UPHEAVAL
A revolution sparked within the royal circle? Director Nikolaj Arcel talks about his edgy political thriller A Royal Affair, opening this weekend—and mixing Dogme and David Lean.
Stephen Farber is a film critic for The Hollywood Reporter. He has written reviews and articles on film for The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Movieline, Esquire, New York, New West, and many other publications. Farber has written four books on film: The Movie Rating Game; Hollywood Dynasties; Outrageous Conduct: Art, Ego, and the Twilight Zone Case; and Hollywood on the Couch.
‘How to Survive a Plague’
How to Survive a Plague is a stirring chronicle of ACT UP’s campaign to pressure the scientific and medical community to find more drugs for people with AIDS.
Oui Monsieur
The Oscar-nominated Monsieur Lazhar subtly examines the anguish of relocation in its portrait of an Algerian school teacher whose move to Canada is fraught at every turn, writes Stephen Farber.
A DREAM DEFERRED
Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed opened his office to filmmaker John Shenk for ‘a real-life version of “The West Wing.”’
The Anti Scarface
A hit Mexican film, Miss Bala, is set in violent Tijuana with a beauty contestant lead. Stephen Farber talks to the filmmakers, Gerardo Naranjo and Diego Luna.
Inner Gaze
With The Artist and Hugo being Oscar contenders, Stephen Farber examines the history of film looking at itself—and offers his top 10 movies about movies.
The German director’s Pina Bausch documentary is the latest in a long line of film innovations.
TRUE CRIME
'Texas Killing Fields' is a haunting look at the other side of violence—from Michael Mann's daughter.
The category is such a mess that at a screening of one of this year's five nominees, there were boos. Stephen Farber on what went wrong—and five movies that should have been honored.
Nothing seems to delight Oscar voters like a mother from hell: Monsters from Black Swan, The Fighter, and Animal Kingdom are all vying for awards this year. Stephen Farber on their evolution, from Mildred Pierce to Precious.