Evolution of man: how Ryan Gosling changed stardom, cinema and society
The actor’s feminist credentials, a wholehearted embrace of comedy and being one of the most memed actors on social media has seen Gosling’s auto-satirising alpha male become white-hot box office in 2024
February 2023
La La Land musical set to open on Broadway
Damien Chazelle’s Oscar-winning film will be transformed into a stage show featuring music from the same team
December 2022
White Noise to It’s A Wonderful Life: the best films to watch on TV over Christmas
Adam Driver stars in an action-packed adaptation of Don DeLillo’s great American novel, while Frank Capra’s smart twist on A Christmas Carol offers a lesson in the season’s true spirit
February 2020
Love is (still) in the air: how the romcom came back from the dead
After decades of dominance, the romcom became a succession of tired cliches. But thanks to streaming – and more diverse casting – it’s back on our screens
April 2019
Cut! Is this the death of sex in cinema?
The number of films classified 18 for sex has plummeted. We explore how studio pressure, #MeToo nerves and the proliferation of porn created a new puritanism
February 2019
In the shallow: Lady Gaga and the rise of the Insufferable Theatre Kid
From A Star Is Born to The Greatest Showman, are actors who cut their teeth in musicals finally taking over?
October 2018
David Oyelowo: ‘We don't give black and brown actors the chance to fail’
A new BBC documentary explores race and Hollywood in the wake of Moonlight’s Oscar win. The actor, along with other film-makers, asks whether that moment actually made a difference
Tell us, First Man: was shooting for the moon worth the bother?
Catherine Shoard
Damien Chazelle’s film is surprisingly sceptical, says the Guardian’s film editor, Catherine Shoard
Observer New Review Q&A
Damien Chazelle: ‘I liked doing something that was the polar opposite of La La Land’
The Oscar-winning director on his new movie about the 1969 moon landing, that infamous best film mix-up, and finding time for a honeymoon
July 2018
Steve Rose on film
The Lamest Showmen: why can’t male actors sing?
As the new Mamma Mia! hits cinemas, we explore why male actors hit the bum notes in modern movie musicals
March 2018
My favourite film decade
From Boyhood to Get Out – why the 2010s is my favourite film decade
Make ’em laugh? Serial killers, suicide and now a Sheffield estate are the grit of musicals
Stephanie Merritt
Oscars so Right
Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway to present best picture Oscar again
February 2018
Best films
The best films of 2017 so far
La La Land and The Love Witch wove magic, Moonlight and Lion wrung out tears, while Get Out and Lady Macbeth got nasty. Plus, there were striking debuts, returns to form by seasoned directors and reunions for the Trainspotting rogues
December 2017
2017: what happened next?
The Oscars best picture fiasco: ‘I can sort of laugh about it now’
Top UK films 2017
The 50 top films of 2017 in the UK: the full list
September 2017
Musicals back in vogue, and business, as genre lights up Broadway and TV
From Spongebob SquarePants to Mean Girls, Broadway is gearing up for a wave of new musicals and with TV and film projects too, the genre is back on top
July 2017
La La Land meets Isle of Wight in Minghella Jr’s debut as a director
Max Minghella follows in father Anthony’s footsteps as a screenwriter and director
May 2017
Guy Lodge's streaming and DVDs
La La Land; Manchester By the Sea; Graduation and more – review
Damien Chazelle’s sun-drenched musical is even lovelier on second viewing, while Casey Affleck’s janitor evokes Brando
