The Classic

The actor and writer selects two Bette Davis favorites, praises the divine insight of Defending Your Life, and shares what makes 12 Angry Men such an enduring classic.

The stylish and thrillingly self-reflexive films of this acclaimed duo have revitalized classic Hollywood genres such as screwball comedy, noir, and horror.

The Oscar-nominated screenwriter of One Night in Miami . . . selects a handful of favorite films, including an animated movie that haunted his childhood and a classic courtroom drama that has influenced his approach to dialogue.

Lou Lumenick is the chief film critic of the New York Post. He has also written for Moving Image Source and been a guest programmer for Turner Classic Movies.

Dec 17, 2025 — This January, savor multiple levels of nostalgia with a survey of ’90s cinema’s riffs on the ’70s, or turn a new page with a collection of films about dreamers seeking fresh starts in life.

Nov 5, 2024 — As a composer, arranger, producer, and perhaps above all, connector, Jones was one of the most vital artists of the past seventy years.

Jul 19, 2023 — Next month, we’re celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the birth of hip-hop and featuring collections of films by Kay Francis, Roger Corman, and Lou Ye.

Apr 19, 2022 — Frank Tashlin directs Jayne Mansfield to her cartoonish limits in this outrageous showbiz satire that is a testament to the power of bad taste.

Mar 15, 2022 — A captivatingly unclassifiable leading man in the 1980s, Hurt often returned to his first passion—the theater.

Aug 27, 2021 — This week we’re delving into the history of Black cinema and reflecting on films from Afghanistan and Iran.