Movies Update: ‘Bottoms’ and More

Plus, fallout from the Hollywood strikes.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story August 25, 2023 By Stephanie Goodman Film Editor Hi, movie fans! In the film world, the end of summer is usually a time to play catch-up with recent releases and start preparing for the busy autumn. This year is a little different because of the writers' and actors' strikes. When and how will they be resolved is Topic A in Hollywood, and our discussions on the film desk now involve a lot of questions and contingencies: What will the fall festivals look like without stars, who are prohibited from promoting their work during the walkout? Now that "Dune: Part Two," one of the most anticipated releases of the fall, has been delayed to next year, will other high-profile movies follow suit? (Ethan Coen's "Drive-Away Dolls" and a few other lesser-known titles had already been postponed.) With even some nonunion artists opting to refrain from interviews out of solidarity, how should we be thinking about coverage? I have some ideas but no clear-cut answers yet, and it's a conversation we'll be having as long as the walkouts last. In the meantime, there's still plenty to see onscreen. Our reviewers had several Critic's Picks this week, including the absorbing psychological thriller "Our Father, the Devil," the beguiling experiment "Piaffe" and the whip-smart father-daughter relationship tale "Scrapper." Whatever you decide to watch, enjoy the movies! Raysa Fontana Reporter's Notebook Honey, I Blew Up the Family Film What ever happened to the live-action adventures and G-rated titles adults and children could watch together in the theater? By Alexis Soloski Austin Santibanez, via Gavin J. Konop A Fan Made a Spider-Man Film. The Fallout Has Been Unexpected. ​A​n amateur tribute with millions of views​ has set off controversies — not about copyright, but about racist texts and the point of fan films to begin with. By Christopher Kuo Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS' PICKS Kino Lorber Critic's Pick 'Scrapper' Review: You're on Your Own, Kid In Charlotte Regan's feature-length debut, a girl wise beyond her years reconnects with her father, an immature drifter. By Claire Shaffer Cinverse and Fandor Critic's pick 'Our Father, the Devil' Review: Wash Away Your Sins In this absorbing psychological thriller, a Guinean refugee living in France is rattled by the appearance of a menacing figure from her past. By Beatrice Loayza MOVIE REVIEWS Sean Gleason/Bleecker Street, via ShivHans 'Golda' Review: Chain-Smoking Through the Guilt Helen Mirren, under heavy prosthetics, channels the Israeli prime minister Golda Meir in this wartime biopic. By Amy Nicholson Patti Perret/Orion Pictures 'Bottoms' Review: Physical Education In this buddy comedy, senior outcasts played by Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri attempt to woo two cheerleaders through a fight club. By Elisabeth Vincentelli Netflix 'You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah' Review: She's Growing Up Sandler family members (plus Idina Menzel) lean on each other in this Netflix comedy about growing up. By Teo Bugbee Gordon Timpen/Columbia Pictures 'Gran Turismo' Review: Once Upon a Pair of Sticks A popular racing video game series gets turned into an underdog sports drama in this big-screen adaptation. By Nicolas Rapold Oscilloscope Critic's Pick 'Piaffe' Review: Pony Play In this beautiful and beguiling tale of transformation, a young woman's altered body unlocks her true self. By Jeannette Catsoulis Janus Films Critic's Pick 'Brief Encounters' and 'The Long Farewell' Review: Soulful Soviet Dramas A pair of newly restored films from Kira Muratova about restless, disaffected women hold a special, subversive power. By Natalia Winkelman Samuel Goldwyn 'Bank of Dave' Review: A Dave and Goliath Story This sometimes sleepy feel-good drama follows the story of a working-class man's battle against London's financial elite. By Brandon Yu Shudder 'Perpetrator' Review: Campy, Creepy and Buckets of Blood High school horror gets a supernatural twist in this ultragory feature. By Jeannette Catsoulis Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT NEWS & FEATURES Chris Delmas/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Hollywood Studios Disclose Their Offer on Day 113 of Writers' Strike The public disclosure of the Aug. 11 proposal was an unusual step and suggested an attempt to go around union leadership and appeal to rank-and-file members. By John Koblin and Brooks Barnes Keith Srakocic/Associated Press 'Blind Side' Lawsuit Shows Strains in Depiction of Black Athletes Michael Oher has long criticized the feel-good Hollywood version of his life as a struggling high school football player. His lawsuit against the family that took him in questions their relationship. By Santul Nerkar Nismo Before Gran Turismo Inspired a Movie, It Drove a Teenager to Greatness The PlayStation video game's realistic cars and racetracks helped Jann Mardenborough find his calling as a professional driver. By Brandon Yu Rich Soublet II 'The Outsiders' Heads to Broadway, With Angelina Jolie as a Producer A new musical adaptation of a popular novel by S.E. Hinton will begin performances in March. By Sarah Bahr Lopert Pictures, via Photofest Léa Garcia, Who Raised Black Actors' Profile in Brazil, Dies at 90 Best known internationally for her breakout performance in the 1959 film "Black Orpheus," she challenged racial stereotypes over a seven-decade career. By Alex Williams STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Netflix Five International Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include a Mexican resort thriller, a British time-travel caper and a coming-of-age drama from Costa Rica. By Devika Girish Sabrina Lantos/Sony Pictures Classics Beyond the Algorithm 'Damsels in Distress,' 'Bernie' and More Streaming Gems Atypical star vehicles, ensemble indies, high-powered genre pictures and gripping historical documentaries are among the highlights of this month's offbeat picks. 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 Movies Update, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. 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