TV & Movie

‘Transatlantic’ Review: ‘Unorthodox’ Creator’s Next Limited Series

'Transatlantic' Review: 'Unorthodox' Creator's Next Limited Series

Piecing together pivotal historical events in a limited series in order to create a compelling narrative is a tall task. However, creator and writer Anna Winger is no stranger to this work. Her 2020 adaptation of Deborah Feldman’s 2012 autobiography, “Unorthodox,” which followed one Jewish woman’s liberation from her Hasidic community, received critical acclaim. With her latest series, “Transatlantic,” an …

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‘Swarm’ Review: Dominique Fishback Shines in Beyoncé-Inspired Thriller

'Swarm' Review: Dominique Fishback Shines in Beyoncé-Inspired Thriller

“Who’s your favorite artist?” asks Dre (Dominique Fishback) of the characters she meets along her journey in “Swarm,” Prime Video’s clever and fiendish horror satire. She poses the question with a cheerful lilt that belies the menace behind it, much like Ghostface when he conducts targeted phone surveys about the slasher genre in the “Scream” franchise. Dre’s respondents don’t know …

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‘The Curse’ Review: Emma Stone and Nathan Fielder Amp Up the Cringe

'The Curse' Review: Emma Stone and Nathan Fielder Amp Up the Cringe

To witness Emma Stone’s latest leading role in a TV series, a gripping portrait of self-delusion on par with any of her Oscar-honored star turns, viewers will have to pay a hefty toll: They’ll have to sit through a predictably agonizing odyssey from two auteurs who’ve already mastered the art of making audiences squirm. Here, the creators combine their talents …

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‘Waco: The Aftermath’ Review: Showtime’s Series Uneven, Unethical

'Waco: The Aftermath' Review: Showtime's Series Uneven, Unethical

Thirty years after the deadly standoff between federal law enforcement and the Branch Davidian sect in Waco, Texas, even the most fundamental facts of the tragedy remain contested. Both sides insist the other initiated the initial volley of gunfire that killed four agents and six sectarians. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms insists David Koresh and his followers later …

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Yellowjackets Review: Season 2 of Showtime’s Intense Cannibalism Drama

Yellowjackets Review: Season 2 of Showtime's Intense Cannibalism Drama

Showtime’s buzzy, bloody drama “Yellowjackets” finds itself in a most precarious position going into its second season. Trying to top a successful first season is always a challenge, particularly when the maiden voyage earns six Emmy nominations, including one for Outstanding Drama. But the inherent pressure to maintain the momentum is acute for “Yellowjackets,” a puzzle-box show that teases supernatural …

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Aramide A. Tinubu Joins Variety as TV Critic

Aramide A. Tinubu Joins Variety as TV Critic

Aramide A. Tinubu is Variety’s new TV critic, joining fellow critic Alison Herman, who started at the publication in April. In her role, Tinubu, who is based in New York City, will write reviews, commentary and cover stories, and will be a key voice in television coverage across all of Variety’s platforms. She will work with editor-at-large Kate Aurthur, who …

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Grammys Were Scattershot… But At Least It Wasn’t the Globes: Review

Grammys Were Scattershot... But At Least It Wasn't the Globes: Review

Reading interviews with the Grammys’ producers ahead of the 2021 telecast, you might have had trouble getting a handle on what, exactly, the show would be like. There was a reason for that: It was a little bit of everything — more so than a typical Grammys telecast, which would normally have the advantage or drawback of being limited to …

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Class of ’09 Review: Brian Tyree Henry, Kate Mara Star In FX Series

Class of '09 Review: Brian Tyree Henry, Kate Mara Star In FX Series

The premise of the limited series “Class of ‘09” is a familiar form of dystopia: in the near future, law enforcement has come to rely on technology that skirts the line between police work and a police state. “Class of ‘09” shares a blueprint with classics like “Minority Report,” then adds a timely twist. The FX show’s Orwellian innovation is …

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‘Strange Planet’ Review: Apple Animated Comedy Is Amusing But Shallow

There’s a jargon to “Strange Planet,” the new animated series on Apple TV+. Kissing is “mouth pushing.” Tongues are “flavor muscles.” A bus is a “group roll machine.” Horses are “hard footed run monsters.” Coffee is “jitter liquid.” Toothpaste is “mouth stone goo.” Such language, much of it borrowed from the web comic of the same name by cartoonist Nathan …

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 ‘The Power’ Review: Naomi Alderman Book Adaptation With Toni Collette

 ‘The Power’ Review: Naomi Alderman Book Adaptation With Toni Collette

In an episode of “The Power,” Prime Video’s series adaptation of Naomi Alderman’s acclaimed speculative novel, Roxy (Ria Zmitrowicz) tries to walk into a nightclub without flashing the ID that would reveal she’s underage. The swole sentinel manning the door tries to turn her away until Roxy creates a tiny lightning bolt between her thumb and index finger. The bouncer …

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