New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

A giant gorilla wielding a spear.

Review: In ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,’ Godzilla is nowhere to be found

The newest installment of the MonsterVerse franchise is a try-hard successor of “Godzilla vs. Kong.”
Kaitlyn Sze Tu, Contributing Writer April 16, 2024

The MonsterVerse movie formula seemed impossible to get wrong. How could you mess up bringing together two of cinema’s most iconic monsters? The opening scene delivers...

Illustration of a laptop screen and red mug in front of a purple background, on the screen there are two women walking in a park kicking their legs out in sync.

Off the Radar: ‘Attenberg’ is a transformative repose

Off the Radar is a weekly column surveying overlooked films available to students for free via NYU’s streaming partnerships. “Attenberg” is available to stream on Kanopy.
Amalia Rizos, Contributing Writer April 12, 2024

We’ve reached the point in the slow-going transition from winter to spring of being desperate for something new — conditioning ourselves to the gloominess of a New York City...

A man with headphones speaking into a walkie talkie on a film set.

Q&A: South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong on realism in cinema

With Lee Chang-dong’s upcoming retrospective at the Metrograph, WSN spoke with the legendary South Korean filmmaker about the significance of realism in his films.
Tony Jaeyeong Jeong, Staff Writer April 8, 2024

Director Lee Chang-dong’s films are uniquely Korean, and throughout his career, his work has served as cultural beacons for the future of Korean cinema. “Peppermint Candy”...

An illustration of a man with brown hair and a blue shirt wearing movie theater 3D glasses that say VERSUS across the lenses.

‘Free Time’ subverts any semblance of competent adulthood

I would call “Free Time” incompetence porn, but it’s not.
Liv Steinhardt, Contributing Writer April 5, 2024

Meek data analyst Drew (Colin Burgess) — determined to quit his job — stutters to his boss, “If I have to input more numbers into a little box, I-I’m going to have some...

A man wearing a black trench coat and green crocs leans on a teal front door.

Review: ‘High & Low: John Galliano’ captures a fashion icon falling apart at the seams

The documentary chronicles fashion designer John Galliano’s career in full, but falters in redeeming his character following incidents of antisemitism.
Karina Rower, Deputy Copy Chief April 2, 2024

In the early aughts, John Galliano’s creative direction led fashion houses Givenchy, Dior and Maison Margiela to widespread success. With a flair for the outlandish and avant-garde,...

A cartoon panda with a straw hat and a red cape winds up a punch to a flying green stingray on a black background with a yellow flash.

Review: ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ lacks what made its predecessors so charming

DreamWorks Animation’s latest addition to the decade-long series lacks the ingenuity and emotional core of its predecessors.
Tony Jaeyeong Jeong, Staff Writer March 26, 2024

Once again, our favorite animated panda is back. The first “Kung Fu Panda” film released in 2008, winning the hearts and minds of critics and audiences alike, making it one...

Black and white photo of a man in a fuzzy zip-up jacket and glasses looks up to the right.

Q&A: Filmmaker Neo Sora on capturing Ryuichi Sakamoto’s final performance

WSN spoke with director Neo Sora about his latest film “Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus,” the late musical icon’s last recorded concert.
Mick Gaw, Film & TV Editor March 15, 2024

Based in both New York and Tokyo, Japanese American filmmaker Neo Sora is a relative newcomer to the world of cinema. Named one of the “25 New Faces of Independent Film” by...

Split-image illustration of cartoon characters with a dark blue background. A young boy in orange clothes with an arrow tattoo on his forehead is at the center. A man and a woman controlling fire and water are on the right side. There’s a flying bison, blue mask and another woman in face paint with a headdress on the left.

Review: Netflix’s ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ is rough, buddy

The live-action adaptation of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” rarely ever excels as a shot-for-shot remake of the popular cartoon, ultimately frustrating longtime fans of the original.
Carmo Moniz and Yezen Saadah March 15, 2024

Warning: This review contains spoilers for “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” Two of your favorite WSN staffers offer their thoughts on one of the most anticipated shows of the...

Two people standing outside. The person on the left is holding a large canvas with an egg painted on it.

Review: ‘Problemista’ and the laughable absurdity of the immigrant experience

Salvadoran comedian Julio Torres’s promising directorial debut humanizes the immigrant identity in a wonderfully surreal and innovative tale.
Lulu Chatterjee, Contributing Writer March 5, 2024

It’s no secret that obtaining a visa in the United States is a bureaucratic nightmare. The entire process is often recounted as a strenuous uphill battle where all odds are against...

A still of two people fighting with small swords in front of a group of people and aliens.

Review: ‘Dune: Part Two’ resonates now more than ever before

Frank Herbert’s “Dune” may be nearing its 60th anniversary, but Denis Villeneuve’s continuation of the 2021 film adaptation reinvigorates the epic sci-fi story.
Dani Biondi, Staff Writer March 4, 2024

Frank Herbert’s “Dune” is a behemoth of a series, with six parts and — for some reason — 20 spin-off novels expanding the universe. Despite its extensive worldbuilding...

A red mug and a laptop on a purple background. On the screen, a man wearing a suit is on the phone with white words filling the screen behind him.

Off the Radar: Suits, swears and ‘Succession’ in ‘The Thick of It’

Off the Radar is a weekly column surveying overlooked films and shows available to students for free via NYU’s streaming partnerships. “The Thick of It” is available to stream on Kanopy.
Elio Kaczmarek, Contributing Writer March 1, 2024

“Succession” gave us enlightened investigations of love, business and identity, while being a blisteringly funny television series. For fans of British programming, or anybody...

A man tending to a grill wearing a white shirt and blue button up.

The case for Charles Melton

As the 96th Academy Awards ceremony closes in, the exclusion of the “May December” star from this year's nominations is one of the most egregious snubs in the Academy’s history.
Mick Gaw and Stephanie Wong March 1, 2024

In a year of multimillion-dollar blockbusters and critically acclaimed arthouse films, supporting actors took center stage. Whether it was Ryan Gosling’s iconic performance as...