Movies Update: ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ and More

Plus, what to see at the New York Film Festival

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story September 24, 2021 By Mekado Murphy Movies Editor Hey, movie fans! The fall festival season continues with the New York Film Festival, which is now underway. Our critics wrote about some of their highlights, including the opening-night film "The Tragedy of Macbeth," directed by Joel Coen (this time without Ethan). This weekend also sees the opening of the adaptation of the Broadway hit "Dear Evan Hansen." Check out our review, watch the star Ben Platt perform a song and find out how some of the film's other cast members, including Amy Adams and Julianne Moore, approached the singing. Melvin Van Peebles, a major creative force in and influence on modern Black cinema, died on Tuesday. His best known film, "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song," will have a revival screening at the New York Film Festival next week. Jason Bailey looked back at his feature films, which are available in a Criterion Collection box set next week. If you're looking for some home viewing off the beaten path, seek out these movies your streaming service algorithms have probably missed. And take a trip around the world with these five lesser-known international films. Enjoy the movies! Erika Doss/Universal Pictures 'Dear Evan Hansen' Review: You've Got a Friend (Not) Ben Platt returns in the movie version of the Broadway hit about a lonely teenager who exploits a classmate's tragedy. By Jeannette Catsoulis Alison Rosa/Apple and A24 Critics' Notebook The New York Film Festival Is Back, and Our Critics Have Favorites Their notable titles include the opening-night movie, "The Tragedy of Macbeth," directed by a solo Joel Coen and starring Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand. By A.O. Scott and Manohla Dargis Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS' PICKS Christine Fenzl/Bleecker Street Critic's Pick 'I'm Your Man' Review: Living Doll Dan Stevens plays a dreamy, pleasure-driven android in this delightful near-future romance. By Jeannette Catsoulis Kino Lorber Critic's Pick 'The Village Detective: A Song Cycle' Review: Soviet Film Hero Emerges Bill Morrison, the poet laureate of lost films, turns the story of footage found near Iceland into a history of a slice of Soviet cinema. By Glenn Kenny ANATOMY OF A SCENE Erika Doss/Universal Pictures Anatomy of a Scene Watch Ben Platt Perform in 'Dear Evan Hansen' Stephen Chbosky, the director of the film adaptation of the Broadway musical, narrates a sequence with the song "Waving Through a Window." By Mekado Murphy MOVIE REVIEWS Katalin Vermes/Amazon 'Birds of Paradise' Review: Dirty Dancing In this florid drama streaming on Amazon, two contestants for a prestigious dance award stop at nothing to prevail. By Jeannette Catsoulis Hasbro, Inc./Netflix 'My Little Pony: A New Generation' Review: The Ponies Get Political The latest entry in the children's franchise pits an eclectic team of progressive ponies against a fear mongering demagogue and the prejudices of their communities at large By Beatrice Loayza Rob Kulisek/Utopia 'El Planeta' Review: A Comedy of Austerity In this dry Spanish comedy, a mother and daughter commit to grifting as a full-time job. By Teo Bugbee Mario Tursi/Juno Films 'The Most Beautiful Boy in the World' Review: A Cautionary Tale The 1971 film "Death in Venice" showcased the delicate androgyny of Bjorn Andresen's face and form, but the changes it wrought on his life are indelible. By Glenn Kenny Quiver Distribution 'East of the Mountains' Review: Heart Doctor Is a Lonely Hunter Tom Skerritt delivers an unfaltering portrayal of a cardiologist who is ailing and grieving. By Lisa Kennedy Karen Ballard/Netflix 'The Starling' Review: For the Birds Melissa McCarthy stars in this film on Netflix that takes shortcuts, at nearly every turn, in portraying the messiness of acceptance. By Ben Kenigsberg Ursula Coyote/Netflix 'Intrusion' Review: We're All Trying to Find the Guy Who Did This This domestic thriller from Netflix is painfully dumb and laughably obvious. By Calum Marsh Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS IFC Films Beyond the Algorithm 'Undine,' 'My Zoe' and More Offbeat Streaming Gems From slasher musicals to water nymph dramas, we recommend a number of unusual films to breathe new life into your streaming routine. By Jason Bailey Netflix Stream These Five International Films Now This month's picks include a slow-burn Romanian drama, a documentary about baseball in Japan, an experimental Chilean film-memoir and more. By Devika Girish Sony Pictures Classics The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video Right Now New films, and classics, just keep coming, but you don't have to drill down to find the finest selections to stream. We'll do the heavy lifting. You press play. By Jason Bailey NEWS & FEATURES The Criterion Collection Critic's Notebook Watching the Films of Melvin Van Peebles A new Blu-ray box set collects the feature films and shorts of the director, who died this week at 89. By Jason Bailey Devin Oktar Yalkin for The New York Times Michael Gandolfini and the Riddle of Tony Soprano In "The Many Saints of Newark," James Gandolfini's son takes on his father's iconic role. But knowing his dad hardly prepared him for the work ahead. By Dave Itzkoff Universal Pictures How the Cast Members of 'Dear Evan Hansen' Found Their Voices Some stars of the movie musical, like Ben Platt and Amy Adams, were ready and eager to sing. Others, like Julianne Moore, got there eventually. 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