Before Leo the Lion, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s iconic furry mascot, even unleashes his signature primal roar, “Challengers” establishes itself as a sweat-drenched, sexually-charged thrill ride.  At the onset of this brief, slow-motion scene — framed exclusively in close-ups...

Ryan Gosling was just Ken. Now, he’s just the stunt guy. Hollywood’s stunt industry is given its long-overdue spotlight in “The Fall Guy,” an action comedy propelled by charming performances and incredible set pieces but sent to a rocky landing by an uneven plot. Directed...

For most Americans, the idea of civil war is one restricted to the confines of a classroom. Vague images of good triumphing over evil resound in United States history. So far removed, it’s challenging to conceive of states in the modern era engaging in serious warfare. Alex...

Ecstatic Livies, the title singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo’s most ardent fans proudly brandish, swarmed TD Garden April 1 with everything from jewel-encrusted cowgirl hats to flowy ribbons atop their heads for the “GUTS World Tour.” Rodrigo, the latest in a long lineage...

“Dune: Part Two” had an uphill battle to match the great sci-fi sequels. The follow-up to Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel, “Dune,” has been filled with casting hype, extensive press tours and praise leading up to its release.  Picking...

The Emerson Colonial Theatre opened its production of “Pretty Woman: The Musical”  Feb. 27 to the delight of showgoers. Based on the 1990 romantic comedy of the same name starring Richard Gere and an Oscar-nominated Julia Roberts, the musical did a thorough job of translating...

Mention “virtual reality” at an Apple Store today, and an employee may quickly correct you. Spatial computing is Apple’s newest technological venture, marking its entry into the mixed-reality industry. It is the company’s first product category to launch since Airpods...

Since its premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, critics have lauded Celine Song’s “Past Lives” — and it’s easy to ascertain why.  The film, nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay at this year’s Academy Awards, tells the story of Nora Moon...

There are very few movies where actor Mark Ruffalo could get away with calling someone a “cunt,” and “Poor Things” is one of them. The 2023 film, currently up for 11 awards at this year’s Academy Awards, follows Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), a pregnant woman in Victorian...

In past years, historically white industries have made sweeping efforts to promote diversity and spotlight Black culture. But writer-director Cord Jefferson is not buying the apparent goodwill of these leaders and companies. In his satirical dramedy “American Fiction,” Jefferson...

Every awards season, like clockwork, pundits and film fanatics comb through the perceived frontrunners across the major categories for one thing — a villain. Think “Elvis,” “Green Book” or “Bohemian Rhapsody”: decently-reviewed — if somewhat controversial —...

Nothing sums up “The Holdovers” quite like this Letterboxd review: “A movie that is both hot chocolate for the soul and chicken soup for the lazy eye.” Set at Barton Academy, a fictional Massachusetts boarding school, the film follows Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti), a...