Comment on Best bets: ‘American Idol’ returns, minus Paula

Tunisia has made relatively few submissions for the international feature Oscar, yet thanks to female helmer Kaouther Ben Hania, the country recently earned a nomination with “The Man Who Sold His Skin” (2020) and a place on the shortlist with “Four Daughters” (2023). This year’s submission, “Take My Breath,” comes from another female director, Nada Mezni […]

There is a bitter irony at the heart of Abdulaziz Alshlahei’s dynamic third feature “Hobal,” which follows a family that has long sought safety in the desert, led by Liyam (Ibrahim Al-Hasawi), a patriarch carrying on a Bedouin tradition by living at a remove from civilization. While the nomadic clan has picked up and moved […]

There’s an unexpected implication when Antonella Sudasassi Furniss exposes the parameters of her film set at the start of “Memories of a Burning Body,” following lead Sol Carabello into one room to have her makeup done and a gaffer in another arranging the lights for a scene. It isn’t to accept the artifice of the […]

The making of “Nickel Boys” — a film that follows two young Black boys, Elwood (Ethan Herisse) and Turner (Brandon Wilson), as they navigate a brutal reform school — presented a unique set of circumstances for cinematographer Jomo Fray. While Fray always wants his camerawork to feel vulnerable, director RaMell Ross’ vision of shooting the […]

Ariana Grande fans were beside themselves when a rumor started circulating online last weekend that the Grammy-winning pop princess was planning on touring in 2025. However, her label quickly dashed their hopes by releasing a statement on social media that said, “There are no plans for a tour next year, but Ariana remains deeply appreciative […]

B. P. E. no more. After three seasons, “Girls5Eva” has been canceled for the second time — this time, by Netflix. The first two seasons of the musical comedy streamed on Peacock from 2021 to 2022; when Peacock decided not to move forward, Netflix came in to renew the series for a third season, which aired in March […]