The Tragedy of Macbeth NYT Critic’s Pick | | RDrama, History, Thriller, War | Directed by Joel Coen Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand play a toxic power couple in Joel Coen’s crackling adaptation of Shakespeare’s Scottish play.
Denzel Washington in “The Tragedy of Macbeth.” His trajectory from weary soldier to raving, self-immolating maniac is astonishing to behold. By A.O. SCOTT
Parallel Mothers NYT Critic’s Pick | R | Drama | Directed by Pedro Almodóvar The Spanish director finally confronts the legacy of his country’s political violence in his new film, starring Penélope Cruz and Milena Smit.
Penélope Cruz, left, and Milena Smit in “Parallel Mothers.” By A.O. SCOTT
Memoria NYT Critic’s Pick | PG | Drama, Sci-Fi | Directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul Tilda Swinton stars in Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s elusive and enchanting new film, set in Colombia.
In “Memoria,” Tilda Swinton plays a British expatriate in Colombia whose perceptions come into question during this startling movie. By A.O. SCOTT
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Don’t Look Up R | Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi | Directed by Adam McKay Adam McKay wants you to know that it’s the end of the world and you should absolutely, unequivocally not feel fine. (But do laugh.) By MANOHLA DARGIS
The Matrix Resurrections R | Action, Sci-Fi | Directed by Lana Wachowski Keanu Reeves plunges down the rabbit hole once more in this familiar-seeming mind-game movie, the fourth in the series. By MANOHLA DARGIS
The King’s Man R | Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Thriller | Directed by Matthew Vaughn This prequel to the “Kingsman” series presents the confusing origin story of the elite British spy agency, founded by Ralph Fiennes (naturally). By JEANNETTE CATSOULIS
A Holiday Feast, Cooked in the Cab of a Truck Long-haul drivers are under intense pressure this season, but many will carve out the time (and the onboard space) to make steaks, turkeys and charcuterie boards. Margie Gilles has been cooking in her truck more since the start of the pandemic, and plans to do so for the holidays. Credit…Annie Mulligan for The New York Times By Priya Krishna
To Eat Oysters Better, Treat Them Like Wine The bivalves’ merroir — yes, merroir — is much like grapes’ terroir, telling a much deeper story about the place they were grown, Melissa Clark writes.
To get the best sense of oysters’ individual flavors, it’s best to eat them unadorned before adding garnishes like mignonette or cocktail sauce. By Melissa Clark
Paul and Linda McCartney with their three daughters in Rye, England, in 1976. As young parents, the couple came to believe that eating animals was unethical, and eventually reimagined the Christmas feast. By Julia Moskin
FRONT BURNER Two New Sources for Food News Whetstone, from the writer and television host Stephen Satterfield, has started a podcast and John McDonald, a co-founder of Tasting Table, has a newsletter, Broken Palate. By FLORENCE FABRICANT
THE POUR Seeing 2021 Out With a Pop, a Pour and a Fizz Nothing says “Happy New Year” quite like a bottle of bubbly. Here are six Champagnes and six sparkling wines to help you toast 2022.
Roman Kaplan at his West Side restaurant, the Russian Samovar. The writer Anatoly Naiman said encountering Russian exiles there was like having friends come back from the dead. By DAVID MARGOLICK
President NYT Critic’s Pick | Documentary | Directed by Camilla Nielsson In a riveting new documentary, Camilla Nielsson follows the first democratic election in Zimbabwe since 1980.
Nelson Chamisa, center, is the subject of the documentary “President.” By CONCEPCIÓN DE LEÓN
The Novice NYT Critic’s Pick | R | Thriller | Directed by Lauren Hadaway The obsessive ambitions of a college rower are masterfully orchestrated in a debut feature by the writer-director Lauren Hadaway.
Isabelle Fuhrman as the rower Alex Dall in “The Novice.” By TEO BUGBEE
The Hand of God NYT Critic’s Pick | R | Drama | Directed by Paolo Sorrentino Paolo Sorrentino’s autobiographical drama about growing up in Naples is sensual, sad and occasionally sublime.
