Matt writes: For those moviegoers who feel secure enough to return to movie theaters, there is no picture currently in release that provides a more exuberant "welcome back to the big screen" moment than the very first scene of Leos Carax's latest Cannes prize-winner, "Annette." It's a wildly audacious musical written by the Sparks Brothers that stars Adam Driver in a tour de force performance as a deeply disturbed (and disturbing) comedian in love. The film received four stars from RogerEbert.com critic Sheila O'Malley, whose review is excerpted below. Also be sure to check out Peter Sobczynski's essay on the cinema of Carax entitled "You Need to Feed the Eyes for Your Dreams," as well as Roger Ebert's review of Carax's 2012 masterpiece, "Holy Motors."

“The final scene of King Vidor's 1928 masterpiece ‘The Crowd’ takes place in a movie theatre, where a huge audience rocks with laughter. The camera sweeps over the crowd, faster and faster, pulling farther and farther back, until the crowd becomes abstract, and the laughter almost grotesque from the God's-eye view. Carax has incorporated that scene before in his films, and it shows up here too. It's a potent symbol for Carax and a perfect encapsulation of his interest in the tensions between audience and artist, between the artist and the world, of humanity's need for escape, and how imperfect escape can be. The truth is sometimes unbearable. All you can do is laugh.”

Trailers

In the Same Breath (2021). Directed by Nanfu Wang. Synopsis: How did the Chinese government turn pandemic cover ups in Wuhan into a triumph for the Communist party? Debuts on HBO on August 18th, 2021.

Everybody's Talking About Jamie (2021). Directed by Jonathan Butterell. Written by Tom MacRae and Dan Gillespie Sells. Starring Max Harwood, Lauren Patel, Richard E. Grant. Synopsis: Feature film adaptation of the musical about a teenager from Sheffield, England who wants to be a drag queen. Debuts on Prime Video on September 17th, 2021.

Cry Macho (2021). Directed by Clint Eastwood. Written by Nick Schenk and N. Richard Nash. Starring Clint Eastwood, Dwight Yoakam, Fernanda Urrejola. Synopsis: A one-time rodeo star and washed-up horse breeder takes a job to bring a man's young son home and away from his alcoholic mom. On their journey, the horseman finds redemption through teaching the boy what it means to be a good man. Debuts in the US on September 17th, 2021.

Summer Days, Summer Nights (2021). Written and directed by Edward Burns. Starring Lindsey Morgan, Caitlin Stasey, Anthony Ramos. Synopsis: It's the summer of 1982 on Long Island. JJ is working for his dad, when he falls for Debbie. Frankie reconnects with a long lost love. But as temperatures cool, so do their relationships, leaving the young men to accept summer is ending. Debuts in the US on August 24th, 2021.

Together (2021). Directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin. Written by Dennis Kelly. Starring James McAvoy, Sharon Horgan, Samuel Logan. Synopsis: A husband and wife are forced to re-evaluate themselves and their relationship through the reality of the COVID-19 lockdown. Debuts in the US on August 27th, 2021.

Kate (2021). Directed by Cedric Nicolas-Troyan. Written by Umair Aleem. Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Woody Harrelson, Michiel Huisman. Synopsis: A female assassin has 24 hours to get vengeance on her murderer before she dies. Debuts on Netflix on September 10th, 2021.

Worth (2021). Directed by Sara Colangelo. Written by Max Borenstein. Starring Michael Keaton, Stanley Tucci, Amy Ryan. Synopsis: An attorney in Washington D.C. battles against cynicism, bureaucracy and politics to help the victims of 9/11. Debuts on Netflix on September 3rd, 2021.

Who You Think I Am (2021). Directed by Safy Nebbou. Written by Safy Nebbou and Julie Peyr (based on the novel by Camille Laurens). Starring Juliette Binoche, Nicole Garcia, François Civil. Synopsis: Claire, a 50-year-old divorced teacher, creates a fake Facebook profile of a 24-year-old woman. She finds a photo of a pretty young blonde and uses it. She has created an entirely fictional character, but why? US release date is TBA.

The Mad Women's Ball (2021). Written and directed by Mélanie Laurent (based on the book by Victoria Mas). Starring Mélanie Laurent, César Domboy, Lou de Laâge. Synopsis: A woman who is unfairly institutionalized at Paris asylum plots to escape with the help of one of its nurses. Based on the novel 'Le bal des folles' by Victoria Mas. Debuts on Prime Video on September 17th, 2021.

