Top Movie News provided by the LA Times©

• 'American Doctor' team condemns Israeli strike that killed Palestinian surgeon in Gaza hospital
  'American Doctor's' distributor has condemned the attack on a Gaza hospital that killed a Palestinian surgeon featured in the documentary.
• Russell Brand accused of sexual misconduct by six more women following conviction: report
  Six more women have spoken out against Russell Brand, accusing the British actor and recently convicted rapist of sexual misconduct amid the ongoing fallout of his trial in the U.K.
• A 13th 'Friday the 13th' movie is finally on the way with iconic franchise director returning
  Jason Voorhees is back for the 13th 'Friday the 13th' movie. Steve Minor, who directed 'Friday the 13th Part 2' and 'Part III,' is also back.
• 'Victorian Psycho' is fancy digs in need of some believable viciousness
  Maika Monroe stars in a glitzy, emptily ironic horror comedy that only half-understands the Bret Easton Ellis novel that inspired its source material.
• 'Bitter Christmas' shows Pedro Almodóvar in a self-reflexive mood — twice over
  The Spanish master confronts aging and artistry with his signature style, if not quite the revelatory results he's capable of reaching.
• A father's unrelenting pursuit of answers powers the sad, obsessive documentary 'Closure'
  Serving as his own cinematographer, filmmaker Michał Marczak mounts a sensitive portrait of a parent consumed by hope, even as things look bleak.
• 'Soul Patrol' salutes the Black soldiers who fought in Vietnam but became a footnote
  A loose adaptation of Compton native Ed Emanuel's 2003 memoir, the documentary also includes dramatic re-creations, new interviews and archival photos.
• 'How to Rob a Bank' steals your time and any goodwill you may have for heist movies
  Don't expect much in the way of crime lessons here. The filmmakers are too busy going back to school learning how to write engaging characters.
• Column: Only one of these Oscar contenders is likely to land a best picture nom. Which will it be?
  With the race starting to take shape, the 'crowd-pleaser' lane is crowded indeed. Will 'Club Kid,' 'I Play Rocky,' 'Being Heumann' or 'Mr. Irrelevant' end up in the final 10?
• Johnny Depp's mean-spirited 'Ebenezer' makes a holiday classic unfun for the whole family
  Horror director Ti West plunges into holiday filmmaking by making a mess of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," with Johnny Depp as a silly and sad Scrooge.
• James Gray's star-studded 'Paper Tiger' is a murky crime thriller about ignorant squares
  In this smart but tepid thriller, Adam Driver, Miles Teller and Scarlett Johansson play a Queens family who can't stomach the corruption of the Gowanus Canal.
• 'Star Wars' at 50: Original film heads to Cosm with new immersive, theme-park-like effects
  The pop culture phenomena that started an empire is coming to the Inglewood venue, home to a high-definition spherical screen that wraps around its audience.
• 'I Play Rocky' is an 'anti-money movie,' says its director. Just like the original
  Director Peter Farrelly, star Anthony Ippolito and more of the team behind 'I Play Rocky' joined The Envelope for a live taping at AFI Fest.
• Irma P. Hall, teacher who became 'Soul Food', 'Ladykillers' scene-stealer, dies at 91
  Irma P. Hall, a scene-stealer known for films 'Soul Food,' 'The Ladykillers' and 'A Family Thing,' died Tuesday at age 91, her family announced.
• Scarlett Johansson is on the hunt for something deeper
  After three decades of stardom, Scarlett Johansson has the clout to choose her own path. But as she stars in James Gray's "Paper Tiger," she's still working out where she wants that path to lead.
• Hollywood warned young screenwriters about AI. Now it may be their ticket in
  As generative AI spreads through Hollywood, unsettling writers worried about losing jobs and creative control, some L.A. educators see it as a way for emerging screenwriters to develop pitches, visuals and projects — and reach industry contacts once reserved for insiders.
• Bay Theater reopening in Pacific Palisades after nearly two years
  The Bay Theater has been closed since a wildfire destroyed large portions of the coastal enclave in 2025. The venue will reopen Friday.
• Ron Howard's exhilarating 'Avedon' places its lens on a master of photography
  Ron Howard's documentary on Richard Avedon examines the photographer's life, his troubled family and long career as one of America's premiere artists.
• Russell Brand sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for rape, sexual assault convictions
  A London judge on Monday sentenced British comedian Russell Brand to 10 and a half years in prison after he was convicted on rape and sexual assault charges in the U.K. last week.
• Denis Villeneuve attempts to reveal the next James Bond at LACMA's Art + Film gala
  The 15th annual Art+Film Gala at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art honored artist Vija Celmins and filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, with musical guest Rosé.
