Press Play

"The best video essay source on the web." (Roger Ebert) This web site is built on a mix of original video essays and critical, personal writing about film, TV, and their connection to broader cultural concerns. Co-founded by Matt Zoller Seitz, TV critic for New York Magazine, and Ken Cancelosi, it is overseen by Editor-in-Chief Max Winter.

THE REGULARS

Monthly Archives

GREY MATTERS: The Horrors of THE INVISIBLE WAR

Blogs

The American military has largely dealt with the sexual assault of more than 95,000 service members since 2006 by stonewalling, denial, blaming the victim, and worse, according to Kirby Dick’s horrific and essential new film, "The Silent War."

By Ian Grey
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June 29, 2012 9:00 AM
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1 Comment

Video

I personally prefer the aggressive female . . . the superwoman. -- Russ Meyer

By Robert Nishimura
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June 29, 2012 8:55 AM
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0 Comments

Blogs

I don't say this lightly: what "Star Wars" was for men and boys of a certain era (and believe me, I loved it, too), Ephron was for women and girls of that era.

By Carrie Rickey
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June 28, 2012 4:28 PM
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2 Comments

Video

Here on Press Play we've been conducting an ongoing conversation on how to shake up the Sight and Sound Poll and its resulting canon. Along these lines, it was fascinating to learn how film critic Ignatiy Vishnevetsky produced his top ten list for the poll when faced with more titles than he could possibly narrow down - over 90 in fact.

By Ignatiy Vishnevetsky and Kevin B. Lee
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June 28, 2012 11:58 AM
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6 Comments

Blogs

Steven Soderbergh's recent use of digital photography in "Contagion" (2011) and "The Girlfriend Experience" (2009) has a painterly quality. In "Magic Mike," Soderbergh's visual flourishes establish concerns better than anything his characters say.

By Simon Abrams
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June 28, 2012 9:17 AM
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0 Comments

Video

I don't know what to think of this video. But I know what its creator, Kevin T. Porter, wants me to think of it.

By Kevin T. Porter and Ken Cancelosi
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June 27, 2012 8:55 AM
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5 Comments

Video

What is it that makes Putty Hill one of the more striking American independent films of recent years? Is it the genuine working class Baltimore setting, where director Matt Porterfield grew up and still lives today? Is it the cinematography by Jeremy Saulnier? Is it the ensemble of nonprofessional actors who give the film a genuine, unaffected sense of character? Or is it the questions?

By Kevin B. Lee
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June 26, 2012 1:03 PM
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0 Comments

Blogs

Tony Scott’s "Top Gun" is a visual and aural assault, a full-throttle “ride” that doesn’t stop for pesky things like story.

By Aaron Aradillas
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June 25, 2012 8:54 AM
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0 Comments

Television

Longmire’s specific focus on its main character can yield some tense results, as last week’s episode demonstrated effectively. But this approach also leads to difficulties when the scope of the episode is wider.

By Rowan Kaiser
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June 25, 2012 8:33 AM
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0 Comments

Television

HBO’s been trying to sell "The Newsroom" to audiences on the strength of its opening scene, when Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels), a bland and personable cable news anchor trapped in his own private hell somewhere between a shout-y liberal and a conservative, snaps and delivers a rant about American greatness.