Isaiah Saxon

First impressions of The Legend of Ochi

What mash-up of movies will you find in this odd, surprising fantasy? Is it Gremlins meets Into the West? E.T. meets The Neverending Story? Princess Mononoke meets The Secret of Roan Inish?

J.J. Abrams

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

From the archives at LookingCloser.org, here's my original 2016 review of a thriller that I saw on a memorably surprising night as I celebrated my completion of my MFA in creative writing.

Amos Lee

Songlights: Adrianne Lenker; Florist; Valerie June; Terry Scott Taylor; Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds; Johnny Cash; and more

Songs that are lighting my weeks: Aprill 6–April 19, 2025.

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

First impressions of On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

The new film from Rungano Nyoni, director of "I Am Not a Witch," is an early but strong contender for my favorite film of 2025.

Wet Leg

Songlights: Wet Leg; Lucy Dacus; Alison Russell and Annie Lennox; Djo

Songs that are lighting my week: Sunday, March 30–April 5, 2025.

Michael Fassbender

Don't miss a chance to open Soderbergh's Black Bag of tricks

In his best work since the peak of the Oceans trilogy — maybe since 1998's Out of Sight — Steven Soderbergh surprises us with one of the year's best films.

Film Review

You'll love what Elliott learns from her "Old Ass"

Megan Park's comedy about a young woman corresponding with her future self is unexpectedly engaging—one of 2024's most delightful surprises.

Film Review

No Other Land: these filmmakers are risking their lives so you will watch their movie

This Oscar-winning documentary should be seen and discussed by every American, as we are supplying the resources for cruelty and erasing whole communities.

Bruce Cockburn

Songlights: Bruce Cockburn; My Morning Jacket; Tamino and Mitski; Halsey; Goat; Elbow; and more.

Songs that lit my week: Sunday, March 23–29, 2025.

Documentaries

No Other Land: these filmmakers are risking their lives so you will watch their movie

This Oscar-winning documentary should be seen and discussed by every American, as we are supplying the resources for cruelty and erasing whole communities.

Mark Pritchard

Songlights: Tune-Yards; Suzanne Vega; Lucius; Bon Iver; Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke; U2; Sinéad O'Connor

Songs that lit my week: Sunday, March 16–22, 2025.

Favorite Recordings

Favorite Recordings of 2024: Part Six — The Top Ten

I'm grateful for those who support this journal, and I'm grateful for the artists who made these ten records in 2024. Here, I sing the praises of the music that gave me strength and got me through.

Oscars

Overstreet's Favorite Films of 2024 — The Top Twelve

Gradually, I'm posting my list tonight. Because it sounded like fun. Who knows if anyone will be monitoring this while the Oscar show unfolds...

Favorite Recordings

Favorite Recordings of 2024: Part Five — #20–#11

Favorite Recordings

Favorite Recordings of 2024: Part Four — #30–#21 (and bonus recommendations!)

Film Review

Live from New York, it's... a ticking-clock thriller and a tribute to improvisational creatvity!

Jason Reitman's controlled-chaos fantasy about the launch of SNL offers a good time with rowdy comedians at a turning point in TV history.

Favorite Recordings

Favorite Recordings of 2024: Part Three — #36–#31

David Lynch

See you on the continuum, David Lynch.

The Brutalist

First impressions of The Brutalist

Brady Corbet's extravagant epic, which follows a Holocaust survivor who flees to the U.S only to find himself "tolerated" and exploited by a perversely abusive patron, is ambitious and frustrating.

Surprise Packages

By My Lights: a January 25 surprise package

These are days for playing "Gimme Some Truth." Also: The Criterion Closet, The Tuskegee Airmen, Mel Gibson, Nickel Boys, Hard Truths, and an invitation to write with me.

Favorite Recordings

Favorite Recordings of 2024: Part Two — Honorable Mentions (veterans and legends; big-deal divas who don't really need more attention, and divas who deserve to be very big deals)

Give Me Some Light

On January 20, 2025, I celebrate the inspired Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the great President Jimmy Carter

Anna Byrde

Favorite Recordings of 2024: Part One — Honorable Mentions (Instrumental, New Discoveries)

Poetry

By My Lights: a super-sized surprise package for the 2nd week of January

Typos. Seitz on Anderson. World Party. Favorite writers share lists of favorites. Strong voices on Conclave, Homestead. Good poems. My latest moviegoing. A personal update. And freewriting.

Film Review

Carol Kane and Jason Schwartzman bond Between the Temples

Just as he did in Rushmore, Jason Schwartzman plays a young man with an irrational longing for one of his teachers, a woman much older than him. Great awkwardness ensues.