The Fin

Sep 18, 2000 — Serving as codirector with Anthony Asquith, Leslie Howard found one of the finest roles of his career in this witty adaptation written by George Bernard Shaw.

Dec 31, 1999 — As a tour de force of screen acting, Autumn Sonata stands unchallenged as the finest work of Ingmar Bergman’s last few years as a movie director. Fanny and Alexander may have won the Oscars, but Autumn Sonata represents Bergman’s chamber...

Whether they shock, delight, or inspire, the final sequences in these films all leave a lasting impression.

The writer, prducer, and performer talks about his revelatory experiences watching Happiness and Trainspotting for the first time, shares why he finds The Last Waltz to be such an emotional and unique documentary, and praises performances by Robert De Niro...

The filmmaker talks about the hypnotic quality of L’avventura, praises Alan J. Pakula’s Paranoia Trilogy, and shares how David Fincher’s The Game helped kickstart his career.

The philosopher names Trouble in Paradise “Ernst Lubitsch’s ultimate masterpiece,” praises Peter Weir’s early films, and calls the final scene of City Lights “the most sublime ending.”

John Simon has written for more than fifty years on theater, film, literature, music, and the fine arts for such publications as the Hudson Review, the New Leader, the New Criterion, the National Review, New York magazine, the New York...

Nov 26, 2018 — The legendary filmmaker possessed the greatest speaking voice in American cinema, and The Magnificent Ambersons represents the summit of his work as a vocal actor.

Apr 6, 2026 — New York’s Film Forum screens thirteen features by the master of urbane comedy.

Feb 18, 2026 — Among this month’s highlights are a celebration of VHS and how it revolutionized film culture, a spotlight on the Romanian New Wave, and a retrospective of pioneering queer filmmaker Monika Treut.