John Powers

The new movie "Babygirl" by Halina Reijn is a drama about a successful, married businesswoman who begins an affair with an intern half her age. Currently in theaters, it stars Nicole Kidman in a turn that has made her one of this year's awards front-runners. Our critic-at-large John Powers says that this erotic drama pulls you right in but isn't quite as daring as its lead performance.

John Powers celebrates the books, shows and performances that stayed with him, including Miranda July's novel All Fours, Interior Chinatown on Netflix and an iconic Olympic moment with Simone Biles.

In the Netflix series Black Doves, the wife of Britain's defense minister is secretly working for a private spy firm. Paramount+'s The Agency is a reworking of the acclaimed French series The Bureau.