• Long at the apex of their domain, polar bears now need to scavenge in 'Nuisance Bear'
  This prize-winning documentary by directors Jack Weisman and Gabriela Osio Vanden details the connection between climate change and the food chain.
• 'Queen at Sea' explores the tricky moment when consent is fogged by dementia
  An impulsive call to the police deepens the stakes of a family's fragile situation as an elder's independence is suddenly threatened by triggered protections.
• Pamela Abdy feels 'pure, unadulterated rage' following Warner Bros. exit
  Pamela Abdy received the inaugural Vanguard Award at the Women in Film Honors gala and delivered a powerful, 15-minute speech about the treatment of women in Hollywood.
• 'Being Heumann' is about the euphoria of activism even if its uplift feels well-behaved
  Siân Heder, filmmaker of the Oscar-winning "CODA," returns with another sincerely wrought story about the universal struggle for dignity and access.
• 'I Play Rocky' brings us into a wannabe actor's fight for the role of his life. You know his name
  As a young Sylvester Stallone trying to sell his original script with a big role for himself, Anthony Ippolito carries this sweetly sentimental making-of drama.
• 'Godzilla Minus Zero' is a thrilling monster mash crushed by its giant guilt complex
  The action scenes are spectacular in Takashi Yamazaki's sequel to the 2023 Oscar-winner "Godzilla Minus One," but the rest of the movie makes us feel bad for having too much fun.
• Not as bad as the last one, 'The Cat in the Hat' is still missing some feline friskiness
  Theodore Geisel's immortal creation seems to flummox filmmakers, who overload the simplicity of the concept with too many lessons.
• Grief leads to unlikely friendships and evasions in the compassionate 'Mouse'
  Indie filmmakers Kelly O'Sullivan and Alex Thompson follow 2024's "Ghostlight" with another nuanced exploration of living with loss.
• Tinto Brass, Italian director known for erotic films 'Caligula' and 'Salon Kitty,' dies at 93
  Tinto Brass, the avant-garde Italian director who helmed erotic 1970s films including 'Caligula' and 'Salon Kitty,' has died at 93.
• Jamie Foxx welcomes his third child, and his first with girlfriend Alyce Huckstepp
  Jamie Foxx and his girlfriend Alyce Huckstepp welcomed their first child together. The "Ray" Oscar winner is also a father to two adult daughters, ages 32 and 18.
• Take a head trip with 'Wild Horse Nine,' a vacation comedy about the CIA's dark deeds
  Martin McDonagh's latest comic provocation takes place on Easter Island and in 1970s Chile, where a ferociously funny John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell aim to upend the rule of law.
• A party animal becomes a dad — and a real filmmaker is born — in 'Club Kid'
  Jordan Firstman writes, directs and stars in a heartbreaker about belated responsibility and the pleasures and pain of growing up.
• Anthony Ippolito on becoming Stallone and going the distance for 'I Play Rocky'
  Ippolito excels as the then-unknown Stallone, who, while broke, parlayed his original screenplay for "Rocky" into a starring role and an acting career.
• 'Heat' director Michael Mann accidentally shoots himself at L.A. gun range
  The 83-year-old filmmaker suffered a minor injury when a gun discharged while holstered. His representative said he was treated at a hospital and is being released.
• Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley officially file for divorce, months after separating
  It's official: Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff are ending their marriage. The former entertainment power couple filed for divorce on Friday in New York.
• James Gunn says DCU's new Batman casting 'isn't very far away' but Harley Quinn is Margot Robbie's move
  DC Studios' James Gunn said 'it won't be too long' until the DCU's new Batman is cast, but Harley Quinn will depend on Margot Robbie
• 'Gentle Monster' stars Léa Seydoux as a wife discovering the unthinkable about her husband
  Boldly directed by Austrian filmmaker Marie Kreutzer, the movie shows a family imploding after criminal accusations are made — ones that cut to the heart of parenting.
• In 'Who Killed Alex Odeh?' the death of a California activist haunts the present
  An investigative documentary by filmmakers Jason Osder and William Lafi Youmans explores a 1985 crime and the political circumstances that left it unsolved.
• 'The Mosquito Bowl' churns war and football into an unexciting slog
  The real-life story of a football game played by Marines headed into combat during World War II is fumbled by filmmaker Peter Berg, too enamored of flash.
• In 'Everest: The Other Side,' dreams, exhilaration and risk combine in terrifying Imax
  What drives climbers to set their sights on the most dangerous peaks? A new documentary from the 'Free Solo' team takes you there in every sense.
• Patrick Stewart's 5 best TV and film performances
  Patrick Stewart will be best remembered for the iconic characters he portrayed, particularly in the 'Star Trek' and 'X-Men' franchises, but over the course of his career, he proved his versatility, playing comedic roles as brilliantly as his dramatic ones.
• Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi sentenced again on unclear charges
  Iran has sentenced acclaimed 'It Was Just an Accident' director Jafar Panahi to five years in prison. Charges remain unclear.
• Patrick Stewart, Shakespearean actor turned 'Star Trek' captain and 'X-Men' star, dies at 86
  Patrick Stewart, the British actor known for 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' and the 'X-Men' franchise, has died at age 86.
• With 'Christmas at the Kringles,' your lump of coal arrives two months early
  The cast is stacked with comedy veterans but this wind-up contraption of a holiday horror movie doesn't come with batteries.
• Barbara Barrie, 'Breaking Away' star and actor who was not just any on-screen mom, dies at 95
  Barbara Barrie — best known for her motherly roles in major films including "Breaking Away" (1979), for which she received an Academy Award nomination for supporting actress — passed away through a medically assisted death.
• 'You Can See Everything' is ineligible for the Directors Guild's top award
  'You Can See Everything' is ineligible for the DGA Awards' feature film category. The directors can only be submitted for documentary prize.
• 2027 Oscar predictions: best supporting actor
  A raft of heavy hitters makes the supporting actor race one of the toughest to predict at this early stage of the cycle.
• 2027 Oscar predictions: animated feature
  Indie LAIKA's 'Wildwood' ekes out the top spot over Disney/Pixar juggernaut 'Toy Story 5' in a competitive, crowded field.
• 2027 Oscar predictions: best actor
  Perhaps the season's most exciting category, lead actor presents a three-way race for the Oscar — and a host of possibilities for the other two slots.
• Horror icon John Carpenter is now making chocolate bars. Here's how to find them
  The master of horror and his wife and creative partner, Sandy King, quietly launched this line of nearly half-pound chocolate bars to give fans a sweet and spooky treat.
• 2027 Oscar predictions: best supporting actress
  It's Penélope Cruz vs. 'The Odyssey' in the supporting actress race, according to our panelists.
• 2027 Oscar predictions: International feature
  'La Bola Negra' appears poised to roll away with this year's international feature race.
• 2027 Oscar predictions: best actress
  It's only October, but the BuzzMeter panel agrees that 'The Debut's' Julianne Moore has this race locked up.
• 'You Can See Everything's' full-frontal shower scene was Billy Evans' idea, co-director says
  Billy Evans — the partner of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes — asked the 'You Can See Everything' team: 'Want to film me showering?'
• Laika's PG-13 'Wildwood' opens to nearly $12 million, in test of audiences' appetite for mature animation
  Laika's PG-13 stop-motion film, "Wildwood," opened third with an estimated $11.6 million. Here's what its debut says about the market for mature animation.
• Sex scenes with a 'Wicker' man? 'Less embarrassing' than usual, says Olivia Colman
  Colman and co-star Alexander Skarsgård sat down with The Envelope to discuss the unusual (and unusually bawdy) fable of a medieval fisherwoman and the man of her wishes.
• 2027 Oscar predictions: best adapted screenplay
  It's a showdown of (most) of the top best picture contenders in adapted screenplay — but could result in different winners.
• 2027 Oscar predictions: best original screenplay
  Can Mike Leigh win his first Oscar for his final film? He'll have to get through Jesse Eisenberg and Martin McDonagh to do it.
• Following the money in 'You Can See Everything': Did Elizabeth Holmes and Billy Evans get paid?
  Nathan Fielder's documentary turns a dispute over paying its subjects into a central source of tension. Here's what we know about the proposed deal.
• 2027 Oscar predictions: best director
  Christopher Nolan looks to join the exceedingly small club of filmmakers to win the Oscar for directing for consecutive films.
• 2027 Oscar predictions: best picture
  Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' is the early (and unanimous) front-runner, but some panelists are hoping 'La Bola Negra' makes it a race.
• 'Wildwood' is an exquisite handmade adventure set in a forest of warring factions
  Two intrepid teens head into the unknown on an absorbing, densely detailed rescue mission — not for the especially young — that stuns at every turn.
• No permits, no stars, no playing it safe in 'Ten Will,' an audacious indie odyssey through L.A.
  Debut feature filmmaker Max DeFalco shot this dark comedy about a sex offender during his off-hours. Fans of John Waters and Sean Baker should give it a watch.
• 'Fatherland' returns a parent and daughter to a changed Germany they only partially know
  Award-winning 'Cold War' filmmaker Paweł Pawlikowski continues his string of European excursions, this time with political disillusionment in mind.
