Monthly Archives: November 2018

NYT Critic’s Pick Movies

Shoplifters
NYT Critic’s Pick R Crime, Drama Directed by Hirokazu Koreeda
In this beautifully felt drama, the Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda dives into the mess of life with a story about a family on the ragged edge.
By MANOHLA DARGIS

Becoming Astrid
NYT Critic’s Pick Biography, Drama Directed by Pernille Fischer Christensen
This biopic of the Swedish writer of the “Pippi Longstocking” series hits familiar beats, but its performances are pitch perfect.
By JEANNETTE CATSOULIS

Inquiring Nuns
NYT Critic’s Pick Not Rated Documentary Directed by Gordon Quinn
In this newly restored 1968 documentary, two nuns ask a variety of passers-by in Chicago: “Are you happy?”
By GLENN KENNY

Invisible Hands
NYT Critic’s Pick Documentary Directed by Shraysi Tandon
Shraysi Tandon’s dense investigative documentary jumps into the murky and shameful world of child trafficking and forced labor.
By JEANNETTE CATSOULIS

The Favourite
NYT Critic’s Pick R Biography, Drama Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
Yorgos Lanthimos’s new film, starring Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz, turns 18th-century royal intrigue into sublime and ridiculous comedy.
By A.O. SCOTT

Roma
NYT Critic’s Pick R Drama Directed by Alfonso Cuarón
Cuarón uses both intimacy and monumentality to express the depths of ordinary life in this autobiographical movie set in Mexico City in the 1970s.
By MANOHLA DARGIS

Creed II
NYT Critic’s Pick PG-13 Drama, Sport Directed by Steven Caple Jr.
Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson and Sylvester Stallone reunite in a terrific follow-up to “Creed.”
By A.O. SCOTT

The World Before Your Feet
NYT Critic’s Pick Documentary Directed by Jeremy Workman
Not everyone can spend several years walking every block of New York. But spending 90 minutes doing that in this documentary is swell.
By BEN KENIGSBERG

Ralph Breaks the Internet
NYT Critic’s Pick PG Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy Directed by Phil Johnston, Rich Moore
John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman return to voice the characters in this social satire sequel that is downright scary.
By BILGE EBIRI

— Of Possible Interest —

Family in Transition
Documentary Directed by Ofir Trainin
The documentary tells the story of Amit Tsuk, who comes out as transgender, and the effect it has on the family.
By KEN JAWOROWSKI

Robin Hood
PG-13 Action, Adventure, Thriller Directed by Otto Bathurst
This is not your father’s, or grandfather’s, “Robin Hood,” and it’s not very good, either.
By GLENN KENNY

NYT Critic’s Pick Movies

Infinite Football
NYT Critic’s Pick Documentary Directed by Corneliu Porumboiu
By its end, the Romanian director Corneliu Porumboiu’s new documentary, nominally about world’s most popular sport, moves onto a plane of mysticism.
By GLENN KENNY

Number 37
NYT Critic’s Pick Thriller Directed by Nosipho Dumisa
This slick film is cheerfully derivative yet doggedly entertaining.
By JEANNETTE CATSOULIS

Weightless
NYT Critic’s Pick R Drama Directed by Jaron Albertin
The film, with a screenplay by the playwright Enda Walsh and the director Jaron Albertin, follows a mentally ill man reuniting with his 10-year-old son.
By KEN JAWOROWSKI

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
NYT Critic’s Pick R Comedy, Drama, Musical, Mystery, Romance, Western Directed by Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
A.O. Scott says this cowboy anthology is among the silliest Coen brothers films, and also one of the grimmest.
By A.O. SCOTT

— Of Possible Interest —

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
PG-13 Adventure, Family, Fantasy Directed by David Yates
This second installment in J.K. Rowling’s series about a “magizoologist” is so freighted with foreboding that even the would-be whimsy feels leaden.
By MANOHLA DARGIS

Outlaw King
R Action, Biography, Drama, History Directed by David Mackenzie
Chris Pine stars in a historical slog about Robert the Bruce (1274-1329) that is little more than a churn of mud, entrails and misty nationalism.
By MANOHLA DARGIS

Postcards from London
Drama Directed by Steve McLean
Steve McLean’s film is a pretty movie about pretty boys.
By BILGE EBIRI

El Angel
Biography, Crime, Drama Directed by Luis Ortega
The film, which was inspired by a real-life killer, follows Carlitos as he moves from one transgression to the next.
By BEN KENIGSBERG

The Grinch
PG Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy Directed by Yarrow Cheney, Scott Mosier
Aside from colorful computer animation and enhanced cuteness for the lovable sidekick dog, Max, this new “Grinch” brings little of note to the table.
By GLENN KENNY

