‘The Bear’: Jeremy Allen White and Co. Exit the Kitchen With Renewed Spirit and Sincere Performances
The fifth and final season of “The Bear” scales back down to the raw basics of its premise. After a fourth season that lost…
‘The Vampire Lestat’: Sam Reid Gloriously Drops the Mic on AMC’s ‘Interview With the Vampire’
AMC’s “The Vampire Lestat” burns the title page of “Interview With the Vampire” in season three for the adaptation of Anne Rice’s 1985 sequel…
‘Cape Fear’ Revives Classic Thriller as a Guilty Pleasure Powered by Javier Bardem’s Diabolical Presence
Apple’s “Cape Fear” understands that there is little point in trying to recreate step by step the work of its predecessors. Creator Nick Acosta…
‘Euphoria’: Sam Levinson Ends His Gen Z Opus With a Finale Where Characters Die, Scatter, or Fade Away
Like a debauched deity eager to wash away his creations, Sam Levinson ends “Euphoria” with a finale that feels like a hybrid off the rails. The conclusion…
Nicolas Cage Spins a Detective Story Into Superhero Origins in Stylish ‘Spider-Noir’
Prime Video’s “Spider-Noir” spins a tangled web. The eight-part series reimagines the urban superhero story through the lens of a 1940s private detective film with a mix of cynical whimsy and…
‘The Boroughs’: Alfred Molina and a Band of Twilight Neighbors Chase Stranger Things in Nostalgic Delight
Those corners of America that look a little too pristine once again provide inspiration for weird happenings in Netflix’s “The Boroughs.” Here, unsuspecting residents of a retirement community are suddenly beset…
‘Dutton Ranch’: The ‘Yellowstone’ Universe Moves To Texas With Ed Harris and Annette Bening
Most big franchises develop a set formula that provides a template for everything else that spins out of the original hit. “Dutton Ranch” is the latest expansion of the world Taylor…
Civilization Is a Fragile Thing in Jack Thorne’s Brilliantly Cast Adaptation of William Golding’s ‘Lord of the Flies’
William Golding’s classic 1954 novel “Lord of the Flies” is one of those works that, like George Orwell’s “1984,” continues to find renewed relevance. Its themes of survival amid chaos, distribution of…
Richard Gadd’s ‘Half Man’ Takes Toxic Concepts of Manhood To Task With Performances Both Ferocious and Tragic
A relationship with a bully does not always take on a definite, cliché form of helpless victim and abuser. The worst cases can have a more complex dynamic. Richard Gadd’s new show…
‘Beef’: Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan Viciously Duel With Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny for a Diabolically Relevant Second Season
There is little question that we live in anxious times. Our ongoing divisions are fusing with our general stress as a species. Netflix’s “Beef” is a hilariously twisted take on our…
‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’: Elle Fanning Is a Triumph in David E. Kelley’s Infectious Apple TV Series
Elle Fanning has long ago proven she is capable of some piercing performances. Her trajectory includes strong roles in Television, film and international cinema. Yet, she reaches new and higher places with…
Sam Levinson’s ‘Euphoria’ Is Reduced To Pretty Pictures With Ugly Details in Uncertain Third Season
Growing up is sometimes the least exciting part of most long stories. Now devoid of its youthful impulses and high school hallways, Sam Levinson’s “Euphoria” returns both exuberant and confused. When…