• Two couples run headlong into the limits of empathy in the masterful 'Possible Love'
  In the wake of a catastrophic labor strike, a documentary project brings out class resentments and secret desires in Lee Chang-dong's suggestive drama.
• The body horror is great in DC's 'Clayface' but the script is a sloppy mess
  Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries shows promise as DC's gooiest goon. Still, this villain's origin story works better as a showcase for effects than anything tragic.
• Who is Nathan Fielder? A guide to the mad genius behind the hot new Elizabeth Holmes doc
  Nathan Fielder, who's behind the Elizabeth Holmes doc 'You Can See Everything,' is well-known to comedy fans for his docuseries 'The Rehearsal' and 'Nathan for You.' Here's a primer on the origin and rise of Fielder.
• Everything to know about 'You Can See Everything,' from secret screening to box office hit
  How much can you really see in Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's 'You Can See Everything' documentary about Elizabeth Holmes? At 2 hours and 54 minutes, there's a lot there, and yet still so many questions left unanswered.
• Jenna Ortega plays a sad robot in the shamelessly programmatic 'Klara and the Sun'
  An android story that could use a little more intelligence, artificial or otherwise, Taika Waititi's new film strikes an overwhelmingly sentimental tone.
• Shifty and subtle, John Turturro beguiles in 'The Only Living Pickpocket in New York'
  Commanding a rare leading role, the longtime indie stalwart brings depth to a New York crime story that rings with authenticity.
• 'Once Upon a Time in Harlem' revives the spirit of an age over an afternoon's party
  Giants of the Harlem Renaissance assembled in 1972 to share their memories. As seen in this vital, long-gestating documentary, their collective energy amounted to much more.
• Commentary: Why are we still fascinated by Elizabeth Holmes?
  'You Can See Everything' raises all sorts of questions about truth, lies and documentary filmmaking, but it skirts the most obvious mystery: In a world full of con artists, fraudsters and liars, why can't we quit Elizabeth Holmes?
• In the funny and sexy 'Wicker,' the perfect man is society's worst nightmare
  Alexander Skarsgård and Olivia Colman play bizarro newlyweds in a naughty parable about lust, jealousy and moral hypocrisy. The characters are thin but the ideas aren't.
• Hollywood never quite knew what to do with John Turturro. That suited him fine
  Stealing the spotlight in his latest movie, 'The Only Living Pickpocket in New York,' the quintessential indie actor reflects on a career spent following his instincts.
• 'You Can See Everything': Theranos whistleblower says Elizabeth Holmes is 'still lying'
  A former Theranos research engineer who worked closely with Elizabeth Holmes says that 'You Can See Everything' is misleading and definitely not a documentary.
• Who is Billy Evans? Elizabeth Holmes' partner emerges as the villain of 'You Can See Everything'
  Billy Evans, the hotel heir and father of Elizabeth Holmes' two children, has become a central figure in Nathan Fielder's documentary 'You Can See Everything.' Here's what to know about his background, career and relationship with the disgraced Theranos founder.
• Get a peek at the big stars and buzzy projects showcased at Envelope Insiders Live
  The creatives behind 'Furious,' 'Love Story,' 'The Only Living Pickpocket in New York' and 'Tenzing' joined us for a day of food, wine and great conversations. Take a look inside.
• Richard Riehle, prolific character actor from 'Office Space' and 'Bridesmaids,' dies at 78
  Richard Riehle, an actor whose credits include 'Office Space,' 'Bridesmaids,' 'The Fugitive,' 'Star Trek' and more, has died at age 78.
• Taylor Swift among 10 best-dressed stars at the Academy Museum Gala
  Taylor Swift, Kendall Jenner, Jessica Biel and Teyana Taylor were among the best-dressed stars at the Academy Museum Gala.
• How Judd Apatow's insatiable curiosity led to documentaries on Norm Macdonald and Maria Bamford
  The director and producer spoke about his pair of documentaries arriving in successive weeks that take a closer look at two singular comedians.
• 'Friday the 13th': From Crystal Lake terror to a 'Nightmare' crossover, grading the 12 films
  With the recent release of 'Friday the 13th' prequel series 'Crystal Lake,' our writer rewatched every film in the iconic slasher franchise to grade them on a hockey mask scale.
• Column: 'You Can See Everything' just made itself impossible for Oscar voters to ignore
  Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's experimental portrait of Elizabeth Holmes is the kind of phenomenon that even the pickiest awards voters will need to pay heed to.
• James Gunn says 'Matt is still the director' after Steven Soderbergh steps up to help finish 'The Batman Part II'
  Steven Soderbergh will help finish shooting 'The Batman Part II' as Matt Reeves deals with a family matter. 'Matt is still the director,' says James Gunn.