A scene from Paolo Sorrentino’s “The Hand of God,” which keeps company with recent memoir-like movies. By A.O. SCOTT
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Spider-Man: No Way Home PG-13 | Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi | Directed by Jon Watts In the latest installment of the “Spider-Man” series, Tom Holland faces the past and a very secure franchise future. By MANOHLA DARGIS
Last Words Drama, Sci-Fi | Directed by Jonathan Nossiter In this post-apocalyptic drama, a young man meets the grizzled last guardian of a cinematic archive, played by Nick Nolte. By GLENN KENNY
Mother/Android R | Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller | Directed by Mattson Tomlin In this sci-fi thriller, a pregnant woman and her boyfriend try to outrun hordes of vengeful robots. By LENA WILSON
Swan Song R | Drama, Sci-Fi | Directed by Benjamin Cleary In this future-set drama, Mahershala Ali plays an ailing father who decides whether or not to clone himself for the sake of his family. By NICOLAS RAPOLD
THE WORLD THROUGH A LENS Cultivating Olives on the Slopes of Mount Etna For millenniums, farmers and vintners in northeastern Sicily have benefited from the area’s mineral-rich soil, a result of volcanic eruptions. By MARTA GIACCONE
The Best Cookbooks of 2021 A deep dive into the world of grains, a collection of new cookie classics, unforgettable recipes from Shanghai and more, as tested by New York Cooking and the Food desk. By THE NEW YORK TIMES
Mikio Shinagawa in an undated photo outside his SoHo restaurant, Omen. As fashionable haunts in New York go, it was an unlikely candidate. By ALEX VADUKUL
West Side Story NYT Critic’s Pick | PG-13 | Crime, Drama, Musical, Romance | Directed by Steven Spielberg Steven Spielberg rediscovers the breathing, troubling essence of a classic, building a bold and current screen musical with no pretense to perfection.
Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler as Tony and Maria in Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story.” By A.O. SCOTT
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Being the Ricardos R | Biography, Drama | Directed by Aaron Sorkin Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem star as Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in Aaron Sorkin’s drama about one very bad week.
Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem in “Being the Ricardos.” By MANOHLA DARGIS
Last and First Men Fantasy, Mystery, Sci-Fi | Directed by Jóhann Jóhannsson Tilda Swinton narrates the bleak future of humanity in the only feature | Directed by the Icelandic composer Johann Johannsson.
A scene from “Last and First Men.” By BEN KENIGSBERG
Encounter R | Sci-Fi, Thriller | Directed by Michael Pearce A volatile veteran attempts to rescue his sons from a perceived alien threat in this confused cross between sci-fi thriller and family drama.
From left, Lucian-River Chauhan, Riz Ahmed and Aditya Geddada in “Encounter.” By JEANNETTE CATSOULIS
Back to the Outback PG | Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family | Directed by Harry Cripps, Clare Knight A group of reptile house critters escape from an Australian zoo in this endearing animated adventure.
From left, Doug (voiced by Keith Urban), Pretty Boy (Tim Minchin) and Doreen (Gia Carides) in “Back to the Outback.” By NATALIA WINKELMAN
Foods for Yalda include, clockwise from top: pomegranates; hogweed to sprinkle on pomegranate seeds; baslogh (soft and chewy rosewater-infused walnut sweets); ajeel (mixed nuts, seeds and dried fruit); rice cookies and watermelon. By NAZ DERAVIAN
This Seafood Stew Is Endlessly Riffable No matter what ingredients you use, this bold, briny stew from David Tanis sings alongside a radicchio-fennel salad and a grapefruit granita.
This adaptable stew takes well to a range of seafood. By DAVID TANIS
By Becky Krystal https://www.youtube.com/embed/40uw6VkWpaI
In the Mountain West, the ‘Dirty’ Soda Rush Is On With locations now numbering in the hundreds, regional soda-shop chains are spreading far beyond Utah, where they first found popularity. By VICTORIA PETERSEN
Try Harder! NYT Critic’s Pick | Documentary | Directed by Debbie Lum This documentary from Debbie Lum goes inside a top-performing San Francisco public high school to see how students are preparing for the future.
Alvan Cai, one of the subjects of the documentary “Try Harder!” By BEANDREA JULY
Torn NYT Critic’s Pick | Documentary | Directed by Max Lowe This documentary on the life and death of the mountaineer Alex Lowe demonstrates how unexpected bonds can form around those in grief.
The climber Alex Lowe, right, with his son, Max, in the documentary “Torn.” By CLAIRE SHAFFER
Flee NYT Critic’s Pick | PG-13 | Documentary, Animation | Directed by Jonas Poher Rasmussen A Danish documentary uses animation to tell the poignant, complicated story of an Afghan refugee.
Amin, whose family left Afghanistan, as seen in the animated documentary “Flee.” By A.O. SCOTT
Listening to Kenny G NYT Critic’s Pick | Documentary, Music | Directed by Penny Lane Penny Lane’s documentary about the superstar sax player Kenny G shows an artist who can be defensive and self-satisfied almost simultaneously.
The saxophonist Kenny G in the documentary “Listening to Kenny G.” By GLENN KENNY
The Power of the Dog NYT Critic’s Pick | R | Drama, Romance, Western | Directed by Jane Campion In Jane Campion’s staggering take on the western, her first movie in more than a decade, a cruel cowboy meets his surprising match.
Benedict Cumberbatch as Phil Burbank in Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog.” By MANOHLA DARGIS
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Benedetta Biography, Drama, History, Romance | Directed by Paul Verhoeven Paul Verhoeven takes us to a nunnery where faith, eroticism and the Black Death make for an unholy good time.
