfield/Magnolia Pictures 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 Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT 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 these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. 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