The Criterion Collection

Fans of critic David Thomson (whose Biographical Dictionary of Film, now in its fifth edition, placed first in Sight & Sound’s 2010 poll of the best, “most inspirational” books about film ever written) should immediately bookmark the New Republic website’s film section. Earlier this month, TNR’s literary editor, Leon Wieseltier, announced that Thomson had been appointed the magazine’s second film critic (joining the venerable Stanley Kauffmann, still going strong after an incredible fifty-three years at the publication). Thomson will be regularly reviewing movies online for the New Republic, digging in to films both new, like Claire Denis’ White Material, and old—check out this past weekend’s insightful entry on Josef von Sternberg’s The Last Command, which includes a diverting glance back at the very first Oscar ceremony (at which von Sternberg’s film won Emil Jannings the best actor award).