At the Movies for 5 April 2023

Simon Morris asks why the film reviewer of the New York Times has quit after 23 years, and compares the movies of today with those of 1999. He also looks at two would-be franchises, and a film that's released, as are so many today, on a streaming service - in this case Prime Video. The Forgiven is set at a party in Morocco, thrown by more idle rich. Starring Ralph Fiennes (The English patient), Jessica Chastain (The eyes of Tammy Faye) and Matt Smith (Dr Who), it's directed by John Michael McDonagh (The Guard). The Portable Door is a fantasy thriller about a young man who joins a very strange office. It stars Sam Neill, Christoph Waltz and Rachel House. And Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Among Thieves has surprised the critics by being thoroughly entertaining. From the people who brought us Spiderman and Horrible bosses, it stars Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez and Hugh Grant.