• Restored and fully extended, 'The Devils' is now honed to its sharpest provocation
  Director Ken Russell's vision represents a lusty, unencumbered perspective that found full flourish with this much-marred 1971 movie, the revival event of the year.
• Aida Rodriguez talks new movie 'Hurricane Seasons' — and Puerto Rico beyond the storm
  'Hurricane Seasons' screens Sunday at the Newport Beach Film Festival. Co-star Aida Rodriguez speaks about healing trauma and amplifying the cause of Puerto Ricans.
• The 10 biggest revelations of Nathan Fielder's new Elizabeth Holmes documentary 'You Can See Everything'
  The year's most discussable film is finally in theaters and its many bizarre surprises don't disappoint. Hold off on reading this until after you see it.
• A new 'Sense and Sensibility,' feisty, raw and windswept, sparks up Jane Austen's sisters
  Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles embody the Dashwood girls with spunk and subtlety in a fresh, free-limbed adaptation that holds its own against others.
• 'My Undesirable Friends: Part II — Exile' extends a scary story of journalists on the run
  Filmmaker Julia Loktev's first part showed an independent Russian news channel under siege by Putin's watchdogs. The follow-up is just as essential.
• 'Street Fighter' embraces its own dumbness but irony and constant mayhem aren't enough
  Nostalgic '90s kids will find recognizable elements that never quite coalesce into a self-mocking comedy that can kick its way into an identity of its own.
• 'Whalefall' is a tense survival story with guts, teeth and daddy issues that get a bit gooey
  Strong acting turns by Austin Abrams and Josh Brolin help director Brian Duffield make a meal of a seemingly unfilmable novel about a sour young man swallowed by a whale.
• Singer Guitarricadelafuente knows pop stardom. Acting in 'La Bola Negra' was a challenge
  The Spanish folk-pop star has cultivated a global following but when he was approached by directors Los Javis to star in a historical epic, he admits to being surprised.
• 'La Bola Negra' captures the sweep of history and the intimacy of personal legacy
  Directed by the Spanish filmmaking duo Los Javis, the drama ties together three time periods to explore the history of gay male desire across nearly 100 years.
• Alan Mandell, acclaimed actor and interpreter of playwright Samuel Beckett's work, dies at 98
  Alan Mandell, an acclaimed classical actor and one of the foremost interpreters of playwright Samuel Beckett's work, has died.
• A prank comic faces down a fraudster in the fab doc 'You Can See Everything.' Who blinks first?
  This mesmerizing showdown is the King Kong vs. Godzilla of con artists as 'The Rehearsal's' Nathan Fielder tries to wrestle the truth out of Theranos' Elizabeth Holmes.
• John Boyega reveals he has been married for two years, announces birth of 'our bundle of joy'
  John Boyega, who revealed in a recent interview that he has been married for two years, announced that he and his wife welcomed a baby boy 'some time' ago.
• Returning to Jane Austen with fresh eyes and sisterly intimacy — and no makeup
  Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles went boldly into 'Sense and Sensibility,' rethinking the text with director Georgia Oakley, who encouraged exploration.
• 'I'm not pro ICE': Danny Trejo responds to backlash over Daily Wire ICE movie casting
  Danny Trejo issues a statement saying he is 'not pro ICE' after receiving online criticism for his involvement in the upcoming Daily Wire ICE-focused feature 'Pawn Shop.'
• 2027 Oscars power rankings: These are the top 10 best picture contenders right now
  Oscar campaigns are heating up. In Round 2 of his power rankings, awards columnist Glenn Whipp offers his updated prediction of the 10 best picture nominees.

NY Times©

• Jewish Heirs Challenge Sale of $180 Million van Gogh Painting at Sotheby’s
  Heirs say “Blossoming Chestnut Trees” was sold under Nazi-era duress. The auction house says it is “committed to working toward a mutually satisfactory resolution.”
• Julia Garner Would Rather Be Someone Else
  The actor is known for disappearing into difficult roles. Her latest transformation is in “The Altruists,” a series about the jailed crypto founder Sam Bankman-Fried.
• How Peter Farrelly Captured a New Side of ‘Rocky’
  The director of “I Play Rocky” narrates a scene that takes place on the set of “Rocky,” during a breakthrough moment for Sylvester Stallone.
• Offset Is Tired of Being Rap’s Bad Guy: ‘I Got Lost’
  His superstar groupmate was killed. His marriage imploded. Then, Offset got shot. He’s back to own it all.
• Can Music Build Empathy? Silkroad’s Mission Is to Prove It Can
  The sprawling global musical collective founded by Yo-Yo Ma, now led by Rhiannon Giddens, is 25 years old. Its mission, the artists say, is more urgent than ever.
