Camera Man: Dana Stevens on the Life and Times of Buster Keaton
A review of the splendid new book by Slate film critic Dana Stevens.
Features
Bright Wall/Dark Room January 2022: Place Cliché by Nathaniel Missildine
An essay about Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch, as excerpted from the latest issue of Bright Wall/Dark Room.
Sidney Poitier and the Slap That Shook the World
A feature on Sidney Poitier’s earth-shaking turn in In the Heat of the Night.
Happy 96th Birthday Newton Minow!
We are republishing this beautiful tribute to Newton Minow today, May 6th, 2023, after the news of his passing this week. He was a genius, a pioneer, a father, and a trailblazer. We send our deepest condolences to his family and friends. – The Editors
The Damned: The Films of Elaine May
A celebration of writer/director Elaine May, who will receive an honorary Oscar this year.
Short Films in Focus: David and Bud
This month’s Short Films in Focus highlights two shorts directed by Zach Woods.
Just Another Step on the Journey, Man!: 1983’s Underrated NYE Comedy, Get Crazy
Still as weird and wild as it was when it first came out, Allan Arkush’s Get Crazy is ripe for rediscovery.
Bright Wall/Dark Room December 2021: I’ve Had a Rough Year, Dad: The Unbearable, Beautiful Messiness of One Line in The Royal Tenenbaums by Matt Chambless
This month’s excerpt from Bright Wall/Dark Room on The Royal Tenenbaums.
The Case for The Card Counter’s Tiffany Haddish as One of 2021’s Best Performances
Many critics wrote off Haddish’s work in The Card Counter as a tonal mismatch for the otherwise unrelenting bleakness of the story, but that stance misses the point.
Bardcore Noir: Joel Coen, Shakespeare and The Tragedy of Macbeth
A look at Joel Coen’s career reflected through The Tragedy of Macbeth.
Short Films in Focus: Go Ahead, Grab Time by the Throat
Our monthly feature on a great short film gets to the latest by Clare Cooney and Abby Pierce.
A Tale of the Tapes: On the ‘Recreated’ Conversations in Speer Goes to Hollywood (Updated)
Glenn Kenny digs deeper into the ethics of a new documentary about Albert Speer, now updated twice, once with a response from the film’s director Vanessa Lapa, and also with a reply from Andrew Birkin in response to Vanessa Lapa’s letter.
Overdue Oscars: The 2021 Actors Looking for Their First Academy Awards
A feature on actors who have never won an Oscar who might this year.
Bright Wall/Dark Room November 2021: Why You Want to Leave Me? by Steph Green
An essay about My Big Fat Greek Wedding, excerpted from the new issue of Bright Wall/Dark Room.
Book Excerpt: Hollywood Victory: The Movies, Stars, and Stories of World War II by Christian Blauvelt
An excerpt from the new book by Christian Blauvelt about Hollywood during World War II.
How Do You Live Offers a Window into the Mind of Hayao Miyazaki
A book review of a new edition of a young adult book that inspired Hayao Miyazaki.
Short Films in Focus: Shots in the Dark with David Godlis
An interview with Lewie & Noah Kloster about Shots in the Dark, and a presentation of the short film.
