Movies Update: ‘Megalopolis’ hits the big screen.

Plus, a look at Maggie Smith's best performances.

View in browser|nytimes.com September 27, 2024 By Mekado Murphy Hey, movie fans! On the big screen, the '70s are back. In theaters this week is "Saturday Night," Jason Reitman's breakneck look at the making of the first episode of "Saturday Night Live" in 1975. (Watch how he put one chaotic scene together here.) And Francis Ford Coppola, who gave us the masterpieces "The Godfather" (1972), "The Conversation" (1974) and "Apocalypse Now" (1979), has returned behind the camera with a new personal vision, "Megalopolis." The film festival season continues to roll along with the beginning of the New York Film Festival, which runs through Oct. 14. This year's festival is showcasing many talked-about films from the circuit, opening with "Nickel Boys," the RaMell Ross adaptation of Colson Whitehead's novel. Our critic Manohla Dargis has thoughts on some of the festival's standout selections. And the stellar stage and screen actress Maggie Smith has died at the age of 89. Here is a look at 10 great Smith performances to stream. Enjoy the movies. Lionsgate Critic's Pick 'Megalopolis' Review: The Fever Dreams of Francis Ford Coppola The director's latest is a great-man story about an architect, played by Adam Driver, driven by ideals and big plans. It's a personal statement on an epic scale. By Manohla Dargis Katie Skelly Critic's Notebook New York Film Festival Pitches Its Ever-Expanding, Global Tent Standout selections include "Nickel Boys," the Mumbai-set "All We Imagine as Light" and the documentary "Dahomey," about African repatriation. By Manohla Dargis Hopper Stone/Sony Pictures 'Saturday Night' Review: Live TV at Its Mildest When it debuted 50 years ago, "S.N.L." was chaotic, rangy, even offensive. But nothing's wild or crazy in Jason Reitman's fictional reimagining of its first episode. By Manohla Dargis CRITICS' PICKS DreamWorks Animation Critic's Pick 'The Wild Robot' Review: Wonder and Whimsy That Does Compute Chris Sanders's movie about a robotic assistant and the gosling she raises is defined by dazzling visuals and frank ideas about the circle of life. By Natalia Winkelman Magnet Releasing Critic's Pick 'Sleep' Review: Bumps in the Night A taut and thrilling thriller about sleep issues is also a clever drama about early marriage. By Alissa Wilkinson ANATOMY OF A SCENE Hopper Stone/Sony Pictures Anatomy of a Scene Watch a Chaotic Rehearsal in 'Saturday Night' The director Jason Reitman narrates a sequence from his film about the production of the first episode of "Saturday Night Live." Spoiler alert, making the show wasn't easy. By Mekado Murphy MOVIE REVIEWS Netflix 'Will & Harper': Old Friends Explore a New Identity Together Will Ferrell and Harper Steele, a former "Saturday Night Live" writer, use a road trip to navigate their relationship now that she is out as a trans woman. By Alissa Wilkinson Gareth Gatrell/Paramount+ 'Apartment 7A' Review: All Devil, Few Details A lackluster prequel to the 1968 horror classic "Rosemary's Baby" doesn't have much to add. By Alissa Wilkinson Patrick Redmond/Prime 'Killer Heat' Review: Mediterranean Mischief Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a detective running from his past in a murder mystery that is mostly a stiff slog to get through. By Brandon Yu Oscilloscope Laboratories 'The Universal Theory' Review: A Quantum Noir A physicist becomes embroiled in a conspiracy throughout this German meta-thriller. Shot in black-and-white, the film pays homage to Hollywood classics. By Beatrice Loayza Lewis Jacobs/Netflix 'Rez Ball' Review: Warriors on the Court This inspirational sports movie follows a high school basketball team in New Mexico with deep Native American heritage. By Nicolas Rapold Kimberley French/Vertical 'Lee' Review: A Remarkable Life at War Kate Winslet embodies the tenacity of the photographer Lee Miller, who documented World War II for British Vogue. By Lisa Kennedy Halely Ben-Tzion/Paramount+ 'We Will Dance Again' Review: Remembering Oct. 7 In this documentary by Yariv Mozer, Israelis who attended the Nova music festival near the Gaza border describe how they survived the attack last year. By Ben Kenigsberg NEWS & FEATURES NBC, via Photofest When 'Saturday Night Live' Debuted, They Were There. Here's What They Remember. With a new film about the show, and a 50th anniversary season starting, Chevy Chase, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman and others look back. By Dave Itzkoff Lionsgate What to Know About Francis Ford Coppola and 'Megalopolis' The controversies surrounding the new epic include accusations of on-set problems, a pulled trailer and more. By Sarah Bahr Charles Sykes/Invision, via Associated Press She Went Viral at 8. Now She's Making Movies with Aubrey Plaza. Maisy Stella stars in "My Old Ass," a new coming-of-age film. After years as a child actor, she says it was going to high school that helped her prepare. By Rachel Sherman Mario Anzuoni/Reuters Holy Hollywood! Batman Is the First Superhero With a Walk of Fame Star. The caped crusader, who debuted in 1939, joins other illustrious figures — including Adam West, the actor who played him on TV. By George Gene Gustines STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Nick Briggs/PBS 10 Great Maggie Smith Performances to Stream In "Downton Abbey," "A Room With a View" and dozens of other films and television series, she delighted audiences with her portrayal of sharp, tart-tongued and often wryly funny Englishwomen. By Noel Murray Kino Lorber Want to Turn Your House into the Art House? Try Metrograph at Home. The Metrograph theater in New York has expanded to include a streaming platform that spotlights foreign, art house, independent, classic and documentary selections. By Jason Bailey Magnolia Pictures Five Science Fiction Movies to Stream Now In this month's picks, time loops, aliens and ecological collapse. By Elisabeth Vincentelli Blue Fox Entertainment Beyond the Algorithm 'The Bouncer,' 'Pearl' and More Streaming Gems This month's under-the-radar streaming suggestions include unexpectedly poignant action flicks, highly stylized horror pictures and documentaries about art thieves and sperm donors. By Jason Bailey Miramax 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. 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. 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