New film releases like 'Marty Supreme' starring Timothée Chalamet, the Christmas weepie 'Song Sung Blue', and the 'Anaconda' reboot are receiving critical attention, alongside features on Kate Hudson's potential Oscar return and the year's best fight scenes.

• ‘Marty Supreme’ Review: Timothée Chalamet Sprints to the Top — New York Times Arts -
• ‘Song Sung Blue’ Review: A Christmas ‘Caroline’ — New York Times Arts -
• ‘The Plague’ Review: Pool of the Flies — New York Times Arts -

• ‘Anaconda’ Review: Back in the Jungle — New York Times Arts -
• The Ping-Pong Hustler Who Inspired ‘Marty Supreme’ — New York Times Arts -
• ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’ Review: A Woman Clothed With the Sun — New York Times Arts -
• ‘The Choral’ Review: Singing to Keep the Fear at Bay — New York Times Arts -
• ‘Anaconda’ Review: Back in the Jungle — New York Times Arts -
• ‘Father Mother Sister Brother’ Review: Families, Untied — New York Times Arts -
• ‘Goodbye June’ Review: Terms of Endearment, and Estrangement — New York Times Arts -
• Did We Underestimate Kate Hudson? — New York Times Arts -
• From ‘Splitsville’ to ‘Friendship,’ the Year’s Best Fight Scenes — New York Times Arts -

The entertainment world mourns the passing of several notable figures including Call of Duty designer Vince Zampella, fashion reporter and biographer Phyllis Lee Levin, bubblegum pop pioneer Jerry Kasenetz, 'Driving Home for Christmas' singer Chris Rea, and actress May Britt, whose marriage to Sammy Davis Jr. sparked controversy.

• Vince Zampella, Formative Designer of Call of Duty Games, Dies at 55 — New York Times Arts -
• Phyllis Lee Levin, Times Fashion Reporter and Biographer, Dies at 104 — New York Times Arts -
• Jerry Kasenetz, a King of Bubblegum Pop Music, Dies at 82 — New York Times Arts -

• Chris Rea, Grammy-Nominated Singer of ‘Driving Home for Christmas,’ Dies at 74 — New York Times Arts -
• May Britt, 91, Dies; Her Marriage to Sammy Davis Jr. Sparked Outrage — New York Times Arts -

'Stranger Things' creators shared insights into their influences for the upcoming episodes, while the 'Modern Love Podcast' featured actor Andrew Garfield discussing the fleeting nature of life and embracing every moment.

• ‘Modern Love Podcast’: Andrew Garfield Wants to Crack Open Your Heart — New York Times Arts -
• ‘Stranger Things’ Creators Break Down Their Latest Influences — New York Times Arts -
• ‘Stranger Things’ Creators Break Down Their Latest Influences — New York Times Arts -

Sean 'Diddy' Combs's lawyers have filed an appeal arguing his sentence for prostitution offenses was unjust, while the Metropolitan Opera is actively engaging 70 influencers to attract a younger, online audience to opera.

• Influencers Get Their Night at the Opera as the Met Courts New Fans — New York Times Arts -
• Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s Lawyers File Appeal, Arguing His Sentence Was Unjust — New York Times Arts -

Metroid Prime 4 has been given new life through an ecological tale, overcoming a slow start by exploring an extinct alien race and their savior.

• An Ecological Tale Gives Life to Metroid Prime 4 — New York Times Arts -

A modern makeover of 'Tartuffe' starring Matthew Broderick, featuring a profanity-laced script, is making waves as a mischievous clash of old and new.

• ‘Tartuffe’ Gets a Colorfully Modern Makeover — New York Times Arts -

Seven terrific classic mystery novels have deservedly been brought back into print, offering readers a chance to rediscover these literary gems.

• Classic Mystery Novels, Finally Back in Print — New York Times Books -