• ‘Lincoln in the Bardo’ Pulls the Metropolitan Opera Into the YouTube Era
  With all live performances sold out, the Metropolitan Opera is streaming “Lincoln in the Bardo” on YouTube free this Saturday.
• Rosalía and Milo J Win Big: 6 Key Moments From the Latin Grammys
  The performance-heavy show featured spectacles from Anitta, Daddy Yankee and more, plus a stirring tribute to José Alfredo Jiménez.
• How ‘The Art of the Deal’ Became an (Unauthorized) Absurdist Musical
  Undeterred by unanswered rights requests, a theater collective turned President Trump’s 1987 best seller into a sold-out stage hit — with dancing gold bars and a giant banana.
• ‘The Body’ Talks Like ‘Mean Girls’ and Walks Like ‘The Crucible’
  Quinn Shephard’s new Netflix drama uses millennial nostalgia to eerie ends.
• 8 New Movies Our Critics Are Talking About This Week
  Whether you’re a casual moviegoer or an avid buff, our reviewers think these films are worth knowing about.
• Flesh Alert: The Performance Duo FlucT Still Has Skin in the Game
  After a five-year break, FlucT, the choreographic team of Sigrid Lauren and Monica Mirabile, takes up residence at the OCDChintatown’s new downtown space.
• In the Documentary ‘Avedon,’ a Portraitist’s Work Speaks for Itself
  This illuminating documentary about the photographer Richard Avedon shows how much of his personality was infused into his art.
• ‘The Visitors’ Review: A Sister’s Call for Help? Let the Squabbles Begin.
  In Bryna Turner’s new play, a woman in need of a kidney transplant asks her siblings to make a sacrifice, and prove their love.
• Kids’ Movies to Stream Now
  This month’s picks include the latest installments of beloved franchises and a live-action remake of a popular Disney animation.
• Katsu Naito on His Portraits of a ’90s Red-Light District in Downtown Manhattan
  Katsu Naito looks back at his 1990s-era photographs of the women who worked in the Meatpacking District after hours.
• Stephen Kovacevich, a Pianist of Quiet Intensity, Has Died
  During his long career, he was hailed by critics for a tenderness matched with vigorous intelligence. He was 86.
• Tom Cruise Leads Toasts for Steven Spielberg at MoMa Film Gala
  Bruce Springsteen, Martin Scorsese and Drew Barrymore, among others, paid tribute to the filmmaker at the Museum of Modern Art’s annual film gala.
• Five International Movies to Stream Now
  This month’s picks include a French thriller, a sensuous Spanish drama, an Argentine dark comedy and more.
• ‘Russell Brand: Open Secret’ on Netflix: 7 Takeaways
  The documentary, released Friday, includes on-camera interviews with former partners. It was released just hours after a British news outlet reported further accusations against Brand.
• Broadway Shows Closing Soon: ‘School Girls,’ ‘Two Strangers’ and More
  The final curtain call is approaching for Jocelyn Bioh’s comedy, Bill Irwin’s take on Molière and a meet-cute musical. Plus, a few more titles to put on your holiday must-see list.
• How Peter Farrelly Captured a New Side of ‘Rocky’
  Peter Farrelly, the director of “I Play Rocky,” narrates a scene depicting a breakthrough moment for Sylvester Stallone during the making of the 1976 film “Rocky.”
• Embracing the Darkness: 5 European Festivals of Light
  From Turin to Helsinki, glowing installations light up the late fall and winter skies.
• Eurovision Song Contest Asia: What to Know
  South Korea, the Philippines and nine other countries will compete in the Asian edition of Europe’s high-camp original song competition.
• ‘Heartland’ Review: A Lil’ Bit Country Noir
  As a former country music star, Jessica Chastain strides into this Nashville-set thriller just in time for the Country Music Association Awards.
• Seth Meyers Is Excited by Scott Colom’s Historic Win in Mississippi
  “This is the best news to come out of Mississippi since — this is the best news to come out of Mississippi!” Meyers said.
• Irma P. Hall, ‘Soul Food’ and ‘The Ladykillers’ Actress, Dies at 91
  In her 60s when she had her breakout role in “A Family Thing,” she brought a motherly touch to the screen opposite such stars as Tom Hanks and Vivica A. Fox.
• Roger Taylor, Drummer for Duran Duran, Quits Band Because of Tinnitus
  Roger Taylor, who has played with the Grammy-winning synth-pop group for decades, said his worsening tinnitus was forcing him to retire.
• Joanna Kotze’s New Work: A Dance Doomed to Repeat
  Joanna Kotze’s “this is the beginning, this is the end” is a high-strung evocation of cyclical turmoil.
