Review

'Passing': a mesmerizing, poignant adaptation of Nella Larsen's classic novel

By Julia Vaz | November 28

“Passing,” actor Rebecca Hall’s shining directorial debut, reproduces the finest details of Nella Larsen’s brilliantly crafted 1929 novel. In the face of the seemingly insurmountable challenge of bringing Larsen’s delicate prose to life, the 2021 Netflix production mesmerizes the audience ...

‘Red Notice’: barely better than ‘Green Lantern’

By Julia Vaz | November 21

Remember all those times Ryan Reynolds joked about his epic regrets about starring in “Green Lantern,” the 2011 superhero film which currently sits at a 26% on Rotten Tomatoes? Now he can add the film “Red Notice” to his self-deprecating skits.

‘Spencer’ shows human face behind the cultural icon

By Finn Kirkpatrick | November 17

Diana, Princess of Wales, is undoubtedly one of the great pop culture icons of modern history. Her glamour and philanthropy followed by an untimely and tragic death — all set against the backdrop of British royalty — yield a truly idiosyncratic and fascinating figure to explore.

Review: Ed Sheeran’s new album fails to ‘Equal’ his previous records

By Aalia Jagwani | November 8

“I have grown up, I am a father now / Everything has changed but I am still the same somehow.” The opening lines to Ed Sheeran’s freshly released album ‘=’ (pronounced ‘equals’) effectively encapsulate his new tracks — he has settled down, gotten his life together and “grown ...

RISD Faculty Exhibition review: varied, emotive, innovative

By Rya Vallabhaneni | November 5

The selection is a culmination of the works of about 170 RISD faculty members, all of whom have chosen to have pieces displayed at this year’s RISD Faculty Exhibition and Forum. The show opened to the public Oct. 28 and will run until Nov. 21.

‘Maid’ Review: a single mother’s tale on weathering effects of abuse and poverty

By Julia Vaz | November 1

Created by renowned playwright and screenwriter Molly Smith Metzler, the new Netflix series "Maid" is a captivating emotional journey of a single young mother fleeing systems of abuse and poverty. It avoids overused antics to deliver an honest and unique portrait of a woman navigating social struggles ...

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Review

‘America’s Big Deal’ makes reality TV shoppable

By Cecilia Barron | November 1

In case you were looking for an hour-long advertisement, “America’s Big Deal” premiered on USA Network Oct. 14. As the first “shoppable” competition show, “Big Deal” gives four entrepreneurs the chance to pitch their product to the consumer watching at home every Thursday night. The ...

Review

Asali Solomon navigates consciousness amid intersectional oppression

By Aalia Jagwani | November 1

“Liselle’s 41 years of research suggested that no matter how distant, abusive, judgemental, unloving and useless one’s mother was, one called her when things fell apart.”

Review

‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’ recounts televangelist couple’s fall from grace

By Cecilia Barron | September 29

“The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” directed by Michael Showalter ’92, had its Providence premiere at the Avon Cinema this past week. The movie follows the spectacular rise and fall of the televangelist couple Tammy Faye (Jessica Chastain) and Jim Bakker (Andrew Garfield). Showalter constructs a careful ...

Review

Sally Rooney reluctantly creates a ‘Beautiful World’ on the brink of collapse

By Aalia Jagwani | September 15

“‘What are your books about?’” Felix asks Alice, a novelist and one of the two female protagonists in Sally Rooney’s newest novel, “Beautiful World, Where Are You.” “‘Oh, I don’t know,’ she said. ‘People.’” A more accurate description of Rooney’s own writing is difficult ...

Review

Met Gala underwhelms due to disorganization

By Cecilia Barron | September 14

While the Met Gala is usually an opportunity to indulge in the pure aesthetics of wealth and fame — the red carpet flooded with celebrities and ridiculous costumes — this year’s theme, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” demanded more than a quick glance. The Met Gala is the annual fundraiser ...

Review

‘Dear Evan Hansen’ translates seamlessly to big screen

By Rebecca Carcieri | September 10

The “Dear Evan Hansen” film adaptation, to be released in theaters Sept. 24, proves that some musicals can shine both on and off stage. The six-time Tony Award winning coming-of-age musical originally captivated audiences at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. in July 2015, before transitioning ...

Review

Despite best efforts, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” return misses the mark

By Peter Swope | September 8

“Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” a sitcom created by Michael Schur and Dan Goor centering around the lives of the detectives of Brooklyn’s 99th NYPD precinct, has always tried to be a “progressive” show. The show works to portray diversity and address social issues for a younger, more socially progressive ...

Review

‘The Chair’ is Netflix’s love story in disguise

By Cecilia Barron | September 7

By now, you should have heard of “The Chair.” Starring a blazer-clad Sandra Oh, the Netflix original released Aug. 20 caters to the bookish, academic, higher ed-obsessed niche of the American population. If you’ve heard a lot about it, chances are you fit into that niche. And if you fit into that ...

Review

After ‘Much Ado,’ live theater returns to College Hill

By Aalia Jagwani | July 29

On Wednesday, a group of first-year students performed Shakespeare’s classic comedy, “Much Ado About Nothing,” at the Nightingale-Brown House, where they will perform again Friday. The production was directed by Josephine Miller ’24 and Emily Mayo ’24.In the intimate garden space outside the ...

Review

Black Widow is a nostalgic, action-packed eulogy

By Aalia Jagwani | July 27

Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have been waiting for a glimpse into the elusive Natasha Romanoff since her debut in Iron Man 2. After an 11-year long journey with the Avengers, Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) finally got her own movie July 9. The film begins in 1990s Ohio, following Natasha’s ...

Review

‘Home Video’ shows Lucy Dacus at her best

By Laura David | June 30

For years, Lucy Dacus has been one of indie’s best kept secrets. After bubbling under the surface as a member of the group boygenius with Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker and after the release of her first album "No Burden," Dacus’ sophomore record “Historian” garnered her a reach she’d never ...

Review

On the verge of greatness: girl in red releases album ‘if i could make it go quiet’

By Laura David | June 16

Norwegian singer-songwriter Marie Ulven, more widely known as the indie-pop icon girl in red, released her debut album “if i could make it go quiet” April 30 to much anticipation by fans and critics alike. Over the last year, Ulven has risen through the ranks of the bedroom-pop generation to ...

Review

'Cruella,' the Disney villainess with a fashionable backstory

By Irene Chou | June 7

Directed by Craig Gillespie (“I, Tonya”), “Cruella” is a dazzling crime-comedy, villain origin story with a vampy flair distinct from the standard Disney live-action feature. Despite an untrimmed run time of 2 hours and 14 minutes, its plot contrivances and questionable character motives are ...

Review

“Cyclopedia Exotica” looks at microaggressions, marginalization from a one-eyed perspective

By Jack Walker | June 1

From the one-eyed point of view of the Cyclops, Aminder Dhaliwal’s graphic novel “Cyclopedia Exotica” examines topics ranging from relationships and community building to microaggressions and casual bigotry, all planted in a world where Cyclopes and human “Two-Eyes” live among one another ...