Movies Update: The Best Movies of 2020 and More

Plus, Netflix holiday movies, ranked.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story December 4, 2020 By Mekado Murphy Hey, movie fans! As we approach the end of a very unconventional movie year, our critics Manohla Dargis and A. O. Scott offer their top picks. Our awards season column, headed by Kyle Buchanan, is back with a new name: The Projectionist. This week he had a conversation with Amanda Seyfried, whose performance as Marion Davies in “Mank” is generating Oscar chatter (Read A.O. Scott’s review of the film). In movie news, Elliot Page, the Oscar-nominated star of “Juno,” announced he is transgender. Several members of SAG-AFTRA are suing the union’s health plan over changes in coverage. And Warner Bros. announced it will release each of its 2021 films, including “Dune” and “The Matrix 4,” on HBO Max and in theaters simultaneously. It’s an acknowledgment of the new reality. Along with “Mank,” other films arriving on streaming this week include the drama “Sound of Metal” on Amazon, the documentary “Baby God” on HBO Max and the fairy-tale comedy “Godmothered” on Disney+. And if you’re wondering which Netflix holiday movies to watch, we made a list. (Check it twice.) Enjoy the movies! Clockwise from center: Amazon Studios; Jeong Park/Netflix; Jessica Perez/Hulu; Liana Mukhamedzyanova/Kino Lorber; Francesca Errichiello/Kino Lorber Best Movies of 2020 The screening rooms were closed. The festivals were virtual. The blockbusters were in storage. Even so, our critics found abundant and inspiring signs of cinematic life in the pandemic. By Manohla Dargis and A.O. Scott Netflix Critic’s Pick ‘Mank’ Review: A Rosebud by Any Other Name Gary Oldman plays a Hollywood hack with an ax to grind in David Fincher’s reinterpretation of the legend of “Citizen Kane.” By A.O. Scott Mark Mahaney for The New York Times How Francis Ford Coppola Got Pulled Back In to Make ‘The Godfather, Coda’ The director and cast, including Al Pacino, Sofia Coppola and Andy Garcia, look back at making “Part III,” which has been re-edited (and retitled) for its 30th anniversary. By Dave Itzkoff Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT STREAMING Netflix Holiday Movies: Ranked, Listed and Checked Twice The streaming service has plenty of holiday cheer to spread around. We look at what’s on offer for this season. By Elisabeth Vincentelli The Best Movies and TV Shows Coming to Amazon, HBO Max, Hulu and More in December Every month, subscription streaming services add a new batch of titles to their libraries. Here are our picks for December. By Noel Murray The Best Movies and TV Shows Coming to Netflix in December Every month, the streaming service adds a new batch of titles to its library. Here are our picks for December. By Noel Murray CRITICS’ PICKS MTV Documentary Films Critic’s Pick ‘76 Days’ Review: Fortitude on China’s Frontlines Shot in four Wuhan hospitals during coronavirus lockdown, the film takes a grounded, humane perspective on doctors, nurses and patients. By Nicolas Rapold Film Movement Critic’s Pick ‘Mayor’ Review: Leading a City With the World Watching This documentary focuses on the Ramallah mayor Musa Hadid, who leads a city in the global spotlight. By Ben Kenigsberg Amazon Studios Critic’s Pick ‘Sound of Metal’ Review: When the Music Stops, the Healing Begins Riz Ahmed is touchingly credible as a musician who loses his hearing in this unusual drama. By Jeannette Catsoulis Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT MOVIE REVIEWS ‘Baby God’ Review: Sins of the Father Hannah Olson’s documentary looks at a Las Vegas doctor who used his own sperm to secretly impregnate multiple women. By Amy Nicholson ‘Minor Premise’ Review: A Minor Entry in the Sci-Fi Genre Experiments with consciousness go berserk in Eric Schultz’s lean neurological feature debut. By Kristen Yoonsoo Kim ‘Another Round’ Review: They’ll Drink to That The Danish director Thomas Vinterberg’s latest film is a sweet, strangely modest tragicomedy about the pleasures of (mostly banal) excess. By Devika Girish ‘Black Bear’ Review: Two’s Company, Three’s an Art Project Artistic and romantic alliances shift among a trio of artists in this conceptual drama. By Teo Bugbee ‘Crock of Gold’ Review: Shane MacGowan, Still Alive and Laughing The hell-raising Irish musician is the subject of this Julien Temple documentary. By Glenn Kenny ‘I’m Your Woman’ Review: On the Run With a Baby Rachel Brosnahan stars in this unconventional crime movie directed by Julia Hart. By Glenn Kenny ‘Half Brothers’ Review: Distant Relations An uptight Mexican aviation executive and an American doofus learn they’re related in this mawkish comedy. By Ben Kenigsberg ‘Godmothered’ Review: Revising the Fairy Tale Formula An inexperienced fairy godmother tries to make over a Bostonian single mom in this modernized fairy tale. By Natalia Winkelman Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT NEWS & FEATURES Molly Matalon for The New York Times The Projectionist Amanda Seyfried Finally Stakes Her Claim The “Mean Girls” and “Mamma Mia!” actress knows her performance as Marion Davies in“Mank” will be a turning point in her career. But first, she had to put some distance between herself and Hollywood. By Kyle Buchanan Texas Isaiah for The New York Times 2 Major Movies and a Life Shadowed by Pain and Perfectionism Kemp Powers is the co-director of “Soul” and screenwriter of “One Night in Miami,” but his collaborators may not know just how much of himself is in those films. By Jenna Marotta Rich Polk/Getty Images for IMDb Elliot Page, Oscar-Nominated ‘Juno’ Star, Announces He Is Transgender “Hi friends, I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot,” Page wrote in a statement that he posted on Tuesday. By Maya Salam Stage to Screen, Tuesday December 8 at 7 p.m. E.T. How does a great play or musical turn into an extraordinary movie? When — and why — does Hollywood look to Broadway for inspiration? Join us for a virtual event to explore how theater becomes film with Viola Davis, her “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” colleagues and the creative team behind the feel-good musical “The Prom.” RSVP to attend. 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. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. 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