film commentary
The Great Missed Opportunity of Michael Moore in TrumpLand
Sierra Pettengill on Moore's October surprise doc, and its failure to do what would have truly given it value: connect with Trump supporters.
13th Gives America a Much-Needed History Lesson
Adam Bhala Lough on Ava DuVernay's powerful doc on the roots of African-American mass incarceration – and also on what it leaves out.
Barry Jenkins and the Fearless, Heartbreaking Honesty of Moonlight
Aaron Stewart-Ahn's deeply personal take on one of the most moving and important American films of recent years.
Why The Larry Sanders Show is the Greatest Comedy TV Series Ever
Daniel Schechter on the late Garry Shandling's innovative, iconoclastic sitcom and its special place in television history.
Queen of Katwe Is a Movie You Should Be Supporting. Why Are People Not Seeing It?
Terence Nance on Mira Nair's Disney movie about a young Ugandan chess prodigy, a film that's as uplifting as it promises to be.
Some Spoken Word Poetry and General Euphorics in Praise of Issa Rae and Insecure
Stephen Winter waxes lyrical about the brilliant young comedic voice and her new HBO show, the first ever to be fronted by an African-American woman.
American Honey, a Rare Film That Makes You Ask, “How’d They Do That?”
Ryan Fleck, the director of Half Nelson and Mississippi Grind, on the ineffable magic of Andrea Arnold's first Stateside feature.
Why Paul Schrader Is Wrong and Hardcore Is, in Fact, a Major Movie
Jim Hemphill makes the case that, despite what Schrader himself may say, one of the director's most personal films is also one of his best.
In Praise of Late Woody: Darkness, Lightness and Other Anxieties of Influence
It's very unfashionable to like Woody Allen's recent movies, but screenwriter Matthew Wilder finds their exquisite mastery irresistible.
I Wasn’t Hired to Direct Into the Forest – Here’s What I Thought of the Film
Writer-director Megan Griffiths shares a unique perspective on the experience of watching a film you were considered for, but did not get.
Stranger Things and the Problem of “Plotblocking”
Writer-director Andrew Matthews on Netflix's smash hit series and a worrisome trait of that and a number of other binge-worthy shows.
Blair Witch’s Screenwriter Says Nine Lives is the Most Important Film of the Year
If you'd like your kids to respect and admire you, listen to Simon Barrett's advice and take them to see this movie.
