Essays
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Scene of the Year: Rudy Giuliani Behind Closed Doors in ‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm’
‘Twas the year of Giuliani humiliation and all through the land, not a creature wasn’t laughing, not even Republicans.
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The All-Star Collaboration of ‘The Philadelphia Story’ Still Dazzles 80 Years Later
From star Katharine Hepburn to director George Cukor, everyone involved with this MGM classic brought incredible talent.
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Performer of the Year (2020): Chadwick Boseman
His last two performances, in ‘Da 5 Bloods’ and ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,’ suggest he was embarking on a remarkable new phase of his career we will tragically never get to see.
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The Middle-Aged Protagonist of ‘Soul’ is the Hero My Child-Self Needed
Pixar’s latest endeavor is a crushing confrontation of self, but it offers tools to battle the inevitable onslaught of doubt.
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‘Wonder Woman 1984’ and the Melodrama of the Gods
The sequel wants nothing to do with a recognizable reality. Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot are here to clash with titans.
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How 2020 Was Unintentionally Reflected in the Movies of 2020
We reflect on films that somehow managed to successfully capture the cultural zeitgeist of this year.
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2020 Was the Year of Found Footage and Creative DIY Filmmaking
Even a pandemic can’t stop horror filmmakers from tapping into the found footage genre to create terror in the digital world.
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‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ Escapes the Trap of Stage-to-Screen
The adaptation finds validation through two crackling performances from Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman.
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Exploring Radical Empathy in the Movies of 2020
In 2020, films asked us to look at unconventional ways we can connect with people when they need it most.