All Culture
Mrs. Tippet鈥檚 school of life: The teacher who made me fall in love with writingWith her gold-tipped fountain pen, fanciful flourishes, and after-recess story times, my fifth grade teacher indelibly shaped my career 鈥� and life.聽
In 鈥楾he Wild Robot,鈥� a 5-star fable for our AI age鈥淭he Wild Robot鈥� is a love story about community and intimacy. It is the quintessential fable. The wilderness might be harsh, but we don鈥檛 have to be.
Five comedians walk into a barbershop. Why secret shows are selling out worldwide.Don鈥檛 Tell Comedy鈥檚 success reflects the remarkable boom of live comedy since the pandemic. Held on boats or in boxing gyms, the pop-up shows sell out to audiences that don鈥檛 know whom they鈥檙e seeing 鈥� or where they鈥檙e going.
First LookMaggie Smith, grande dame of British actors, remembered for her wit and intellectMaggie Smith, who died on Sept. 27, was world-renowned for bringing to life characters in 鈥淒ownton Abbey鈥� and the Harry Potter films. With a shelf full of awards, she was a monolith of British acting in a generation that includes Vanessa Redgrave and Judi Dench.
Francis Ford Coppola spent $125 million on 鈥楳egalopolis.鈥� How is it?鈥淕odfather鈥� director Francis Ford Coppola waited 40 years to make his passion project. After seeing it, the Monitor鈥檚 film critic wonders, 鈥淲hat in tarnation has he wrought?鈥�
The 鈥榦ther鈥� Alaska cruise: Got a week? Pitch your tent on deck.Alaskan ferries are a vital connection for remote communities and a rare and charming disconnect for tourists.
Start your engines, grab some earplugs: Old cars race loud and proudIt's easy to get revved up watching old race cars go roaring down the rack.聽
First LookIn New Hampshire, African refugees get a plot of their own to farm crops from homeAfrican refugees who escaped wars are now finding community as small business owners growing and selling crops in New Hampshire with the help of a local nonprofit. They offer staples like corn and tomatoes and also African favorites such as okra and sorrel.
A bittersweet farewell: I鈥檓 a New Yorker, but Mississippi has my heartWhen a born-and-bred New Yorker prepares to move back to the big city, he discovers that Mississippi has made itself at home in his heart.
One week, 20 movies, and Springsteen: Our critic鈥檚 picks from TorontoAt the Toronto International Film Festival, our critic detected an overarching mood that coming together is better than breaking apart. 鈥淚f I鈥檓 right in believing that filmmakers these days are looking more to unite audiences than divide them,鈥� he writes, 鈥渨ho is a greater uniter than The Boss?鈥�
鈥榃ater connects all of us鈥�: Black artists create a new relationship with the seaThe relationship between Black people and the Atlantic Ocean is often a heavy, tragic one. But artists in 鈥淏ecoming the Sea鈥� use the exhibit as an opportunity to reclaim and transform the water narrative.聽
As summer wanes, I'm chasing flickers of nostalgia by the campfireI yearned for my childhood summers by the lake. With my son, I have a chance to revisit that enchantment.
How James Earl Jones鈥� iconic voice became our voice of conscienceJames Earl Jones鈥� legacy as a voice of reason is a reminder of what we might overcome when we face our trauma and find our purpose. His voice was a well of dignity, a reservoir of resonance that echoes not only from his career, but in all of us who heard him.
Commentary鈥�1992鈥� says something important about race in America 鈥� and Tyrese GibsonThe new film 鈥�1992鈥� is a reminder of America鈥檚 cycles of racism and rebellion. Actor Tyrese Gibson stands out as a portrait of hope.
Burton and Keaton resurrect the fun in 鈥楤eetlejuice Beetlejuice鈥�Tim Burton and Michael Keaton are clearly having a good time in this sequel to the 1980s cult classic 鈥� and fans of the original will, too. Just watch out for those plot holes.
First LookNo need to stream classics. Old movies are dominating at the box office.Theaters have cracked the code on getting visitors back into their reclining seats: re-released movies. In the past two weeks, the cherished stop-motion Laika Studios film 鈥淐oraline鈥� first released in 2009 has grossed more than $25 million.聽
The lighthouses of Michigan鈥檚 Upper Peninsula are beacons of historyThe lighthouses of Michigan鈥檚 Upper Peninsula might be artifacts of history, but from their catwalks the same sight remains centuries later: a seemingly endless blue horizon.聽
Politicians are embracing 鈥楲ord of the Rings.鈥� Tolkien had something different in mind.J.R.R. Tolkien鈥檚 鈥淭he Lord of the Rings鈥� has become entangled in culture war sparring. Yet some say the text has universal qualities that transcend politics.聽- Politicians are embracing 鈥楲ord of the Rings.鈥� Tolkien had something different in mind.J.R.R. Tolkien鈥檚 鈥淭he Lord of the Rings鈥� has become entangled in culture war sparring. Yet some say the text has universal qualities that transcend politics.聽
In fair Boston, where we lay our scene: Free Shakespeare comes to the CommonA free summer show on Boston Common of Shakespeare鈥檚 鈥淭he Winter鈥檚 Tale鈥� is magical for the actors 鈥� and for audience members, who arrive up to six hours early.
