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

Film

A film still of two men in military outfits holding guns and walking people with black bags over their heads. Behind them, a girl sits against a wall with chalk markings of pink, blue and green, wearing a black vest with the word, “PRESS” written on it.

Review: ‘Civil War’ asks viewers what kind of American they are

Alex Garland criticizes journalistic and bystander integrity in his new A24 film “Civil War.”
Bella Simonte, Contributing Writer April 24, 2024

British filmmaker Alex Garland has returned to A24 with his newest film “Civil War.” Though the title suggests otherwise, the film is less about politics and more a critique...

In the background is the Letterboxd website window, which shows three films in the “Popular Films This Week” category: “Dune: Part Two” “La La Land,” and “Spirited Away.” To the lower right, there is a phone screen showing the overview for the film “The First Omen.”

Inside the Boxd: ‘Monkey Man,’ ‘Dune: Part Two,’ ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ and more

Inside the Boxd is a column documenting WSN staffers’ recent film reviews on Letterboxd. Grab some popcorn and get that watchlist ready!

With roughly 10 million site-wide users in 2023, including the likes of NYU alumni Martin Scorsese and Ayo Edebiri, Letterboxd has become the premier social media platform for...

A girl wearing a white tank top and blue jeans sits on a store countertop, holding a wooden sign that reads, “Brandy Melville.”

Review: ‘Brandy Hellville & the Cult of Fast Fashion’ has been a long time coming

Australian documentarian Eva Orner calls for strikes and boycotts against the exploitation and overconsumption at Brandy Melville, within a larger conversation about fast-fashion culture.
Bella Simonte, Contributing Writer April 18, 2024

In the early 2000s, Brandy Melville gained traction because of its breezy, coquette-style clothing. Soon, the aesthetic turned into a stamp of approval used to brand the haves...

Two women wearing neutral colors are shocked as the woman in front of them flips her hair.

Review: ‘Wicked Little Letters’ spells out what it means to be kind

In “Wicked Little Letters,” handwriting isn’t the only script that denotes what it means to be a good mother, drunkard, neighbor or friend.
Liv Steinhardt, Contributing Writer April 17, 2024

Chronically bad handwriting runs in my family. When my mom and I exchange holiday cards, it becomes a race to see who can decipher whose faster. But as much as we would like to...

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 sweaty man with blood on his face glares through a curtain in purple lighting.

Review: ‘Monkey Man’ powerfully reinvents the underdog action film

Dev Patel’s groundbreaking directorial debut breathes new life into the action genre through gruesome fight scenes, Hindu folklore and social commentary.
Lulu Chatterjee, Staff Writer April 9, 2024

The Dev Patel drought has finally come to an end — the British actor booms back into the scene with his debut feature, “Monkey Man.” The Jordan Peele-produced film is a harrowing...

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”...

Four people in bright yellow, green, purple and red stand in a kitchen. The yellow person to the far left is holding a red chicken.

Review: ‘Chicken for Linda!’ is chaotically charming and delightfully delicious

The French animated film packs a surprisingly magnificent punch of touching and hilarious moments.
Gabriel Murray, Contributing Writer April 5, 2024

The relationship between a parent and child is never simple. There’s bickering, fighting and yelling, and two seconds later a reconciliation of “I love you, too.” The French,...

Black and white photo of people on a couch. A man is holding a video camera while the woman next to him looks at a computer.

Q&A: Bertrand Bonello on AI, pigeons and ‘The Beast’

WSN spoke with Bonello about his new film “The Beast,” a genre-bending sci-fi melodrama about the fear of love.
Mick Gaw, Film & TV Editor April 5, 2024

French filmmaker Bertrand Bonello has always used the cinematic medium as a means to explore the extremities of human desire. Whether it was in his 2011 feature “House of Tolerance,”...

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 photograph of a man’s face with his eyes closed and his eyelids are painted yellow with a black dot in the middle. There is pink smoke in front of his face.

WSN’s guide to the 53rd New Directors/New Films festival

In anticipation of the Lincoln Center and MoMA’s latest edition of ND/NF, WSN has put together a list of the most exciting films on the festival docket.
Mick Gaw, Film & TV Editor April 3, 2024

For the average moviegoer, it is easy to feel like Hollywood is the be all and end all of cinema. With ads for multi-million dollar blockbusters constantly shoved down our throats,...