Movies Update: “Broker” and More

And a look at the historical figures behind "Babylon."

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story December 30, 2022 By Austin Considine Assistant TV editor Hello, fellow movie lovers, Both of our movies editors, Stephanie and Mekado, are on vacation (they'll be back in 2023), but they picked a good week to be out. After the flood of pre-Christmas releases, the debuts in these final days of 2022 are lean — which is not to say feeble: Of our seven new reviews, three were Critics' Picks. Leading them is A.O. Scott's enthusiastic write-up of "Broker," the new film by Hirokazu Kore-eda, whose 2018 movie "Shoplifters" took the Palme d'Or at Cannes. It's not every movie about selling a baby on the black market that is described as "sweet and charming." Color me intrigued. (As for the American remake of the 2016 Oscar contender from Sweden, "A Man Called Ove" — the man's new name is Otto, and he is played by Tom Hanks — color me less-than. Glenn Kenny, who reviewed both versions, calls the remake "not only more bloated" than the sentimental original but also "more outré.") Elsewhere, history buffs — and anyone who has ever waged war over a semicolon — should check out Ben Kenigsberg's admiring review of "Turn Every Page — The Adventures of Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb," about the famously fastidious historian and his longtime editor. It's another of this week's picks. One takeaway, Ben writes: "Don't ask Robert Caro when he's going to finish his next Lyndon Johnson book." Speaking of history, Ben also gives fans of Damien Chazelle's big, shiny paean to Hollywood's Golden Age, "Babylon," this handy-dandy historical guide to the real lives that inspired the film. And 20 years on, Carlos Aguilar offers this reappraisal of Disney's 2002 adventure movie "Treasure Planet," which he believes is "a trove of underrated accomplishments." Thanks for letting me host. Until next time, have a happy New Year! Neon CRITIC'S PICK 'Broker' Review: It Takes a Village to Sell a Child Filmed in South Korea, the new movie from Hirokazu Kore-eda turns a potentially grim tale into a poignant road picture. By A.O. Scott Niko Tavernise/Columbia Pictures 'A Man Called Otto' Review: Tom Hanks Learns Life Lessons Going against nice-guy type (at first), the star plays a misanthrope who's pulled into caring for a neighboring family in need. By Glenn Kenny Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS' PICKS Claudia Raschke/Courtesy of Wild Surmise Productions, LLC, via Sony Pictures Classics CRITIC'S PICK 'Turn Every Page' Review: It's Not Done Yet This affectionate documentary about the writer Robert Caro and the editor Robert Gottlieb sets out to shed light on their 50 years of collaboration. By Ben Kenigsberg Dan Smith/Netflix CRITIC'S PICK 'Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical' Review: Youth in Revolt This musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's novel is a jolt of sour candy guaranteed to make you grin. By Amy Nicholson MOVIE REVIEWS Amazon Prime Video 'Wildcat' Review: Rescue and Rewild This documentary follows a couple's efforts to reintroduce an ocelot, headed to a zoo or worse, into its home in the Peruvian Amazon. By Manohla Dargis Animation Show of Shows 'Annual Animation Show of Shows' Review: A Mix of Whimsy and Dread This festival's 22nd edition covers themes of crisis, both personal and planetary, with short works from the likes of Gil Alkabetz and Frédéric Back. By Jeannette Catsoulis Vertical Entertainment 'Broadway Rising' Review: Surviving the Pandemic Stakeholders including Patti LuPone and Lynn Nottage share their real-time reactions to New York theater's shutdown and reopening in Amy Rice's documentary. By Nicolas Rapold NEWS & FEATURES Bettmann/Contributor, via Getty Images 'Babylon': A Guide to the Characters and Their Real-Life Counterparts The Damien Chazelle epic is set in 1920s Hollywood and draws on figures from that time, including "the 'It' Girl," Clara Bow. By Ben Kenigsberg Disney 'Treasure Planet' at 20: Disney's Failed Space Odyssey Deserved to Soar This maligned flight of fancy contains a trove of underrated accomplishments worthy of reappraisal. By Carlos Aguilar 20th Century Studios Creating the Exiled Sea Creature of 'Avatar: The Way of Water' Payakan, the estranged young tulkun, exemplifies the director James Cameron's obsessive attention to the biomechanics of every entity that inhabits the world of "Avatar." By Carlos Aguilar Lila Barth for The New York Times Turning Sports Statistics Into Riveting Cinema Jon Bois and his collaborators specialize in documentaries about seemingly unremarkable teams. Then he wields charts and graphs to spellbinding effect. By Calum Marsh Disney Mickey's Copyright Adventure: Early Disney Creation Will Soon Be Public Property The version of the iconic character from "Steamboat Willie" will enter the public domain in 2024. But those trying to take advantage could end up in a legal mousetrap. By Brooks Barnes Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS CJ Entertainment Five Action Movies to Stream Now From comedic secret agents to melodramatic comic book heroes, this month's action picks bend the genre. By Robert Daniels 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. 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