Movies Update: ‘Mulan’ and More

Plus, remembering Chadwick Boseman

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story September 4, 2020 By Mekado Murphy Movies Editor Greetings, movie fans! There’s quite a bit going on in the movie world this week. As “Tenet” opens in U.S. theaters, one of its stars, Robert Pattinson, has tested positive for Covid-19. The actor had been shooting “The Batman” at studios outside London and now production has been halted. This news comes after the actor Dwayne Johnson posted on Instagram that he and his family had also tested positive for the virus. This past week, we’ve been looking back on the life and career of the “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman, who died Aug. 28 of cancer. Noting that Boseman had played Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall and James Brown in quick succession, Wesley Morris wrote in an appraisal that the actor “exploded the parameters of what biographical moviemaking ought to be.” And the poet Adrian Matejka wrote in a tribute that Boseman “carried our history insistently, imbuing titans of the real and imagined worlds with the best parts of himself.” Here’s a guide to where you can stream Boseman’s movies. Arriving on Disney+ today (finally) is the live action version of “Mulan.” The critic Manohla Dargis calls it “lightly funny and a little sad.” Watch the director Niki Caro break down a scene from the film, read how the female warrior story has morphed over the generations and look back on the animated 1998 version. And over on Netflix there’s “I’m Thinking of Ending Things,” the latest feature from Charlie Kaufman that A. O. Scott makes a Critic’s Pick. Read an interview with one of its leads, Jesse Plemons, in what may be the defining role of his career. So will you be going out this weekend for “Tenet” or staying in for “Mulan?” Or both? (Or neither?) Either way, enjoy the movies! Jasin Boland/Walt Disney Studios   ‘Mulan’ Review: A Flower Blooms in Adversity (and Kicks Butt) In Niki Caro and Disney’s live-action version of the ancient story, a young woman rides off to war and discovers herself. By Manohla Dargis Mary Cybulski/Netflix   Critic’s Pick ‘I’m Thinking of Ending Things’ Review: Where to Begin? Jessie Buckley and Jesse Plemons play a couple on a trip to some very odd places in Charlie Kaufman’s latest film. By A.O. Scott Melinda Sue Gordon/Warner Bros.   Critic’s Pick ‘Tenet’ Review: Christopher Nolan’s Time-Bending Take on James Bond John David Washington stars as an unnamed, uncreased C.I.A. agent in a spectacle full of scenes running backward and forward. By Jessica Kiang Magdalena Wosinska for The New York Times   Variations on a Lead For Chadwick Boseman. By Adrian Matejka Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Criterion Collection   Gateway Movies Ready to Try an Ozu Film? Watch These Two Family Tales. The Japanese master specialized in portraits of generational conflict. “The Only Son” and “Early Summer” exemplify many of the qualities that make his work so important. By Ben Kenigsberg Matt Kennedy/Marvel, Disney   Where to Stream Chadwick Boseman’s Best Performances The star made a specialty of playing Black heroes real (Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall) and imaginary (Black Panther). By Stephanie Goodman ANATOMY OF A SCENE Walt Disney Studios   Anatomy Of A Scene How ‘Mulan’ Goes to Battle The director Niki Caro narrates a sequence from the live-action film streaming on Disney+. By Mekado Murphy MOVIE REVIEWS Claire Folger/20th Century Studios   ‘The New Mutants’ Review: Maybe All the Cool Super Powers Were Taken This much-delayed “X-Men”-related film from Josh Boone features five teens with not-so-great powers. By Amy Nicholson Vertical Entertainment   ‘Robin’s Wish’ Review: Celebrating a Life, Highlighting a Disease This documentary on Robin Williams alternates between paying tribute to him and shedding light on Lewy body dementia, which was diagnosed in him after his death. By Ben Kenigsberg Circle Collective   ‘Chuck Berry’ Review: The Quest to B. Goode Jon Brewer’s documentary about the musical legend is far more traditional than its subject. By Jeannette Catsoulis GKIDS/Shout! Factory   ‘Children of the Sea’ Review: Finding Beauty in the Watery Depths Exploration is at the heart of the mostly stunning and totally mystifying Japanese anime feature. By Maya Phillips Ricardo Hubbs/Netflix   ‘Love, Guaranteed’ Review: Swiping Left on Online Dating Rachael Leigh Cook stars in this rom-com about a lawyer and her charming new client who wants to sue a dating website for falsely promising love. By Natalia Winkelman Vertical Releasing   ‘Critical Thinking’ Review: All the Right Moves John Leguizamo directs and stars in this warmhearted drama about underprivileged teenagers who enter a national chess championship. By Jeannette Catsoulis Izaak Todd/Samuel Goldwyn Films   ‘Measure for Measure’ Review: Rising by Sin in Melbourne A forbidden love affair causes havoc in Paul Ireland’s ponderous update of Shakespeare’s play. By Jeannette Catsoulis HBO Max   ‘Class Action Park’ Review: Thanks for the Injuries The HBO Max documentary details the joys and horrors of New Jersey’s Action Park, a no-rules bacchanal of water slides and broken bones. By Jason Bailey Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT NEWS & FEATURES reporter’s notebook Venice Film Festival Opens, Defiant but Socially Distanced Strict measures are in place at the first major international movie event since the coronavirus pandemic began. By Eleanor Stanford What Does Everyone See in Jesse Plemons? After a slew of supporting roles in Oscar contenders by major directors, he is taking the lead in a new Charlie Kaufman film. His goal is to never deliver a false moment. By Kyle Buchanan Mulan, a Most Adaptable Heroine: There’s a Version for Every Era Is she a novice or a skilled fighter? Does she end up a blushing bride or does she kill herself? The legend of the female warrior has morphed greatly over some 1,500 years. By Robert Ito Robert Pattinson Tests Positive for Coronavirus, Halting ‘Batman’ Production Work on the film first shut down in March because of the pandemic, which has staggered the entertainment industry. By Aimee Ortiz and Nicole Sperling Why ‘Rent,’ the Movie, Was My Gateway Musical It was a flop, but the film adaptation of the Broadway smash turned me on to theater. And those starving artists made me want to make art too. By Maya Phillips CRITICS’ PICKS Kurt Keppeler   Critic’s Pick ‘Feels Good Man’ Review: The Evolution of a Poisonous Frog A new documentary looks at how the cartoonist Matt Furie’s creation Pepe the Frog became a symbol of hate. By Ben Kenigsberg Shellac Films   Critic’s Pick ‘Isadora’s Children’ Review: Variations on Sorrow The work of a 20th-century dance innovator inspires four women of the present day in this film, composed like a piece of music by Damien Manivel. By Glenn Kenny Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Louder A once-a-week blast of pop music coverage, including album reviews, interviews with artists and playlists curated by our critics. Sign up How are we doing? We’d love your feedback on this newsletter. 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