John Powers
A reissue helps revive Joseph Hansen's series about a tough, gay detective
Back in 1970, Hansen began a series of 12 novels about an LA insurance investigator named Dave Brandstetter. The novels were something daring and new: featuring a tough guy detective who was also gay.
Psychopath or hero? 'Reacher' presents a vigilante who walks the line
John Powers reviews Reacher, a series on Amazon Prime Video.
In 'Vigil,' a claustrophobic detective chases a murderer — on a submarine
Vigil is a new police procedural about a murder aboard a nuclear submarine. The show broke BBC ratings records when it aired this summer in the UK, and is now premiering in the U.S. on the Peacock streaming service.
From Steph Curry to 'Squid Game,' this year-end list will surprise and delight you
As 2021 comes to an end, John Powers singles out for praise seven revelatory people or things that he hasn't talked about but that surprised him, or filled him with delight.
Rugged masculinity takes a dark turn in 'The Power of the Dog'
A tense and gripping new movie by Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog stars a superb Benedict Cumberbatch as a 1920s Montana rancher.
HBO Max's low-key gem 'Sort Of' is funny, tender and humane
Centering on a gender-fluid Toronto millennial of Pakistani heritage, this eight-part Canadian comedy about identity is funny and tender.
'Passing' puts a fresh spin on an old-fashioned story about race and identity
Adapted from Nella Larsen's 1929 novella, Netflix's new film centers on two Black women, one of whom pretends to be white; the other could pretend, but chooses not to.
Heroism Exacts A Daunting Price In 'Wife Of A Spy' And 'Azor'
Critic-at-Large John Powers reviews the movies 'Wife Of A Spy', a Hitchcockian thriller by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, and 'Azor', the debut feature by Swiss director Andreas Fontana.
There's Plenty Of 'Guilt' To Go Around In This Scottish Hit-And-Run Thriller
Guilt, a darkly comic Scottish thriller about two Edinburgh brothers who do a bad thing then scramble to avoid the consequences.
5 Hit Men Board A 'Bullet Train' In This Fast And Fun Japanese Thriller
Critic John Powers reviews the Japanese Thriller ‘Bullet Train', by Kotaro Isaka.