The Sincerity and Absurdity of Hollywood’s Best Action Franchise
Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning Part One is a worthy entry in a series that has managed to stay fresh for nearly 30 years.
Film
Can Movie Fans Ever Have a Nice Thing?
Turner Classic Movies is facing deep staffing cuts—and with them, concern over what its future programming will look like.
It’s Hard to Be Mad at Indiana Jones
The action franchise’s fifth installment doesn’t break new ground, but it treats its star with respect and gives viewers what they want.
Thank Goodness for Jennifer Lawrence’s R-Rated Rom-Com
No Hard Feelings is more sweet than sexy—and that’s okay.
The Valley Girl, Like, Totally Deserved Better
The Southern Californian archetype is mocked to this day. But four decades ago, a teen movie traded in sneers for sensitivity.
The Real Lesson of The Truman Show
Twenty-five years later, the film’s most powerful insight isn’t about reality TV so much as the complicities of modern life.
Asteroid City Is Wes Anderson at His Best
The film makes the case that art can convey feelings that even its creators don’t understand.
Long Live the Delightfully Dumb Comedy
Conan O’Brien reminds us that a very stupid premise can make for the most hilarious movie.
The Immortal Mel Brooks
The 2,000-year-old man turns 97 this summer. I talked with him about fighting in World War II, his life in comedy, and the secret to happiness.
The Flash Was on Life Support—Then the Muschietti Siblings Stepped In
According to Barbara Muschietti, there’s one big reason she and her brother, Andy, have tackled some of Hollywood’s most troubled productions: “We’re incredibly stubborn.”