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Putting a single human face on a story. (© 2015 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.)

Ridley Scott's 'The Martian' (second review)

When science gets sentimental

A space castaway epic demonstrates our psychological habit of crystallizing our empathy within individual stories, as if we can’t comprehend a crisis until it has a single human face.

Alaina Johns

Nov 09, 2015 Articles 5 minute read

Not a nice fellow: Michael Fassbender as Steve Jobs.

Danny Boyle's 'Steve Jobs'

The man behind the curtain

Michael Fassbender does a superb job portraying Jobs, but the director Boyle and screenwriter Sorkin go too far in trying to redeem the man's bad behavior.

Ryan Dellaquila

Nov 02, 2015 Articles 2 minute read

Startlingly enigmatic: Laia Costa in “Victoria” (© 2015 - Adopt Films)

Sebastian Schipper's 'Victoria'

Shot in a single, breathless take, Victoria is a masterful display of cinematography. But this shouldn’t overshadow its successes as both a profound and unconventional character study and, in its second half, a nail-biting thriller.

Peter Myers

Oct 31, 2015 Articles 4 minute read

Tom Hanks: A Henry Fonda for the 21st century. (Photo by Jaap Buitendijk - © DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC and Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.)

Spielberg's 'Bridge of Spies' (second review)

Crashing stories

In spite of its problems — clunky plotting, two-dimensional characters — go see Bridge of Spies. Tom Hanks is just so good at playing these kinds of roles that you shouldn’t miss it.

Armen Pandola

Oct 20, 2015 Articles 4 minute read

A court case with a foregone conclusion: Rylance and Hanks.

Spielberg's 'Bridge of Spies'

Men of principle

Bridge of Spies isn't a spy story; it's a "based on true events" story about a lawyer and his dedication to a higher set of principles than Cold War expediency and political convenience.

Mark Wolverton

Oct 20, 2015 Articles 5 minute read

'Goodnight Mommy'

Why do horror movies make us laugh?

Nothing makes us laugh as much as a good comedy — except maybe a good horror movie, when we watch it together.

Alaina Johns

Oct 18, 2015 Articles 5 minute read

Don’t you recognize me? Chen Daoming and Gong Li in “Coming Home.”

Zhang Yimou’s 'Coming Home'

Family breakdown, Chinese-style

Zhang Yimou’s Coming Home moves like a strong poem — slowly and delicately, yet with power.

Richard da Silva

Oct 11, 2015 Articles 4 minute read

Lizzy Caplan and Michael Sheen as Johnson and Masters in “Masters of Sex.” (Photo © 2015 Showtime)

Showtime's 'Masters of Sex'

Sex, lies, and Showtime

The extent of how fast and loose Showtime's Masters of Sex adaptation plays with the truth makes Oliver Stone appear a better bet to satisfy Diogenes than any of those responsible for this fib-a-thon.

Bob Levin

Oct 06, 2015 Articles 5 minute read

The ultimate geeky Everyman: Matt Damon in “The Martian.” (Photo by Aidan Monaghan - © 2015 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.)

Ridley Scott's 'The Martian'

Science in a leading role

The Martian is far more than rah-rah flag-waving space-geek boosterism. It is, instead, a paean to humanity's exploratory drive, survival instinct, and most of all, intelligence.