Picture of Jesse Hassenger

Jesse Hassenger

Contributing Writer

Jesse Hassenger's film and culture criticism has appeared in The Onion's A.V. Club, Brooklyn Magazine, and Men's Journal online, among others. He lives in Brooklyn, where he also writes fiction, edits textbooks, and helps run SportsAlcohol.com, a pop culture blog and podcast.

An indie director plus a big budget equals The Northman
The Northman.
Opinion

An indie director plus a big budget equals The Northman

Seeking redemption in Father Stu
Mark Wahlberg.
Opinion

Seeking redemption in Father Stu

Pining for a Best Chris movie
Chris Pine.
Opinion

Pining for a Best Chris movie

The Oscars' greatest nail-biter
Best actress candidates.
Opinion

The Oscars' greatest nail-biter

Sandra Bullock's one last (rom-com) job
The Lost City.
Opinion

Sandra Bullock's one last (rom-com) job

Colin Farrell's best comeback ever
Colin Farrell.
Opinion

Colin Farrell's best comeback ever

In defense of Gal Gadot's Death on the Nile performance
Gal Gadot.
Opinion

In defense of Gal Gadot's Death on the Nile performance

Moonfall is a vintage big-ticket disaster movie
Patrick Wilson.
Opinion

Moonfall is a vintage big-ticket disaster movie

Woody Allen goes out with a whimper
Woody Allen.
Opinion

Woody Allen goes out with a whimper

The too-muchness of Nightmare Alley
Bradley Cooper.
Opinion

The too-muchness of Nightmare Alley

Lectures over laughs?
Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence.
Opinion

Lectures over laughs?

West Side Story is not an old man's movie
West Side Story.
Opinion

West Side Story is not an old man's movie

The dreamy music video aesthetics of Licorice Pizza
Licorice Pizza.
Opinion

The dreamy music video aesthetics of Licorice Pizza

Matt Damon's American masculinity
Matt Damon.
Opinion

Matt Damon's American masculinity

Kristen Wiig's belated Bridesmaids follow-up
Feature

Kristen Wiig's belated Bridesmaids follow-up

Amy Adams is too good to do something like Hillbilly Elegy
Amy Adams.
Feature

Amy Adams is too good to do something like Hillbilly Elegy

The welcome return of sad Ben Affleck
Feature

The welcome return of sad Ben Affleck

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, movie star
Downhill.
Feature

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, movie star

Why are the Oscars trying to be the Grammys?
An Oscar Grammy.
Analysis

Why are the Oscars trying to be the Grammys?

What was it like to work for Harvey Weinstein? The Assistant shows the everyday weight of harassment.
The Assistant.
Feature

What was it like to work for Harvey Weinstein? The Assistant shows the everyday weight of harassment.

The Lion King remake shows some stories aren't meant to be told in 'live-action'
The Lion King.
Feature

The Lion King remake shows some stories aren't meant to be told in 'live-action'

The not-so-parallel careers of Robert Downey Jr. and Will Smith
Will Smith and Robert Downey Jr.
Feature

The not-so-parallel careers of Robert Downey Jr. and Will Smith

In defense of middlebrow Sam Mendes
Sam Mendes.
Feature

In defense of middlebrow Sam Mendes

Cats only inspires one question: Why?
Feature

Cats only inspires one question: Why?

Richard Jewell is Clint Eastwood's latest film to go small
Analysis

Richard Jewell is Clint Eastwood's latest film to go small

Queen & Slim shows Hollywood is still learning how to grapple with police shootings
Queen and Slim.
Feature

Queen & Slim shows Hollywood is still learning how to grapple with police shootings

The rich comedic tradition of beefcakes taking care of kids
Playing With Fire.
Feature

The rich comedic tradition of beefcakes taking care of kids

Joaquin Phoenix's Joker struggles in the shadow of the actors who came before him
Joaquin Phoenix.
Feature

Joaquin Phoenix's Joker struggles in the shadow of the actors who came before him

Jennifer Lopez is the new Al Pacino
Jennifer Lopez.
Feature

Jennifer Lopez is the new Al Pacino

Why movie studios should start thinking differently about Labor Day
A movie theater.
Feature

Why movie studios should start thinking differently about Labor Day

Hobbs & Shaw's late-blooming stars
Hobbs and Shaw.
Feature

Hobbs & Shaw's late-blooming stars

Dark Phoenix is a fitting end, if it is the end, to the X-Men franchise
A scene from Dark Phoenix.
Feature

Dark Phoenix is a fitting end, if it is the end, to the X-Men franchise

Adam Sandler is good again
Adam Sandler.
Analysis

Adam Sandler is good again

Avengers: Endgame gets back to the best part of the series — the characters
The Avengers.
Feature

Avengers: Endgame gets back to the best part of the series — the characters

How a little secrecy gives Captain Marvel a stronger story
Brie Larson.
Analysis

How a little secrecy gives Captain Marvel a stronger story

The many violent fantasies of Liam Neeson
Liam Neeson.
Analysis

The many violent fantasies of Liam Neeson