How Much On-Screen Violence Is Too Much? How Much On-Screen Violence Is Too Much?
I’ve always been a little sensitive about films that depict school shootings. But Kristoffer Borgli’s The Drama was an outlier.
Jun 6, 2026 / Vikram Murthi
The Cinema of Societal Collapse The Cinema of Societal Collapse
This year’s Oscar-nominated international feature films—especially The Secret Agent and Sirāt—tackle what it means to live and die under tyranny.
Mar 5, 2026 / Books & the Arts / Vikram Murthi
A Downbeat Take on the Heist Movie A Downbeat Take on the Heist Movie
Kelly Reichardt’s latest, a sly 1970s drama involving a museum theft, probes the broken politics of the decade.
Oct 23, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Vikram Murthi
Is Tom Cruise the Last Action Hero? Is Tom Cruise the Last Action Hero?
After a strange, controversial career, he has become one of the few figures who upholds the old rules of Hollywood—where the human body is the greatest special effect.
Sep 3, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Vikram Murthi
Seth Rogen’s Toothless Hollywood Satire Seth Rogen’s Toothless Hollywood Satire
The Studio is pitched as a send-up of the idiocy of the entertainment industry, but its potshots are harmless, even friendly.
Jun 25, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Vikram Murthi
David Lynch’s Guts David Lynch’s Guts
His visceral films, which reflect the best and worst of American life, affected viewers in realms both conscious and unconscious.
Jan 22, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Vikram Murthi
“Industry”’s Gleeful Critique of Capital “Industry”’s Gleeful Critique of Capital
HBO’s investment banking drama makes a soap opera out of the “useless” but lurid nature of finance.
Oct 31, 2024 / Books & the Arts / Vikram Murthi
Why Did “Furiosa” Flop? Why Did “Furiosa” Flop?
A web of interconnected reasons might explain why George Miller’s long-awaited new entry to his Mad Max series failed in the box office.
Jul 10, 2024 / Books & the Arts / Vikram Murthi
What’s Ailing Prestige TV? What’s Ailing Prestige TV?
In Netflix’s big budget series 3 Body Problem, the flaws of this era of streaming is laid bare.
May 15, 2024 / Books & the Arts / Vikram Murthi
The Odd Couples of “Drive-Away Dolls” The Odd Couples of “Drive-Away Dolls”
Ethan Coen's horny homage to American film history's many strains of queer comedy highlights the collaborative aspect inherent in his project as a director.
Mar 26, 2024 / Books & the Arts / Vikram Murthi