Orson Welles’s low-budget 1951 adaptation of “Othello” is one of his most ingenious pictures, a threadbare, ramshackle, discombobulated production that he all but willed into greatness. buff.ly/5pJSbui


Alex Gibney has built a career making the biggest liars of our time compellingly watchable. Ahead of his four-hour Elon Musk documentary, a look at how he does it. buff.ly/KJUo8Mo

Chris Rock's new seriocomic drama “Misty Green” is a messy examination of a potentially compelling character -- and of its filmmaker's own weaknesses and biases. buff.ly/V2W2qGu

Thirty-five years ago today, “Ernest Scared Stupid” scarred a generation and killed a multi-picture deal, but it still doesn't get enough credit for laying the modern groundwork of kid-somewhat-friendly horror. buff.ly/wH32Y6x

Forty-plus years after its release, Louis Malle's surprise hit ‘My Dinner With Andre’ continues to prove that there's nothing more thrilling than two smart people talking. It was released on this day in 1981: buff.ly/KkgATUs

Otto Preminger's film noir fave “Laura” (released on this day in 1944) maintains its ability to delight and surprise. crookedmarquee.com/classic-corn...

The Bogie and Bacall vehicle 'To Have and Have Not,' released on this day in 1944, was a transparent attempt to create another “Casablanca” – but it has plenty of pleasures of its own. buff.ly/wyyatZ3

Between Brian De Palma and Mike Flanagan, three other filmmakers made flawed but fascinating attempts to bring Stephen King’s horror classic “Carrie” to the screen. buff.ly/7iwjBuH

Back on screens with a new 4K restoration, an examination of the notorious, mind-blowing and stomach-churning experimental arthouse horror masterpiece “Begotten.” buff.ly/JsG6TSP

Our mini-reviews of “Backpay,” “Dolph: Unbreakable,” “Tie Die,” and more of this week’s on-demand treasures and trash. buff.ly/nuUgPyZ

“True Stories,” David Byrne's characteristically idiosyncratic vision of smalltown America, was released 40 years ago today. Now it feels like a thesis statement for the solo career he would soon embark upon: buff.ly/i3X3vvO

Jane Fonda and Roger Vadim’s sci-fi sexcapade 'Barbarella' was released on this day in 1968: crookedmarquee.com/classic-corn...

Bill Forsyth's unique holiday tale 'Comfort and Joy' was released on this day in 1984. Here's @hoodedjustice.bsky.social on its seasonal appeal: crookedmarquee.com/tidings-of-c...

Craig D. Lindsay on 'House of Yes,' released on this day in 1997: buff.ly/Ah6HosF

‘Identikit,’ released on this day in 1975, feature’s one of Elizabeth Taylor's most misunderstood performances - and one of her best. buff.ly/5lswwaa

Starting at the BBC, Ken Russell tested the boundaries of the music biopic, culminating in “Lisztomania,” one of his wildest cinematic creations. It was released on this day in 1975. buff.ly/C1V4dRN

Zhang Yimou’s début “Red Sorghum” kicked off a legendary partnership with actress Gong Li, and signaled the beginning of a new era of Chinese cinema. It was released in China on this day in 1988: buff.ly/TCPioZZ

“Splendor in the Grass,” Elia Kazan's melodrama of sexual frustration, is overheated in the best possible way. It was released on this day in 1961. buff.ly/Hvh2Zmz

“Although there is now an entire cottage industry dedicated to proving that all visual media consumed at age five was subversively terrifying, ‘Ernest Scared Stupid’ deserves all charges and more than a few accessory counts in the years after,” @ddayfilms.bsky.social writes. buff.ly/wH32Y6x

William Friedkin's tough-as-nails cop movie, released on this day in 1971, is one of the quintessential films of New York's roughest era. buff.ly/z4mbPWy