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Caryn James

Caryn James is a critic who writes on film and television for The Hollywood Reporter, BBC Culture, The Wall Street Journal and other publications. She was previously a film critic and chief television critic at The New York Times, and an editor at the New York Times Book Review. She appears often on television as a commentator on film and on stage moderating film and television panels. She is the author of the novels Glorie and What Caroline Knew.

More from Caryn James

‘Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa’ Review: Netflix Doc Tells 10-Time Everest Climber’s Inspiring Personal Story

The Nepalese mother and survivor of domestic abuse is a warm, engaging presence in Oscar-nominated filmmaker Lucy Walker's latest.

‘Darkest Miriam’ Review: Britt Lower in a Marvel of a Drama About a Young Librarian’s Loves and Fears

The 'Severance' star headlines the Tribeca-premiering film directed by Naomi Jaye and executive produced by Charlie Kaufman.

‘Rebel Nun’ Review: Sister Helen Prejean, the Activist Who Inspired ‘Dead Man Walking,’ Gets a Lackluster Doc Portrait

The anti-death-penalty activist behind Susan Sarandon's Oscar-winning role is the subject of this documentary from Dominic Sivyer.

‘Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge’ Review: Iconic Designer Reflects on Her Life and Loves in Vivid Tribeca Opener

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Trish Dalton's documentary, streaming on Hulu from June 25, presents a largely first-person portrait of the woman behind the wrap dress.

‘The Great Lillian Hall’ Review: Jessica Lange Is Superb as an Actress With Early Dementia in a Lovely Valentine to Theater

Kathy Bates, Pierce Brosnan, Jesse Williams and Lily Rabe also star in the HBO film, directed by Michael Cristofer.

‘Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes’ Review: A Legend Opens Up in Nanette Burstein’s Engaging HBO Doc Based on Rediscovered Audio Recordings

Filled with archival images, the film — built around interviews from the mid-60s — is an effective trip back to a changing Hollywood.

‘The Greatest Hits’ Review: Lucy Boynton Time-Travels Back to Her Dead Boyfriend in Predictably Weepy Musical Drama

Ned Benson's SXSW-premiering film about grief and moving on co-stars David Corenswet and Justin H. Min.

‘Diane Warren: Relentless’ Review: A Sleek but Limited Portrait of an Artist, Enigma and Perpetual Oscar Loser

Bess Kargman's documentary examines the enigma of a prolific songwriter who has been nominated for 15 Academy Awards, but never won.

‘Family’ Review: Ruth Wilson and Ben Chaplin in an Artful Horror Film About Fear and Grief

Benjamin Finkel's childhood inspired his emotionally painful story of a young girl whose father is dying. 

‘Your Monster’ Review: Melissa Barrera Meets the Creature of Her Dreams in a Droll Musical-Horror-Rom-Com

Caroline Lindy's first feature, shown in Sundance's Midnight section, is a genre-blending take on love and revenge.

‘Never Look Away’ Review: Lucy Lawless Directs a Generic Documentary About a Fearless War Reporter

The 'Xena: Warrior Princess' actress creates a sketchy portrait of Margaret Moth in a film premiering at Sundance.

‘The Movie Teller’ Review: Berenice Bejo and Daniel Bruhl in Lone Scherfig’s Graceful but Slight Drama About Film Love

The director of 'An Education' delivers a different 1960s-set coming-of-age story, this one set in a Chilean mining town.