• After Hiatus, American Art Dealers Look to the Heady and Light
  The ADAA Fair offers the gamut of modern and contemporary art, from big-color abstraction to mournful, quiet paintings.
• ‘Ebenezer’ Review: Holiday Humbug
  Johnny Depp returns as the miser of the Dickens holiday classic. But he isn’t playing Scrooge so much as trying to mount a comeback on a get-up and déjà vu.
• Corinne Winters, a Soprano Who Finds Fulfillment in Tragedy
  Corinne Winters will make her Paris Opera debut in Janacek’s “Kat’a Kabanova,” a role she is currently performing in the Czech Republic.
• France’s New Export? The Paris Opera Ballet’s Dance Method.
  As part of a multiyear deal, the Teatro Municipal in Chile is receiving intensive training from the famed ballet school.
• A Glamorous Paris Theater Where a Ballet in 1913 Caused a Riot
  For his inaugural season as general director, Baptiste Charroing is channeling the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées’s iconic past.
• ‘How to Rob a Bank’ Review: Heist Humor Worthy of TikTok
  A gang of thieves runs brazenly amok with guns and cameras in a movie that has something on its mind but not nearly enough sense.
• Steve Carell and John C. Reilly Lead Broadway ‘Odd Couple’ Revival
  The Neil Simon comedy will begin performances in March; the cast will also include the Tony winners Laura Benanti and James Monroe Iglehart.
• Masterpieces From Paris Go Town to Town in a Semi-Truck
  Culture funding in France heavily favors the country’s capital. So a traveling outpost of the Musée d’Orsay is bringing art to rural communities that have long felt left behind.
• Russell Brands Accounts Removed From Facebook and Instagram
  Meta said it had disabled his accounts because of his rape conviction. His team announced the ban on X, whose owner, Elon Musk, continues to express support for Brand.
• The Road to ‘Rocky’: Making the Underdog Biopic Had Its Struggles, Too
  “I Play Rocky,” which revisits Sylvester Stallone’s breakout role, became a surprise festival hit this year. But getting it made was a long-shot undertaking.
• How ‘Rivals’ Helped David Tennant Fall for Romance
  The British actor hadn’t read Jilly Cooper’s racy novels before signing on to star in Hulu’s adaptation. Now he compares her to Charles Dickens.
• ‘Victorian Psycho’ Review: Who’s the Sanest of Them All?
  A deliciously deranged psychological horror thriller pokes at the patriarchy and spills a lot of blood.
• ‘threeASFOUR: FULL CIRCLE’ Review: Clothes as Pure Art
  Sean Ono Lennon directs this documentary about the experimental fashion collective and its struggles despite its high-profile status.
• ‘Paper Tiger’ Review: An American Tragedy
  Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller star in James Gray’s moody period crime thriller about a family caught up in gangland violence.
• ‘Bitter Christmas’ Review: A Layered Spanish Melodrama
  Pedro Almodóvar combines the stories of two filmmakers into a movie about the pleasure and the price of turning one’s life into art.
• ‘Being Heumann’ Review: Disabled People Righting Wrongs, Staking Out Rights
  A weekslong occupation of a federal building by activists, including Judy Heumann, the “mother of the disability rights movement,” is detailed in this lively docudrama.
• Hitting Art Hard With Innovation
  The very existence of a show devoted to “Black abstraction” raises questions. Is it valid to continue to sort art by identity? On the evidence of “Hard Art,” the answer is yes.
• Thinking About Ping Pong Through Dance in Cherrie Yu’s ‘Daily Diversions’
  Cherrie Yu’s “Daily Diversions” draws attention to the formal and rhythmic properties of the sport while exploring her own history with it.
• Bruce Springsteen, U2 and More Honor Shane MacGowan on New Album
  A double LP gathers an eclectic group to interpret MacGowan’s songs, which celebrate the perfectly imperfect.
• 5 Classical Music Albums You Can Listen to Right Now
  Igor Levit’s release on his new label, contemporary and rare operas, and a mezzo-soprano’s sea-themed recital are among our selections.
• Desi Lydic Chides Democrats Who Missed Hegseth’s Impeachment Vote
  “This is huge, someone actually going after Pete Hegseth, and not just for child support!” said “The Daily Show” host.
• She Is Rewriting Mexico’s Ballads, One Woman’s Story at a Time
  Grammy-nominated songwriter Vivir Quintana is known throughout Latin America for giving voice to women who fought back against domestic violence.
• ‘The Lowdown’ Season 2 Episode 6 Recap: The Last Ride
  Lee takes a road trip with his father and learns they might have more in common than he thinks.
• Jessica Chastain to Star in New Broadway Play ‘Lost Lear’
  Chastain will portray an actress with dementia whose most vivid memories are of rehearsing for the title role in “King Lear.”
