Film/TV

Jane Fonda in a still from the documentary "F.T.A." (Courtesy Kino Lorber)

1972 Antiwar Documentary 'F.T.A' Returns To Screens Almost 50 Years After It Was Pulled From Theaters

Directed by Francine Parker, the film chronicles the Pacific Rim stretch of Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland’s “Free The Army” tour.

Five Fresh Takes From The 25th Boston French Film Festival

This year’s festival has found a new home, new partners, and features an abundance of new takes on French cinema.

New Film Series 'Shared Stories' Centers The BIPOC Experience

Three Boston independent film festivals have joined forces to create the new series that finds commonalities across the human experience.

'Black Kung Fu Chick' Fights Back Against Stereotypes And Adultification Of Black Girls

The series follows a young Black woman whose responsibilities and burdens get her into trouble when her teacher intervenes with lessons in Qi Gong and Kung Fu.

With Great Humanity, Film 'Nomadland' Acknowledges A Distinctly American Grief

With its embrace of realism and critique of the American dream, director Chloé Zhao’s film shows loss as a common experience that can draw people together.

Actor Casey Affleck Reflects On The Past And 'The World To Come'

Affleck discusses his upcoming film (one of his most ambitious to date), the characters he’s drawn to playing and reminisces on projects that brought him back to his home state.

Film 'Judas And The Black Messiah' Turns Harrowing History Into Pulpy Crime Drama

Starring Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield, director Shaka King’s film depicts the FBI and Chicago Police Department’s premeditated murder of Illinois Black Panther Party chairman Fred Hampton.

Films 'Two Of Us' And 'Supernova' Follow Romances Facing Failing Health

Both of these new releases find long-term, same-sex couples making difficult decisions as they cope with catastrophic health care crises.

Documentary 'Down A Dark Stairwell' Examines Divergent Responses To Racism In Policing

Shot over several years, Ursula Liang's film tracks the seemingly divergent protests that emerged as NYPD officer Peter Liang faced criminal charges for shooting and killing Akai Gurley.

Wryly Funny Film 'You Will Die At Twenty' Navigates The Space Between Worldliness And Godliness

Writer-director Amjad Abu Alala’s debut film, Sudan’s first-ever submission to the Academy Awards, is about a young man who lives under the prophecy that he will die at 20.

Gloucester-Set Film 'CODA' Debuts At Sundance

Shot over the summer of 2019, Cambridge native Sian Heder’s second feature film is about a young woman torn between her family's fishing business or following her singing passion.

Directed With Strong Visual Style, Comedy 'The Climb' Traverses The Ups And Downs Of Friendship

Split into seven chapters with numbered title cards and punctuated by musical interludes, writer-director Michael Angelo Covino's film charts the ups and downs of two friends following an admission of...

The ARTery

Jan 19, 2021

A still from the short film "Hungry Bear Tales." (Courtesy Belmont World Film)

5 Short Film Programs To Stream From Belmont World Family Film Festival

From animated shorts with no dialogue to Mo Willem’s narrating children’s books, film writer Erin Trahan and her two toddlers rounded up their recommendations to watch.

The ARTery

Jan 14, 2021

A still from director Ousmane Sembène's 1966 film "Black Girl." (Courtesy Janus Films)

The Brattle Theatre Creates New Virtual Screening Platform

"The Brattlite” is designed to showcase titles specially selected by the theater's programmers to run alongside the regular weekly premieres.

The ARTery

Jan 13, 2021

Molly Parker (left) as Eva and Vanessa Kirby as Martha in "Pieces of a Woman." (Courtesy Benjamin Loeb/Netflix)

Streaming On Netflix, Drama 'Pieces Of A Woman' Is Intensely Unpleasant

Directed by Kornél Mundruczó and written by Kata Wéber, the film takes an elliptical path following the disintegration of a marriage and family life after tragedy.

The ARTery

Jan 7, 2021

Vicky Krieps as Alma and Daniel Day-Lewis as Reynolds Woodcock in "Phantom Thread," one of six films ARTery critic Sean Burns recommends streaming on New Year's Eve. (Courtesy Laurie Sparham/Focus Features)

6 Movies To Stream While Staying Home On New Year's Eve

From the 1960s classic “The Apartment” starring Jack Lemmon to Paul Thomas Andersen’s “Phantom Thread,” film critic Sean Burns shares movies that will help you ring in 2021 from the...

The ARTery

Dec 30, 2020

Isla Fisher (left) and Willa Skye in "Godmothered." (Courtesy Disney+)

Cheerful Takes From Behind The Scenes Of New England's Holiday Movies

Film crew members who worked on productions shot around the region get in the spirit by sharing favorite anecdotes and reflections on the growing popularity of holiday movies.

The ARTery

Dec 22, 2020

Film critic Sean Burns reviews his favorite films from 2020, including "Bacurau," "First Cow," "Collective" and "Beanpole." (Courtesy)

The 10 Best Films From 2020

With many blockbusters shelved for 2021, there was suddenly room for all different kinds of stories on our screens, writes film critic Sean Burns.

The ARTery

Dec 21, 2020

The Capawock Theatre, located in Vineyard Haven. (Courtesy Martha's Vineyard Film Society)

Independent Movie Theater Closures Symbolize Industry Struggles Writ Large

Two Martha’s Vineyard theaters have recently shuttered, highlighting the struggle these spaces face. Whether they rent or own, whether non- or for-profit, no single formula has proven pandemic-proof.

The ARTery

Dec 18, 2020

Viola Davis in the title role in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom." (Courtesy David Lee/Netflix)

Netflix Soars To The Top With August Wilson's 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'

George C. Wolfe directs Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman and Colman Domingo in stellar performances, says critic Jacquinn Sinclair.

The ARTery

Dec 18, 2020

BBC Newsday

1972 Antiwar Documentary 'F.T.A' Returns To Screens Almost 50 Years After It Was Pulled From Theaters

Five Fresh Takes From The 25th Boston French Film Festival

New Film Series 'Shared Stories' Centers The BIPOC Experience

'Black Kung Fu Chick' Fights Back Against Stereotypes And Adultification Of Black Girls

With Great Humanity, Film 'Nomadland' Acknowledges A Distinctly American Grief

Actor Casey Affleck Reflects On The Past And 'The World To Come'

Film 'Judas And The Black Messiah' Turns Harrowing History Into Pulpy Crime Drama

Films 'Two Of Us' And 'Supernova' Follow Romances Facing Failing Health

Documentary 'Down A Dark Stairwell' Examines Divergent Responses To Racism In Policing

Wryly Funny Film 'You Will Die At Twenty' Navigates The Space Between Worldliness And Godliness

Gloucester-Set Film 'CODA' Debuts At Sundance

Directed With Strong Visual Style, Comedy 'The Climb' Traverses The Ups And Downs Of Friendship

5 Short Film Programs To Stream From Belmont World Family Film Festival

The Brattle Theatre Creates New Virtual Screening Platform

Streaming On Netflix, Drama 'Pieces Of A Woman' Is Intensely Unpleasant

6 Movies To Stream While Staying Home On New Year's Eve

Cheerful Takes From Behind The Scenes Of New England's Holiday Movies

The 10 Best Films From 2020

Independent Movie Theater Closures Symbolize Industry Struggles Writ Large

Netflix Soars To The Top With August Wilson's 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'