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Emily St. James

Emily St. James

Former Critic at Large

    Latest articles by Emily St. James

    Culture
    Christmas in the Space Age: looking back at the wild, weird designs of mid-20th-century holidaysChristmas in the Space Age: looking back at the wild, weird designs of mid-20th-century holidays
    Culture

    There are two critical periods for Christmas. One is the Victorian era. The other is the 1960s.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    How Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon wrote The Big Sick without ruining their marriageHow Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon wrote The Big Sick without ruining their marriage
    Podcast
    Culture

    “It was learning how to respect each other as co-workers, which is a different thing than as spouses.”

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    The Man Who Invented Christmas is a deeply silly (but surprisingly enjoyable) Dickens riffThe Man Who Invented Christmas is a deeply silly (but surprisingly enjoyable) Dickens riff
    Culture

    A visit from the Ghosts of One, Three, and Five Stars in this cinematic retelling of A Christmas Carol’s origins.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    HBO’s Vice Principals captured something essential about the 2010sHBO’s Vice Principals captured something essential about the 2010s
    Culture

    But I’m still not sure what.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    1995’s star-studded Home for the Holidays is the big family movie Thanksgiving deserves1995’s star-studded Home for the Holidays is the big family movie Thanksgiving deserves
    Culture

    Holly Hunter, Robert Downey Jr., and Anne Bancroft gather around the big dinner table.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    Assholes, job dependency, and intimacy: 3 reasons it’s hard to end harassment in HollywoodAssholes, job dependency, and intimacy: 3 reasons it’s hard to end harassment in Hollywood
    Culture

    The way the film and TV industries are structured makes them a breeding ground for abuse.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    Roman J. Israel, Esq., Denzel Washington’s new movie, has the attention span of a squirrelRoman J. Israel, Esq., Denzel Washington’s new movie, has the attention span of a squirrel
    Culture

    It’s almost good — in that way that makes it all the more disappointing that it doesn’t really work.

    By Emily St. James
    We read all 20 National Book Award nominees for 2017. Here’s what we thought.
    Culture

    The winners will be announced November 15. Here’s your cheat sheet.

    By Genevieve Koski, Susannah Locke and 12 more
    Culture
    FX’s Better Things transcends itself in a season 2 that feels like an antidote to awfulnessFX’s Better Things transcends itself in a season 2 that feels like an antidote to awfulness
    Culture

    Don’t let the comedy’s Louis C.K. connection distract from Pamela Adlon’s remarkable achievement.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    Mr. Robot’s latest episode captured the swirling chaos of 2017 in just 45 minutesMr. Robot’s latest episode captured the swirling chaos of 2017 in just 45 minutes
    Culture

    It’s one of the best TV episodes of the year.

    By Emily St. James