From auteurs to apocalypse

The first 20 years of this century were an era of auteurs.

Paul Thomas Anderson, Quentin Tarantino, Richard Linklater, Spike Jonze, and the Coen Brothers are sui generis filmmakers, writer-directors who hand-made multiple masterpieces, with 17 Academy Award screenplay nominations and nine directing nominations between them this century. All of them, except for the Coen Brothers, emerged from the independent film movement of the 1990s.

Judd Apatow cemented himself as the King of Comedy. Apatow wrote and directed The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Funny People, This Is 40, and Trainwreck. He produced Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Superbad, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Pineapple Express, Bridesmaids, and many more. He left no doubt: The cast of the canceled Freaks and Geeks, particularly protégé Seth Rogen, was going to be successful.

Then a worldwide pandemic hit and wiped out the movies. — Kevin Brewer

1. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE (Spike Jonze, 2009) The imagination and loss of childhood, starring Max Records as Max, King of the Wild Things.

2. ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD (Quentin Tarantino, 2019) Tarantino re-creates Los Angeles in 1969 and re-imagines the events surrounding Sharon Tate’s murder, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as aging actor Rick Dalton, Brad Pitt as his stunt double, and Margot Robbie as Tate.

3. THE COUNSELOR (Ridley Scott, 2013) Cameron Diaz as the baddest bitch in movie history, a cold, calculating drug lord-consort with two pet cheetahs and a cheetah-print tattoo that strides from her shoulder down her back. Also starring Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, and Brad Pitt.

4. DRIVE (Nicolas Winding Refn, 2011) Ryan Gosling as a mechanic, stuntman, and wheelman. He drives. Also starring Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, and Albert Brooks.

5. TROPIC THUNDER (written, directed, and starring Ben Stiller, 2008) Hollywood satire, from trailers to Oscars, starring Robert Downey Jr. as a dude playing a dude disguised as another dude, with Jack Black, Brandon T. Jackson, Jay Baruchel, Steve Coogan, Danny McBride, Bill Hader, Nick Nolte, and Tom Cruise.

6. INSIDE OUT (Pete Docter, 2015) Heartbreaking, starring Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger.

7. THE SOCIAL NETWORK (David Fincher, 2010) An evisceration of our relationship status with Facebook: It’s complicated. Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg, with Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, and Armie Hammer. Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin.

8. THIS IS THE END (Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen, 2013) The apocalypse strikes at James Franco’s house party, starring Rogen, Franco, Jay Baruchel, Craig Robinson, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride, Michael Cera, and Rihanna as themselves.

9. ZOMBIELAND (Ruben Fleischer, 2009) Zombie-killing by Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin — and spoiler alert — Bill Murray. Rule 32: Enjoy the little things.

10. GRAN TORINO (produced, directed, and starring Clint Eastwood, 2008) Life, death, and redemption in suburban Detroit.

20 more, in chronological order

High Fidelity (Stephen Frears, John Cusack, 2000)

Bamboozled (Spike Lee, 2000)

Lost in Translation (Sofia Coppola, Bill Murray, 2003)

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (Adam McKay, Will Ferrell, 2004)

Million Dollar Baby (Clint Eastwood, 2004)

Junebug (Phil Morrison, 2005)

The 40-Year-Old Virgin (Judd Apatow, Steve Carell, 2005)

Hot Fuzz (Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, 2007)

Planet Terror (Robert Rodriguez, 2007)

Adventureland (Greg Mottola, 2009)

Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, 2009)

Up (Pete Docter, 2009)

The Hangover Part II (Todd Phillips, 2011)

Bad Teacher (Jake Kasdan, 2011)

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (Alejandro G. Inarritu, 2014)

The Nice Guys (Shane Black, 2016)

Deadpool (Tim Miller, Ryan Reynolds, 2016)

Sing Street (John Carney, 2016)

Borg vs. McEnroe (Janus Metz Pedersen, 2017)

Summer of 84 (RKSS, 2018)

Television, seriously

The New York Times released its survey of the 100 best television shows of the 21st century, and it is a serious list. Which is to say that television networks, television producers, even television watchers take themselves seriously. Television — and I’m talking mostly about dramas here — has become more about filmmaking than television, more depth than breadth, long on premise, short on character. Television watched The Sopranos, which is not on the Times list because it premiered in 1999, and learned all the wrong lessons.

As for comedy, there is a lot of irony, but not many laughs. Characters talk to the camera, but they don’t have anything to say. Just knowing shrugs.

FX walked the line best. The Shield, Archer, Justified, Louie, Terriers, The Americans, Fargo, Atlanta, Shogun, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia were essentially broadcast network series, with more money and creative freedom, but without the dark self-indulgence. In fact, the first Shogun adaptation aired on NBC in 1980.

This is my list of the best that the medium can produce. Not darkness, but humanity.
— Kevin Brewer

1. FREAKS and GEEKS (Judd Apatow, Paul Feig, 1999-2000) Coming of age outcasts in suburban Michigan in 1980, with future stars Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daley, James Franco, Samm Levine, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Martin Starr, and Busy Philipps.

