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

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...

A garden with green grass, chairs and stone paths, surrounds a shallow pool that children are playing in while adults watch. Behind the garden, there is a wall with barbed wire, guard towers and a large red-shingle roofed building.

Review: Why ‘The Zone of Interest’ asks you not to watch, but listen

“The Zone of Interest” is an experimental audiovisual portrait of Auschwitz that questions the nature of violence.
Tony Jaeyeong Jeong, Staff Writer February 6, 2024

The lights dim in the theater as “The Zone of Interest” is about to play. The audience puts away their phones, expecting an opening shot that might give them a hint of what's...

Harry and Adam, played by Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott, stand in an elevator.

Review: ‘All of Us Strangers’ is a hauntingly bleak tale of grief and trauma

Featuring stellar performances and cinematography, Andrew Haigh’s latest film is a spiritual romance meant to be experienced, not enjoyed. “All of Us Strangers” is now showing in select theaters.
Juliana Guarracino, Culture Editor February 5, 2024

Spoiler warning: This article includes spoilers for “All of Us Strangers.” I am an avid believer that one of the best ways to watch a movie is to go in blind. Ideally, that...

A faded, sepia-tinted film photograph with eight figures in medieval costumes. The figures stand in the middle of the road with vehicles and city buildings in the background.

Q&A: Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho on the changing tides of cinema

WSN spoke with Mendonça about his latest project, “Pictures of Ghosts,” a documentary that captures film culture in flux.
Mick Gaw, Film & TV Editor January 26, 2024

Kleber Mendonça Filho often uses his camera to spotlight the displaced and the forgotten. Whether it was in his critically acclaimed debut feature “Neighboring Sounds,” or...

Two people are sitting on a brown couch. Both of them appear upset and are leaning their head on their hands. The man on the left has short dark hair and is wearing a black shirt. The girl on the right has long, brown hair and is wearing a white shirt with blue shorts.

Review: ‘The Sweet East’ is a freewheeling, antagonistic epic

Sean Price Williams’ directorial debut features a joyful and occasionally grating journey through the East Coast.
Ethan Beck, Staff Writer December 8, 2023

School-sponsored overnight trips are often iconic milestones for teenagers, with their moments of unrestricted mayhem and chaos. With a newfound sense of freedom, class clowns...

A yellow trophy with multi-colored confetti on a purple background.

Staff Recs: la fin.

Join WSN’s Arts Desk in celebrating some of this year’s artistic triumphs.

The final stretch of the year is both cherished and chaotic with its never-ending festivities. Before you gorge yourself on Christmas cookies or get tipsy on spiked eggnog, though,...

A person in a white dress stands holding a baby in a diaper. They are standing in the middle of green trees and foliage with a few houses in the background.

Review: ‘All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt’ and meditating on the changes that define us

NYU Film grad’s debut feature treats themes of change and memory with audiovisual precision.
Liv Steinhardt, Contributing Writer November 3, 2023

“All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt” does not open on a dirt road or in a salty ocean, but on an inland Mississippi lake, with a young Mack’s (Charleen McClure) hand holding a...

A man with brown hair wearing a white shirt leans on a woman with blonde hair wearing a beige shirt

Review: ‘Foe’ — despite its potential, it’s a big disappointment

Out in theaters now, the movie follows a couple’s relationship being tested when a proposal is brought to them.
Madeline Kane, Staff Writer October 25, 2023

While the real world has only more generally raised concerns about artificial intelligence over the past decade, cinema has grappled with the idea of artificial beings for decades....

A man in a blue jacket and a girl in a pink sweater sitting on a bench looking up towards the sky.

NYFF 61 Review: ‘Perfect Days’ gently chronicles a quiet existence

Wim Wenders’ award-winning Japanese language feature made its North American premiere at the 61st New York Film Festival.
Amalia Rizos, Contributing Writer October 12, 2023

What do we do for work? How do we get around? What things do we care about? Listen to? Even eat? As Annie Dillard once wrote, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend...

Actresses Natalie Portman, on the left, and Julianne Moore, on the right, look into the camera as if it is a mirror. Natalie Portman holds a notepad and pen while Julianne Moore holds a makeup sponge and lipstick. The image is from the film “May December.”

WSN’s guide to the 61st New York Film Festival

In anticipation of this year’s New York Film Festival, WSN has put together a list of must-see movie premieres you will want to secure tickets for before they sell out.
Mick Gaw, Film & TV Editor September 25, 2023

From Sept. 29 to Oct. 15, the New York Film Festival celebrates its 61st anniversary, marking a long tradition of highlighting cinematic excellence from all corners of the world....

An illustration of a laptop whose screen shows a person wearing a tracksuit leaning over a luggage on a bench. The laptop sits on purple blankets and a cup of tea is also on the blanket.

Off the Radar: ‘Alice in the Cities,’ a guide for lost souls

Off the Radar is a weekly column surveying overlooked films available to students for free via NYU’s streaming partnerships. “Alice in the Cities” is available to stream on Kanopy.
Amalia Rizos, Contributing Writer September 22, 2023

When one is on the road, displaced from the warmth of home, an emptiness takes over. Sometimes, the only remedy for this vacuum is to reach out and share moments with the most...

A still image from the film “Stop Making Sense” with lead vocalist David Byrne singing on stage and pointing a microphone to the camera.

Review: ‘Stop Making Sense’ immortalizes a band in its prime

A24's restoration of the concert film featuring Talking Heads cements the legendary band's legacy as a pioneer of New Wave music.
Stephanie Wong, Arts Editor September 22, 2023

In 1984, director Jonathan Demme first released his concert film “Stop Making Sense” featuring the seminal ’80s New Wave band Talking Heads. In 2023, many still consider...