David Sims

Dwayne Johnson Misunderstands His Own Star Appeal

In Disney’s Jungle Cruise, the actor plays a typical hero—and ignores the qualities that make him so magnetic on-screen.

• David Sims
• August 2, 2021

Stillwater Isn’t a Typical True-Crime Drama

The director Tom McCarthy is known for subtle, well-acted character films that take surprising narrative turns. His latest work is no exception.

• David Sims
• August 1, 2021

The Green Knight Is One of 2021’s Best Movies

David Lowery’s film starring Dev Patel is a dreamy piece of high fantasy that turns an age-old tale into something to be puzzled over anew.

• David Sims
• July 28, 2021

M. Night Shyamalan Hits On a Universal Fear

In Old, the director confronts the everyday, existential terror of life passing by too quickly.

• David Sims
• July 22, 2021

Disney’s Black Widow Gamble Didn’t Pay Off

Putting brand-new movies on streaming services might seem great for viewers. But in the long run, it’s bad for everyone.

• David Sims
• July 20, 2021

Nicolas Cage Hasn’t Lost His Edge

The actor may have retreated from the mainstream, but his latest film is a reminder that he’s always been a magnetic screen presence.

• David Sims
• July 17, 2021

The Real Reason Another Space Jam Movie Exists

The new film starring LeBron James is a blatant attempt by Warner Bros. to be as beloved and recognized as Disney.

• David Sims
• July 14, 2021

Nomadland Is a Gorgeous Journey Through the Wreckage of American Promise

Chloé Zhao’s Oscar contender about one woman’s itinerant life speaks volumes about this country’s myths of self-sufficiency.

• David Sims
• February 20, 2021

Chloé Zhao Is About to Be Huge

With the intimate, Oscar-tipped Nomadland streaming tomorrow and the Marvel epic Eternals set for the fall, this might be the filmmaker’s big year.

• David Sims
• February 18, 2021

Minari Will Draw You in With Its Beautiful Little Details

Lee Isaac Chung’s warm family drama is about the bittersweet journey to find independence in a land of plenty.

• David Sims
• February 12, 2021

Judas and the Black Messiah Is an American Tragedy

Shaka King’s crime thriller about a Black Panthers leader and the man who betrayed him is set in the 1960s but resonates today.

• David Sims
• February 10, 2021

The 6 Best Indie Movies to Watch Out for This Year

Here are the most exciting works to come out of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.

• David Sims
• February 5, 2021

‘I Expected a Bidding War. We Did Not Get That.’

The director Shaka King thought that his star-studded new film, Judas and the Black Messiah, would be an easy sell for studios. He was surprised.

• David Sims
• February 3, 2021

Saturday Night Live Is Over It

The show’s first episode back after a chaotic six weeks in American politics was the equivalent of a giant shrug.

• David Sims
• January 31, 2021

A Brilliant Horror Film That Twists Faith Into Fear

A24’s Saint Maud is a confident directorial debut that will keep viewers guessing until the last minute.

• David Sims
• January 29, 2021

Welcome Back, Denzel

In The Little Things, the actor returns to the kind of role that helped make him a movie star.

• David Sims
• January 28, 2021

Hollywood’s Patience Is Frustrating—But Necessary

The latest round of big-movie delays is good news for the industry and viewers alike.

• David Sims
• January 25, 2021

The Early-Pandemic Heist Thriller That No One Asked For

Locked Down has the air of a homework assignment completed the morning it was due.

• David Sims
• January 16, 2021

Steve McQueen’s Ethos of Generosity

“I’m a massive fan of cinema, but sometimes you have to go where the people are,” the Oscar-winning Small Axe director told The Atlantic.

• David Sims
• January 13, 2021

25 Movies to Look Forward to in 2021

Thanks to the pandemic, this list is more familiar and tentative than most annual film previews.

• David Sims
• January 6, 2021