Film

"There is only one thing that can kill the Movies, and that is education." — Will Rogers

There’s Always Tomorrow: On Ursula Parrott and Marsha Gordon’s “Becoming the Ex-Wife”
Adam Sobsey reviews Marsha Gordon’s “Becoming the Ex-Wife: The Unconventional Life & Forgotten Writings of Ursula Parrott,” a biography of the writer and celebrity.
Adam SobseyJul 10, 2023
On “Mission: Impossible” and Unaccountable Government
With its seventh installment looming, Pat Cassels details the way the “Mission: Impossible” franchise became an unlikely chronicler of American intelligence sprawl.
Pat CasselsJul 8, 2023
- Film
- Politics
In the Mouth of Sadness: On the Erotic Bummer
Sean T. Collins and Julia Gfrörer lay out the generic terms of the erotic thriller’s morose relation, the erotic bummer.
Julia Gfrörer, Sean T. CollinsJul 7, 2023
Contraction: When Hollywood Gets Smaller
J. D. Connor writes about the writers’ demands in the WGA strike in Hollywood, and about how movies about contracts relate to a downturn in production. Are we entering an era of contraction?
J. D. ConnorJun 28, 2023
- Economics and Finance
- Film
Pier Paolo the Anti-Fascist: On Criterion’s “Pasolini 101” Collection
Conor Williams reviews “Pasolini 101,” the new Criterion Collection box set on Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini.
Conor WilliamsJun 22, 2023
- Film
Out from the Shadow of the Vampire: On Chris McKay’s “Renfield”
Olivia Rutigliano follows the figure of Renfield from Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel ‘Dracula’ through various adaptations, culminating in Chris McKay’s 2023 film “Renfield.”
Olivia RutiglianoJun 15, 2023
- Film
- SF
A Close-Up on Iranian Cinema: On Godfrey Cheshire’s “In the Time of Kiarostami”
Abe Silberstein reviews Godfrey Cheshire’s “In the Time of Kiarostami: Writings on Iranian Cinema.”
Abe SilbersteinJun 8, 2023
- Film
- History
It’s (Not) Just Film Studies: On Returning to “Scream”
Kartik Nair explores the dynamics of the Scream franchise through the lens of 2023’s “Scream VI.”
Kartik NairJun 1, 2023
- Film
Universal Solvent: Experiencing Mario
J. D. Connor reflects on the seemingly endless mutability of the Super Mario Bros. franchise.
J. D. ConnorMay 20, 2023
- Film
What the Center Holds: On Carl Elsaesser’s “Home When You Return”
Hannah Bonner considers the smudge in Carl Elsaesser’s 2021 film “Home When You Return.”
Hannah BonnerMay 18, 2023
- Film
What Was Unseen: On Kelly Reichardt’s “Showing Up”
Yael Friedman looks at Kelly Reichardt’s “Showing Up” in the context of other art-world movies.
Yael FriedmanMay 11, 2023
- Film
On “Mothers of Sierra Leone”: Improving Maternal Health Through Storytelling
The team behind “Mothers of Sierra Leone” explains the shortcoming of “consciousness raising” in global maternal healthcare and examines how their documentary shorts provide useful films for the women of Sierra Leone.
Fathima Wakeel, Jordyn Pykon, Michael Kramp, Nahjiah MillerMay 10, 2023
- Film