The Ithacan

Paul Anderson continues to succeed in ‘One Battle After Another’

By Brian Murray, Staff Writer • October 1, 2025

It has been almost 30 years since writer and director Paul Thomas Anderson exploded onto the scene, but the visionary filmmaker hasn’t lost an ounce of his subversive talent.

‘Him’ scores a touchdown tackling toxicity in sports through horror

By Brendan Tomaszewski, Staff Writer • September 26, 2025

Gory. Unsettling. Surreal. Messy. These are the four words that describe the theatrical experience of watching Justin Tipping’s “Him.” While Tipping has directed and co-directed “Kicks” and...

‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey’ is anything but its title

By Riley Young, Contributing Writer • September 25, 2025

Despite its intriguing title and visuals, “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” falls flat on its romantic fantasy.

‘The Long Walk’ turns the ordinary into the disturbingly grotesque

By Hudson Healey, Contributing Writer • September 21, 2025

“The Long Walk” is a brutally raw take on the dystopian death game genre, first imagined by Stephen King and brought to the screens Sept. 12 by director Francis Lawrence. The film follows 50 boys...

‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ raises laughter rather than the dead

By Abbi Puckett, Contributing Writer • September 11, 2025

Empty and lifeless are a few words that describe “The Conjuring: Last Rites.” Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) are back on screen for the final movie and in action for their...

‘Caught Stealing’ swipes Austin Butler up in a thrilling thievery

By Logan Thompson, Staff Writer • September 4, 2025

When thinking about movie stars, older actors who started their careers far before modern blockbusters always come to mind: Cate Blanchett, Leonardo DiCaprio, Viola Davis, etc. Most of them are no younger...

DC Comics’ ‘Superman’ makes an epic crash landing

By Logan Thompson, Staff Writer • August 27, 2025

“Superman” is a firework, bringing new excitement into the oversaturated superhero genre. It is a fresh and hopeful take on one of pop culture’s most iconic fictional figures, launching a whole...

‘Weapons’ conjures wildly supernatural nightmares

By Brian Murray, Staff Writer • August 27, 2025

How does a community recover from an unfathomable tragedy? “Weapons,” the new horror hit from writer-director Zach Cregger, begins with 17 third graders mysteriously vanishing in the middle of the...

A revitalized ‘How to Train your Dragon’ swoops in

By Sarah Cochi, Videographer • August 26, 2025

In 2010, DreamWorks Animation released “How to Train Your Dragon” to much critical acclaim, including two Academy Award nominations and a 99% Rotten Tomatoes score. In 2025, DreamWorks Animation...

‘Sinners’ strikes a chord with its strong messaging

By Mariana Contreras, Newsletter Editor • May 2, 2025

Within the last decade, writer-director Ryan Coogler has cast Michael B. Jordan in six of his most significant projects. The dynamic, disruptive duo come back together to make “Sinners” as action-packed as “Creed” and as profound as “Black Panther.” At its heart, the film celebrates Black culture throughout history in an unexpected commentary about white supremacy and its impact on Black communities.

‘Until Dawn’ adapts its source material poorly

By Nolan Sheehan, Co-Life and Culture Editor • April 30, 2025

Attempting to build off of a popular video game with different story direction, “Until Dawn” is an adaptation that fails to follow the blueprint. Directed by David F. Sandberg, this film goes to great lengths to make itself unique in how it presents its horror.

A24’s creature feature ‘The Legend of Ochi’ fails to stay focused

By Noa Ran-Ressler, Managing Editor • April 30, 2025

“The Legend of Ochi” is an incredible visual experience. The cinematography, special effects, sound effects and soundtrack are all awe-inspiring. The plot and dialogue, however, are completely convoluted. So while this movie is well-made, it is not any good.

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