Movies Update: “Twisters” touches down.

Plus, the stomach-dropping appeal of climbing documentaries.

View in browser|nytimes.com July 19, 2024 By Mekado Murphy Hey, movie fans! How's the weather where you are? On the big screen, it's catastrophic. "Twisters" has arrived in theaters, featuring ugly tornadoes alongside a pretty cast. Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell and Anthony Ramos are among the storm-chasing ensemble. Our critic, Alissa Wilkinson, thinks the movie is (mostly) a good time. In her review, she writes that it is "loaded with fun and sometimes funny set pieces and enough danger to keep you on your toes." Watch how the filmmakers destroyed a motel for the production and read what a Times meteorologist has to say about the realities of storm chasing. If secret-agent thrillers are more interesting to you than tornadoes, pop over to Amazon Prime Video for "My Spy the Eternal City," starring Dave Bautista. It's a sequel to the 2020 film "My Spy." In his review, the critic Glenn Kenny writes, "There are agreeable moments, but also many labored ones." I recently took a trip to the top of New York City skyscrapers for a story. It was harrowing, but nothing like the untethered madness perpetrated by the subjects of the new Netflix documentary "Skywalkers: A Love Story." The featured couple make skyscrapers their jungle gym, mainly for wild photo ops. Wilkinson writes about this, and other dizzying climbing documentaries in her column this week. Enjoy the movies! Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures & Amblin Entertainment 'Twisters' Review: When the Monster Is Real Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones lead a stand-alone sequel to the 1996 hit — and times sure have changed. By Alissa Wilkinson Neil Armstrong/NASA, via Associated Press Will a Movie Faking the Moon Landing Propel a Debunked Conspiracy Theory? The screenwriters of "Fly Me to the Moon" say they emphasized the facts of the Apollo 11 landing, but experts worry that clips can be misused. By Annie Aguiar CRITICS' PICKS Gaga Picturehouse Critic's Pick 'Great Absence' Review: A Mystery of Disappearance A skillfully directed Japanese mystery dips into the strangeness of dementia for those who stand by and watch. By Alissa Wilkinson Ozan Acidere/Mubi Critic's Pick 'Crossing' Review: Stories to Tell In Levan Akin's fascinating drama, two strangers connect in Istanbul. By Amy Nicholson ANATOMY OF A SCENE Universal Pictures Anatomy of a Scene How 'Twisters' Destroys a Motel The director Lee Isaac Chung narrates a sequence from the film featuring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell, in which a building is leveled by a tornado. By Mekado Murphy MOVIE REVIEWS Pavlos Vrionides/Netflix 'Find Me Falling' Review: A Romance With an Edge Harry Connick Jr. stars as a cranky rocker who returns to Cyprus, the home of the love who inspired a signature hit. By Lisa Kennedy Colm Hogan/IFC Films and Shudder 'Oddity' Review: Twisted Sister A haunted house, a blind psychic and a suspicious death fuel this flawed yet fun supernatural thriller. By Jeannette Catsoulis Fourth Act Film 'Hollywoodgate' Review: Inside the Taliban In a frustrating documentary, the journalist Ibrahim Nash'at shows the Taliban after American troops left Afghanistan. By Ben Kenigsberg Doppelgänger Releasing 'Crumb Catcher' Review: The Smother of Invention An obnoxious inventor wreaks havoc on an upstate honeymoon in Chris Skotchdopole's tepid psychological thriller. By Erik Piepenburg Vertical 'Widow Clicquot' Review: Champagne Mami This muddled film, based on a true story, chronicles the origins of the French champagne house Veuve Clicquot. By Beatrice Loayza Abramorama/Delevan Street Films 'Join or Die' Review: Come Together This documentary about the work of Robert Putnam, who wrote "Bowling Alone," argues that Americans can save democracy by becoming joiners. By Natalia Winkelman NEWS & FEATURES Netflix Documentary Lens The Stomach-Dropping, Heart-Tugging Appeal of Climbing Documentaries "Skywalkers" and "Mountain Queen" are strong entries in a genre with great appeal to viewers who themselves might prefer to be sitting. By Alissa Wilkinson In 'Twisters,' Storm Chasers Want to Disrupt a Tornado. Is That Possible? The original 'Twister' ushered in a new era of fascination with tornadoes. Its follow-up may have even bigger ambitions. By Judson Jones and Reto Sterchi Guy Bolongaro for The New York Times Keanu Reeves Wrote a Book. A Really Weird One. What if the star of "The Matrix" worked with a sci-fi novelist to tell the story of an 80,000-year-old warrior who can rip people's arms off but struggles with loneliness? By Alexandra Alter Photo illustration by The New York Times; Photo via Neon Critic's Notebook Focusing In on One Star, Fancams Find a Love of the Movies The creators of clips about Swann Arlaud ("Anatomy of a Fall") and others have found a way to make cinephilia a communal experience in the digital age. By Esther Zuckerman Lacey Terrell/Netflix What to Know About 'Hillbilly Elegy,' Based on the J.D. Vance Memoir The 2020 film generally follows the book about the Republican vice presidential nominee's formative years. But there are significant differences. By Christopher Kuo Celebrating Film Nostalgia With Ooze and Ahhs at Blobfest A festival that celebrates the 1958 film "The Blob" held its 25th annual gathering in Phoenixville, Pa., where much of the movie was shot. By Emmett Lindner and Michelle Gustafson STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS VMI Releasing Five Horror Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include Swedish evildoers, South Korean warrior-ghosts and a devil stalking the American frontier. By Erik Piepenburg A24 Beyond the Algorithm 'Aftersun,' 'Anomalisa' and More Streaming Gems An Oscar-nominated father-daughter drama and a stop-motion dramedy are among the best movies hiding in the corners of your subscription streaming services. By Jason Bailey A24 The 50 Best Movies on Max Right Now In addition to new Warner and HBO films, the streamer has a treasure trove of Golden Age classics, indie flicks and foreign films. Start with these. By Scott Tobias 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. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. 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