Movies Update: What if our critics chose the Oscar nominees?

Plus, the best movie scenes of 2023

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story January 5, 2024 By Mekado Murphy Movies Editor Hey, movie fans! We hope your new year is off to a great start. To celebrate, we're thinking a lot about some of the most acclaimed movies from the past year. Ahead of the Oscar nominations, to be announced later in the month (as well as this Sunday's Golden Globe Awards), our critics Manohla Dargis and Alissa Wilkinson have made their own picks for which films should be nominated (fingers are crossed for you, Keanu). The two also shared their favorite movie scenes of the year. One is a fast-moving but thought-provoking sequence from "Killers of the Flower Moon," the other a delicate but mouthwatering cooking scene from "The Taste of Things." And speaking of scenes, Taraji P. Henson brings one to fiery life in "The Color Purple." The film's director, Blitz Bazawule, narrates a musical moment that has Henson gliding and belting in a juke joint on a swamp. In an interview, the actress discusses her career and her process. And a closer look into the movie explores how it was inspired by Black musicals of the past. In a further analysis of Oscar hopefuls, our awards columnist, Kyle Buchanan, runs down the cluster of films that are likely to be battling it out in the best picture race. And we have conversations with America Ferrera of "Barbie" and Emily Blunt of "Oppenheimer." As far as new films out in the new year, in theaters, there's a little bit of don't-go-in-the-pool horror with "Night Swim." In her review, Wilkinson calls the first half of the film "remarkably effective, especially if you've ever had a pool, and especially if you've swam in it at night." But, she writes, "it goes downhill at some point." And on Netflix is "Good Grief," the feature directing debut from Daniel Levy of "Schitt's Creek." About that one, Wilkinson writes that the beats of a rom-com have been preserved inside a drama, and "the result is somehow light-handed yet deft and authentic in its treatment of grief's long tail." Enjoy the movies! Murray Close/Lionsgate And the 2023 Oscar Nominees Should Be … Academy voters will do what they want, but if our chief critics had their way, these are the films and performers that would be up for Oscars this year. By Manohla Dargis and Alissa Wilkinson Apple TV+ One Indelible Scene The Grim Heartbeat Propelling 'Killers of the Flower Moon' In a short but fast-moving sequence built around a children's primer, Martin Scorsese lays out all the themes of this terrible true-crime tale. By Manohla Dargis IFC Films Critic's Notebook One Indelible Scene: A Lovingly Prepared Meal in 'The Taste of Things' In a kitchen pas de deux, two cooks turn a feast into a meditation on time, longing and the seasons. By Alissa Wilkinson Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS' PICKS Netflix Critic's Pick 'Good Grief' Review: Somehow, Life Goes On In his feature directorial debut, Daniel Levy applies a light but wise hand to a man navigating life after loss. By Alissa Wilkinson via Film Forum Critic's Pick 'Artie Shaw: Time Is All You've Got' Review: A Lens on a Jazz Luminary Brigitte Berman's dazzling 1985 look at the self-taught virtuoso clarinetist and bandleader is showing after a restoration. By Glenn Kenny ANATOMY OF A SCENE Ser Baffo/Warner Bros Pictures Anatomy of a Scene Watch Taraji P. Henson Sing in 'The Color Purple' The director Blitz Bazawule narrates a scene from the musical, featuring the star performing as the dynamo Shug Avery. By Mekado Murphy MOVIE REVIEWS Ketchup Entertainment 'Memory' Review: A Trauma Plot In this contrived movie, Peter Sarsgaard stars as a man with dementia, and Jessica Chastain plays a caretaker with buried family secrets. By Manohla Dargis Universal Pictures 'Night Swim' Review: Hold Your Breath, Forever The backyard pool is a symbol of love and of terror in this uneven but scary horror film. By Alissa Wilkinson Quim Vives/Netflix 'Society of the Snow' Review: The Stranded and the Faithful Another movie tackles the story of the Uruguayan rugby players who survived a plane crash and turned to cannibalism. By Ben Kenigsberg Thanaporn Arkmanon/IFC Films 'Mayhem!' Review: Just When You Think You're Out A former convict struggles to go straight in this ultraviolent revenge thriller. By Jeannette Catsoulis Vertical 'He Went That Way' Review: On the Road With a Serial Killer In this thriller, the Australian actor Jacob Elordi tries on the tics of noteworthy American performers, from James Dean to Matt Dillon. By Glenn Kenny Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT NEWS & FEATURES Amy Harrity for The New York Times America Ferrera and the 'Barbie' Monologue We All Talked About The key moment in the smash hit went through many revisions: "We ended in tears. It ended in laughter, it got big, it got small." By Carlos Aguilar Josefina Santos for The New York Times Emily Blunt Doesn't Care if Her 'Oppenheimer' Character Is Likable As the brilliant but flawed Kitty Oppenheimer, the actress plays a woman who had "extraordinary qualities, as well as ones that really let her down as a person." By Marc Tracy From top: Universal Picture; Warner Bros.; Seacia Pavao/Focus Features, via Associated Press the Projectionist They Can't All Be Nominated for Best Picture, Can They? It's a very competitive year for the top Oscar. With precursor awards like the Golden Globes coming soon, here's what may make the cut. By Kyle Buchanan Lorenzo Sisti/Neon 'Ferrari' and 'The Killer': 1 Cinematographer, 2 Very Different Looks Erik Messerschmidt worked with the directors Michael Mann and David Fincher to create cohesive worlds that feel nothing alike. By Calum Marsh Eli Ade´/Warner Bros. 'The Color Purple' Tips Its Hat to Classic Black Musicals The new movie has so many references to Hollywood gems like "Stormy Weather" and early jazz shorts, it can be viewed as a Black film syllabus. By Robert Daniels Atsushi Nishijima/Searchlight Pictures and Searchlight Pictures (stills); Holly Waddington (sketches) Unfurling the Unusual Costumes of 'Poor Things' The designer Holly Waddington breaks down how Emma Stone's Bella Baxter evolves onscreen, from her childish knickers to her cage-like wedding dress. By Melena Ryzik STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Gravitas Ventures Five Horror Movies to Stream Now This month's picks riff on disorientation, with an unknowable ex, an unnatural house and an uncanny dad. By Erik Piepenburg Abkco Films Three Great Documentaries to Stream This month's selections include Jean-Luc Godard's look at the Rolling Stones, an interview with a Holocaust survivor and a behind-the-scenes look at "Sesame Street." By Ben Kenigsberg Dale Robinette/Lionsgate, via Associated Press Stream These 9 Movies Before They Leave Netflix in January A lot of big movies by big-name directors are leaving soon for U.S. subscribers. Watch them while you can. By Jason Bailey Vertical Five Action Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include tales of Southern crime, a slick Japanese remake, a hunt for hidden treasure and more. By Robert Daniels 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? 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