Movies Update: New “Alien,” same goo

Plus, how well do you know your disaster movies?

View in browser|nytimes.com August 16, 2024 By Mekado Murphy Hey, movie fans! Can you believe it has been 45 years since the first "Alien" film opened? The franchise is still chugging along, this time with a fresh cast and a new set of gooey, menacing creatures. "Alien: Romulus" stars Cailee Spaeny as Rain, a contract worker in an outer-space mining colony who, along with her android best pal (David Jonsson) and other friends, seeks to flee her oppressive life via an abandoned space station. But that station may be harboring a few deadly, toothy stowaways. In her review, the chief critic Manohla Dargis writes that the film "tells a familiar, half-baked story of adversity, gritty perseverance, quick thinking and a drag-down fight for survival." We spoke to Spaeny about her rising star in Hollywood, and whether she even wants to be a star at all. With "Twisters" having returned disaster to the big screen this summer, we look back at two of the best decades for the disaster movie: the 1970s and the 1990s. We also challenge you to test your knowledge of the genre to see if your movie memories are solid or on shaky ground. And finally on a sad note, we lost a phenomenal actress this week, Gena Rowlands. We recalled her career, including her best performances to stream and how one scene captures her genius. Enjoy the movies. Murray Close/20th Century Studios 'Alien: Romulus' Review: Go Ahead, Scream (No One Can Hear You) The seventh installment of the series centers on Rain (Cailee Spaeny), a contract worker in an outer-space mining colony, and her friend Andy (David Jonsson), an android. By Manohla Dargis 20th Century Fox; Avalanche Productions; Warner Bros. How Well Do You Know Your Disaster Movies? From "Armageddon" to "The Towering Inferno," a look back at decades of movie catastrophe. By Manohla Dargis and Amy Nicholson Faces International, via Everett Collection An Appraisal Watch One Heartbreaking Scene to Understand Gena Rowlands's Genius In "A Woman Under the Influence," her gloriously, terrifyingly imperfect Mabel was emblematic of the actress's work, especially with John Cassavetes. By Manohla Dargis CRITICS' PICKS Film Movement Critic's Pick 'In the Rearview' Review: Shuttling Ukrainians to Safety Maciek Hamela's documentary offers a compelling perspective on the Russian invasion of Ukraine through the stories of people fleeing the country in a van. By Nicolas Rapold MOVIE REVIEWS Daniel McFadden/Amazon MGM Studio 'Jackpot!' Review: Dystopia, Hollywood Style Awkwafina and John Cena star in a fitfully funny near-future comedy with strangely mixed metaphors. By Alissa Wilkinson Laura Radford/Netflix 'The Union' Review: Old Flames and Spy Games When a mission goes pear-shaped, a covert operative (Halle Berry) turns to a secret weapon: her high school boyfriend (Mark Wahlberg). By Ben Kenigsberg Film Movement 'Red Island' Review: Madagascar Is Shifting Beneath Their Feet Robin Campillo relies on the power of suggestion to sketch life in this former French colony, filtering it obliquely through a young white boy's eyes. By Manohla Dargis Utopia 'The Good Half' Review: Only Half Good Nick Jonas and Brittany Snow play siblings coordinating funeral logistics for their mom in this drama, a cross between "Terms of Endearment" and a Hallmark movie. By Natalia Winkelman Blue Fox Entertainment 'The Greatest Surf Movie in the Universe' Review: Humongously Bad A mix of too much lousy animation and too little wave-riding footage. By Glenn Kenny Greenwich Entertainment 'Close to You' Review: Clumsy Overtures of Support This formless drama featuring Elliot Page as a trans man returning home relies on improvised dialogue. By Natalia Winkelman NEWS & FEATURES Ryan Pfluger for The New York Times Cailee Spaeny Is Still Learning How to Be a Star But the young actress, who has the lead role in "Alien: Romulus," is also wondering if she wants to be one at all. By Alexis Soloski Devin Oktar Yalkin for The New York Times Class of 1999 Haley Joel Osment Sees Contentment Twenty-five years after breaking through in the smash "Sixth Sense," the actor has worked steadily, finding a balance that has eluded some child stars. By Melena Ryzik via Film Forum Beyond 'Shaft': 5 Blaxploitation Movies You Should Know A Film Forum series pays tribute to the 1970s genre that birthed "Superfly" and "Foxy Brown," but also features lesser-known films that show the genre's range. By Robert Daniels Netflix Documentary Lens Girls, Imprisoned Fathers and the Moving Reality of 'Daughters' The Netflix documentary doesn't gloss over hard truths as it follows participants in the Date With Dad program. By Alissa Wilkinson Gareth Cattermole/Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images 'It Ends With Us': The Press Tour Drama, Explained What's happening onscreen has become secondary to the conversation about differences between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, her co-star and director. By Shivani Gonzalez Vagabond Video/Getty Images. 9 Great Songs Recorded at Electric Lady Studios A new documentary spotlights the Greenwich Village creative hub. Listen to tracks by Jimi Hendrix, Patti Smith, Frank Ocean and more that were recorded there. By Lindsay Zoladz STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Michele K. Short/Focus Features, via Associated Press Five Horror Movies to Stream Now This month's picks feature a zombie romance, a drug trial from hell and deathly prehistoric evil. By Erik Piepenburg Faces International 10 Terrific Gena Rowlands Performances to Stream She delivered vulnerable portraits in movies as varied as "A Woman Under the Influence," with John Cassavetes, and the drama "The Notebook." By Esther Zuckerman Universal Pictures The Best Movies and Shows on Hulu Right Now We've handpicked the finest movies and television shows currently streaming on Hulu in the United States. Take a look. 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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