• How to Be a Better Gift Giver: Expert Advice and Picks
  Ahead of the holidays, artists, chefs and designers share their tips — and their favorite items.
• Writer Michel Houellebecq Investigated Over Anti-Muslim Remarks
  His comments in a 2022 interview have drawn accusations of incitement to violence and racial hatred — accusations that his lawyers reject.
• ‘Ghost Soldier’ Review: As Good as His Word
  Jim Caviezel stars in this action film as a former Special Forces officer facing off against a ruthless corporate behemoth razing homes in a rural Wyoming town.
• ‘Cloud 9’: When the Sexual Revolution Was Radical, Messy and Utterly Playful
  A London revival of Caryl Churchill’s satirical 1979 play leans into the exuberance of self-discovery, even as its era of anything-goes hedonism has, in many ways, passed.
• A Chart Truce Brings YouTube Back to Billboard
  A feud over what a stream is worth caused the online video giant to withdraw its data from Billboard’s charts, a move that disadvantaged some artists and genres.
• A Museum’s ‘Wanted’ Poster Campaign Brings Looted Painting Back to France
  The Orléans Fine Arts Museum is on a quest to recover hundreds of works stolen during World War II — and the director wants your help.
• N.Y.C. Holiday Theater: Not-To-Miss Shows This Festive Season
  In New York City, experience a live radio play, a Nicole Kidman-inspired “Christmas Carol,” an interactive production for children and more.
• In ‘The Ripple, the Wave That Carried Me Home,’ Currents of Racism
  One couple fights for swimming pool integration, and their daughter walks away from the battle, in Christina Anderson’s pensive play.
• ‘Hard Art’ Asks Hard Questions About Daring to Be Abstract
  MoMA PS1 brings together more than 40 Black artists in a search for their historical and artistic ties.
• Isaiah Rashad’s Most Powerful Secret Was Himself
  After the leak of private video footage upended his life, the rapper took a more open approach to making music. It resulted in the best album of his career.
• ‘The Flying Ace,’ Silent Film With All-Black Cast, Gets a Soaring Score
  In 1926, a white director and all-Black cast filmed “The Flying Ace” in Florida. Six Black composers are giving it a full musical treatment with the Jacksonville Symphony.

NPR©

• In different ways, these 2 new films take on the craft and the business of filmmaking
  Pedro Almodovar's Bitter Christmas and Peter Farrelly's I Play Rocky are dramas that depict filmmakers creating films. Though different in style, they have much in common.
• Pedro Almodóvar explores how good friends can get so angry in 'Bitter Christmas'
  In this film-within-a-film, Almodóvar explores how the closest pals can suddenly become bitterly estranged — and all the ways that art imitates life (and vice versa).
• Hop in: We're taking a pop culture road trip on Route 66
  Route 66 is celebrating 100 years of being the country's most famous highway. This icon of American culture passes through eight states — and has shown up for decades in movies, books, music and art.
• From the firehouse to a Bronx pawn shop, Steve Buscemi is a lifelong New Yorker
  Buscemi worked as a NYC firefighter for four years while he was getting his start in theater and stand-up comedy. He's appearing in two new films: The Only Living Pickpocket in New York and Wild Horse Nine.
• Director James Gray and actor Miles Teller discuss crime drama 'Paper Tiger'
  NPR's A Martinez talks to director James Gray and actor Miles Teller about the film "Paper Tiger," in which a family gets pulled unwittingly into the business of the Russian mafia.
• Actor Stacy Keach, who played a private eye and plenty more, dies at 85
  Known as TV's detective Mike Hammer, Keach was a prolific actor on stage and screen. His wide-ranging roles included cops, cowboys and Shakespearean characters.
• Filmmaker Martin McDonagh on 'Wild Horse Nine' and the power of guilt and regret
  McDonagh explored violence and male friendship in The Banshees of Inisherin and In Bruges. Wild Horse Nine, which centers on two CIA agents stationed in Chile in 1973, continues those themes.
• In 'Gentle Monster,' a pervert's normality is the horrifying factor
  Léa Seydoux talks about what she calls her first "complex" lead role in English in the film Gentle Monster. She plays a concert pianist whose life falls apart after her husband is accused of a crime.
• What makes Stephen King books work so well on the big screen?
  Fifty years after the release of Carrie, the first Stephen King movie adaptation, two fans assess what the writer's cinematic legacy.
• 'Club Kid' dances to the rhythm of its own drum and bass
  There's every reason to be wary of Club Kid, one of those manchild-must-grow-up-when-a-cute-kid-shows-up stories. But Jordan Firstman's directorial debut is different.