New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

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Review: ‘Evil Dead Rise’ brings new life to the cult horror franchise

“Evil Dead Rise,” is in theaters starting April 21. This movie is ready to scare you and everyone else — no one is safe.
Chesney Graham, Contributing Writer April 24, 2023

In Lee Cronin’s new addition to the “Evil Dead franchise,” which now has five adaptations in addition to a TV show, “Evil Dead Rise” seems to be the first film that could...

Actress Michelle Williams as the character Lizzy in the film “Showing Up.” She is working on a sculpture inside a studio with a bookshelf in the background.

Review: ‘Showing Up’ continues Kelly Reichardt’s soft-spoken hot streak

The Oregon-based director focuses on the studio art world in her latest film for A24. “Showing Up” is currently showing at select theaters in New York City.
Ethan Beck, Contributing Writer April 13, 2023

Kelly Reichardt may be the most consistent, empathetic director working in the United States today. Reichardt has regularly put together steady, simple films that reward patient...

An illustration of a silver and black laptop shows a scene of three people with black hair dressed in loose outfits, posing for a photo.

Off the Radar: ‘Casablanca Beats’ explores the complex intersection of hip hop and politics 

This Moroccan film doesn’t shy away from contentious discussions, examined with hip hop. “Casablanca Beats” is currently available on Kanopy.
Afnan Abbassi, Staff Writer April 7, 2023

One of Franco Moroccan film and television director Nabil Ayouch’s most recent films, “Casablanca Beats,” returns hip hop to its roots, highlighting the genre’s capacity...

An illustration of a man with red skin wearing a pair of goggles with the text “Ready Player One” printed on it.

‘Ready Player One’ is a cinematic masterpiece, actually

Steven Spielberg’s “Ready Player One” is often maligned as pure commercial noise by hoity-toity cinephiles. Despite the criticism, Spielberg’s love letter to the gaming community upholds the essence of fun action films in the face of pretentious cinema.
Andre Garcia, Contributing Writer March 31, 2023

Every decade has a defining film that taps precisely into the zeitgeist. For American audiences, the ’60s had “The Graduate,” the '70s had “Apocalypse Now” and the '80s...

An illustration of a silver and black laptop shows a scene of a young boy holding a book, looking at a woman wearing a hijab who is hanging clothes on a clothesline. A white and blue cup full of tea sits in front of the laptop.

Off the Radar: ‘Where Is My Friend’s House?’ and the importance of empathy

Off the Radar is a weekly column surveying overlooked films available to students for free via NYU’s streaming partnerships. “Where Is My Friend’s House?” is available to stream on Kanopy.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor March 24, 2023

Abbas Kiarostami is considered by many to be one of the most innovative filmmakers of all time. While the late Iranian director is most famous for his experimental auteur films...

An illustration of a laptop placed on a bed with blue sheets. The laptop displays two people wearing white T-shirts sitting together.

Off the Radar: Lessons on how to film ‘The Act of Killing’

Off the Radar is a weekly column surveying overlooked films available to students for free via NYU’s streaming partnerships. “The Act of Killing” is available to stream on Kanopy and NYU Stream.
Mick Gaw, Staff Writer March 10, 2023

The documentary film genre is often treated as the simple presentation of facts — a journalistic investigation that reveals answers to real-world phenomena. A passive camera...

An illustration of a woman wearing a yellow dress and a man wearing a black shirt and brown pants. They are dancing in front of a building with a red exterior.

The case against Steven Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’

Hide your theater kids for this one.
Andre Garcia, Contributing Writer March 10, 2023

This Sunday, Steven Spielberg will return to the Oscars in recognition of “The Fabelmans,” his addition to the trend of wistful semi-autobiographical bombs like “Licorice...

A close-up shot of two men dressed in formal attire sitting behind a wooden desk in a chamber with wooden walls. There are microphones placed on the desk. The man on the left points toward the camera.

Review: ‘Argentina, 1985’ and the legacy of a landmark anti-fascist trial

Nominated for best international feature film, Santiago Mitre’s “Argentina, 1985” depicts a monumental event in Argentine and international legal history. The film is showing in select theaters and streaming on Amazon Prime.
Mick Gaw, Staff Writer March 7, 2023

In “Argentina, 1985” director Santiago Mitre captures a rare moment in global history — the successful civilian persecution of a tyrannical government. Nominated for best...

An angry-looking black bear growls against a red background.

Review: ‘Cocaine Bear’ is at its best when it’s just about a bear on cocaine

Colleen Secaur, Contributing Writer March 7, 2023

In 1985, a black bear ate 75 pounds of cocaine in a forest in Georgia, and died of an overdose almost immediately. It’s a weird story for sure, the type of story you could tell...

A couple, one person wearing an orange dress and the other wearing a light tan suit, dance on a black-and-white tile floor.

Review: ‘Dancing the Twist in Bamako’ is a tale of star-crossed lovers in a postcolonial world

Set in a nation freshly liberated from French colonial rule, director Robert Guédiguian tells the story of two lovers fighting to be together against all odds. The film opened on Feb. 24 at the Film Forum.
Sanam Estakhrian, Contributing Writer March 6, 2023

“Dancing the Twist in Bamako” by French director Robert Guédiguian is set in 1962 Bamako, Mali, and features the country’s history just after gaining independence from French...

An illustration of four people walking into the distance in a village. The image is tinted with a teal color.

Review: New doc on Sarah Lawrence cult tells the harrowing truth of survivors

The docuseries follows a group of nine students at Sarah Lawrence College who fell victim to manipulation. It serves as a harrowing realization that cults are not things of the past, but closer than we know.
Julia Diorio, Contributing Writer February 28, 2023

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of sexual assault. Sarah Lawrence College sits in the small village of Bronxville, New York, an affluent Westchester County...

A black and white photograph of people on the right side holding their hands up. They are surrounded by men in uniform.

Review: ‘The Sorrow and the Pity’: Once illegal, now in theaters

The film returned to theaters on Feb. 24, 50 years after director Marcel Ophuls exposed how the French Vichy government secretly collaborated with the Nazis during World War II.
Ashley Simons, Contributing Writer February 27, 2023

“The Sorrow and the Pity,” a landmark documentary from 1969, is now in theaters with a breathtaking 4K restoration after years of being banned. The film immerses viewers in...