Daphne Patakia and Virginie Efira in “Benedetta.” By JEANNETTE CATSOULIS
Single All the Way TV-PG | Comedy, Drama, Romance | Directed by Michael Mayer This Netflix holiday rom-com rests its family-friendly shenanigans on a display of chemistry that never materializes.
Philemon Chambers and Michael Urie in “Single All the Way.” By TEO BUGBEE
FOOD MATTERS The Humble Beginnings of Today’s Culinary Delicacies Many of our most revered dishes were perfected by those in need, then co-opted by the affluent. Is that populism at play, or just the abuse of power? By LIGAYA MISHAN, PATRICIA HEAL and MARTIN BOURNE
Sylvia Weinstock at a wine and food festival in Miami in 2014. Her clientele included Whitney Houston, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, LeBron James, Robert De Niro, Oprah Winfrey, Martha Stewart and various Kennedys and Kardashians. By Katharine Q. Seelye
The Humans NYT Critic’s Pick | R | Drama | Directed by Stephen Karam Stephen Karam’s film adaptation of his powerful play acquires a supernatural sheen as a family gathers for Thanksgiving dinner.
Clockwise from left: June Squibb, Amy Schumer, Steven Yeun, Beanie Feldstein, Richard Jenkins and Jayne Houdyshell in “The Humans.” By JEANNETTE CATSOULIS
Encanto NYT Critic’s Pick | PG | Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical | Directed by Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Charise Castro Smith Disney’s new film, about a gifted family in Colombia, has stunning animation, a beautifully composed story and spellbinding songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Mirabel, center, voiced by Stephanie Beatriz, is the non-magical member of the Madrigal family in “Encanto,” the new animated Disney film. By MAYA PHILLIPS
A Boy Called Christmas NYT Critic’s Pick | PG | Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy | Directed by Gil Kenan Enchanting imagery elevates this Netflix holiday adventure about a boy who journeys to a magic elfin city.
Henry Lawfull in “A Boy Called Christmas.” By NATALIA WINKELMAN
Drive My Car NYT Critic’s Pick | Drama | Directed by Ryûsuke Hamaguchi In this quiet masterpiece, Ryusuke Hamaguchi considers grief, love, work and the soul-sustaining, life-shaping power of art.
From left, Hidetoshi Nishijima and Toko Miura in “Drive My Car,” | Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi. By MANOHLA DARGIS
Writing with Fire NYT Critic’s Pick | Documentary | Directed by Sushmit Ghosh, Rintu Thomas This rousing documentary follows the reporters of India’s only all-women news outlet as they pivot to digital journalism while battling personal and political challenges.
Suneeta, a reporter in the documentary “Writing With Fire.” By DEVIKA GIRISH
TRILOBITES A Tool Kit to Help Scientists Find the Ultimate Chickpea A major plant genome sequencing effort may offer a path to breeding more climate-resilient chickpeas, while also revealing clues to the legume’s origins. By VERONIQUE GREENWOOD
The chef Arnold Myint, in his Nashville home, making preparations for a Friendsgiving dinner. By Eric Kim
CRITIC’S NOTEBOOK A Thanksgiving History Lesson in a Handful of Corn The cornmeal that has become a staple of the holiday table reflects millenniums of work by Native Americans — a legacy that Indigenous people are trying to keep alive.
The Native people who came to the Pilgrims’ harvest feast in 1621 were Wampanoags, and the corn served was Wampanoag corn. By Pete Wells
Tola Spatula, $30 ($27 for members); One-Handed Cake Server (after Dec. 10), $12, ($10.80 for members), store.moma.org. By FLORENCE FABRICANT
Yotam Ottolenghi’s Rules for Brunch When it comes to planning a festive meal, the chef has certain specifications. This custardy butternut squash meets them all.
This meal is seasonal and comforting. By YOTAM OTTOLENGHI
A Superb Shrimp Stew Vallery Lomas’s spicy shrimp Creole delivers weekend depth of flavor in a fraction of the time.
For an untraditional binder, crushed-up rice cakes are mixed in with the shrimp for an ethereal, especially crisp result. By Melissa Clark
A GOOD APPETITE Three Hanukkah Desserts That Skip the Fryer Melissa Clark’s oil-imbued recipes, for lemon curd, chocolate cake and Greek honey cookies, are a sweet way to celebrate the holiday.
This olive oil lemon curd can be served with scones or berries, piled into a Pavlova or mounded into a tart shell. By Melissa Clark
Felicity Cloake’s festive shortbread would make an ideal gift. Christmas shortbread as made by our resident perfectionist, with a few choices of festive flavourings Felicity Cloake
Peter Buck in an undated photograph. The idea behind what became Subway stemmed from his fond memories of an Italian sandwich shop his family had patronized when he was growing up in Maine. By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE
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