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 silhouette of a puppet with a long nose walking through an open gate with a bright ray of light shining through it.

Review: Stop-motion animation in ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’ emotionally captures life’s transience

Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson’s adaptation of the classic fairytale reaffirms why animation matters with a profound, heartful and incredibly moving narrative. The film is now playing at the IFC Center and available to stream on Netflix.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor December 12, 2022

“Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” is one of the most prolific animated films since 2014’s “The Lego Movie.” Directors Mark Gustafson — who is best known for his work...

Mia Goth, who plays Pearl, is dressed in a red dress and swings a hatchet.

Review: ‘Pearl’ sees Mia Goth play an atypical homicidal heroine

A slasher-film fanatic’s dream, A24’s second installment in the “X” franchise, “Pearl,” is one not to miss, currently playing in theaters.
Samantha Burge and Shreya Wankhade September 19, 2022

A prequel to last spring’s raw twist on horror “X,” “Pearl” gives audiences the disturbing backstory of excruciatingly horny anti-hero Pearl. This past Tuesday, Sept....

Miklós Jancsó reimagines an ancient Greek myth in his 1974 film currently playing at the Metrograph. “Electra, My Love” uses an ancient narrative as a statement on contemporary politics. (Image courtesy of Metrograph and Kino Lorber)

Review: ‘Electra, My Love’ embodies the limits of revolution myths

Miklós Jancsó’s revolutionary 1974 reimagining of the ancient Greek myth of Electra is currently playing at Metrograph as part of a retrospective on the Hungarian director.
Katherine Williams, Contributing Writer January 26, 2022

In 1974, Hungarian director and screenwriter Miklós Jancsó said, “I used to think that humanity could be saved.”  But “Electra, My Love,” his film from the same year,...

“Wuhan Driver,” a short film directed by Tiger Ji, a Gallatin junior, follows a Chinese Uber driver experiencing racist interactions with several passengers in New York City during the pandemic. (Image courtesy of Tiger Ji)

Review: ‘Wuhan Driver’ loses its call to action, and itself, in vapid storytelling

“Wuhan Driver” is the latest short film by Tiger Ji, a Gallatin junior. The film follows a Chinese Uber driver dealing with a series of terrible riders at the onset of the pandemic in New York City.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor January 25, 2022

Depicting an abysmal — and, perhaps, heartbreakingly recurring — night in the life of a Chinese Uber driver, Zhang (Wayne Chang), “Wuhan Driver” condenses a series of racist...

Billie Eilish’s second album “Happier Than Ever” and its accompanying concert film mark a shift in the singer’s sound and tone. The film is dedicated to Los Angeles, where Eilish grew up, and features songs of varying genres. (Staff Illustration by Manasa Gudavalli)

Review: Billie Eilish’s ‘Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles’ is comfortably intimate

The alternative teen pop star is sultry, quirky and introspective in her new Disney+ concert experience.
Candace Patrick, Staff Writer September 20, 2021

In her Disney+ debut, singer-songwriter and alternative pop star Billie Eilish brings her latest album to her home city. Staged at the Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl, Eilish performs...

Movies like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro will transport you to new places without leaving the comfort of your bedroom. As the nights get colder and longer, the Washington Square News staff wants to make sure you have great movies to watch. (Staff Illustration by Chandler Littleford)

Staff Recs: Comfort Movies

Sometimes when the outside world becomes too much, a good movie is the best form of escapism.

“Fiddler on the Roof” by Norman Jewison Sasha Cohen, Arts Editor My grandma and I sing “If I Were a Rich Man” a lot. What can I say? We just love practicing our “biddy...

The AMC movie theater on 3rd and East 11th used to have people lined up around the block for movie premieres. Now, after many long months, the question of whether or not to reopen movie theaters in New York is still uncertain. (Staff Photo by Manasa Gudavalli)

The Uncertain Return of Movie Theaters

As big budget films like “Tenet” premiere across the world, many question how much longer New York movie theaters can survive while closed.
Mas Bouzidi, Staff Writer September 24, 2020

After seven long and excruciating months, I finally stepped foot inside a movie theater again. I ventured to the AMC Clifton Commons 16 in New Jersey and watched Christopher Nolan’s...

Claire Denis’ re-write of a classic Herman Melville novel comes to life in ‘Beau Travail’ - a film about a South African troop stationed in Djibouti. The LGBT Drama showcases the love and jealousy between men in the group and how far they will go for the one they love. (Image Courtesy of Nico Chapin)

‘Beau Travail’s’ Restoration Re-animates the Beauty of Denis’s Cinematic Gem

Janus Films’ restoration of Claire Denis’s “Beau Travail” relivens the film for a new generation. Agnès Godard’s cinematography has never looked better and Denis’s style remains as remarkable as it did at the brink of the millennium.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Film Editor September 10, 2020

Sunbaked bodies bustle under the African Sun in Claire Denis’s loose re-telling of Herman Melville’s “Billy Budd.” Under Officer Galoup’s (Denis Lavant) eyes, the aptly...

Bill and Ted seek to return peace and good vibes to the future with the help of their daughters. This film marks the third collaboration between Alex Winter, Keanu Reeves, Chris Matheson, and Ed Solomon. (Staff Illustration by Charlie Dodge)

‘Bill & Ted Face the Music,’ A Most Excellent Exercise in Pure Entertainment

20 years after their venture to Heaven and Hell, Bill and Ted prove they’ve still got it as they showcase an immense bout of cheesy charisma.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Film Editor September 3, 2020

“Bill & Ted Face the Music” might be the only film in history that can boast about the fact that it contains a duet between Jimi Hendrix (DazMann Still) and Wolfgang Amadeus...

Ewurakua and Ewuradjoa Dawson-Amoah launched Melacast network, an organization aimed at bringing POC creators together eight weeks ago. The founders sought to create a space where under-represented voices are magnified and have the ability to diversity the film industry. (Image courtesy of The Melacast Network)

The Melacast Network: A Casting and Collaboration Platform for POC by POC

Melacast — recently created by NYU alumna Ewurakua Dawson-Amoah, Tisch sophomore Adrian Sobrado and Ewuradjoa Dawson-Amoah, a graduate from Rutgers University who currently works for a Fortune 500 company — aims to act as a casting and collaboration platform for creatives of color from all walks of life.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Film Editor August 31, 2020

It was celebrated Senagalese filmmaker Djibril Diop Mambéty who stated, “I am interested in marginalized people because they do more for the evolution of a community than the...

(From left) Pete Davidson and director Judd Apatow with crew members on the set of The King of Staten Island. (Photo by Kevin Mazur / Courtesy of Universal Pictures)

Judd Apatow Finds the Humor in Grief in ‘The King of Staten Island’

Judd Apatow talks to WSN about grief, heroism and his new film, “The King of Staten Island.”
Kaylee DeFreitas, Arts Editor June 11, 2020

Judd Apatow has always found himself drawn to stories of underdogs. From working on “Freaks and Geeks,” the TV show about high school misfits, to his directorial debut “The...

Directed and co-written by Annie Silverstein, “Bull” centers around 14-year-old Kris who discovers a passion for bull riding with mentor Abe Turner. “Bull” was released last week and was meant to be screened at SXSW. (Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films)

‘Bull’ Offers an Intimate Glimpse Into Rodeo Life

Annie Silverstein’s intimate narrative brings intense realism and powerful performances that make the film worth watching.
Kaylee DeFreitas, Arts Editor May 4, 2020

From the beginning of Annie Silverstein’s “Bull,” it is apparent that Kris (Amber Havard) has become resigned to her circumstances. The adults around her show her little...