Movies Update: The world wide (Madame) web

Plus, which Oscar snubs make you mad?

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story February 16, 2024 By Mekado Murphy Movies Editor Hey, movie fans! This week, a collection of Oscar-worthy movies are available to watch in theaters. And there's also "Madame Web." In that Spider-Man spinoff, Dakota Johnson stars as a clairvoyant in a movie that, according to critics, truly doesn't sling. In her review, Manohla Dargis writes that the "only real bummer" about the film "isn't that it's bad, but that it never achieves memorably terrible status." To be a true Oscar pool M.V.P., you might want to check out the nominated short films in theaters, which are screening in three programs: live action, animation and documentary. But bring a hankie. A lot of the entries this year are downbeat (though one lighter entry follows two grandmas on their domestic adventures). If you're still on a love high after Valentine's Day, we have narrative movies and documentaries to recommend. Or if you just don't want to worry about a thing, try the new Bob Marley biopic. Enjoy the movies! Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures 'Madame Web' Review: Dakota Johnson Can't Save This Spidey Spinoff The actress stars as a clairvoyant in the latest entry to the Spider-Man franchise, using her charm to rise above this flat, predictable movie. By Manohla Dargis ShortsTV 'The 2024 Oscar Nominated Short Films' Review: Small Running Times, Large Themes Many of this year's films take a darker turn, but there is some levity among the bunch. By Jeannette Catsoulis, Maya Phillips and Ben Kenigsberg Chiabella James/Paramount Pictures 'Bob Marley: One Love' Review: Mostly Positive Vibes This patchy biopic lauds the Marley of dormitory posters, a snapshot of a lifestyle hero who is always the coolest guy in the room. By Amy Nicholson James Nachtwey for The New York Times Great Performers Actors in the Wild The best performers of the year — when they're not on film. Photographs by James Nachtwey Roger Kisby for The New York Times Which Oscar Snubs Still Make You Mad? We Want to Know. Greta Gerwig wasn't the first omission to tick us off. Are you still stewing over "Pulp Fiction" losing to "Forrest Gump" or Marilyn Monroe never getting a nod? Tell us more. By Stephanie Goodman Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS' PICKS Sandbox Films Critic's Pick 'The Arc of Oblivion' Review: Trying to Stop a Future Tide A documentary about building an ark turns into a funny, thoughtful rumination on the nature of human preservation. By Alissa Wilkinson ANATOMY OF A SCENE Apple TV+ Anatomy of a Scene How Scorsese Moves the Camera With Purpose in 'Killers of the Flower Moon' The director narrates a "circular ballet" sequence where Leonardo DiCaprio's character, Ernest Burkhart, is taken in for questioning. By Mekado Murphy MOVIE REVIEWS ShortsTV 'The 2024 Oscar Nominated Short Films' Review: Small Running Times, Large Themes Many of this year's films take a darker turn, but there is some levity among the bunch. By Jeannette Catsoulis, Maya Phillips and Ben Kenigsberg Vertical 'Bleeding Love' Review: On the Road With Dad Ewan McGregor plays father to his real-life daughter Clara McGregor in this indie road-trip movie that's also a meandering journey to healing. By Manohla Dargis K.C. Bailey/Netflix 'Players' Review: Running the Rom-Com Playbook Gina Rodriguez stars in a Netflix movie that recalls the charms of the genre's heyday. By Alissa Wilkinson Well Go Entertainment USA 'Monolith' Review: Friend of the Pod People Lily Sullivan plays a podcaster investigating a supernatural mystery in this thriller from Matt Vesely. By Calum Marsh Kimi Takesue 'Onlookers' Review: Portraits of Picture Takers This experimental nonfiction feature from Kimi Takesue aims to reflect on travel and tourism in Laos, but offers few striking images. By Ben Kenigsberg Sarah Enticknap/The Avenue 'Land of Bad' Review: Tech Ops in the Jungle Fighters on the ground, assisted by drone pilots, including Russell Crowe, half a world away — in Las Vegas. By Glenn Kenny Oscilloscope Laboratories 'God & Country' Review: One Nation, Under the Cross Dan Partland's blunt documentary follows the rise of Christian nationalist voters and argues that they threaten pluralism and democracy. By Nicolas Rapold Ed Dwight/National Geographic 'The Space Race' Review: Why Was NASA So White? The days of shooting for the stars, interpreted through the stories of people of color whose aspirations were repeatedly thwarted. By Devika Girish Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT NEWS & FEATURES Kirk West/Getty Images; Chiabella James/Paramount Pictures Step by Step: How Kingsley Ben-Adir Became Bob Marley Despite little outward resemblance, the actor worked for months to get the look, sound and movement right for the new film "Bob Marley: One Love." By Rob Tannenbaum Netflix How 'The Greatest Night in Pop' Got the '80s Right The Netflix documentary revels in nostalgia. But the heart of the film spotlights the relationships between the pop superstars who recorded "We Are the World." By Rob Tannenbaum Roger Kisby for The New York Times These Grandmas Are Going to the Oscars In the documentary short "Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó," Sean Wang chronicles the inner lives of his grandmothers. Now, the film is nominated for an Academy Award. By Brandon Yu National Geographic Documentary Films Critic's Notebook 8 Documentaries That Capture Something True About Love These movies go beyond examining a relationship to reveal the glories, discontents and more about romance. By Alissa Wilkinson Atsushi Nishijima/Searchlight Pictures How the Choreographer for 'Poor Things' Uses Dance to Tell the Story Constanza Macras, founder of the Berlin dance company DorkyPark, uses "dance as a function, as a language," in her work, be it for the stage or the screen. By A.J. Goldmann Lena Mucha for The New York Times At the Berlin Film Festival, Tension Onscreen and Behind the Scenes The final edition overseen by a pair of once celebrated festival directors starts Thursday. Their successor will face financial headwinds and political hurdles. By Thomas Rogers Dana Scruggs for The New York Times Jeffrey Wright: Hiding in Plain Sight in Our Favorite Characters The veteran has played everything from an artist to a general to a professor, the role in "American Fiction" that finally landed him an Oscar nomination. By Sarah Lyall Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Mel Evans/Associated Press The Best True Crime to Stream: Viral Stories With a Twist What happens when widespread attention plays an unexpected role in a crime or investigation? Here are four picks across television, documentaries and podcasts that explore the question. By Maya Salam Cha Min-jung/Netflix Five Science Fiction Movies to Stream Now Mad scientists, demanding aliens and paranoid androids make up this month's science fiction streaming picks. By Elisabeth Vincentelli D. Stevens/TriStar Pictures The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video Right Now New films, and classics, just keep coming, but you don't have to drill down to find the finest selections to stream. We'll do the heavy lifting. You press play. By Jason Bailey 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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