Movies Update: The Year in Movies and More

Plus, how to get jazz right in "Soul."

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story January 1, 2021 By Mekado Murphy Movies Editor Hey movie fans, Happy New Year! We made it through quite an unusual period in movies, and this week, our critics looked back at the year that was and forward at what’s to come. Will people want to return to the movies? A.O. Scott and Manohla Dargis don’t doubt that audiences will, but also contemplate the next chapter of the theatrical film business. And what to be excited about in 2021? We offer 11 choices across the arts spectrum that could get things off to a good start. If you’re still catching up with the latest crop of streaming options, we offer some related back stories and interviews. For “Soul” on Disney+, read about how the animators worked to accurately depict jazz instrument-playing, as well as how accurate the movie is at portraying the feel of jazz in general. On “Wonder Woman 1984” (in theaters and on HBO Max), see our stories about Wonder Woman’s evolving look and the origins of the villain Cheetah (as well as an interview with Kristen Wiig, who plays Cheetah in the latest film). And if you want to catch a new Bruce Willis movie on demand like “Breach,” we give you a hint of what to expect. Enjoy the movies! Carter Johnston for The New York Times This Year Was a Disaster. We Hope the Sequel Is Better. We streamed, we watched, we worried. We also wondered what the catastrophe called 2020 will mean for movies. By A.O. Scott and Manohla Dargis Mary Ellen Matthews/CPi Syndication Kristen Wiig Would Have Said Yes to One Line in ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ Getting to play Cheetah was even better for the “Saturday Night Live” star, who loves superhero movies: “It was huge on my list of things I wanted to do.” By Dave Itzkoff Pixar/Disney How Pixar’s ‘Soul’ Animates Jazz A look at the ways filmmakers and musicians collaborated to present an accurate view of players’ artistry. By Mekado Murphy Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS’ PICKS critic’s Pick ‘Pieces of a Woman’ Review: A Raw, Ragged Study of a Loss Vanessa Kirby gives an intensely physical performance as a woman whose life and marriage are upended by the death of a child. By Jeannette Catsoulis Critic’s pick ‘Soul’ Review: Pixar’s New Feature Gets Musical, and Metaphysical This inventive tale stars Jamie Foxx as a jazz musician caught in a world that human souls pass through on their way into and out of life. By A.O. Scott MOVIE REVIEWS ‘Happy Face’ Review: Alternative Therapy In Alexandre Franchi’s film, a 19-year-old crashes a support group and leads its members to personal breakthroughs. By Ben Kenigsberg ‘Two Ways Home’ Review: A Spare Family Drama Unfolds in Iowa Cast with mostly unknown actors, the film follows a woman who strains to connect with her daughter after being released from prison. By Teo Bugbee ‘Shadow in the Cloud’ Review: There’s Mischief in the Air A World War II heroine defies death and more in this horror-action hybrid. By Devika Girish ‘Night of the Kings’ Review: Telling Tales to a Captive Audience Ancient tradition fuses with modern struggles in a prison in Ivory Coast. By Nicolas Rapold ‘Herself’ Review: She Does It All After fleeing her abusive husband, a woman figures out how to build a new home for herself and her daughters. By Glenn Kenny Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ANATOMY OF A SCENE Anatomy of a Scene Watch Chadwick Boseman in a Scene From ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ The director George C. Wolfe discusses a tense sequence featuring the actor and Viola Davis. By Mekado Murphy NEWS & FEATURES Netflix Critic’s Notebook David Fincher, the Unhappiest Auteur The director makes beautiful bummers in an industry that prefers happy endings. Perhaps that’s why his movies seem like an endangered species. By Manohla Dargis Mark Pernice Critic’s Notebook The Bruce Willis Journey From In Demand to On Demand An assessment of the actor’s late-career B-movie filmography, including his most recent entry, “Breach.” By Elisabeth Vincentelli Lauren Fleishman for The New York Times Vanessa Kirby Has Been Waiting for a Role That Scares Her For her first lead in a film, the actress wanted a character as challenging as many of those she’s played onstage. She found it in Kornel Mundruczo’s “Pieces of a Woman.” By Eleanor Stanford DC A History of the Cheetah in ‘Wonder Woman’ This villain, played by Kristen Wiig in “Wonder Woman 1984,” has had a long, complicated relationship with her rival. By Devin Fuller Erik Carter for The New York Times For His Second Act, Nnamdi Asomugha Made Preparation His Byword The former pro football player has pushed himself in acting classes, onstage and in films. His latest drama, “Sylvie’s Love,” also meant returning to an early passion: music. By Gina Cherelus Disney Pixar, via Associated Press Critic’s Notebook Jazz Onscreen, Depicted by Black Filmmakers at Last “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Sylvie’s Love” and “Soul” understand the music and its place in African-American life, a welcome break with Hollywood history. By Giovanni Russonello Nicola Scott/DC Wonder Woman and Her Evolving Look She remained steadfast in her decades-long fight for justice, but her costumes ranged from a golden-eagle emblem and skirt to a W logo breastplate and leggings. By George Gene Gustines Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT 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. You received this email because you signed up for Movies Update from The New York Times. To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018