Paul Thomas Anderson on What Makes a Movie Great

Plus: The best video games of 2021; “Succession” in The New Yorker; and what has Omicron changed. View in browser | Update your preferences Sunday, December 12, 2021 The New Yorker Interview Paul Thomas Anderson on What Makes a Movie Great The director of “Licorice Pizza” discusses his writing process, choosing actors, and how you can tell when you are on a good film set. By David Remnick Comment What Has Omicron Changed? Although the initial findings on the new COVID variant are encouraging, it’s important not to place too much stock in them prematurely. By Dhruv Khullar Backcourt Dept. Basketball Anthropological Studies The authors of the new book “The Joy of Basketball” watch the Knicks play a lousy game against the Rockets and expound on why the team reflects New York’s id. By Jonathan Blitzer The Theatre Two Musicals on the Perils of Aging A buoyant revival of Sondheim’s “Company” and the refreshingly off-kilter “Kimberly Akimbo.” By Alexandra Schwartz 2021 in Review The Best Video Games of 2021 As the industry confronts its cultural failings, smaller, more independent games have stepped into the breach. By Simon Parkin From the Archive Profiles On “Succession,” Jeremy Strong Doesn’t Get the Joke “I take him as seriously as I take my own life,” he says of his character, Kendall Roy. By Michael Schulman On Television Is “Succession” the Best Sitcom on Television? The series feels almost Seinfeldian in its efforts to capture a group of eccentric, petty characters as they try to one-up one another. By Naomi Fry The New Yorker Interview J. Smith-Cameron Knows What You’re Thinking About Gerri The star discusses her chemistry with Kieran Culkin and why bantering with the Roy family really is a bit like doing Shakespeare. By Rachel Syme Profiles The Real C.E.O. of “Succession” How the writer Jesse Armstrong keeps the billionaire Roy family trapped in its gilded cage. By Rebecca Mead Humor and Games Name Drop Play the Quiz Can you guess the notable person in six clues or fewer? By Matt Jackson Cryptic Crossword The Cryptic Puzzle Listen to lead member of the Beatles: five letters. By Patrick Berry Daily Shouts Fight-or-Flight Responses to Talking About Sports An increased heart rate, pale or flushed skin, an intense desire to hide behind your phone when you realize that everyone else at the party actually likes sports. By Ernio Hernandez and Patty Terhune You’re receiving this e-mail because you signed up for The Daily from The New Yorker. Manage your preferences | View our Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2021. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.