Movies Update: Brief thoughts on the Oscar-nominated shorts

Plus, a chat with Ethan Hawke

View in browser|nytimes.com February 20, 2026 By Mekado Murphy Hey, movie fans! While the Oscars are still a few weeks away, it's never too early to begin educating yourself on some of the tougher categories for your Oscar pool. To help you out, the Oscar-nominated short films are once again being released in theaters. Three of our critics weigh in on the programs, with thoughts on which are standouts and which, well, could be shorter. In other Oscar news, our Projectionist columnist, Kyle Buchanan, caught up with one nominee who has been in movies for more than three decades: Ethan Hawke. The actor, nominated for his lead performance in "Blue Moon," offered plenty of reflection, but also thoughts on the various ways he is keeping busy outside of acting. "I think part of my obsession with making documentaries, doing theater and writing novels is making sure that nobody can take this away from me — I've learned enough that I'll find another way to contribute," he said. And one final Oscar thought for the week involves the newest category to be added to the roster: casting. In talking with a governor in the academy, as well as casting directors, the writer Esther Zuckerman aims to get to the bottom of the question, what criteria do you use to judge casting? Enjoy the movies! Roadside Attractions 'The 2026 Oscar Nominated Short Films' Review: Major Themes, Minor Lengths Three critics briefly consider the short films nominated for the 98th Academy Awards. By Jeannette Catsoulis, Alissa Wilkinson and Ben Kenigsberg Sela Shiloni for The New York Times The Projectionist Ethan Hawke's Films Are Getting Harder to Make, but He Still Has Faith A best actor Oscar contender for "Blue Moon," the star reflects on turbulent times in Hollywood and the notion of selling out: "I think about it constantly." By Kyle Buchanan and Sela Shiloni Warner Bros. With a New Oscar on the Line, How Do You Judge Casting? Contenders say the criteria for judging the category can vary from, say, the number of newcomers to the seamlessness of the ensemble. By Esther Zuckerman CRITICS' PICKS Lawrence Movera/Film Forum Critic's Pick 'Billy Preston' Review: A Unique and Tortured Talent The Beatles, the Stones and Clapton shared the stage with him. He made solo hits, too. A documentary by Paris Barclay explores his success and his difficult life. By Glenn Kenny A24 Critic's Pick 'Pillion' Review: An Opposites-Attract 'Dom-Com' A shy young man is captivated by a hunky biker in this bold, funny and achingly tenderhearted B.D.S.M. romance. By Jeannette Catsoulis Neon Critic's pick 'Sirat' Review: A Shocker in the Desert The Galician director Oliver Laxe delivers a mesmerizing thriller about a man's search for his lost daughter, set amid raves in the punishing Sahara. By Manohla Dargis ANATOMY OF A SCENE Neon Anatomy of a Scene Watch an Ensemble Scene From 'The Secret Agent' Kleber Mendonça Filho narrates a sequence from his Oscar-nominated film, starring Wagner Moura. By Mekado Murphy MOVIE REVIEWS Neon Documentary Lens Up Close With the King in 'EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert' Newly found footage makes for a fun and revealing concert movie from the director Baz Luhrmann. By Alissa Wilkinson Ilze Kitshoff/A24 'How to Make a Killing' Review: Glen Powell's Lethal Case of Entitlement The actor stars in this comedy with a high corpse count, but the movie's lightness soon becomes forced. By Manohla Dargis Mark de Blok/Focus Features 'Midwinter Break' Review: Aging Together, Growing Apart Lesley Manville and Ciaran Hinds play an Irish married couple dealing with quiet resentments in this staid drama. By Natalia Winkelman Jake Giles Netter/Lionsgate 'I Can Only Imagine 2' Review: Dogged by Dark Memories For its sequel, the Christian-themed drama about a hit single finds a new tune and an anchoring presence. By Lisa Kennedy Lionsgate 'The Dreadful' Review: A Knight in Frightening Armor Sophie Turner and Kit Harrington reunite after "Game of Thrones" in this deeply silly horror fable that is haunted by an ominous knight. By Brandon Yu Eric Zachanowich/20th Century Studios 'Psycho Killer' Review: Better the Devil You Don't Know A highway patrol officer travels the country to track down a hulking killing machine in this unsuccessful slasher. By Erik Piepenburg NEWS & FEATURES Sony Pictures Lively v. Baldoni Tests What Crosses the Line on a 'Steamy' Movie Set An affectionate slow dance. References to pornography. What rises to harassment on the set of a movie about a sexual relationship that turns violent? By Julia Jacobs Ariel Fisher for The New York Times Billy Idol Had It All, and Then He 'Lit It With Butane' Last year, the British rocker with the iconic sneer played his biggest tour yet. At 70, he's revealing how he survived the tough times in a new documentary. By Melena Ryzik Apple Corps Billy Preston's Music Was 'Pure Joy.' But His Life Ended in Tragedy. The Beatles' beloved collaborator died at 59 in 2006. A new documentary, "That's the Way God Planned It," explores what he long kept hidden. By Jim Farber John Macdougall/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images A Festival Tried to Focus on Film. Politics Stole the Spotlight. Reporters' attempts to draw stars into debates about Gaza and other highly charged topics have threatened to overshadow the movies at the Berlin Film Festival. By Thomas Rogers Decla-Bioscop Critic's notebook Fritz Lang's Silent Epic, the Way It Was Meant to Be Heard The monumental, two-film "Die Nibelungen," drawn from similar material to Wagner's "Ring," is best when presented live with a full orchestra. By Joshua Barone STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection Five Free Movies to Stream Now This month's lineup includes Spike Lee's "Crooklyn" and other Black films that are just as rich, sharp and teeming with life. By Brandon Yu Wowing Entertainment Group and Netflix Five Action Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include explosive trains, a hijacked plane and stolen submarines. By Robert Daniels Warner Bros. Pictures, via Associated Press The 50 Best Movies on HBO 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 Gilles Mingasson/ABC, via Associated Press 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 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. If you received this newsletter from someone else, subscribe 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. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. 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