Oliver Stevens
What Does “Greatest Movie of All Time” Mean, Exactly?
We have an obsession with lists and aggregated polls that crown a single film as the champion of the art form, but we think precious little about what we mean by that prestigious label.
Sinners and the Dangers of Integration
Ryan Coogler's bluesy horror shows us that fusing cultures together often means suffocating the less privileged one.
Citizen Kane, The Social Network, and the American Ozymandias
Two films, one a revered classic and the other a recent classic, interrogate the American Myth, examining the inevitable ruin that comes from obscene power and the legends we draw from such tales.
How Much Do Spoilers Really Matter?
Our spoiler-averse culture has reached a fever pitch, but is its terror justified?
Secrets & Lies: The Weight of Empathy
Mike Leigh's acclaimed drama expresses the intensity and catharsis of seeing those around you as full, complete people.
An Ode to Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Performance in The Big Lebowski
There are no small parts, only small actors. Philip Seymour Hoffman's six and a half minutes as an exasperated henchman in The Big Lebowski is a case study of the maxim.