Mike Nichols: A Life is a Must-Read Memoir
A review of Mike Nichols: A Life and links to Roger Ebert’s writing on the director.
Features
The Parallax View and the Golden Age of Paranoia
A look at the staying power of Alan J. Pakula’s The Parallax View and the age of conspiracies.
Three-Hour Brunch Friend: Greta Gerwig’s Breakups
Greta Gerwig is as much a great chronicler of the friend romance as she is of the friend breakup.
Getting to the Heart of America in David Lynch’s The Straight Story
Lynch’s 1999 film reminds us that everyone’s beliefs come from somewhere, and it’s worth trying to find out what that somewhere is.
Bright Wall/Dark Room February 2021: Who Could Ask for Anything More?: Watching Gene Kelly From a Child’s-Eye View by Ethan Warren
An essay about Gene Kelly, as excerpted from the latest edition of Bright Wall/Dark Room.
Farewell to the Video Store
An ode to the end of an era, the closing of Family Video stores across the country.
Short Films in Focus: Yearbook and Hudson Geese
An interview with Bernardo Britto about his two short films, Yearbook and Hudson Geese.
Outlines: A Queer Reading of Some Silhouettes
A look at the iconic imagery of Rob Marshall’s Chicago, Josef von Sternberg’s Morocco, and Bob Fosse’s Cabaret.
On the Disempowerment of Promising Young Woman
Emerald Fennell’s revenge film hits two major stumbling blocks in its desire to interrogate justice and create an empowering narrative.
The Joke’s On Him: Tom Cruise and Eyes Wide Shut
An appreciation of Tom Cruise’s performance in “Eyes Wide Shut.”
Meet the Writers: Carlos Aguilar
Writer Carlos Aguilar’s answers the movie love questionnaire.
START TV Continues My Start Story Campaign Amidst Pandemic
An article about START TV’s My Start Story campaign.
What Child Is This: The Enduring Legacy of Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid
How the structure of the 100-year-old The Kid has been reflected in recent hits like The Midnight Sky, The Mandalorian, and News of the World.
Short Films in Focus: Cake Day
An interview with the director of Cake Day, and a presentation of the short film.
Beyond the Lines: Joan Micklin Silver, 1935-2020
A tribute to pioneering filmmaker Joan Micklin Silver, who told distinctive stories that often focused on Jewish Americans and women.
You Don’t Think the Future Knows How to Cross A Bridge: Relighting The Bonfire of the Vanities
A look back at one of the biggest box office bombs of 30 years ago.
A Seat at the Table: The State of International Horror in 2020
A look at the changes in the horror world in 2020, most notably how the pandemic and rise of streaming services allowed a greater audience for international horror.
Bright Wall/Dark Room December 2020: Intimacy, Touch, and the Perennial Beauty of Hands by Lainey Wood
An essay by Lainey Wood about Pride & Prejudice and hands, as excerpted from the latest issue of Bright Wall/Dark Room.
