Taylor Swift’s new album balances glitter with grit
Books and ArtsThe Life of a Showgirl is conceptually mature and compelling
Culture
The good, the bad and the ugly in books, exhibitions, cinema, TV, dance, music, podcasts and theatre.
One Battle After Another may be the worst movie ever made
Books and ArtsIt is a grand, multifaceted masterpiece of badness
The Who’s farewell tour marks the end of an era
Books and ArtsThe band never lost sight of what first made them great, and what made rock ’n’ roll great
October 17, 2025
We need Sabrina Carpenter
She’s the nation’s court jester
October 15, 2025
The Chair Company is the workplace comedy we need right now
Tim Robinson’s latest cringe-fest is sophisticated and hilarious
October 10, 2025
Why does Jared Leto still have a career?
The ‘Tron: Ares’ star represents a cautionary tale for our times
October 9, 2025
Loud luxury in London
From Ziggy Stardust to Marie Antoinette, the mood is maximalist
October 8, 2025
Will Dwayne Johnson always be The Rock?
He struggles to chart a new course in The Smashing Machine
October 7, 2025
How to fix the Met
Books and Arts‘It’s impossible to predict hits,’ said the man paid $1.4 million a year to, well, predict hits
Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson is a must-see show
Books and ArtsThe Met’s show is tribute to a fine artist of boundless talent
The closest look yet at David Bowie’s mind and imagination
Books and ArtsThe much-missed musician is the beneficiary of a new, bespoke space inside the Victoria & Albert Museum’s East Storehouse outpost
New York Fashion Week’s shimmer feels noticeably dimmed
Books and ArtsThe week has evolved into a content-driven machine
Spinal Tap II is an amusing, honorable successor to the original film
Books and ArtsAbove all, Reiner proves his vim and vigor by the very quality of the film
October 6, 2025
What can we expect from the Simpsons sequel?
It’s gotta be really, really good if it wants to stay even slightly relevant
October 2, 2025
Will Trump’s tariffs trash the film industry?
The shock and awe is done – the details are not
September 29, 2025
Is Slow Horses slowing down?
It might be time to take the show out to pasture
September 24, 2025
You can’t get rid of Kanye West
As his new documentary shows, he’s not going anywhere
Kimmel makes the case for free speech
Just like that, America was great again
September 23, 2025
Trump is right to take on the Smithsonian
Books and ArtsThe curators’ political peacocking has long carried no risk
Ben Shahn’s work remains as timely as ever
Books and ArtsThe artist’s unflinching vision of a world gone awry is as powerfully direct as his late-in-life compositions of compassion and hope
Eyes of the Storm revisits an era
Books and ArtsIn early photos, the crowds – and the band members – are eager, curious and frank
Nick Drake’s explosive creativity
Books and ArtsThe first comprehensive repackaging of any of Drake’s albums does justice to the musician
Viola’s Room is beguiling
Books and ArtsEvery detail, every sound, every object feels intentional
Over the Moon renders the present with an eye toward the timeless
Books and ArtsThe play rises from social commentary to legitimate art piece, avoiding mere parody and ax-grinding
September 22, 2025
Jason Bateman breaks bad in Black Rabbit
The actor follows in Bryan Cranston’s footsteps
September 18, 2025
Don’t cry for Jimmy Kimmel
His schtick wore thin a long time ago, and his continued presence owed as much to a lack of imagination as it did genuine talent
September 17, 2025
Splitsville defends monogamy
The movie knows we long for monogamy even as we court licentiousness
September 15, 2025
The superficial edginess of the Emmys and The Studio
The awards were perfectly entertaining, but had absolutely nothing to say about bigger, more serious issues
September 14, 2025
Please let this be the end of Downton Abbey
Grand? Probably not. Finale? Hopefully.
