They Rode the Rails, Made Friends, and Fell Out of Love With America
Hurray for the Riff Raff has made the next great American road album.
The Coen Brothers’ Split Is Working Out Fine
Drive-Away Dolls is a zany comedy with an unapologetically sexy edge.
Seven Great Graphic Novels That Go Beyond Words
These titles demonstrate how text and image can blend together to convey one voice.
The Loneliness of Jodie Foster
A star since childhood, she spent decades guarding her privacy. On-screen, she’s always played the solitary woman under pressure. But in a pair of new roles, she’s revealed a different side of herself.
The Missing Piece of the Bob Marley Biopic
A new film about the reggae legend sanitizes his commitment to social justice—and loses what made him so magnetic.
The Expats Episode That’s Practically a Stand-Alone Film
The best installment of the Hong Kong–based drama connects the privileged protagonists with a society they inhabit at a distance.
The Fabulous Desperation of Our Celebrities
Jennifer Lopez would like us to take her seriously now.
Please, No More Shared Cinematic Universes
Madame Web doesn’t just scrape the bottom of the barrel—it finds new depths.
A Hail Mary to Save The Daily Show
Jon Stewart’s return to the show he popularized isn’t a mere nostalgia ploy—it’s a sharp spin on an old formula.
Anita’s Secrets
A short story
No One Is Prepared for a New Era of Global Migration
Erasing prejudice alone won’t solve the migrant crisis.
The James Bond Trap
Ian Fleming created the superspy—and then couldn’t get rid of him.
The Raw Talent in Usher’s Halftime Show
Roller skates and all, the R&B veteran’s performance underscored the value of showmanship.
Marilynne Robinson Makes the Book of Genesis New
In her hands, scripture becomes a precursor to the novel.
The Hollywood Pros Finally Getting Their Due
A new Oscars category will recognize casting directors, who perform a mysterious but vital component of moviemaking.
A Big-Box-Store Allegory
A satirist of literary Brooklyn now explores life in an upstate shopping warehouse.
How a Playwright Became One of the Most Incisive Social Critics of Our Time
The subversive vision of Michael R. Jackson
Toby Keith Had More to Talk About Than His Politics
The late singer became a household name by leaning into partisan controversy, obscuring his often-artful songwriting.
Six Books About Winter as It Once Was
These titles remind us of the season’s long-established joys and its necessary quiet, even as the climate changes.
What’s a Kids’ Fantasy Show Without Wonder?
Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ commitment to faithfulness turned out to be a constraint.