Essays

Scene of the Year: Rudy Giuliani Behind Closed Doors in ‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm’

By Luke Hicks 

‘Twas the year of Giuliani humiliation and all through the land, not a creature wasn’t laughing, not even Republicans.

The All-Star Collaboration of ‘The Philadelphia Story’ Still Dazzles 80 Years Later

By Emily Kubincanek 

From star Katharine Hepburn to director George Cukor, everyone involved with this MGM classic brought incredible talent.

Performer of the Year (2020): Chadwick Boseman

By Ciara Wardlow 

His last two performances, in ‘Da 5 Bloods’ and ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,’ suggest he was embarking on a remarkable new phase of his career we will tragically never get to see.

The Middle-Aged Protagonist of ‘Soul’ is the Hero My Child-Self Needed

By Brad Gullickson 

Pixar’s latest endeavor is a crushing confrontation of self, but it offers tools to battle the inevitable onslaught of doubt.

‘Wonder Woman 1984’ and the Melodrama of the Gods

By Brad Gullickson 

The sequel wants nothing to do with a recognizable reality. Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot are here to clash with titans.

How 2020 Was Unintentionally Reflected in the Movies of 2020

By Brianna Zigler 

We reflect on films that somehow managed to successfully capture the cultural zeitgeist of this year.

2020 Was the Year of Found Footage and Creative DIY Filmmaking

By Mary Beth McAndrews 

Even a pandemic can’t stop horror filmmakers from tapping into the found footage genre to create terror in the digital world.

‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ Escapes the Trap of Stage-to-Screen

By Brad Gullickson 

The adaptation finds validation through two crackling performances from Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman.

Exploring Radical Empathy in the Movies of 2020

By Anna Swanson 

In 2020, films asked us to look at unconventional ways we can connect with people when they need it most.