Review

Grammy Awards ultimately continue to disappoint

By Livia Gimenes | April 4

Even before they started, the odds didn’t seem in favor of this year's Grammy Awards. The original date of the ceremony was first postponed from Jan. 31 due to the influx of Omicron in the United States. More recently, J-Hope and Jungkook from the world-famous boy band BTS, who were set to ...

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Elton John: 74 and still standing

By Magdalena Del Valle | March 8

Elton John, the 74-year-old singer, donned a baby blue suit with a picture of a bedazzled cat on the back of the blazer as he stood on the stage of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on March 2. The Brooklyn performance is one stop on his final tour, “Farewell Yellow Brick Road.” He sat ...

‘Nightmare Alley’ captivates in fatalistic telling of human folly

By Irene Chou | March 2

“People fool themselves.” It is this chilling truth that overshadows the fatalistic trajectories of fallible characters in Guillermo del Toro’s Oscar-nominated melodrama, “Nightmare Alley,” a remake of the classic 1947 noir based on William Lindsay Gresham’s novel of the same name. ...

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‘Don’t Look Up’: Just look away

By Finn Kirkpatrick | March 2

When making a movie, “why” is a question that should be asked constantly. Why are the characters doing what they are doing? Why should this movie be made? Why should the audience care? The whys of “Don’t Look Up” are all over the place.

‘The Fallout’ masterfully combines complex effects of trauma, coming of age

By Livia Gimenes | February 25

Every generation has its defining coming-of-age movies. Classics like “Dead Poets Society” and “Perks of Being a Wallflower” are hallmarks in cinematic history with their sad but compelling storylines that capture the angst of the teenage years. With its complex portrayal of the consequences ...

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Steven Spielberg’s 'West Side Story' poignantly revives classic

By Aalia Jagwani | February 23

Over six decades ago, four of the greatest minds in musical theater joined forces to stage an “experiment” that would become a living, breathing force transcending both stage and screen. 64 years after playwright Arthur Laurents, composer Leonard Bernstein, choreographer Jerome Robbins ...

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Review

'The Sex Lives of College Girls' offers witty and charming take on college life

By Livia Gimenes | February 13

Recently, audiences have argued that some of the most popular young adult TV shows like Euphoria should not be set in high school due to their mature nature. Instead, they contend that for a more realistic take on teen sexuality, more shows of the genre should take place in an older setting. ...

Review

‘The Worst Person in the World’ delights with phenomenal performances

By Finn Kirkpatrick | February 11

As the end credits roll on Joachim Trier’s “The Worst Person in the World,” the viewer’s first thought might fall along the lines of “that film lied to me.” To be clear, this is no Watergate-level nefarious lie. It’s an innocent falsehood that makes the truth even better. This deception ...

Review

HBO Max’s “Gossip Girl”: a mediocre Gen Z makeover

By Livia Gimenes | February 7

From “And Just Like That” to “iCarly,” reboots and revivals have been taking the TV streaming world by storm. One of the latest and most anticipated shows has been HBO Max’s revival of the late-2000s hit show “Gossip Girl.”

Review

Emily in Paris Season 2: A forgettable sugar cookie

By Sam Schwartz | February 2

“Emily in Paris” should have been comfort food. Shows like “Bridgerton,” “The Great British Bake Off” and “Ted Lasso” all serve the important function of Cinnabon television: no nutritional value, but richly deserved after a hard day’s work. But “Emily in Paris” is too bland ...

Review

“Ozark” Season 4 (Part 1): “Ozark” is a Greek Tragedy in the Modern World

By Sam Schwartz | February 1

The Byrdes have nowhere to hide from themselves. “Ozark,” a thriller about an uprooted criminal family’s move to the eponymous Ozarks region, is now in the first half of its fourth and final season. The show follows Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman), his wife Wendy (Laura Linney ’86) and ...

Review

Season 3 of 'Succession' falls short

By Rya Vallabhaneni | January 26

HBO’s satirical drama series "Succession" returned for Season 3 with its usual acidity. The dialogue is quick, the comedy acute; its moments of raw honesty are even more potent as a result. With media tycoon Logan Roy (Brian Cox) callous as ever, his children are given two options: either shove ...

Review

‘How I Met Your Father’ has the nostalgia factor but not much else

By Magdalena Del Valle | January 26

Released exclusively on Hulu on Jan. 18, “How I Met Your Father” offers a sequel to “How I Met Your Mother,” a television series that ran from 2005 to 2014. While nostalgic HIMYM fans might have looked forward to the pilot, the first episodes call into question whether the next series ...

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 ...

Review

‘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.

Review

‘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

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 ...

Review

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.

Review

‘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 ...

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 ...