Movies To See This Winter

Best movies of the season. "La La Land," "20th Century Women," "Hidden Figures," "Gold." The critics are with us to dive in.

As a rule, if you want the best movies from Hollywood you have to wait. Until just about this time of year. Yes, you’ll get those holiday blockbuster bids. "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" hit theaters at last night. "Patriots Day" is coming. And the finer bids too, in time for awards season. "A Monster Calls," with Liam Neeson. "Silence," with missionaries in Japan. "Hidden Figures," "La La Land," "Manchester by the Sea," "20th Century Women." This hour On Point: top critics on what to see in the holiday movie season.

Kyle Buchanan, senior editor at New York Magazine's Vulture. (@kylebuchanan)

Ann Hornaday, film critic for the Washington Post. (@AnnHornaday)

Vulture: The Unsettled, Unsettling Oscars — "But based on the buzz we’re hearing, we can start to take a closer look at the movies and performers that are expected to contend in the six biggest Oscar categories, which we’ve broken down for you below. Oscar season has yet to kick into high gear, but make no mistake: In the back rooms of Hollywood, the jockeying has already begun."

IndieWire: 10 Best Films of 2016: IndieWire Awards Editor Anne Thompson Gives Her Picks — "Most film critics who post annual 10 Best lists follow simple rules, and I am no exception — include a few likely Oscar contenders, a few popular hits, and at least one arcane title from the wild blue yonder, either foreign or up-and-coming indie, presented in short readable blurbs. (No photo gallery here.) And yes, while I keep to a pure Top 10, I do cheat a bit with some extra categories below. So shoot me."

Los Angeles Times: Every movie being released this holiday season, including 'Silent,' 'Star Wars,' 'Fantastic Beasts,' 'Elle,' and more — "Arrival. Amy Adams stars as an expert linguist who leads a team attempting to communicate with an alien spacecraft as the world teeters on the brink of war."