Movies Update: ‘The Flash,’ ‘Elemental’ and More

Plus, what to know about Ezra Miller.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story June 16, 2023 By Mekado Murphy Movies Editor Hey, movie fans! Remember the days of going to the multiplex and being overwhelmed by the number of interesting choices? We have arrived at that place again! A few new movies out this week add to your array of options. For superhero buffs, there's "The Flash," a buoyant origin story that tells fresh tales in the DC Comics realm while reimagining old ones. As superhero movies go, the critic Manohla Dargis writes that this is "one of the more watchable ones." (The film's star, Ezra Miller, made headlines last year for legal troubles. Here's what to know about where those cases stand.) For Wes Anderson fans, the director has a new movie, "Asteroid City," set in a small Southwest desert town and including an ensemble cast that adds significantly to the local population. In her Critic's Pick review, Dargis calls the movie "comic and often wry, but like some of his other films, it has the soul of a tragedy." Hear Anderson talk about one such seriocomic scene in this video. And for lovers of Pixar, the animation company goes (in a way) back to basics with "Elemental," a comedy about what happens when fire and water fall in love. The critic Amy Nicholson writes, "Oddly, it's the most human rom-com in years." If this isn't enough, there's also "The Blackening," the new horror-comedy about a group of friends who meet up on Juneteenth weekend and must contend with a killer. Lisa Kennedy calls it "provocative fun." And even if you want to just hang out at home and stream, you have some big alternatives. You can check out "Extraction 2," the Chris Hemsworth-led sequel to the Netflix hit. Or you can learn more about the comic book legend Stan Lee in a documentary on Disney+ appropriately titled, "Stan Lee." Have fun at the movies! Warner Bros. Pictures 'The Flash' Review: Electric Company In the latest DC Comics blowout, Ezra Miller suits up as the speedy superhero alongside special guests like Batman (hello, Michael Keaton). By Manohla Dargis Disney/Pixar CRITIC'S PICK 'Elemental' Review: Sparks Fly The latest movie from Disney/Pixar tucks a romantic comedy inside a high-concept premise. It's smoldering and splashy. By Amy Nicholson Pop. 87/Focus Features CRITIC'S PICK 'Asteroid City' Review: Our Town and Country In his latest film, Wes Anderson and his all-stars go meta with a TV show about a theatrical play that, in turn, is about a small town, U.S.A. By Manohla Dargis Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT MOVIE REVIEWS Jasin Boland/Netflix 'Extraction 2' Review: No Escape Chris Hemsworth returns as an Australian mercenary in this bloated, banal action sequel. By Robert Daniels Glen Wilson/Lionsgate 'The Blackening' Review: Race Against a Killer With more jokes than jump scares, this comedic horror film is as tartly amusing as it is provocative. By Lisa Kennedy Marvel 'Stan Lee' Review: For the Cameo King, a Struggle to Hold the Spotlight Disappointingly, this creation story of Lee gives way to the characters he helped create. By Amy Nicholson Strand Releasing 'Nobody's Hero' Review: Little Desires Everywhere In this slippery farce, a schlubby coder falls in love with a prostitute and takes in a teenager he suspects is a terrorist. By Beatrice Loayza Film Movement 'Cadejo Blanco' Review: Negotiating Guatemalan Street Life In this film a young woman searching for her missing sister infiltrates a gang, but the focus is diffuse and the promised thriller never materializes. By Concepción de León Factory 25 'Happer's Comet' Review: We Live by Night The writer-director Tyler Taormina shot this highly experimental feature, which mostly takes place after dark, during the most restrictive phase of the pandemic. By Ben Kenigsberg Screen Media 'Maggie Moore(s)' Review: Body Trouble Tina Fey and Jon Hamm fail to invigorate this listless murder mystery about two victims who shared the same name. By Jeannette Catsoulis Dark Star Pictures 'Horseplay' Review: Boys Will Be Boys In this film from Argentina, a bunch of guys rent a villa and, well, act like a bunch of annoying guys renting a villa. By Kyle Turner Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ANATOMY OF A SCENE Focus Features ANATOMY OF A SCENE Watch Jeffrey Wright Give a Rousing Speech in 'Asteroid City' Wes Anderson narrates a scene from his film. By Mekado Murphy NEWS & FEATURES Macall Polay/Sony Pictures, via Associated Press CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK Bringing Sexy Back to the Movies, With a 2023 Twist This summer, raunchy comedies with a feminist perspective are trying to reinvent an R-rated genre that often can't withstand much scrutiny. By Leah Greenblatt Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated Press What to Know About Ezra Miller and 'The Flash' The 30-year-old star of the much-delayed DC film was in hot water amid a spate of legal troubles. Here's where those cases stand. By Sarah Bahr New Line Cinema CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK 'Menace II Society' at 30: A Bleak Nightmare Then, a Milestone Now With a tragic hero at its heart, the Hughes brothers' debut drama painted nuanced portraits of characters rarely fleshed out in other films. By Lawrence Ware Christopher Polk/NBC, via Getty Images Golden Globes Are Sold and Hollywood Foreign Press Is No More After a series of ethics, finance and diversity scandals, the embattled awards show will continue but the group that was behind it for decades will not. By Brooks Barnes Jeenah Moon for The New York Times What's a Podcast Doing at a Film Festival? The Tribeca Festival and audio artists each have something the other wants. Can they make it work? By Reggie Ugwu Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Brian Douglas BEYOND THE ALGORITHM 'Miles Ahead,' 'The Exiles' and More Streaming Gems Inventive riffs on the biopic, the movie musical, the classic Western and the celebrity bio-documentary are among the highlights of this month's roundup of under-the-radar streaming movies. By Jason Bailey Richard Foreman/Miramax Films Stream These Five Cormac McCarthy Film Adaptations The Coens and Ridley Scott are among the directors who took big swings at the novelist's work. The distinctive writer left his mark on the big screen. By Chris Vognar 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, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. 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