Grafted
The kind of solid programmer that takes its audience for a slick and satisfying ride without challenging them too much.
TV/Streaming
The Sand Castle
It’s both terrifying and moving to realize that these people are forced to live in their own imaginations in order to survive.
“The Night Agent” Raises the Stakes and Reinvents Itself In Season Two
It feels like the action is more severe, and the stakes in “The Night Agent” have also been raised.
Apple TV+ Misses the Mark With Conspiracy Thriller “Prime Target”
Ultimately, this new attempt at a conspiracy thriller is myopically preoccupied with appearing smarter than it is.
Starz’s “The Couple Next Door” Stops Itself From Reaching Great Heights
The core four actors feel like the only people not sleeping through these scenes.
Asura
It’s never boring because of how much Kore-eda values the emotional journeys of his characters, and how he directs an entire cast to nary a single weak performance (and several great ones).
Don’t Bother Waking Up for “On Call”
It is entirely possible that both actors on “On Call” are actually talented; they just don’t have much to do.
Peter Berg Shows the Ugly Side of American History With the Frustrating “American Primeval”
A manipulative tale of survival, as tasteless as it is hollow.
Tim Allen and Kat Dennings Fire on All Cylinders in ABC’s “Shifting Gears”
“Shifting Gears” won me over easily.
Frustrating Second Season of “Severance” Gets Off to a Rocky Start
I still greatly admire “Severance” just for existing, but it’s a show weighed down by its own ideas for the first half of this season, a program that has lost a step by trying to do too much.
Noah Wyle Anchors Intense, Effective Max Medical Drama “The Pitt”
“The Pitt” is a smart show that values character detail and intricate medical science that sometimes succumbs to doses of melodrama that can be forgiven for everything that it does very well.
The Love Scam
Carteni leads a cast of endearing performers, all of whom work well together even when the narrative gets a little silly.
FOX’s “Going Dutch” Lacks Chemistry, Heart, and a Sense of Humor
FOX’s “Going Dutch” is the first comedy misfire of 2025.
Number 24
A sturdy, handsomely mounted period piece depicting the emotional toll required for freedom.
Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever
The film raises questions about our assumptions that are provocative and worthwhile.
Sony’s “Frank Capra at Columbia” 4K Box Set Encapsulates One of America’s Great Filmmakers
A review of Sony’s sprawling new box set of 21 films from the Golden Age master’s time at Columbia Pictuers.
“Squid Game” Returns with Sharp Filmmaking, New Ideas in a Transitional Season
“Squid Game” is back and ready for some new games.
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
“Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” feels like a warm blanket by the fire on a snowy day.
