Justin Chang

In the new drama "Hamnet," which opens in limited release next week, Paul Mescal plays William Shakespeare as a young playwright, husband and father in the years leading up to his writing of "Hamlet." The film, which also stars Jessie Buckley as Agnes, Shakespeare's wife, was adapted from Maggie O'Farrell's 2020 novel. It's the latest movie from Chloe Zhao, the Oscar-winning director of "Nomadland."

Our film critic, Justin Chang, says that "Sirat" is the best new movie he's seen this year. It's about a man searching for his lost daughter at a rave in the desert of southern Morocco. "Sirat" won a jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival this year and will represent Spain in the Oscar race for Best International Feature. Here is Justin's review.

Four years after their Oscar-nominated comedy "The Worst Person In The World," the Danish-born Norwegian director Joachim Trier and actor Renate Reinsve are together on a new drama, "Sentimental Value." The movie, which also features Stellan Skarsgard and Elle Fanning, won the Grand Prix at this year's Cannes Film Festival and will represent Norway in this year's Oscar race for Best International Feature. Our film critic Justin Chang has this review.