Why Pet Sematary Refuses to Die
Stephen King’s story focuses on our culture’s obsessive denial of grief.
Film
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.
The Story Behind Roma
Alfonso Cuarón’s film magnificently portrays an overlooked life in 1970s Mexico City.
Imagine Trump’s America With Australia’s Severe Defamation Laws
Two cases down under show how lower libel standards silence accusers and the press, while protecting the wealthy and powerful.
Mary Queen of Scots in the Age of Brexit
Why is Hollywood so intent on using this period in British history as a blank canvas?
Netflix Won’t Save Prestige Cinema
The streaming service desperately wants to win a Best Picture Oscar. But its foray into costly, artistic films is about more than just respect.
Never Look Away Grapples With Germany’s Past
A new film from the director of ‘The Lives of Others’ strives for epic effect as it traces an artist’s development through the twentieth century.
Why Widows Is the Best Crime Movie of the Year
Steve McQueen's crime caper is really a vehicle to explore grief, gender, race, and loneliness.
