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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 collage of two photos. On the left is a man in a red robotic suit. On the right is a black-and-white photo of a man in a suit and glasses.

In defense of the franchise film

Science-fiction and action movies are often disregarded and considered to be incapable of nuance. In degrading such projects, we often overlook true pieces of art and storytelling.
Gillian Blum, Deputy Managing Editor March 7, 2024

Robert Downey Jr. is a frontrunner for an Oscar this year, and many film aficionados will attribute this to “Oppenheimer” being his return to legitimate acting. Downey’s...

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...

A woman and a young girl in a kitchen hold their hands above a bowl of sprouting plants.

Review: ‘Shayda’ is poignant story of domestic abuse, national identity and healing

Based on a true story, Noora Niasari’s new film is a biopic that captures a tumultuous journey of domestic abuse and immigration.
Chloe Haack, Contributing Writer March 1, 2024

An impressive feature debut based on director Noora Niasari’s early life, “Shayda” is a masterful exploration of religious expectations, domestic abuse and the resilience...

A woman sitting across from two men at a table with a snowy landscape in the background.

Review: ‘About Dry Grasses’ is a wintery tale of discontent

The ninth feature from filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan is an intimate epic of melancholic circumstances and conflicting moralities.
Nolan Morris, Contributing Writer February 27, 2024

Set in a small Eastern Anatolian village, the newest feature from Turkish filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan captures the existential burdens of a group of school teachers completing...

A woman sits at a laptop while a man stands next to her, looking at a piece of paper from a black envelope. Behind them is a full bookcase and a painting.

Review: ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’ makes vulnerability sexy

Co-created by NYU alum Donald Glover and a twist on the 2005 film of the same name, the series is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Dani Biondi, Staff Writer February 26, 2024

Warning: This review contains spoilers for “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.” You probably didn’t watch “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (2005) for the plot, unless that counts ogling...

A red mug and a laptop are placed on a purple background. On the screen of the laptop is a woman wearing a green jacket and a pair of sunglasses driving a yellow car through the mountains.

Off the Radar: The surprising tenderness of Jacques Tati’s ‘Trafic’

Off the Radar is a weekly column surveying overlooked films available to students for free via NYU’s streaming partnerships. “Trafic” is available to stream on Kanopy.
Ethan Beck, Staff Writer February 23, 2024

Jacques Tati, the French filmmaker behind visually dazzling comedies like 1958’s  “Mon Oncle” and the 1967 “PlayTime,” began his career in entertainment as a mime, performing...

Four women looking scared on a subway platform. One of them is holding a skateboard.

Review: ‘Madame Web’ is somehow worse than you thought

He was in the Amazon with her mom when she was researching spiders right before she died, and I was asleep in my seat. Also, the line wasn’t even in the movie.
Holden Lay, Staff Writer February 23, 2024

“Madame Web” is an indefensibly bad film. Such poorly made and agonizingly dull schlock can only be the result of a complete lack of inspiration. “Madame Web” is the...

A man with dreads plays the guitar while singing into a microphone.

Review: ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ is only pleasing to the ear

While the recently released biopic recreates some of the magic from Bob Marley’s music, it fails to thoughtfully explore the reggae superstar’s legacy.
Tony Jaeyeong Jeong, Staff Writer February 22, 2024

Renowned Jamaican singer-songwriter Bob Marley was a multidimensional cultural icon. Dubbed the “King of Reggae,” he was a pioneer in the Reggae music scene who constantly...

An illustration of the “Poor Things” protagonist, Bella Baxter, with a light purple film strip in the background. Bella is cut into pieces, with her brain outside of her body, and is running.

‘Poor Things’ argues to be human is to be monstrous

Subverting genre and reflecting the classics prior, “Poor Things” proposes what a modern monster movie should look like.
Liv Steinhardt, Contributing Writer February 16, 2024

In the popular discourse regarding “Poor Things,” audiences have repeatedly tried to categorize this label-rejecting film. A quick Google search finds “Poor Things” labeled...