Movies Update: The awards-season picture gets a little clearer.

Plus, a festival prizewinner without a release date.

View in browser|nytimes.com September 20, 2024 By Stephanie Goodman Hi, movie fans! According to the calendar, fall begins Sunday, but on the film desk we're in what could be considered pre-awards season. That's because the recently concluded festivals in Toronto, Venice and Telluride provided some clarity on which movies are likely to emerge as contenders at the Oscars next March. (Yes, I'm aware of how this sounds, but it's not me: Academy campaigns start early.) Our expert Kyle Buchanan sees strong prize potential for "Conclave," Edward Berger's chronicle of Vatican intrigue starring Ralph Fiennes, and "The Brutalist," Brady Corbet's epic tale centered on an architect played by Adrien Brody. Speaking of stars, another potential best actor candidate is Daniel Craig, playing a gay expat in "Queer." And don't count out Nicole Kidman, who could garner a sixth nomination for her baring-it-all turn in "Babygirl." I'm also keeping an eye on "The Life of Chuck," an adaptation of a Stephen King novella that blends the cosmic and the everyday along with a wonderful dance number. (This is King a la "Shawshank Redemption," not "It.") At the Toronto International Film Festival, "Chuck," directed by Mike Flanagan, won the People's Choice Award, a reliable harbinger of a best picture Oscar nomination. Several People's Choice winners, including "Green Book" and "Nomadland," have gone on to take the top Academy Award. In a twist for an audience favorite, however, "Chuck" doesn't have distribution yet, so it's not clear if it will be released in time for Oscar consideration. If it is, I think Mark Hamill, as an alcoholic grandfather with a gift for numbers, may be in the supporting actor mix. In the meantime, our critics say there are plenty of new releases worth checking out, no matter their awards prospects, including "His Three Daughters," "A Different Man" and "Transformers One." Whatever you decide to watch, enjoy the movies! Apple TV 'Wolfs' Review: Brad Pitt and George Clooney as Themselves They play underworld fixers in this trifle of a movie, though really they're here to look enviably fabulous. By Manohla Dargis Mubi Critic's Pick 'The Substance' Review: An Indecent Disclosure Demi Moore stars in an absurdly gory tale of an aging actress who discovers a deadly cure for obscurity. By Alissa Wilkinson Paramount Pictures 'Transformers One' Review: Back to the Beginning An animated prequel maps out a tidy mythology while indulging in the toy-smashing thrills of the '80s cartoons. By Brandon Yu Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros. 39 Movies to Watch This Fall From the "Joker" sequel and Timothée Chalamet's Bob Dylan biopic to a handful of festival darlings, it's a jam-packed season. Plan accordingly. By Ben Kenigsberg CRITICS' PICKS Netflix Critic's pick 'His Three Daughters' Review: Sisters at Odds Together Natasha Lyonne, Carrie Coon and Elizabeth Olsen play sisters who are caring for their dying father in this tender, funny family drama. By Manohla Dargis A24 Critic's Pick 'A Different Man' Review: Face, Off Sebastian Stan and Adam Pearson star in a marvelously inventive dark comedy about a man who can't change his insides. By Alissa Wilkinson Strand Releasing Critic's Pick 'All Shall Be Well' Review: Aching With Absence The indignity of being someone's spouse while they are alive and merely a friend after their death is the theme of this extraordinarily moving Hong Kong drama. By Natalia Winkelman Gkids Critic's Pick 'Sirocco and the Kingdom of Winds' Review: Flights of Fantasy Two sisters get transported to a new world and transformed into cats in this whimsical and thoughtful animated feature. By Maya Phillips MOVIE REVIEWS Liane Hentscher/Lionsgate 'Never Let Go' Review: Do the Woods Have Eyes? Halle Berry plays the ultimate helicopter parent in this new horror movie, where evil lurks in the trees beyond the family cabin. By Glenn Kenny Tina Paul/Greenwich Entertainment Documentary Lens Patricia Field: Her Joyful, Chaotic Fashion Sense Gets a Film to Match "Happy Clothes" covers her work on "Emily in Paris" and "Sex and the City," as well as her time as a tastemaker in the 1970s and '80s underground. By Alissa Wilkinson Music Box Films 'In the Summers' Review: Understanding a Father's Flaws The film, by Alessandra Lacorazza, follows two siblings as they visit their father, played by Residente, in New Mexico. By Ben Kenigsberg Pep Films 'The Featherweight' Review: Boxing Is Easy. Retirement Is Hard. In this biopic, a documentary crew follows the boxer Willie Pep during his 1960s comeback. By Lisa Kennedy World Cinema/Drama 'Eureka' Review: No More Cowboys and Indians This intriguingly languorous Western by the Argentine director Lisandro Alonso explores the existential plight of Indigenous Americans in three separate timelines. By Beatrice Loayza ANATOMY OF A SCENE Paramount Pictures Anatomy of a Scene How Optimus Prime and Megatron Learned to Transform in 'Transformers One' The director Josh Cooley narrates an action scene from the film. By Mekado Murphy NEWS & FEATURES Dreamworks Animation Making 'The Wild Robot' Even Wilder Roz, the beloved protagonist of Peter Brown's popular children's book, gets a glow-up for the big-screen adaptation. By Robert Ito Focus Features The Projectionist A Wide-Open Oscar Season Begins to Narrow After film festivals in Venice, Telluride and Toronto, a slate of contenders has emerged. Still, there are few front-runners. By Kyle Buchanan Corey Corcoran Critic's Notebook The Wicked Witch of the West: A Heroine for Our Time "Wicked," which arrives to the big screen this fall, redeems the villain who is barely a character in L. Frank Baum's classic novel. By Salamishah Tillet Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press, via Associated Press 'The Life of Chuck' Takes Top Prize at the Toronto Film Festival This adaptation of a Stephen King novella stars Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Mark Hamill. "The Substance" and a Tragically Hip documentary also won. By Stephanie Goodman STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Reliance Entertainment Five International Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include a South Indian drama about sexual harassment, a film shot within a video game, a period coming-of-age movie and more. By Devika Girish IFC Films, via Associated Press Critic's Notebook On the Screen or in a Meme, 'The Babadook' Is Still an Unnerving Dream Back in theaters for its 10th anniversary, the haunting movie never really left, with a legacy that includes an entire horror subgenre. By Esther Zuckerman DreamWorks Pictures The 50 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now There are so many film experiences to choose from on Netflix, let us help you narrow down your choices. By Jason Bailey Bruno Calvo/Miramax Zoe, via Associated Press 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? 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