Movies Update: The forecast: cloudy with a chance of “Thunderbolts*”

Plus, so much Nicolas Cage, so little time.

View in browser|nytimes.com May 2, 2025 By Mekado Murphy Hey, movie fans! If you're ready for more Marvel (and Marvel sure hopes you are), the first of two summer-season movies from that studio has landed. In "Thunderbolts*," a rough and tumble collection of superhero-esque figures comes together when the world gets dark. In her review, Manohla Dargis calls it "fitfully amusing, sometimes touching and resolutely formulaic." We'll take it! Our critic has much more solemn words for another release this week: "Rust," the Alec Baldwin-starring western whose cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, was fatally shot on the set. Dargis wrote, "In truth, this is no longer an ordinary movie; it is, rather, a deeply depressing coda to an appalling and entirely preventable tragedy." For something completely different, there's "The Surfer," which pits Nicolas Cage against a group of angry wave enthusiasts. And surprise, things get weird. The critic Alissa Wilkinson uses the occasion of this release to talk about some of Cage's best screen performances. And we have plenty of movie recommendations for at-home viewing this week. A few come from Paul Feig, the director of the streaming comedy-thriller "Another Simple Favor." A few are for lovers of breakneck action movies like "Havoc." A few are international. And a few are for the kids. Enjoy the movies. Marvel Studios 'Thunderbolts*' Review: Florence Pugh and Pals Kick Some Asterisk The actress is the main attraction in Marvel's latest, about a group of ragtag super-types who join forces to (spoiler alert!) save the world. By Manohla Dargis Falling Forward Films 'Rust' Review: It's a Hard Watch During every scene of this western, I couldn't stop thinking about the film's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, who was killed on set in an entirely preventable tragedy. By Manohla Dargis Touchstone Pictures; MGM; C2 Motion Picture Group; Columbia Pictures; Lionsgate; AI Film In Praise Of Seven Roles That Explain the Deeply Nuanced, Not Crazy Art of Nicolas Cage Don't reduce his career to his unhinged characters. The actor's work is often more textured and soulful than he's given credit for. By Alissa Wilkinson CRITICS' PICKS Oscilloscope Critic's Pick 'Vulcanizadora' Review: Guilt Trip Two midlife losers reckon with past mistakes on a despairing and oddly haunting trip into the woods and out of their heads. By Jeannette Catsoulis Greenwich Entertainment Critic's Pick 'Bonjour Tristesse' Review: Goodbye Girlhood Durga Chew-Bose boldly reimagines a work once adapted by Otto Preminger in her beguiling first film set on the French Riviera. By Natalia Winkelman ANATOMY OF A SCENE Warner Bros. Pictures Anatomy of a Scene Conjuring the Past and Future of Black Music in 'Sinners' The writer and director Ryan Coogler narrates a sequence from his film. By Mekado Murphy MOVIE REVIEWS Lorenzo Sisti/Amazon 'Another Simple Favor' Review: Big Hats and Big Intrigue The sequel to the deranged 2018 comedy finds Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick feuding in the Italian sun. By Alissa Wilkinson Roadside Attractions/Lionsgate 'The Surfer' Review: Catching a Wave, and Catching Hell Nicolas Cage plays the title role in this punishing beach drama, where an aggressive group of surfers advise him the spot is for "locals only." By Glenn Kenny Utopia Documentary Lens 'Pavements': A Sly Ode to the Last Band You'd Give the Biopic Treatment Part spoof and part serious, the film is about mythmaking as much as it is about music. The result is delightfully destabilizing. By Alissa Wilkinson Damir Sagolj/Decal Releasing 'Words of War' Review: Portrait of a Fearless Reporter The Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya is the subject of a film that honors her bravery. By Ben Kenigsberg Matt Plaxco/Entertainment Squad 'Lavender Men' Review: Daring to Reimagine 'America's Daddy' A writer rethinks queer history through Abraham Lincoln's political ambitions, but needs a few present-day edits. By Chris Azzopardi Dark Sky Films 'A Desert' Review: Motel Hell A washed-up photographer finds himself embroiled in an eerie mystery in Joshua Erkman's strange, singular thriller. By Calum Marsh Level 33 Entertainment 'Electra' Review: Not Exactly a Unicorn In Hala Matar's stylish if somewhat vacant drama, flair trumps grief. By Lisa Kennedy NEWS & FEATURES Pedro Almodóvar Through the Eyes of Julianne Moore, Tilda Swinton and 7 Other Stars In advance of a gala celebration of the director's career, we asked nine actresses about working with the auteur. They painted a picture of a precise artist. By Carlos Aguilar Utopia 'Pavements' Blurs Fact and Fiction to Reimagine a Band's Legacy The director Alex Ross Perry said Stephen Malkmus of Pavement told him to "avoid the legacy trap." The result is a music documentary with made-up elements that really existed. What? By David Renard Valentin Flauraud/EPA, via Shutterstock Buddy Guy on 'Sinners': 'This May Help the Blues Stay Alive' The guitarist and singer, who turns 89 in July, discusses his role in Ryan Coogler's musical horror drama and his promise to Muddy Waters and B.B. King. By Mesfin Fekadu Vatican Media, via Reuters Martin Scorsese Got One of Pope Francis' Final Interviews The project will highlight scripted short films from international communities along with snippets of a conversation between the director and the pontiff, who died last month. By Derrick Bryson Taylor Warner Bros. Critic's Notebook The Symbolism in 'Sinners' Beneath the spectacle of an action-packed vampire movie, the film has plenty to say about what is sacred and what is profane. By Maya Phillips STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Lorenzo Sisti/Amazon Paul Feig's Favorite Female-Centered Movies The filmmaker behind "Another Simple Favor" likes when things get "really, really extra" onscreen. By Leah Greenblatt Akhirwan Nurhaidir/Sony Pictures Classics Liked 'Havoc'? Here are Five Movies to Stream Next Gareth Evans's action film starring Tom Hardy delivers a fire hose of action. If you want the punches to keep coming, we recommend these five movies. By Jason Bailey Sony Pictures Classics Three Great Documentaries to Stream In this month's picks, a solemn look at the war in Ukraine, plus an ongoing struggle over land and a spirited search for truffles. By Ben Kenigsberg Kimberly French/Paramount Pictures Stream These 13 Movies and TV Shows Before They Leave in May A ton of great titles are leaving fast. Catch them while you can. By Jason Bailey Jackie Brown/Prime The Best Movies and TV Shows Coming to Disney+, Amazon, Max, Apple TV+ and More in May "Duster," "Summer of 69," "Overcompensating," "'Deaf President Now!" and more are arriving, and "Poker Face" returns. By Noel Murray Gross Domestic Happiness Five International Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include a hit Thai family drama, an Iranian animated film, a trilogy of documentaries about Chinese textile workers and more. By Devika Girish Netflix 5 Children's Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include animals galore and an animated "Addams Family" adventure. By Dina Gachman 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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