Film & TV

February 23, 2023

SBIFF 2023: Bess Wohl’s directorial debut “Baby Ruby” is a biter

By Vanessa Wood

The film delivers a painfully real portrayal of motherhood with care, never placing blame on any character.

February 18, 2023

“Now, Voyager” sails miles ahead of its time

By Sally Shapiro

The Carsey-Wolf Center hosted a screening of the 1942 classic “Now, Voyager,” followed by a discussion led by professor E. Ann Kaplan about the film’s historical context.

January 30, 2023

In Review: Piecing together Netflix’s “Kaleidoscope”

By Lauren Chiou

In spite of its shortcomings, “Kaleidoscope” introduces a novel way of watching shows in the streaming era.

January 30, 2023

What to see in theaters this winter

By Gabriel O'Brien

In 2022, theaters made a comeback from a two-year slump of moviegoing. Even after the pandemic was under control, and before it began, most people were reluctant to make the effort and the expenditure of going to the mov...

January 30, 2023

“Ted Lasso” scores in light of soccer’s biggest event

By Mackenzie Chesnut

Sports-comedy “Ted Lasso” is relevant through its themes of soccer, and necessary in its reflection of humanness in sports — the complexities of people and relationships that contribute to the game.

January 4, 2023

In Review: The war of the Windsors in season five of “The Crown”

By Ashna Ahmed

While previous seasons centered on historical events and on the royal family, this season focuses entirely on the schism between the royal Windsor family.

November 2, 2022

Top movies to watch for Halloween that aren’t Halloween

By Gabe O'Brien

Here are our staff writer's picks of films to watch for Halloween that aren't typical Halloween films!

October 20, 2022

Leads Harry Styles and Florence Pugh cannot save “Don’t Worry Darling”

By Gabe O'Brien

"Don't Worry Darling" leaves more questions than it answers in what turns out to be a film that unfortunately does not tread any new ground.

June 20, 2022

In Review: Tom Cruise Is Flying High in “Top Gun: Maverick”

By Gabriel O'Brien

After more than 30 years waiting in the wings (so to speak) Tom Cruise reprises his role as lovably rebellious fighter pilot, Maverick, in the sequel to the beloved 1986 classic, “Top Gun.”

June 4, 2022

Five Summer Films to Watch Once School Ends

By Gabriel O'Brien

As the school year comes to the close, here are five iconic summer films to watch! 

May 19, 2022

In Review: The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe Lives On in “The Unheard Tapes”

By Gabriel O'Brien

“The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes” absorbs viewers who may be interested in history, Hollywood or just casual enthusiasts of conspiracies.

May 19, 2022

Student Film “Figment” Explores the Absurd and Surreal

By Gabriel O'Brien

Stay tuned this summer for the release of an all-UC Santa Barbara student-led film called “Figment," an absurdist comedy about someone who realizes they’re living inside someone else’s dream.

April 30, 2022

In Review: “Killing Eve” Season 4, A Crushing Ending for a Riveting Series

By Anissa Estrada

BBC America’s spy-thriller “Killing Eve” has finally come to an end with its fourth and final season after a four-year-long run. In this season everything comes to a head in a disappointing end.

April 21, 2022

Originality is Back: “Everything Everywhere All at Once” is an Instant Classic in all Universes

By Graham Glass

“Everything Everywhere All at Once” takes the done-to-death multiverse movie and gives it a revamping that major movie studios have yet to do.

April 15, 2022

“Murder In Paris”: A Story of International Intrigue Comes to the Carsey-Wolf Center

By Gabriel O'Brien

The 2021 documentary “Murder in Paris: The Assassination of Dulcie September” documents the life and mysterious death of the eponymous South African activist.

March 16, 2022

In Review: The Rollercoaster That Was “Euphoria” Season Two

By Isabella Chichioco

Although “Euphoria” was not as talked about as it is now when it first aired back in 2019, the show still received many good reviews and Emmy nominations.