The Boundary Between Our Bodies and Our Tech
Our online identities have become a part of who we are in the real world—whether we're always aware of it or not.
A Jewish Christmas
Chinese food, movies, and the assertion of an identity.
What Makes a Film Successful in 2014?
Domestic box office earnings are no longer a reliable metric.
How to Make Money in Hollywood: Don't Be a Woman Over 34
For male movie stars, earnings steadily rise until age 51, when things level off. For women, the peak comes 17 years earlier, and it's followed by a sudden drop.
The Geography of Uber
If it continues to grow—and there are few reasons to think it won't—will Uber transform the infrastructure of cities or glom onto what's already there?
How to Make a Convincing Sci-Fi Movie on a Tight Budget
Coherence is a good movie, and its initial shoot cost about the same amount of money as a used Prius.
The Benefits of Being the Worst Movie Ever Made
Plenty of movies have been bad, mediocre, or even good, but only a select few have been called "the worst." What might seem like an ignominious distinction, though, is also its own kind of success.
The Most Political Matches in World Cup History
A rumored death threat from Mussolini, what was ostensibly an on-field boxing match, and an egregious handball doubling as payback for the Falklands War.
'Godzilla' Might Be This Year's Most Realistic Movie
Sixteen years after a failed American iteration, Godzilla is back, and it's one of the most anticipated movies of the year. There's no superhero, it's not a sequel, and it's not part of a franchise, so what makes a movie about a monster destroying a city so resonant in 2014?
How Thomas Piketty Explains American Sports
The age limits in the NBA and NFL were both the result of a small, powerful group using that power to fortify its current position. Sound familiar?
A Review of a Review of a Review of Reviews
Andy Daly's new show on Comedy Central reviews often-mundane life experiences and, in the process, highlights our everyone's-a-critic nature.
Taking From Hip-Hop and Giving to White Kids: Girl Talk's Music
The DJ, whose mixes of rap and pop music crossed some racial and ethical lines, is now making his own hip-hop.
Why We Should Care About the Origins of the Universe
If you look at it a certain way, any step closer to figuring out the world's beginnings is a step toward understanding ourselves.
Future Islands, Emo, and How Honesty Became Cool
Or: Earnestness is the new black.
President Obama Is Cool
The president's appearance on Between Two Ferns is just another part of a well-crafted and ever-present image.
Why Isn't 'The Americans' More Popular?
Although it's not necessarily lacking in viewership, FX's best show still isn't talked about in the same way as Game of Thrones or Mad Men.
How a 47-Year-Old's Album About His Own Mortality Became Cool
By turning a memoir into self-aware record, Mark Kozelek, a.k.a. Sun Kil Moon, has managed to captivate the early-2014 music world.
What Does a Rock 'n' Roll Musician Look Like Today?
Ezra Furman released two albums last year, both to critical acclaim, but he's still not totally sure how he makes his money.
Matthew McConaughey: Coolest Man in America?
With a new series on HBO and a starring role in an upcoming Christopher Nolan movie, everything's in place for the former Fool's Gold star.
Why 'The Wolf of Wall Street' Exists
If a movie walks you through hell, that doesn't mean it actually wants you to go there.
The Self-Fulfilling Oscar Calendar
How the Academy Awards shrink the year in movies to down to no more than a few months.
How 'The Hunger Games' Got Cool
In just over a year, the young-adult book series has become a widespread cultural touchstone.
What Is Cool? Shia LaBeouf and the Almost Movie Star
Whatever Shia LaBeouf is, it's not cool. At least not yet.
Want to Win an Emmy? Cheat
Why does infidelity figure so prominently in TV's latest golden age?
What Is Cool? Lorde and the Trouble With Talented Teenagers
A 16-year-old from New Zealand might've just released the best pop album of the year. For some people, and for some reason, that's a problem.
What Is Cool? 'Grand Theft Auto V'
The latest offering from Rockstar Games seemed to capture the public's attention—but something vital remains missing.
What Will Be 2013's Coolest Movie?
In what's been a weird year for movies, could Sandra Bullock be the star of 2013's coolest film?
What Is Cool? Gosling, Jake Johnson, and the Not-Dead Movie Star
Long live Ryan Gosling and Jake Johnson.
What Is Cool?: Kanye, Jay-Z, J. Cole, Killer Mike, and El-P
With the American rock star falling by the wayside, rappers have become the ultimate arbiters of cool. Some, though, do it better than others.