Arts

Arts

A smart new series imagines the iconic detective Sam Spade in retirement (sort of)

1:54pm January 11, 2024

by David Bianculli

Clive Owen stars as Monsieur Spade in an AMC series that finds the Maltese Falcon detective living in a small village in the South of France — until danger, and death, manage to find him again.

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Arts

Ending affirmative action in college admissions opened a floodgate, reporter says

1:54pm January 11, 2024

by Tonya Mosley

Washington Post reporter Julian Mark talks about the resignation of Harvard President Claudine Gay, and the broader movement to dismantle DEI practices in academia and corporate America.

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Books
Arts

'Lunar New Year Love Story' celebrates true love, honors immigrant struggles

11:36am January 11, 2024

by Thúy Đinh

This YA graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham attains epic dimensions in capturing the complex, bittersweet journeys of its characters.

Pink's 2009 pop hit "Sober" may be the best known song about sobriety. She's shown above at The BRIT Awards in London in 2019.

For Dry January, we ask a music critic for great songs about not drinking

9:58am January 11, 2024

by Neda Ulaby

Plenty of songs celebrate drinking. But what about music that finds joy in — well, not drinking? Music critic Sasha Frere-Jones reflects upon a few songs that have been meaningful to his sobriety.

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Arts

After 2 nominations, Angela Bassett wins an honorary Oscar

6:24am January 11, 2024

by Ayana Archie

Bassett was nominated in 1993 for her portrayal as singer Tina Turner in What's Love Got to Do With It, and in 2022 for Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

A Taipei comedy club becomes an unlikely venue for working out Taiwan-China tensions

5:43am January 11, 2024

Taiwanese comedian Vickie Wang and Chinese comedian Jamie Wang (no relation) work through the lived experience of cross-strait tensions through comedy.

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So what if the second season of The Bear isn't eligible for Monday's Emmys? The annual, imaginary Deggy Awards aren't concerned with arbitrary cutoffs or categories. Above, Jeremy Allen White and Molly Gordon in The Bear, Season 2.

Arts

Tired of waiting for the delayed Emmys? Our TV critic presents The Deggy Awards

5:00am January 11, 2024

by Eric Deggans

In a turbulent year for Hollywood, our TV critic Eric Deggans offers his own set of awards — with fewer rules and cutoffs. Here's a breakdown of what will probably win, and what he wishes would win.

Paul Giamatti stars as Paul Hunham in Alexander Payne's new film, The Holdovers.

Arts

Paul Giamatti's own high school years came in handy in 'The Holdovers'

1:31pm January 10, 2024

by Sam Briger

Giamatti says his latest movie, filmed at various prep schools in Massachusetts and directed by Alexander Payne, triggered memories of the time he spent as a day student at a private school.

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Books
Arts

'The Fetishist' examines racial and sexual politics

11:19am January 10, 2024

by Kristen Martin

Katherine Min's well-crafted posthumous novel is inspired by Lolita -- but with an Asian fetishist as Humbert Humbert and the objects of his objectification given voice.

The Good Ones: Tiny Desk Contest

5:00am January 10, 2024

by Felix Contreras

The Rwandan group's determination to spread its musical message is an inspiration.