Cinema News: Movies Update: ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ and More

May 12, 2023

By Stephanie Goodman

Film Editor

Hi, film fans!

It's that time of year when every corner of the movie world is bustling: Whether it's much anticipated blockbusters or highly touted indies, starry streaming titles or critically heralded festival dramas, there's so much to cover. (Insert "Everything Everywhere All at Once" joke here.) It's a joy but also a challenge.

Out of Hollywood, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" has fans talking about the end of that Marvel franchise. My colleague Kyle Buchanan sat down with the writer-director James Gunn to discuss how each Guardian's story wraps up (an alternate arc for Gamora was considered but ultimately discarded) and how he had long planned on "Dog Days Are Over" from Florence + the Machine as the final needle drop.

Jumping from theaters to digital this weekend is "Air," the tale of the creation of the Air Jordan sneaker directed by Ben Affleck and starring Matt Damon. Those are big names, but the scene stealer is Chris Messina, playing a foul-mouthed sports agent. As his co-star improvised ever-escalating insults, Damon couldn't help but laugh, and that made it into the movie, Affleck told us, because there were no takes of him keeping a straight face.

From the festival circuit, "Monica" follows a transgender woman as she tries to reconnect with her family and especially her dying mother (Patricia Clarkson). Speaking with my colleague Erik Piepenburg, Trace Lysette, who plays the title character in this Critic's Pick drama, singled out a scene in which Monica, in a bathing suit, holds a baby. "It's such a beautiful portrait because it's so rare that you get to see a trans woman being maternal and being carefree," she said.

Other Critic's Picks this week include "It Ain't Over," about the New York Yankee great Yogi Berra; "Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie," about the Hollywood star; and "Blackberry," a fictionalized telling of the rise and fall of the once-ubiquitous device.

Whatever you end up watching, enjoy the movies!

Riccardo Ghilardi/Focus Features

'Book Club: The Next Chapter' Review: Cinema Pinot Grigio

Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen take a trip to Italy and don't read as much in this comedy sequel.

By Amy Nicholson

Apple TV+

CRITIC'S PICK

'Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie' Review: Hiding in Plain Sight

The "Back to the Future" star time-travels through his career in this documentary, charting his experiences learning to live with Parkinson's disease.

By Ben Kenigsberg

Alana Paterson for The New York Times

EXIT INTERVIEW

James Gunn Always Knew How 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' Would End

In a spoiler-filled interview, the writer-director discusses the characters' surprising end points and his relief at bringing the trilogy to a close.

By Kyle Buchanan

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CRITICS' PICKS

IFC Films

CRITIC'S PICK

'Monica' Review: Mother and Daughter, Both Alike in Dignity

Trace Lysette and Patricia Clarkson star in this subtle chamber drama.

By Teo Bugbee

Daniel Vecchione/Sony Picture Classics

CRITIC'S PICK

'It Ain't Over' Review: When Yogi Berra Saw a Strike, He Hit It

The baseball player, known for his quirky malapropisms, was perpetually underestimated. But a new documentary proves he was a phenomenal talent.

By Glenn Kenny

MOVIE REVIEWS

Disney+

'Crater' Review: A Rocking Road Trip

This Disney film is surprisingly nimble at incorporating an emotional core into its sci-fi adventure.

By Brandon Yu

Eric Milner/Netflix

'The Mother' Review: Are You My Sniper?

At the heart of this action-thriller, an expert killer, played by Jennifer Lopez, must rescue her daughter at all costs.

By Lisa Kennedy

Riccardo Ghilardi/Focus Features

'Book Club: The Next Chapter' Review: Cinema Pinot Grigio

Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen take a trip to Italy and don't read as much in this comedy sequel.

By Amy Nicholson

Brian Lannin/Bleecker Street

'The Starling Girl' Review: As the Spirit Moves

Eliza Scanlen plays a pious teenager who begins an affair with her youth pastor in this tender coming-of-age drama.

By Natalia Winkelman

Music Box Films

'L'immensità' Review: Roman Holiday

Loosely based on the transgender director Emanuele Crialese's transition, this Italian period drama is a sun-dappled nostalgia trip bristling with Oedipal tension.

By Beatrice Loayza

Julia Liu/Long Shot Factory

'Unfinished Business' Review: Skimming the Surface of Women's Basketball

Unfortunately, this documentary about the W.N.B.A. and the New York Liberty hits the rim and then bounces out — it's only close to good.

By Elisabeth Vincentelli

Roadside Attractions

'Fool's Paradise' Review: No Talent? No Problem!

A hapless man who barely speaks becomes a movie star in Charlie Day's scattershot Hollywood satire.

By Nicolas Rapold

Steven Lam/Screen Media

'Dealing With Dad' Review: A Family Dysfunction

A fragmented family reunites to help their depressed patriarch in this surprisingly lighthearted film about serious subjects.

By Calum Marsh

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NEWS & FEATURES

Ryan Pfluger for The New York Times

With 'Monica,' Trace Lysette Is Ready for More

The transgender actress plays the title role in a new drama that, she says, is "not just a trans story, it's a family story."

By Erik Piepenburg

Amanda Hakan for The New York Times

How Chris Messina Forced Matt Damon to Up His Game in 'Air'

The "actor's actor" ad-libbed so many funny threats that the movie star couldn't keep a straight face and resorted to improvisation to keep up.

By Calum Marsh

Disney

Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan Talk 'Freaky Friday' at 20

The stars of the 2003 comedy still keep in touch and are in talks for a sequel, which Disney says is in the works.

By Nadine Zylberberg

Richard Foreman/FOX

How the Last Writers' Strike Changed Things Onscreen

The impact included promising shows that lost their audiences, films rushed into production with flimsy scripts and turbocharging reality programming.

By Nicole Sperling