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

A red mug and a laptop with a blue-toned image of a woman applying lipstick to another woman.

Off the Radar: Feminism, race and gender in ‘The Big City’

Off the Radar is a weekly column surveying overlooked films available to students for free via NYU’s streaming partnerships. “The Big City” is available to stream on Kanopy and Max.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy Managing Editor February 16, 2024

The conflict between the old and new is a recurring theme in most, if not all, of Bengali filmmaker Satyajit Ray’s films. Since the start of his filmography with the 1955 classic...

Actresses Natalie Portman, on the left, and Julianne Moore, on the right, look into the camera as if it is a mirror. Natalie Portman holds a notepad and pen while Julianne Moore holds a makeup sponge and lipstick. The image is from the film “May December.”

WSN’s guide to the 61st New York Film Festival

In anticipation of this year’s New York Film Festival, WSN has put together a list of must-see movie premieres you will want to secure tickets for before they sell out.
Mick Gaw, Film & TV Editor September 25, 2023

From Sept. 29 to Oct. 15, the New York Film Festival celebrates its 61st anniversary, marking a long tradition of highlighting cinematic excellence from all corners of the world....

An illustration of white-colored barbed wire and chain links from a fence. They are silhouetted on a red background.

Review: ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’ is a sleek tale of environmental revolution

With Daniel Goldhaber’s stylish direction and a strong cast, “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” turns a story about property destruction into a tense thriller.
Ethan Beck, Contributing Writer April 25, 2023

What’s the cure for apathy? In “How to Blow Up a Pipeline,” the tight, new environmentalist thriller from “Cam” director Daniel Goldhaber, the answer is direct action....

An illustration of two faces in red against a black background.

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...

An illustration of a man wearing a dark blue sweater and white pants leaning against the rear of a white convertible whose license plate number reads “4.T.H.W.A.L.L.”

Review: Ruel breaks the ‘4TH WALL’ with debut studio album

Ruel’s highly anticipated debut studio album touches hearts and minds with its reminders that love and loss are part of growing up and into ourselves.
Rojienne Groves, Contributing Writer March 28, 2023

I vividly remember the first time I listened to Ruel. I was 14 when my best friend sent me his sophomore EP, “Free Time.” Little did I know that almost six years later, I would...

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...

A man with black hair winces in the dark.

The case against ‘Whiplash’

We made a huge mistake giving this guy an Oscar.
Andre Garcia, Contributing Writer February 20, 2023

Nowadays, film discourse exists in a precarious space. From the film discussion side of Twitter, to YouTube video essays, to Letterboxd discussions, people tend to get evangelical...

A teenager wearing a green jacket and a burnt orange beanie is standing, holding a guitar case on his back. A woman stands to the right of the teenager, wearing wire-frame glasses and black clothes. They are looking at one another.

Review: ‘When You Finish Saving the World’ doesn’t know what to do with itself

Jesse Eisenberg’s directorial debut flounders — much like its two main characters.
Colleen Secaur, Contributing Writer February 7, 2023

A “Jesse Eisenberg character” is an archetype easily constructed in the moviegoing public’s mind. He’s awkward, pretentious and neurotic — and maybe a bit moneyed and...

An elderly man looks down at his watch in front of a beige building. He is wearing a black derby with an indigo striped suit, a pink shirt and a purple patterned tie. He is also holding a light brown wooden cane in his right hand.

Review: ‘Living’ is a remarkably pointless rendition of an all-time classic

“Living,” the British remake of Akira Kurosawa’s “Ikiru,” excels in being just that, but unfortunately offers nothing new. 
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor December 15, 2022

South African filmmaker Oliver Hermanus’ latest film, “Living,” is a British adaptation of the 1952 masterpiece by Akira Kurosawa, “Ikiru.” It is a story about Mr. Williams...

An illustration of two people. On the left is a man wearing a dark suit looking to the left. On the right is a woman with dark hair facing sideways while looking to the front.

Review: ‘Closed Circuit’ fails to examine human condition through its provocative filmmaking

Tal Inbar’s “Closed Circuit,” an international selection at DOC NYC, undermines cinema’s humanist value in exploiting trauma for insincerity and shock value.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor December 7, 2022

Tal Inbar’s “Closed Circuit” is about as disingenuous as a documentary can be. This isn’t because of its subject matter or lack of atmosphere, but rather its excessively...

A black and white still image from a film depicting a man and a woman walking past each other against a sign filled with propaganda posters in Mandarin.

NYU’s 10th Reel China Biennial envisions promising future for independent Chinese cinema

The Tisch Cinema Studies Department, the Asian Film & Media Initiative, and the Center for Religion and Media co-presented the first Reel China festival since the start of the pandemic.
Mick Gaw, Staff Writer November 8, 2022

Hosted from Oct. 28-30, NYU’s 10th Reel China Biennial was the festival's first post-pandemic iteration and celebrated a two-decade-long mission to showcase some of the most...

An illustration of a white Englishman dressed in a navy blue police uniform, against a red background.

Review: There are no likable characters in ‘My Policeman.’

“My Policeman” provides a nuanced insight into the lives of homophobic women, misogynistic gay men, and the longstanding animosity between society and the police dating back to the 1950s.
Ary Russell, Contributing Writer November 7, 2022

Spoiler warning: This article includes spoilers for “My Policeman.” Michael Grandage’s “My Policeman,” based on Bethan Roberts’ novel of the same name, centers around...