Vikram Murthi

Vikram Murthi is a Brooklyn-based critic and a contributing writer to The Nation. He also edits Downtime Magazine, and his freelance work has appeared in Filmmaker MagazineReverse ShotCriterionVulture, and sundry other publications.

A scene from “Confucian Confusion.”

Edward Yang’s States of Flux Edward Yang’s States of Flux

His dark comedies and family dramas of life in late-20th-century Taiwan depict a generation’s crisis, confronting the forces of finance and globalization.

Jan 11, 2024 / Books & the Arts / Vikram Murthi

The cast of “Reservation Dogs.”

How “Reservation Dogs” Changed the TV Landscape How “Reservation Dogs” Changed the TV Landscape

The pioneering FX show offered a window into contemporary Native life in all its joys and vicissitudes.

Nov 21, 2023 / Books & the Arts / Vikram Murthi

A scene from “Infinite Life.”

The Small Gestures and Big Questions of Annie Baker’s Plays The Small Gestures and Big Questions of Annie Baker’s Plays

In Infinite Life, Baker asks: How do you reach out to others when everyone ultimately suffers alone?

Oct 31, 2023 / Books & the Arts / Vikram Murthi

Ira Kaplan and Georgia Hubley of Yo La Tengo in New York City, 2022.

Yo La Tengo’s Lifelong Love Story Yo La Tengo’s Lifelong Love Story

Across decades, the venerable band has quietly pioneered an intimate form of rock, at once adventurous and deeply personal.

Jul 3, 2023 / Books & the Arts / Vikram Murthi

Quintessa Swindell and Joel Edgerton in “Master Gardener.”

Paul Schrader’s Unlikely Optimism Paul Schrader’s Unlikely Optimism

Master Gardener seems designed to provoke. But in his late age, the filmmaker has settled into an earnest style, fixated on love and second chances.

Jun 15, 2023 / Books & the Arts / Vikram Murthi

Jeremy Strong in the finale of “Succession.”

The Janus-Faced End of “Succession” The Janus-Faced End of “Succession”

At once cruel and compassionate, the finale of the much-loved HBO show revels in the space between tragedy and comedy.

May 31, 2023 / Books & the Arts / Vikram Murthi

The Biting Workplace Comedy of “Party Down”

The Biting Workplace Comedy of “Party Down” The Biting Workplace Comedy of “Party Down”

Returning over a decade after it was originally canceled, the cult series remains a potent satire of meritocracy and Los Angeles.

Apr 11, 2023 / Books & the Arts / Vikram Murthi

The Anxious Influences of Netflix’s “White Noise”

The Anxious Influences of Netflix’s “White Noise” The Anxious Influences of Netflix’s “White Noise”

What has Noah Baumbach wrought in his adaptation of the 1985 postmodern novel?

Jan 25, 2023 / Books & the Arts / Vikram Murthi

The Honesty of “Atlanta”

The Honesty of “Atlanta” The Honesty of “Atlanta”

After four seasons, Donald Glover’s television show leaves behind a fascinating and complicated legacy.

Jan 12, 2023 / Books & the Arts / Vikram Murthi

The Ghosts of “Irma Vep”

The Ghosts of “Irma Vep” The Ghosts of “Irma Vep”

Olivier Assayas's clever and beguiling HBO miniseries responds to the state of cinema in the age of streaming.

Oct 19, 2022 / Books & the Arts / Vikram Murthi

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