Movie & Television Reviews

“Babylon” (Paramount), writer-director Damien Chazelle’s sprawling recreation of Hollywood shortly before and after the advent of talkies, is a film of undeniable artistic intent. Yet its considerable aesthetic strong points are overshadowed by both overt content and an underlying tone that viewers of faith will feel compelled to reject.

Tim Burton steps forward as director of “Wednesday,” a spin-off named for, and focused on, the comically macabre Addams family’s daughter. All eight episodes of the series, which stars Jenna Ortega in the title role, are streaming on Netflix.

Working from Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor’s 2019 bestseller, director Maria Schrader depicts the dogged determination of the newswomen, the courage and resilience of their victimized sources and, ultimately, the power of journalism to reveal wrongdoing. Although their efforts take a toll on family life, both leading characters are shown to be in strong marriages.