The ethics of documentary filmmaking have been, if not in flux, then subject to movable goalposts ever since Robert Flaherty used staged reenactments in his 1922 “Nanook of the North.” It’s an area in which filmmakers do a lot of critiquing and self-correcting... More »
The Unloved is eight years old today. I always hoped, back when, to reach such a milestone, but to be alive for it is something else entirely because this has grown from a plea to a forgotten wishlist. The things I want most from contemporary cinema, the fearl... More »
Eight years ago, one of the first pieces I wrote for RogerEbert.com, as a freelancer, was an appreciation of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” comparing it to “Seinfeld” in both its structure and the way it captured the hilarity of misanthropic behavior. I ... More »
Whenever I see a documentary about an extreme sport or athletic achievement in the face of danger, I am often let down by its human exploration. Naturally, in these kinds of movies, the feat is the feature, allowing us to participate in a thrilling experience ... More »
During April’s muted Covid-19 edition of the 73rd Academy Awards, Glenn Close—who was nominated in the supporting actress category for her role as Mamaw in “Hillbilly Elegy”—tied the late, great Peter O’Toole by achieving eight acting nominations without a wi... More »
Stephen Sondheim’s art was rooted in truth. More than the melodies, more than arrangements, more than the choice of subject matter, more than his puzzle-maker’s sense of structure, it was his commitment to truth that made the work great. Any time you sat down... More »
Happy Thanksgiving! Please allow me to share with you in gratitude a few selected highlights from my series “My Happy Place.” As you gather with family and friends today please remember those who may not be as fortunate. I am grateful to the people who donated... More »
Over the years that I have contributed to this site, I have penned a number of tributes to people who have recently passed away. Although “enjoy” may not be exactly the word I am looking for here, I do like to have these opportunities to look back at someone’s... More »
It’s hard to explain to younger gamers how much “Grand Theft Auto” games reshaped the landscape in the 2000s. “Grand Theft Auto” was originally released in 1997 and was instantly controversial for the way it embraced a violent world. Sure, it was a cartoonish ... More »
“Your whole thing is that you’re low-key. It’s a very hard brand to sell.” The most by-the-numbers member of The Avengers is the first to get his own show this week in the two-episode launch of the six-episode “Hawkeye,” premiering on Disney+. The writers, led... More »
Few filmmakers navigate the intimate revelations of performance as skillfully as Ryūsuke Hamaguchi. Across his unobtrusive, gently existential melodramas of connection and longing, characters move gradually toward self-knowledge through patterns of role-play, ... More »
10 NEW TO NETFLIX “21 Jump Street““Addams Family Values““Ali““Bram Stoker’s Dracula““Last Action Hero““Let Me In““Moneyball““The Nightingale““A River Runs Through It““Snakes on a Plane” 10 NEW TO HBO MAX “A Clockwork Orange““Contagion““Eyes Wide Shut““Full Met... More »