Movies Update: ‘Maestro,’ Miyazaki and more

Plus, critic's picks and streaming options for the long weekend

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story November 24, 2023 By Stephanie Goodman Film Editor Hi, movie fans! The long Thanksgiving holiday weekend is one of the biggest spots on the film calendar each year (well, everything in 2023 takes a back seat to Barbenheimer, but still). What are our critics recommending? Manohla Dargis has several Critic's Picks for you, starting with "Maestro." This biopic, directed by and starring Bradley Cooper, considers the relationship between the conductor Leonard Bernstein and his wife, the actress Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan). Dargis says the exploration of "the brutal toll" of Bernstein's success is a story told with "deep sympathy, lushly beautiful wall-to-wall music and great narrative velocity." She also would urge you to see Ridley Scott's "Napoleon" (an epic about guess-who that's "often eccentric and at times funny") and Frederick Wiseman's "transporting" new documentary "Menus-Plaisirs — Les Troisgros," about a family of chiefs in central France. Our newest critic, Alissa Wilkinson, just debuted as a Times writer this week and she is starting off with a Critic's Pick: "The Boy and the Heron," the anime master Hayao Miyazaki's return to filmmaking. With this tale of a youngster quite reminiscent of the director as a child, she advises, "Better to watch as an exercise in contemplation than storytelling; this is the work of a man pondering life from its endpoint." Those films are all in theaters (though "Maestro" will reach Netflix on Dec. 20). If you'd prefer to stay home, we have several streaming guides to help you, including one on Thanksgiving options. Whatever you decide to watch, enjoy the movies! Alex Welsh for The New York Times Disney Rejected Her a Few Times. The 'Wish' Director Just Kept Trying. After she was finally hired by the studio, Fawn Veerasunthorn worked her way up the ranks, and has applied that lesson of perseverance to her new film. By Ashley Spencer Aidan Monaghan/Apple Original and Columbia Pictures For 'Napoleon,' Finishing the Hats Inside the creation of one emperor's famous headwear, as worn by Joaquin Phoenix in Ridley Scott's film. By Esther Zuckerman Frank Dicks/Hallmark Media This Season, Holiday Movies Are Falling for Europe More and more of the cozy Christmas movies on Hallmark and Lifetime are set on the continent. But onscreen, it's a Europe doused in holiday magic. By Claire Moses Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS' PICKS Jason McDonald/Netflix Critic's Pick 'Maestro' Review: Leonard Bernstein's Life of Ecstasy and Agony As director and star, Bradley Cooper delivers an intimate portrait of the composer and his many private and public selves. By Manohla Dargis Gkids Critic's Pick 'The Boy and the Heron' Review: Hayao Miyazaki Has a Question for You The anime filmmaker returns at 82 with the enigmatic tale of a boy growing up amid war and fear, much as the director did. By Alissa Wilkinson Apple Original Films/Columbia Pictures Critic's Pick 'Napoleon' Review: A Lumpy, Grumpy Little Man Joaquin Phoenix is oddly mesmerizing as the French emperor in Ridley Scott's historical epic charting his rise and ruin. By Manohla Dargis Zipporah Films Critic's pick 'Menus-Plaisirs — Les Troisgros' Review: A Beautiful Collaboration For his 44th documentary, Frederick Wiseman journeys to the French countryside to examine the workings of a family-owned, Michelin-starred restaurant. By Manohla Dargis Well Go USA Critic's Pick 'Monster' Review: Three Perspectives, One Truth This drama from Hirokazu Kore-eda traces a series of events from the perspectives of a single mother, her preteen son and his fifth-grade teacher. By Natalia Winkelman MOVIE REVIEWS Netflix 'Stamped From the Beginning' Review: Examining Racist Thought The documentary, based on Ibram X. Kendi's 2016 book, looks at the ugly history of anti-Black ideology. By Lisa Kennedy Disney 'Wish' Review: The Sorcerer's Disgruntled Apprentice Celebrating Disney's 100th anniversary, the animated musical starring Ariana DeBose and Chris Pine, is a reminder of the studio's vaunted past. By Amy Nicholson Netflix 'Leo' Review: A Cold-Blooded Creature With a Heart of Gold Adam Sandler plays a gruff old lizard who dishes out advice to fifth graders in this animated comedy. By Claire Shaffer Stephanie Mei-Ling/Universal Pictures 'Genie' Review: Wishing for a Better Movie Melissa McCarthy grants unlimited magical requests in this holiday fantasy film. By Glenn Kenny Andscape/Hulu 'Cypher' Review: A Music Documentary With a Twist (Many, Actually) A biographical look at the Philadelphia rapper Tierra Whack takes a hard left turn. By Chris Azzopardi Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ANATOMY OF A SCENE Jason McDonald/Netflix 'Maestro' | Anatomy of a Scene The director Bradley Cooper narrates a sequence from the film in which he stars alongside Carey Mulligan. By Mekado Murphy NEWS & FEATURES Adali Schell for The New York Times Eli Roth Takes a Stab at Thanksgiving Horror Ever since he was a boy, the director has wanted to make a gory movie about the holiday. "Thanksgiving" is adapted from his 2007 faux trailer. By Erik Piepenburg Sabrina Santiago for The New York Times 'Buena Vista Social Club,' a Story of Second Chances, Gets One More The best-selling album turned veteran Cuban musicians into global stars and inspired a documentary almost 30 years ago. Now it's an Off Broadway musical. By Brian Seibert PictureLux/The Hollywood Archive, via Alamy Stock Photo 'No Need to Worry,' Says 'Wallace and Gromit' Film Studio, After Clay Supplier Shuts Down Rumors that Aardman Animations, the makers of stop-motion films, had lost their supplier worried fans. But fear not, the studio reassured, there is plenty of clay. By Isabella Kwai Amazon Studios After 'Saltburn,' Watch These Five Country House Movies From upstairs to downstairs and the challenging moments in between, a walk through a particular subgenre of films ripe for dramatic tension. By Juan A. Ramírez Apple Original Films/Columbia Pictures Your Next 10 Steps After Watching the New 'Napoleon' Film If you want to read his biography, or even see his horse, you can. By Victor Mather Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Relativity Media Thanksgiving Movies for Kids, With All the Trimmings If you're looking for something to watch with your family after the meal, pick from one of these seasonal selections. By Dina Gachman, Erik Piepenburg, Jason Bailey and Amy Nicholson Peacock Five Science Fiction Movies to Stream Now A rom-com in space, a coming-of-age quest and a high-tech birthing plan are among the films worth checking out this month. By Elisabeth Vincentelli Netflix The Best True Crime to Stream: Family Matters Four picks from television, films and podcasts that show blood is not always thicker than water. By Maya Salam 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? 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