Prisoners of the Ghostland (2021). Directed by Sion Sono. Written by Aaron Hendry and Reza Sixo Safai.Starring Nicolas Cage, Sofia Boutella, Nick Cassavetes. Synopsis: A notorious criminal must break an evil curse in order to rescue an abducted girl who has mysteriously disappeared. Debuts in the US on September 17th, 2021.

Copshop (2021). Directed by Joe Carnahan. Written by Joe Carnahan and Kurt McLeod. Starring Frank Grillo, Gerard Butler, Toby Huss. Synopsis: A small town police station becomes the unlikely battleground between a professional hitman, a smart female rookie cop and a double crossing conman who seeks refuge behind bars with no place left to run. Debuts in the US on September 17th, 2021.

The Nowhere Inn (2021). Directed by Bill Benz. Written by St. Vincent and Carrie Brownstein. Starring St. Vincent, Carrie Brownstein, Ezra Buzzington. Synopsis: St. Vincent sets out to make a documentary about her music, but when she hires a close friend to direct, notions of reality, identity, and authenticity grow increasingly distorted and bizarre. Debuts in the US on September 17th, 2021.

Dating & New York (2021). Written and directed by Jonah Feingold. Starring Francesca Reale, Jaboukie Young-White, Jonah Feingold. Synopsis: Once upon a time in New York City....they swiped right. US release date is TBA.

He's All That (2021). Directed by Mark Waters. Written by R. Lee Fleming Jr. Starring Rachael Leigh Cook, Tanner Buchanan, Matthew Lillard. Synopsis: A teenage girl sets out to give a nebbish classmate the ultimate high school makeover. An updated remake of the 1999 film, 'She's All That'. Debuts on Netflix on August 27th, 2021.

Wild Indian (2021). Written and directed by Lyle Mitchell Corbine Jr. Starring Michael Greyeyes, Jesse Eisenberg, John Gibbs. Synopsis: Two men learn to confront a traumatic secret they share involving the savage murder of a schoolmate. US release date is TBA.

Hard Luck Love Song (2021). Directed by Justin Corsbie. Written by Justin Corsbie and Craig Ugoretz (based on the song by Todd Snider). Starring Michael Dorman, Sophia Bush, RZA. Synopsis: A gritty love story about a charismatic but down-on-his-luck troubadour living out of cheap motels and making bad decisions. Debuts in the US on October 15th, 2021.

Cinderella (2021). Written and directed by Kay Cannon. Starring Camila Cabello, Billy Porter, Idina Menzel. Synopsis: A modern movie musical with a bold take on the classic fairy tale. Our ambitious heroine has big dreams and with the help of her fab Godmother, she perseveres to make them come true. Debuts on Prime Video on September 3rd, 2021.

American Crime Story: Impeachment (2021). Directed by Ryan Murphy. Written by Sarah Burgess (based on the book by Jeffrey Toobin). Starring Beanie Feldstein, Sarah Paulson, Clive Owen. Synopsis: A dramatization of President Bill Clinton's affair with intern Monica Lewinsky and his subsequent impeachment. Debuts on FX on September 7th, 2021.

Jennifer Hudson on "Respect"

Matt writes: Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson recently spoke with Sergio Mims about her experience of portraying the legendary Aretha Franklin in Liesl Tommy's new biopic, "Respect," which was recommended by our critic Odie Henderson.

David Lowery's "The Green Knight"

Matt writes: The visionary work of filmmaker David Lowery is explored by David Lynch (the master essayist, not the master director) in the essay, "We Do What We Can to Endure." Lowery's latest picture, "The Green Knight," earned four stars from RogerEbert.com Managing Editor Brian Tallerico.

Free Movies

Sky Racket (1937). Directed by Sam Katzman. Written by Basil Dickey. Starring Bruce Bennett, Joan Barclay, Hattie McDaniel. Synopsis: A government agent sets out to capture a gang of airmail bandits who use a death ray to blow planes out of the sky.

Watch "Sky Racket"

Swing Hostess (1944). Directed by Sam Newfield. Written by Louise Rousseau and Gail Davenport. Starring Martha Tilton, Iris Adrian, Charles Collins. Synopsis: Rags-to-riches-to-rags story features Benny Goodman vocalist Martha Tilton as an unemployed big band singer who takes a job as an operator at a jukebox company. After falling in love with a bandleader, she gets a chance to get back in the limelight by singing for his group.

Watch "Swing Hostess"

The Brothers O'Toole (1973). Directed by Richard Erdman. Written by Marion Hargrove and Tim Kelly. Starring John Astin, Pat Carroll, Hans Conried. Synopsis: The brothers, a couple of ne'er-do-wells, turn a sleepy mining town upside-down in their search for quick riches.