The Cannes Film Festival is a major focus, with new documentaries and French cinema taking center stage, while critics offer diverse movie reviews including **‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’, ‘The Sheep Detectives’, ‘Blue Film’, ‘Silent Friend’, ‘Mortal Kombat II’, and a Pizza Hut documentary, alongside an actor profile for Tony Leung and an ongoing legal dispute involving Blake Lively**.

• ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ Review: Their Octopus Teacher — New York Times Arts -
• ‘The Sheep Detectives’ Review: A Murder Most Fleecy — New York Times Arts -
• ‘Blue Film’ Review: The Sex Is Expensive. The Talk Is Priceless. — New York Times Arts -

• In Italy, a Link Between the Cannes Film Festival and the Far East Film Festival — New York Times Movies -
• New Che Guevara Documentary at Cannes Shows There Is More to Know — New York Times Movies -
• At the Cannes Film Festival, This Hotel Celebrates With a Drink — New York Times Movies -
• At the Cannes Film Festival, French Cinema is Front and Center — New York Times Arts -
• Is the Blake Lively v. Justin Baldoni Legal Fight Over? Not So Fast. — New York Times Arts -
• This Film Provides a Trapezoidal Window into Former Pizza Huts — New York Times Arts -
• Tony Leung Doesn’t Want a Challenge. He Wants a Compatible Director. — New York Times Arts -
• ‘Silent Friend’ Review: What a Ginkgo Can Teach Us — New York Times Arts -
• ‘Mortal Kombat II’ Review: Eye-Popping Pyrotechnics — New York Times Arts -

The art world is bustling with new gallery shows to see in May, major exhibitions from France to the U.S., American artists at the Venice Biennale with a controversial Austrian pavilion, and New York Art Week facing optimism amidst uncertainty, plus France passing a law easing looted art restitution, a fashion revolution at the Met, and a walking guide to New York's Gilded Age mansions.

• A Stroll Through the Mansions of New York’s Gilded Age — New York Times Arts -
• Dealers Face a Choice: Show Solo Artists? Or Groups? — New York Times Arts -
• From France to the U.S., an Exhibition on the Luxury Ties That Bind — New York Times Arts -

• At the Venice Biennale, an American Artist Plops His Sculptures on a World Stage — New York Times Arts -
• Art Gallery Shows to See in May — New York Times Arts -
• Review: Sophie Rivera’s Photos Come Out From the Shadows — New York Times Arts -
• Art Abounds on Campuses Outside of New York City — New York Times Arts -
• Uncertainty, But Also Optimism, Mark New York Art Week — New York Times Arts -
• France Passes Law Easing Process of Returning Looted Art — New York Times Arts -
• A Loft with Past Lives Gets an Owner Making a New One — New York Times Arts -
• These Toilets in Venice Have the Art World Aflush — New York Times Arts -
• A Fashion Revolution at the Met — New York Times Arts -

Readers can discover new book reviews for **Douglas Stuart's ‘John of John’, Suzy Hansen's ‘From Life Itself’, Fonda Lee's ‘The Last Contract of Isako’, and Siri Hustvedt's memoir ‘Ghost Stories’, along with editorial recommendations and a list of epic fantasy and sci-fi books for adults**.

• Books Our Editors Love This Week — New York Times Books -
• Book Review: ‘John of John,’ by Douglas Stuart — New York Times Books -
• Book Review: ‘From Life Itself,’ by Suzy Hansen — New York Times Books -

• Book Review: ‘The Last Contract of Isako,’ by Fonda Lee — New York Times Books -
• Epic Fantasy and Sci-Fi Books for Adults — New York Times Arts -
• Book Review: ‘Ghost Stories,’ by Siri Hustvedt — New York Times Books -
• In Her New Memoir, Siri Hustvedt Captures Life With, And Without, Paul Auster — New York Times Books -
• Book Review: ‘Revenge for the Sixties,’ by Peter S. Canellos; ‘Alito,’ by Mollie Hemingway — New York Times Books -

Television is making strides in its portrayal of menopause onscreen, while **‘Jersey Shore: Family Vacation’ concludes its final MTV season, and late-night hosts continue to critique political events, and interactive media like Mixtape offers teenagers a bonding experience through music**.

• TV Shows Are Changing How Menopause Is Portrayed Onscreen — New York Times Arts -
• Mixtape Has Teenagers Bond With the Help of an Eclectic Soundtrack — New York Times Arts -
• ‘Jersey Shore’ Cast Reflects on ‘Family Vacation’ Final Season and What Comes Next — New York Times Arts -

• Late Night Isn’t Buying Trump’s New ‘Skirmish’ in Iran — New York Times Arts -

The performing arts scene includes a Billie Eilish concert movie review highlighting 3-D technology, a **nod to Broadway’s biggest voices, five new classical music albums, the rising profile of conductor Ed Gardner, and ‘The Book of Mormon’ closing temporarily due to fire, alongside an immersive theater experience in Philadelphia**.

• Is It an Art Gallery? A Museum? A Theater? A Dream? — New York Times Arts -
• Ed Gardner, ‘Force to Be Reckoned With,’ Comes Into His Own — New York Times Arts -
• ‘Billie Eilish — Hit Me Hard and Soft’ Review: 3-D Is What She Was Made For — New York Times Arts -

• Streisand, LuPone, Holliday, Menzel: Broadway’s Biggest Voices — New York Times Music -
• 5 Classical Music Albums You Can Listen to Right Now — New York Times Arts -
• ‘The Book of Mormon’ Will Close for 2 Weeks After Fire — New York Times Arts -