
Mary Beth Ross

Mrs. America
Mrs. America is a good place to start exploring where our current political and cultural divisions started widening. Anyone who lived through these years can vouch that there was a lot at stake.

The Trial of the Chicago 7
The Trial of the Chicago 7 offers plenty of precedents, reminding us of philosopher George Santayana’s warning that “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.”

The Curse of Oak Island
Part history lesson, part treasure hunt, The Curse of Oak Island will inspire your inner Hardy Boys fan. For the audience, just sharing so many of the highs and lows of the team’s successes and disappointments has built a bond.

A Watercooler Guide to The Phoenician Scheme: Wes Anderson’s Oil-Baron Fever Dream
Wes Anderson films are easy to spot, but not always easy to describe. Watching them feels like stepping inside a handcrafted diorama of history: symmetrical, stylized, and slightly sentimental. From the wry narration and sharp color palettes to his signature whip pans and deadpan dialogue, Anderson crafts cinematic worlds where emotions are bottled then uncorked

A Need-to-Know Guide to And Just Like That…
It’s been a two year wait, but Carrie Bradshaw and her tribe of fabulous fifty-somethings are finally back with their third season. You’d be forgiven if you lost track of the Sex and the City sequel and its storylines. But with summer’s planes, trains, and automobiles and rained-in weekends, And Just Like That might be

Bring Her Back
A psychological horror film with standout performances, Bring Her Back isn’t just about summoning the dead, it’s about confronting the parts of ourselves we lose in the process. The Philippou brothers have crafted a film that dares to ask whether the true horror lies in what we’re willing to do in the name of love.

The Something for Everyone Show: Poker Face is Back
Can’t agree on what to watch together? Consider putting on your Poker Face. Peacock’s acclaimed mystery-of-the-week series created by Rian Johnson (best known for Star Wars: The Last Jedi and, most relevant here, the Glass Onion films) and starring Natasha Lyonne, is finally back for another season after two long years. That’s great news for

It’s not HBO, it’s The Pitt: How streamers are embracing old TV network models
“It’s not TV, it’s HBO.” Remember that old tagline? For nearly all of its history, broadcast television has been fighting against the perception that it’s subordinate to film as a storytelling medium. Television was just media for the masses, as opposed to the more erudite aficionados of cinema (who, by the way, poured into theaters

Boyhood
Boyhood captures the importance of moments in time as people grow up and contests the idea that any singular moment is defining to your childhood. It’s a film filled with the full breadth of the emotions of childhood, conveying each one delicately to leave you reflecting on its many pensive conversations.

Why Andor is Luring in Non-Star Wars Fans
An edgier Star Wars prequel with a timely story about rebellion, Andor skips some of the more familiar elements of the franchise — from lightsabers to Jedi to the Force — in favor of a more grounded story with parallels in both history and our current moment. While it sets up the legendary world of

The Alpinist
Joie de vivre never looked so effortless as it does in The Alpinist. While the spectacular cinematography wows the senses, the beautiful character portrait at its core of an eccentric, backwoods mountain climber stirs the humanity in us all.

The Best New Movies and TV Shows in February 2022
Love, history, and choices well off the beaten path are arriving on streaming platforms this month. See our picks in categories you won’t find anywhere else.

Book Adaptations We’re Looking forward to in 2022
As we enter 2022 we have a brand new and substantial slate of literary adaptations coming to big and small screens near you. From romance to horror to war stories, set in worlds both familiar and fantastic (or even both), there’s bound to be something here to appeal to every kind of fan.

David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet
This film might break your heart, but it also might inspire you to action. I ended up energized by the idea that we can reverse the loss of wildlife and slow the pace of climate change, and that doing so will make our lives better.

What You Need to Know About The Gilded Age
What’s the story? Set in 1882, The Gilded Age takes us inside the elegant homes and dynamic social lives of New York City’s highest echelon. Representing the old-money faction are Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) and Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon), a pair of well-born sisters who’ve agreed to take in their niece, Marian (Louisa Jacobson),

Licorice Pizza
Director Paul Thomas Anderson’s love letter to how unapologetic hormones and Los Angeles can be, Licorice Pizza is a collection of engaging moments that invites you into its vintage world and make you want to stay.

The Righteous Gemstones
A brilliant and sardonic look at the gaudy world of televangelism filled with quick one-liners and surprisingly heartfelt moments.

The Lost Daughter
The Lost Daughter proves that Gyllenhaal has a gift for directing and screenwriting. She’s made a film about real, complex people that sticks with you.

Twentysomethings: Austin
This series provides an honest exploration of young adulthood and all the struggles that come with it in a relatable, yet entertaining way. It serves as a refreshing reminder that humor, curiosity, and optimism can serve as important tools in trying and tumultuous times.