Articles by Sam C. Mac
A Future of Progress: Past, Present, and Hendrix
Pop hero to trap villain and back again.
Kinds of Crying: On Identity and Frank Ocean’s Three Versions
The singer’s new suite of works—”Blonde,” “Endless,” and “Boys Don’t Cry”—exists on its own terms, turning his understanding of fluid identification into an aesthetic.
Timber: “Into the Forest” Fails to Do Enough with Its Strong Premise
The pair of female protagonists at the center of this apocalypse thriller provide the only wrinkle in an otherwise rote genre film.
Le Retour: “Microbe and Gasoline” is Michel Gondry’s Best in Years
The once (and future?) visionary director returns with this strongest flick since 2008’s “Be Kind Rewind.”
Draw: “The Duel” Asks Heavy Questions, Offers Light Answers
Kieran Darcy-Smith ably connects the dilemmas of the present with the hewing of the western frontier. His resolution leaves something to be desired.
The Keys: Wading into the Swamp of “Bloodline”’s Second Season with the Show’s Creators
The first season of Netflix’s Kyle Chandler–led serial drama offset its idyllic setting with a story of white-knuckle familial tension. Now creators Glenn and Todd Kessler and Daniel Zelman are doubling down.
