Billy Idol's documentary, the **sequel ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’, and the 2026 Oscar-nominated short films are all receiving critical attention, while the Berlin Film Festival found itself overshadowed by political debates. Controversies on set like Lively v. Baldoni, along with reviews for ‘Midwinter Break’, ‘How to Make a Killing’, ‘The Dreadful’, and a documentary on Seymour Hersh**, round out a busy day for cinema.

• Billy Idol Had It All, and Then He ‘Lit It With Butane’ — New York Times Arts -
• ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’ Review: Dogged by Dark Memories — New York Times Arts -
• ‘The 2026 Oscar Nominated Short Films’ Review: Major Themes, Minor Lengths — New York Times Arts -

• Berlin Film Festival Tried to Focus on Movies. Politics Stole the Spotlight. — New York Times Arts -
• ‘Midwinter Break’ Review: Aging Together, Growing Apart — New York Times Arts -
• Lively v. Baldoni Tests What Crosses the Line on a ‘Steamy’ Movie Set — New York Times Arts -
• ‘How to Make a Killing’ Review: Glen Powell’s Lethal Case of Entitlement — New York Times Arts -
• ‘The Dreadful’ Review: A Knight in Frightening Armor — New York Times Arts -
• Seymour Hersh, the Investigative Journalist, Is the Subject of Netflix’s “Cover-Up” — New York Times Arts -

**Tayari Jones’s new novel “Kin” and its review are prominent, alongside six new book recommendations from critics. Author Grant Ginder discusses his new book ‘So Old, So Young’, and readers are invited to explore fantasy books that infuse magic into the real world**.

• For Tayari Jones, All Roads and All Novels Lead to Atlanta — New York Times Books -
• Book Review: ‘Kin,’ by Tayari Jones — New York Times Books -
• 6 New Books We Love This Week — New York Times Books -

• Grant Ginder on His Favorite Books and His New Novel, ‘So Old, So Young’ — New York Times Books -
• Fantasy Books That Imbue the Real World With Magic — New York Times Arts -

The Met Opera announces its 2026-27 season, while Broadway anticipates a spring season with a downtown vibe and a guide to NYC shows. **Daniel Radcliffe’s return to Broadway** in ‘Every Brilliant Thing’ and **Cynthia Erivo’s one-woman ‘Dracula’** lead London’s West End news, along with the casting of **Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’**.

• Met Opera Announces 2026-27 Season: What We Want to See — New York Times Arts -
• A Downtown Vibe Comes to Broadway This Spring — New York Times Arts -
• What to See in NYC This Spring: Broadway Shows, Concerts and More — New York Times Arts -

• Daniel Radcliffe on Returning to Broadway in ‘Every Brilliant Thing’ — New York Times Arts -
• In Cynthia Erivo’s ‘Dracula,’ There’s Mirth Amid the Horror — New York Times Arts -
• Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell to Star in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ on Broadway — New York Times Arts -

**Stephen Colbert’s comments on CBS censorship and his take on R.F.K. Jr.’s workout with Kid Rock stir discussion, while reviews include ‘Portobello’**, an HBO Max series on Italy’s canceled TV star. **Gabriel Basso of ‘The Night Agent’ and “The Traitors” host Alan Cumming** are also in the spotlight.

• Colbert Says What CBS Told Him Not to Say — New York Times Arts -
• ‘Portobello’ Review: When Italy’s Biggest TV Star Was Canceled — New York Times Arts -
• Gabriel Basso, of ‘The Night Agent,’ Gets Back to Nature — New York Times Arts -

• “The Traitors” Host Alan Cumming Takes On the BAFTAs — New York Times Arts -
• Stephen Colbert Sizes Up R.F.K. Jr.’s Workout With Kid Rock — New York Times Arts -

The literary world mourns Cees Nooteboom, a Nobel Prize-nominated author, while the music industry remembers Billy Steinberg, lyricist of ‘Like a Virgin.’ Opera icon José van Dam and renowned Broadway designer David Hays also passed away, leaving behind significant legacies.

• Cees Nooteboom, Voyaging Author of Enigmatic Novels, Dies at 92 — New York Times Arts -
• Billy Steinberg, Hitmaking Lyricist of Madonna’s ‘Like a Virgin,’ Dies at 75 — New York Times Arts -
• José van Dam, Suave and Riveting Opera Star, Dies at 85 — New York Times Arts -

• David Hays, 95, Dies; Top Broadway Designer and Theater of Deaf Founder — New York Times Arts -

Artist **Michael Heizer’s monumental work in Nevada is explored, alongside an exhibition on Van Gogh and the meaning of yellow. The Brooklyn Museum features an intriguing piece on writing an ancient Egyptian afterlife scroll**.

• Michael Heizer Measures His Art in Miles and Tons — New York Times Arts -
• Van Gogh and the Meaning of Yellow — New York Times Arts -
• Writing an Ancient Egyptian Afterlife, in 21 Feet of Scroll — New York Times Arts -