The Current
A magazine of film culture past and present, with new articles, interviews, and videos published every day
Recent Articles
The Criterion Channel Announces Launch Lineup
Here’s a look at what we’ve been cooking up for all you Channel subscribers!
Some Detours to Detour
Obsessed with Edgar G. Ulmer’s B-movie masterpiece from the first time he saw it, writer Robert Polito dives deep into the past to unravel the mysteries surrounding a film that almost never existed.
Lusty Pre-Code Hollywood in Tucson
Revel in Marlene Dietrich at the height of her stardom and artistry when Shanghai Express hits the big screen tonight at the Loft Cinema.
Harold Lloyd’s Ingenious Blend of Slapstick and Horror in The Kid Brother
In one of his most ambitious sequences, the silent-comedy legend throws his innocent “glasses” character into a death trap of a setting.
Wanda: A Miracle
In her sole feature-length directorial achievement, Barbara Loden eliminates the boundary between actor and character, crafting a revelatory portrait of a woman without an identity.
The Joy and Pain of One Good Meal in Bicycle Thieves
The great Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke recalls what his first encounters with Vittorio De Sica’s masterpiece taught him about the possibilities of cinematic realism.
An Unseen Side of Orson
Mark Cousins’s illuminating new documentary about Welles’s work as a graphic artist premieres theatrically in New York this weekend.
Richard E. Grant’s Closet Picks
The Oscar-nominated veteran bags a few favorite movies—and delivers some spot-on impressions of Jeanne Moreau and Dustin Hoffman while he’s at it.
Renoir’s Roundelay in Massachusetts
A shining model of humanism in cinema, The Rules of the Game screens at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, accompanied by a talk with a noted scholar.
An Opera for Everyone
Ingmar Bergman expert Peter Cowie discusses the idiosyncratic ways the Swedish master brought the delight of Mozart to the screen.
The Kid Brother: Mettle Is Stronger than Muscle
There was more to Harold Lloyd than laughter. In one of his best movies, the silent-film legend deftly balanced elements of action and romance with his signature slapstick set pieces.
Tracing the Roots of Khalik Allah’s “Camera Ministry”
The director of Black Mother explains how the twin influences of hip-hop culture and international art-house cinema brought him to his artistic calling.
Video
Spotlight
Studio Visits
In this series of video profiles, we drop in on some of the talented illustrators and designers who create the cover art for our editions.
