David Sims

The Last of Us Part II Tests the Limits of Video-Game Violence

The ambitious sequel once again forces players to confront their own brutality. But to what end?

• David Sims
• July 1, 2020

Will Ferrell’s Best Comedy in Years Is Here

Netflix’s Eurovision Song Contest succeeds because it’s both sincere and satirical. Also, it has invisible elves.

• David Sims
• June 27, 2020

One of America’s Fiercest Media Critics Is Back With a Warning

Jon Stewart on his new satirical film, Irresistible, and the simplistic narratives that fuel the U.S. political system

• David Sims
• June 24, 2020

The Long, Strange Journey of Da 5 Bloods

The screenwriters behind Spike Lee’s new film discuss the story’s unexpected evolution into a rare Vietnam War movie about black veterans.

• David Sims
• June 17, 2020

The King of Staten Island and the Pain of Moving On

Judd Apatow’s latest movie goes light on laughs as it confronts the traumas that stop people from growing up.

• David Sims
• June 13, 2020

Spike Lee Has Made His Most Ambitious Film Yet

Da 5 Bloods is a searing Vietnam War epic that speaks to this moment—and it’s on Netflix, so viewers can revisit it again and again.

• David Sims
• June 12, 2020

The King of Comedy Is Okay With Not Being Funny

Judd Apatow on making a dramatic movie that feels fitting for the current moment: “It’s about trauma, first responders, how families deal with loss.”

• David Sims
• June 11, 2020

Shirley Is an Unconventional Biopic About a Horror Master

A new movie out on Hulu gives the writer Shirley Jackson the unsettling and incisive cinematic treatment she deserves.

• David Sims
• June 8, 2020

The 13 Best Movies About Why You Shouldn’t Trust the Government

Hollywood has a rich tradition of paranoid thrillers and conspiratorial dramas that are outrageous but have a hint of truth to them.

• David Sims
• June 5, 2020

The Creepy, Clever Sci-Fi Thriller You Need to Watch

The Vast of Night, now on Amazon Prime Video, is a sharp debut from a filmmaker you should pay attention to.

• David Sims
• May 29, 2020

30 Movies That Are Unlike Anything You’ve Seen Before

These films, each unforgettable in its own way, are essential viewing.

• David Sims
• May 23, 2020

The Sitcom Dad Who Made Grouchiness Into an Art Form

The actor Jerry Stiller, who died yesterday at age 92, was unforgettable as the irascible Frank Costanza on Seinfeld.

• David Sims
• May 12, 2020

The Times Have Changed. Seinfeld Hasn’t.

There’s something soothing about watching a comedian who has been telling the same jokes for decades.

• David Sims
• May 7, 2020

Westworld Never Fixed Its Villain Problem

The dark side of big data is a fascinating subject for TV to tackle. It just doesn’t make for a great antagonist.

• David Sims
• May 5, 2020

8 Films to Watch Right Now, According to Barry Jenkins

“Right now, there are no movie theaters. The screens are on our walls, in our pockets, on our monitors.”

• David Sims
• April 29, 2020

Millennials Just ‘Get’ Keanu Reeves

While Generation X mostly dismissed him as wooden and one-note, younger viewers better understand his nuances as a performer.

• David Sims
• April 24, 2020

Netflix’s Accidental Coup

The streaming service is thriving at a time when many industries, including theaters and movie studios, are frozen.

• David Sims
• April 22, 2020

22 Movies About the End of the World to Watch Now

These films aren’t all bleak—or obviously about an apocalypse. But each has timeless insights into how humans respond in times of crisis.

• David Sims
• April 18, 2020

The Surreal Comforts of the SNL Quarantine Episode

Hosted by COVID-19 survivor Tom Hanks and filmed remotely, the show’s latest broadcast is a cultural document of the times.

• David Sims
• April 12, 2020

Unexpected Movie Masterpieces to Watch in Quarantine

Some were blasted by critics, some flopped at the box office, and all are ripe to attain cult-classic status.

• David Sims
• April 10, 2020