The Front Row
Richard Brody offers notes on blockbuster movies, independent films, and documentaries.
How David Lynch Became an Icon of Cinema
The late director’s unique vision and the love that his persona inspires make it easy to forget how winding his path to greatness was.
The Enigmatic Artistry of Terrence Malick
The director has long shunned the spotlight, but his work conveys the force of a mighty personality. A new biography offers a rare look at his life and work.
The Empty Ambition of “The Brutalist”
Brady Corbet’s epic takes on weighty themes, but fails to infuse its characters with the stuff of life.
The New “Nosferatu” Drains the Life from Its Predecessor
Robert Eggers’s take expands significantly on the 1922 classic—and makes a pivotal change, with sickening implications.
“A Complete Unknown” Shears Off Vital Details in the Life of a Colossal, Complicated Artist
Timothée Chalamet’s performance is a remarkable act of mimicry that reveals little of the real Bob Dylan.
Missing Persons: The Characters of “Nightbitch” Are Left Blank
Marielle Heller’s adaptation of Rachel Yoder’s novel, starring Amy Adams, omits most of the protagonist’s inner life and shrinks the outer life, too.
Leos Carax’s Self-Portrait Film “It’s Not Me” Is So Him
In a whirligig forty-two minutes, Carax combines his spectacular cinematic ambitions and his singular sense of style with political history and unmitigated indignation.
The Operatic Drama of “Maria” Misses Its Cue
Despite Angelina Jolie’s passionate performance, this sensationalized story of Maria Callas’s last days neglects the diva’s true art.
Is Virginia Tracy the First Great American Film Critic?
The actress, screenwriter, and novelist’s reviews and essays from 1918-19 display a comprehensive grasp of movie art and a visionary sense of its future.