Pimp
Drama Directed by Christine Crokos
This lurid melodrama follows a female pimp (Keke Palmer) and her girlfriend-prostitute.
By JEANNETTE CATSOULIS

Chef Flynn
Documentary Directed by Cameron Yates
This documentary from Cameron Yates looks at Flynn McGarry, a young innovator in dining who tries to live up to his hype.
By GLENN KENNY

The Girl in the Spider’s Web: A New Dragon Tattoo Story
R Crime, Drama, Thriller Directed by Fede Alvarez
In the latest and emptiest Salander vehicle, the character’s unclassifiable quality has been dulled and contained.
By MANOHLA DARGIS

All the Lying Grandmothers

Magnus Nilsson gave a talk and book signing today at the American Swedish Institute and when asked how he compiled the recipes from his cookbooks, he said they created a website where people could comment and upload recipes. And he said that everyone’s grandmother lied.

They all uploaded “The best recipe for pickled herring that’s been in the family for years.” and the recipe exactly matched the recipe published in a 1940s Swedish cookbook, down to the number of peppercorns.

NYT Critic’s Pic Movies

The Other Side of the Wind
NYT Critic’s Pick R Comedy, Drama Directed by Orson Welles
Welles’s last project is something of a seductive tease, a film that at times entrances and delights and at times offends and embarrasses.
By MANOHLA DARGIS

A Private War
NYT Critic’s Pick R Biography, Drama, War Directed by Matthew Heineman
Rosamund Pike’s powerhouse lead performance anchors Matthew Heineman’s raw, moving portrait of the war correspondent.
By JEANNETTE CATSOULIS

Searching for Ingmar Bergman
NYT Critic’s Pick Documentary Directed by Felix Moeller, Margarethe von Trotta, Bettina Böhler
A new documentary featuring interviews with collaborators and critics makes clear that Bergman, for all his depth, was also an entertainer.
By GLENN KENNY

Maria by Callas
NYT Critic’s Pick PG Documentary, Biography Directed by Tom Volf
The film proposes a corrective to the notion that Callas was a diva both onstage and off.
By BEN KENIGSBERG

Bodied
NYT Critic’s Pick R Comedy, Drama, Music Directed by Joseph Kahn
Joseph Kahn’s outrageously smart film uses the battle rap scene to grab P.C. culture by the neck and squeeze.
By JEANNETTE CATSOULIS

The Grief of Others
NYT Critic’s Pick Drama Directed by Patrick Wang
Patrick Wang’s film, getting a long-overdue theatrical release, looks at a troubled family’s inability to mourn.
By BILGE EBIRI

— Of Possible Interest —

Boy Erased
R Biography, Drama Directed by Joel Edgerton
Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe star in a true story about a discredited (but still practiced) “treatment” for homosexuality.
By A.O. SCOTT

Bohemian Rhapsody
PG-13 Biography, Drama, Music Directed by Bryan Singer
Rami Malek wears prosthetic choppers in a by-the-book biopic of Freddie Mercury and Queen.
By A.O. SCOTT

Potato Salad with Vermouth

Potato Salad with Vermouth
(All amounts are estimates and can be changed to your taste)

2 bags of My Little Potatoes fingerling/multi-colored, etc.
– OR –
6# of Fingerlings or other Potato suitable for potato salad
Fresh Parsley, stems and all chopped coarsely
Fresh Dill, stems and all chopped coarsely
Fresh Tarragon, leaves only chopped coarsely
Thyme (Prefer fresh, but dry is fine), leaves only until you can’t be bothered
½ large Vidalia Onion, coarsely diced (Alternatively, green onions or other sweet onions work fine.)
1 gigantic Shallot diced, or a couple of smaller ones diced. (If you have no shallots, leave ‘em out.)
2 cloves Garlic, smashed and diced (Green garlic would also be great if’n it’s Spring.)
You could add other crunchy things like celery, radishes, etc.

~3/4 cup of Dry White Vermouth
~3/4 cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 lemons, zested and juiced
Salt
Fresh Ground Black Pepper
Tabasco, a few drops
Sriracha, a good squirt
Moutarde de mieux

Boil the clean potatoes in salted water until not quite done. My bags said 15 minutes, so I cooked ‘em 12. Run under cold water to cool for handling. You basically just want them to slice and hold together so you can mix it up without mashing them.

Cut the potatoes into eating sized pieces and layer with salt, black pepper, and fresh herbs.

Make the dressing by mixing vermouth, olive oil, mustard, salt, black pepper, Tabasco, lemon juice and zest, and Sriracha together. Pour over salad, add any leftover herbs, and mix. If you want to hide anything, throw the dressing in a blender and blend it in. In general, potatoes can use a lot of salt and pepper, but you can always add more to taste at the end. Taste it when it’s all mixed together and adjust seasoning, lemon, etc. I like the tongue to tingle after tasting some, but not burn.