Movies

Leisure

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is wacky, weird, and wonderful

Shawn Mendes as a singing crocodile is objectively absurd, and yet, I loved it.

By October 7, 2022

Leisure

Don’t worry, darling, about Don’t Worry Darling

Allow me to reassure you: Beyond the gossip and noise, there’s no cause for concern.

By September 23, 2022

Leisure

A rousing ensemble cast elevates the script of The Woman King and gives the film its power

Despite some narrative and visual deficiencies, The Woman King succeeds in its dedication to painting a full picture of life in Dahomey.

By September 16, 2022

Leisure

Austin Butler resurrects The King in Elvis, imbuing his career with a newfound twenty-first century relevance

So what more is there to discover about the music industry star so influential that he was dubbed “The King?”

By August 20, 2022

Leisure

Fire Island puts the Pride in Pride and Prejudice, to generally successful results

Rejecting the author’s heteronormativity, Fire Island centers the titular vacation spot known for its celebration of gay life.

By June 3, 2022

Leisure

The Outfit (2022) is as sharp and stylish as expected

Graham Moore’s directorial debut The Outfit (2022) whisks the audience along in a series of complications and dangles the hope of a conclusion with restored justice.

By April 18, 2022

Leisure

Jujutsu Kaisen 0 explores the tricky relationship between love and grief

Based on Volume 0 of Gege Akutami’s beloved manga and anime series, Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (2021) is a dark fantasy film that expertly navigates the tricky web of pain and guilt that sits under the shadow of unreconciled grief.

By April 16, 2022

Leisure

Fresh: A new horror classic

If there’s one thing guaranteed besides its future establishment as a horror classic, it’s that Fresh will at least make you feel a little better about the realities of your own dating life. 

By April 5, 2022

Leisure

The Dark Knight gets even darker in neo-noir thriller The Batman (2022)

This story begins with an already trauma-riddled Bruce Wayne, allowing us to witness his transformation from a vengeful vigilante to Gotham's hero.

By March 19, 2022

Leisure

Oscar contender The Worst Person in the World on how it feels to be alive

Something achingly beautiful happens halfway through The Worst Person in the World (2022), Joachim Trier’s latest romantic comedy-drama: Our protagonist Julie (Renate Reinsve) flicks a light switch in her boyfriend’s... Read more

By and March 5, 2022

Leisure

In The Tragedy of Macbeth, the kingslayer isn’t the only one plotting

The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) opens on a disorienting, bleak, and foggy landscape, tracing in the footsteps of a weary soldier. The first lines of dialogue anchor the audience in... Read more

By February 18, 2022

Leisure

West Side Story (2021) is an exceptional remake, despite problematic lead and box office failure

Content warning: This article mentions sexual assault. Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story (2021) provides its audience with one of the most delightful yet devastating movie-going experiences of the year, complete... Read more

By February 5, 2022

Leisure

Disney’s Encanto (2021) is a nuanced but incomplete take on family

We need to talk about Encanto (2021). Or, so says everyone on Twitter the last few weeks. Disney’s new animated film Encanto is a creative sensation that examines the complexities... Read more

By February 4, 2022

Leisure

Licorice Pizza is jubilant and juvenile

Soaked in summer sweat and 70’s nostalgia, Licorice Pizza marks the return of director Paul Thomas Anderson with his first film since 2017’s Phantom Thread. Set in “the Valley” of... Read more

By January 22, 2022

Leisure

Spider-Man: No Way Home is fan service executed brilliantly

With a groundbreaking debut of $600.8 million at the global box office, Marvel Studios’ highly anticipated Spider-Man: No Way Home hit theaters on December 17, quickly taking the world by... Read more

By January 7, 2022

Movies

Dune, despite countless strengths, might alienate newcomers to the franchise

As I prefer to do with most movies, I went into Dune (2021) with a blank slate. I didn’t know anything about the book or David Lynch’s 1984 attempt. In... Read more

By December 3, 2021

Leisure

Spencer can be one-note, but is claustrophobically effective

Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales (Kristen Stewart), is facing away from the camera, alone. Her back is arched gracefully, not a hair on her head is out of place, and... Read more

By November 29, 2021

Movies

Halloween Kills is Bloody, Angry, and to the Point 

Content warning: violence In a sea of lifeless reboots, Halloween (2018), directed by David Gordon Green, set itself apart by being a surprisingly tasteful revival of the 1978 Carpenter classic.... Read more

By October 27, 2021

Movies

Julia Ducournau’s bold body horror Titane crosses the finish line with the strength of its performances

Content warning: gore, body horror There are two sides to Titane, Julia Ducournau’s Palme d’Or-winning body horror film. One is a family drama about assimilation, about the struggles to fit... Read more

By October 21, 2021

Movies

The Eyes of Tammy Faye engages with reality, but not cruelty

Content warning: sexual assault  There is a lot to unpack about the life of much-lampooned televangelist Tammy Faye Messner (formerly Bakker). There’s the Christian worship broadcasting empire both built and... Read more

By October 9, 2021