The Outlaw World of Deadwood
Why the HBO show’s visions of chaos and order endure
Film
Booksmart Deserved Better
Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut is a success—if you take it on its own terms.
Claire Denis’s Long Journey to Nowhere
On "High Life" and other damned worlds
Sky High Is the Only Good Superhero Movie
While “Captain Marvel” and “Avengers: Endgame” reign in theaters, a 2005 teen rom com shows a better way.
Werner Herzog’s Ode to Gorbachev
"Meeting Gorbachev" captures the promise of 1989 and mourns what came next.
Olivier Assayas’s Quest for Originality
“Non-Fiction,” his new film, is about getting by in a disrupted world.
Why Pet Sematary Refuses to Die
Stephen King’s story focuses on our culture’s obsessive denial of grief.
The Charmed Life of Agnès Varda
The legendary filmmaker did it her way, her life as much an inspiration as her work.
What the Theranos Documentary Misses
Instead of examining Elizabeth Holmes’s personality, look at the people and systems that aided the company’s rise.
Jordan Peele’s “Us” Goes Down the Rabbit Hole of Identity
His sophomore effort, featuring a rampaging gang of doppelgängers, radically expands the themes of his film debut "Get Out."
The Outsize Imagination of Orson Welles
Mark Cousins’s documentary captures the ambition of the young director, who learned, among the skyscrapers of Chicago, to look up.
In the Future, No One Deserves an Oscar
The debate between Steven Spielberg and Netflix misses the real problem facing filmmaking in America.
Rachel Weisz’s Perfect Queer Turn
What the Oscar-tipped actor's recent roles say about women on the big screen.
Death to the Critic!
The new art-world satire 'Velvet Buzzsaw' is schlocky, fun, and flashy. But is its critique fair?
Fyre Festival Was a Huge Scam. Is Netflix’s Fyre Documentary a Scam, Too?
The festival's marketing agency also co-produced the film, resulting in a misleading version of who bears responsibility for the fraud.
Everybody’s a Suspect in Everybody Knows
Iranian director Asghar Farhadi's films are driven by subtle social dynamics. Can he preserve them in a new thriller?
In Defense of Serenity
A spoiler-free apologia for this season's worst-reviewed movie.
The Painful Price of Becoming Jackie Chan
A new memoir by the legendary kung fu star reveals what it took to become one of Hong Kong’s greatest sons.
Ben Is Back, Beautiful Boy, and Hollywood’s New Obsession With Drug Abuse
Two new movies reveal the strengths and weaknesses of the film industry's attempts to tackle America's addiction crisis.
Everything Is Possible in Mary Poppins Returns
The new film conjures wonder in the face of grief and money troubles—despite its overly neat ending.
