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Oliver Buchannon
Richard Lawson

Richard Lawson is a critic and culture writer based in Brooklyn, NY. He was the chief critic at Vanity Fair from 2013-2025. Richard has also written for The Guardian, The Hollywood Reporter, and Gawker. His novel, All We Can Do Is Wait, was published in 2018.

‘Backrooms’ Is Child’s Play

Jun 1, 2026

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4 min read

‘Backrooms’ Is Child’s Play

A boy wonder filmmaker has made a movie befitting of his age.

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
A Sex Cam Show Worth Watching
LockSimple

May 29, 2026

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4 min read

A Sex Cam Show Worth Watching

Plus, Allison Janney in a thoughtful television movie.

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
Alas, Poor Grogu

May 27, 2026

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5 min read

Alas, Poor Grogu

Catching up with the latest disappointing Star Wars movie

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
Which Cannes Movies Actually Have Oscar Chances?
LockSimple

May 25, 2026

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6 min read

Which Cannes Movies Actually Have Oscar Chances?

Assessing the future of the movies I just spent two weeks talking about.

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
My Favorite Movie at Cannes
LockSimple

May 22, 2026

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5 min read

My Favorite Movie at Cannes

The Black Ball is a sad, exciting gay epic that finally brought some life to the main competition.

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
So, What’s Going to Win the Palme d’Or?
LockSimple

May 20, 2026

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6 min read

So, What’s Going to Win the Palme d’Or?

Doing some guessing about the top prize at Cannes,

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
The Most Annoying Film at Cannes
LockSimple

May 18, 2026

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6 min read

The Most Annoying Film at Cannes

A widely beloved movie has turned me into the Grinch of the Croisette.

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
‘Club Kid’ and ‘Camp Miasma’ Are Early Cannes Highlights
LockSimple

May 15, 2026

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5 min read

‘Club Kid’ and ‘Camp Miasma’ Are Early Cannes Highlights

Yes, I'm afraid Jordan Firstman has made a good movie.

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
The Best Horror Film of the Year So Far
LockSimple

May 13, 2026

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5 min read

The Best Horror Film of the Year So Far

Plus, notes on the kick-off of Cannes.

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
Your Burning Cannes Questions, Answered
LockSimple

May 11, 2026

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9 min read

Your Burning Cannes Questions, Answered

Let’s open the mailbag just in time for the kick-off to this year’s festival.

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
Reviewing My In-Flight Movies
LockSimple

May 8, 2026

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5 min read

Reviewing My In-Flight Movies

What I watched when I should have been sleeping.

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
British Boys vs. British Girls
LockSimple

May 6, 2026

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5 min read

British Boys vs. British Girls

Two new TV series present quite different visions of English manners.

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
The Most Delightful Movie Surprise of the Year

May 4, 2026

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5 min read

The Most Delightful Movie Surprise of the Year

How about those Sheep Detectives, huh?

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
The Depressing, Refreshing Reality of ‘Devil Wears Prada 2’

May 1, 2026

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5 min read

The Depressing, Refreshing Reality of ‘Devil Wears Prada 2’

A worthy sequel that is more media drama than comedy.

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
Horror Comedy That’s Actually Scary
LockSimple

Apr 29, 2026

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4 min read

Horror Comedy That’s Actually Scary

The new Apple series ‘Widow’s Bay’ is a highlight of the week.

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
About ‘Michael’

Apr 27, 2026

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5 min read

About ‘Michael’

Thoughts on the film currently taking over the world.

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
Intense Hunk and Babe Action

Apr 24, 2026

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5 min read

Intense Hunk and Babe Action

Two worthy rock-’em-sock-’em movies are out this weekend.

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
The Feel-Bad TV Show of the Spring

Apr 22, 2026

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4 min read

The Feel-Bad TV Show of the Spring

‘Half Man’ is Richard Gadd‘s startling followup to ‘Baby Reindeer.’

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
11 Movies to Watch on YouTube, For Free

Apr 20, 2026

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7 min read

11 Movies to Watch on YouTube, For Free

If you’ve depleted Netflix, Max, and the rest, head on over to YT.

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
‘Beef’ Hasn’t Spoiled in Season Two

Apr 17, 2026

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5 min read

‘Beef’ Hasn’t Spoiled in Season Two

And more things to watch this weekend.

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
‘Mother Mary’ Is Not Mother, Mary

Apr 15, 2026

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7 min read

‘Mother Mary’ Is Not Mother, Mary

And that’s okay!

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
‘Euphoria’ Sure Is Dumb, Huh?

Apr 13, 2026

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9 min read

‘Euphoria’ Sure Is Dumb, Huh?

The third season of HBO’s hit show has aged up badly.

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
The Cannes Movies I Cannes’t Wait to See

Apr 10, 2026

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9 min read

The Cannes Movies I Cannes’t Wait to See

From a gay musical to a Norwegian drama to whatever John Travolta has cooked up.

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
‘Hacks’ Is Dead, Long Live ‘Hacks’

Apr 8, 2026

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8 min read

‘Hacks’ Is Dead, Long Live ‘Hacks’

Notes on the final season of a beloved HBO comedy.

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
Harry Potter and the Cursed Vibes

Apr 6, 2026

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9 min read

Harry Potter and the Cursed Vibes

An HBO teaser doc did little to assuage my qualms about this folly.

Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson
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Premiere Party with Richard Lawson

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Premiere Party with Richard Lawson

For lovers of high culture and delicious trash.

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