Short Films in Focus: The Oscar-Nominated Short Films of 2022
A look at all of this year’s Oscar-nominated short films.
Features
Bright Wall/Dark Room February 2022: A Down with Love Girl, Level Three! by Merritt Mecham
An essay about Down with Love, as excerpted from the latest issue of Bright Wall/Dark Room.
Blood, Sweat & Chrome Offers Full, Fascinating History of Mad Max: Fury Road
A review of the excellent new book about the making of Mad Max: Fury Road.
Chaz Ebert to Receive the Ruby Dee Humanitarian Award
A news brief about an award being given to Chaz Ebert.
Living Legend Floyd Norman: An Animated Life Now Available on the Criterion Channel
An article about Floyd Norman, the first Black animator at Disney, who is the subject of Michael Fiore and Erik Sharkey’s 2016 documentary, “Floyd Norman: An Animated Life,” now available on the Criterion Channel.
The Unloved, Part 98: I Melt With You
Scout Tafoya’s video essay series about maligned masterpieces celebrates Mark Pellington’s I Melt With You.
Short Films in Focus: Solace
An interview with Tom Gibbons about his short documentary, Solace.
Self Portrait in Yellow: A Yellowjackets Video Essay
A video essay by Scout Tafoya about the personal impact of Showtime’s Yellowjackets.
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.
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.
