Movies Update: ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ and More

Plus, dispatches from the Venice Film Festival.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story September 3, 2021 By Mekado Murphy Movies Editor Hey movie fans! September is here and the fall film festival season has begun. Both the Venice and Telluride film festivals are underway, and Toronto's festival starts next week. Kyle Buchanan is in Venice and is providing dispatches. Check out his report from Day 1 of the festival, when Pedro Almodóvar premiered his latest film, "Parallel Mothers," then read Buchanan's reaction to the new Princess Diana film, "Spencer," starring Kristen Stewart and his response to the highly anticipated "Dune," which had its world premiere. Also in Italy, the new Fellini museum has opened in Rimini. There's a lot going on within its walls, including a room dedicated to Fellini's wife, the actress Giulietta Masina; costumes from his film "Roma"; and a plush sculpture of the actress Anita Ekberg, which visitors can lounge on while watching film clips. "La Dolce Vita," indeed. Thinking about a big-screen outing for the holiday? The new Marvel movie "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" may be a good bet. Check out Maya Phillips's review, read up on the comic-book history of the character Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu and find out more about the film's soundtrack. On the streaming front, Amazon has a new musical version of "Cinderella," Netflix has a Sept. 11 drama, "Worth," and Disney+ has a new Billie Eilish music doc, "Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles." Enjoy the movies! Marvel Studios 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' Review: House of Hidden Dragons A millennial slacker reckons with his past — and his family of warriors. By Maya Phillips Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS' PICKS Vertical Entertainment Critic's Pick 'Wild Indian' Review: Reckoning With the Past to Save the Present This drama from Lyle Mitchell Corbine Jr. captures the various wounds of individual, familial and generational trauma. By Lisa Kennedy Monika Lek/Netflix Critic's Pick 'Worth' Review: Appraising Lives This drama starring Michael Keaton is a surprisingly effective movie about a tricky subject — the creation of the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund. By Ben Kenigsberg Janus Films Critic's Pick 'Faya Dayi' Review: A Dream State Jessica Beshir's debut feature settles into a trance-like flow. By Nicolas Rapold STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Shanna Besso/Netflix Five Science-Fiction Movies to Stream Now This month's picks deal more with inner turmoil and isolation than space exploration. By Elisabeth Vincentelli Weinstein Company Watch These 12 Titles Before They Leave Netflix in September This month's losses are heavy, including films from Noah Baumbach and Wong Kar-wai, along with one of history's most beloved TV shows. By Jason Bailey MOVIE REVIEWS Strand Releasing critic's pick 'Mogul Mowgli' Review: Rapping for Dear Life Riz Ahmed plays a hip-hop artist who faces illness and identity crises in Bassam Tariq's electrifying new film. By A.O. Scott Cinema Guild 'Anne at 13,000 Ft' Review: A Woman Adrift A young day-care employee struggles to live and love in a world that, much like her, remains a blur. By Manohla Dargis Cohen Media Group 'Who You Think I Am' Review: A Woman of Feeling, in Bed and Out Juliette Binoche plays an academic with a turbulent inner life that makes her complicated romantic life all the more difficult. By Manohla Dargis Christopher Raphael/Amazon Studios 'Cinderella' Review: A Girlboss in Glass Slippers Camila Cabello stars in this musical reimagining of the fairy tale, which centers on an orphaned maiden who yearns not for true love but for corporate success as a dressmaker. By Natalia Winkelman Mark Weiss, via Showtime 'Bitchin': The Sound and Fury of Rick James' Review: A Very Kinky Guy A new documentary explores the serious artistry behind this "punk-funk" legend's outlandish persona. By Glenn Kenny Magnet Releasing 'Yakuza Princess' Review: Crime, Amnesia and Ancient Swords This mayhem-filled film from Brazil has no higher function beyond its beheadings. By Glenn Kenny Mason Poole/Disney+ 'Happier Than Ever' Review: Modern Pop Meets Classic Hollywood In the Disney+ concert film "Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles," the pop star Billie Eilish pays tribute to the star-struck hauntedness of that city. By Teo Bugbee Carlos Eduardo Carvalho/Film Movement 'Memory House' Review: Seeking a Niche Between Present and Past An Indigenous worker in Brazil finds a surreal portal of sorts to the culture of his forebears. By Beatrice Loayza Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT NEWS & FEATURES Jasin Boland/Marvel Studios How Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu, Knocked Down Stereotypes The Marvel superhero originated in comics filled with racist tropes. The creators of the new film made a list of the preconceptions they were up against and set out to conquer them. By Robert Ito George Rose/Getty Images, via Mass Appeal Coming to Terms With the Legacy of Rick James For a new documentary, the director and the star's daughter examine both his pioneering work and his misogyny, as well as a sexual assault conviction. By Candice Frederick Claudio Onorati/EPA, via Shutterstock The Projectionist Venice Film Festival: How Does Kristen Stewart Play Princess Diana? The star of "Spencer" may be one of the few actresses with an inkling of what it's like to be so often hounded by the paparazzi. By Kyle Buchanan Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP The Projectionist Venice Film Festival: 'Dune' Leaves Us With 3 Big Questions After watching the world premiere, our columnist has a better idea of the risks and expectations as the film heads to the box office and awards season. By Kyle Buchanan Anne Marie Fox/TCM, via Associated Press Turner Classic Movies Is Changing. And Trying to Stay the Same. A brand refresh for TCM, the cable home to countless vintage films, raises questions about its future within an increasingly streaming-centric TV world. By Dave Itzkoff Lorenzo Burlando, via Comune di Rimini A Fellini Museum, as Lavish as His Movies The exhibition spaces, which recently opened in Rimini, celebrate one of Italy's most famous directors. But to some citizens, it puts tourism over local needs. By Elisabetta Povoledo How are we doing? We'd love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to moviesupdate@nytimes.com. Like this email? 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