Film

Director Ava DuVernay's new film "Origin" is based on the bestselling book "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents" by Isabel Wilkerson. In the film, DuVernay makes Wilkerson, played by Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, the center of her own story as she explores how understanding the caste system can deepen our understanding of what Black people experience in America.

In "The Killer," Michael Fassbender stars as a globe-trotting hitman who's forced to go on the run after botching his latest job. It's the newest thriller from David Fincher, director of movies like "Fight Club" and "Gone Girl." The killer begins streaming on Netflix today. Here's Justin's review.

"The Zone Of Interest" was named the best picture of 2023 by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Our critic Justin Chang, who's a member of that organization, says the movie is a chillingly restrained drama about the real-life Nazi who oversaw the Auschwitz concentration camp. It's the latest from Jonathan Glazer, the English director of the movies "Sexy Beast" and "Under The Skin."

Cord Jefferson's new film, "American Fiction." Jefferson is an award-winning screenwriter. He won an Emmy in 2020 for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series for "Watchmen," along with Damon Lindelof. He's also written for "Succession," "The Good Place," "Master Of None," and Larry Wilmore's former late night series "The Nightly Show."

The top prize winner at this year's Venice International Film Festival was the dark comedy "Poor Things," starring Emma Stone as a Victorian woman who embarks on a strange personal journey. It's Stone's latest collaboration with the director Yorgos Lanthimos after their Oscar-winning period drama "The Favourite." "Poor Things" also stars Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe. The movie is now in theaters, and our film critic Justin Chang has this review.

In the new documentary "Anselm," filmmaker Wim Wenders offers a portrait of the German artist Anselm Kiefer, who became famous for grappling with the violent side of 20th century German history. The film, shot in 3D, opens in New York tomorrow and expands after that. Our critic-at-large John Powers says "Anselm" takes you inside the work of one of the world's greatest artists.

Lina Lyte Plioplyte is a documentary filmmaker. Her new documentary is called "Periodical." It's now streaming on Peacock.

Ten years ago, the revered Japanese director and animator Hayao Miyazaki announced his retirement. Now at the age of 82, Miyazaki has returned with a new animated feature called "The Boy And The Heron." Our film critic Justin Chang says it's a gorgeously drawn and deeply moving work from an undisputed master of storytelling.

The new romantic comedy "Fallen Leaves" tells a story about love on the margins of society. The film has won several big international prizes. It was written and directed by Aki Kaurismaki, who first put movies from Finland on the map in the 1980s. Our critic-at-large John Powers says "Fallen Leaves" is a rare bird, a refined art movie that's also a crowd-pleaser.

Five years after directing and acting in the remake of "A Star Is Born," Bradley Cooper is once again in front of - and behind - the camera with "Maestro," in which he plays the famed composer Leonard Bernstein. The movie centers on Bernstein's marriage to the actor Felicia Montealegre, played by Carey Mulligan. "Maestro" began a limited theatrical release this week and will start streaming December 20 on Netflix. Our film critic Justin Chang has this review.