2. THE AMERICANS (Joe Weisberg, Joel Fields, 2013-18) Soviet spies in 1980s America explore the cold war of marriage and the nuclear threat of raising children, starring Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys.

3. LOUIE (Written, directed and starring Louis C.K., 2010-15) Seinfeld meets Woody meets Scorsese. True auteurism.

4. COMMUNITY (Dan Harmon, 2009-15) Meta-television about a study group that doesn’t study, with Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Alison Brie, Donald Glover, and Chevy Chase.

5. RESERVATION DOGS (Sterlin Harjo, 2021-23) Coming of age on a rural Oklahoma reservation. Written and directed by Indigenous Americans, starring Devery Jacobs, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Lane Factor, and Paulina Alexis.

6. BETTER CALL SAUL (Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, 2015-22) Better than Breaking Bad. Jimmy McGill becomes Saul Goodman, starring Bob Odenkirk, Rhea Seehorn, Jonathan Banks, and Michael McKean.

7. CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM (Larry David, 2000-11, 2017-24) Larry David as himself, or an unfiltered version of himself, with Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, J.B. Smoove, and guest starring the cast of Seinfeld.

8. BLACK MIRROR (Charlie Brooker, Annabel Jones, 2011-present) This generation’s Twilight Zone, updating the chilling anthology genre with meditations on digital dependence and runaway technology.

9. FAMILY GUY (Seth MacFarlane, 1999-present) 24 seasons, more than 460 episodes, this century’s league leader in laughs.

10. CHAPPELLE’S SHOW (Dave Chappelle, Neal Brennan, 2003-06) Sketch comedy bangers, from blind Black white supremacist Clayton Bigsby to Tyrone Biggums to Negrodamus, with Charlie Murphy and Paul Mooney.

Special mention >> Comedy documentaries, particularly those directed by Judd Apatow: The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling, George Carlin’s American Dream, and Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!

Late night >> Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the last two weeks of The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, and the final episode of Late Show with David Letterman.

Honorable mention >> Extras, The Orville, Key & Peele, Everybody Hates Chris, Young Sheldon, Big City Greens, the One Day at a Time reboot, and the first seasons of True Detective, Cobra Kai, and Resident Alien.

Wilson aces 2026 WNBA awards

The best season in WNBA history was full of superlatives. The Indiana Fever’s offense. Golden State’s defense. The most skilled players of all time.

My All-WNBA picks …

First team >> Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson is the league’s top player again. A true offensive and defensive anchor. Indiana Fever guards Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell were an electric highlight reel, powering the most efficient offense in league history. Clark was third in scoring and second in assists, while Mitchell was second in scoring, first in 3-point shooting. Lynx rookie guard Olivia Miles is smart and smooth, the best player on the league’s best team. Wings guard Paige Bueckers, a mature decision maker, can score from anywhere.

                               pts    reb    ast    shooting
A’ja Wilson, Aces             26.2    9.4    3.2    55-40-86
Kelsey Mitchell, Fever        24.7    1.7    2.8    55-45-85
Caitlin Clark, Fever          22.3    4.0    8.3    53-36-85
Olivia Miles, Lynx            19.8    4.7    6.0    54-39-87
Paige Bueckers, Wings         20.9    4.1    5.9    56-41-87

Second team >> Aces guard Jackie Young, an excellent two-way player, had a career season. Lynx guard Kayla McBride was the league’s best shooter: 51% on 2-pointers, 41% on 3-pointers, 92% from the line. Dream teammates Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray belong here, too. Howard was everywhere, leading the league in 3-pointers and steals. Gray is another two-way All-Star. Liberty forward Breanna Stewart is still dominant inside. A traditional post player in a new wave guard league.
— Kevin Brewer

                               pts    reb    ast    shooting
Jackie Young, Aces            18.9    4.4    6.8    57-38-93
Kayla McBride, Lynx           17.6    4.0    2.2    51-41-92    
Allisha Gray, Dream           19.0    3.5    2.7    54-34-81
Rhyne Howard, Dream           17.7    3.8    3.7    48-36-86
Breanna Stewart, Liberty      20.8    8.3    3.3    53-25-84

AWARDS and SUPERLATIVES

Player of the Year >> Aja Wilson, Aces

Coach of the Year >> Natalie Nakase, Valkyries

Rookie of the Year >> Olivia Miles, Lynx

Best offensive players >> Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, Fever

Best defensive players >> Gabby Williams and Veronica Burton, Valkyries

Best scorer >> Kelsey Mitchell, Fever

Best shooter >> Kayla McBride, Lynx

Best 3-point shooter >> Kelsey Mitchell, Fever

Best free throw shooter >> Aja Wilson, Aces

Best bench player >> Janelle Salaun, Valkyries

2. Tiffany Hayes, Valkyries
3. Han Xu, Liberty
4. Lauren Betts, Mystics
5. Sophie Cunningham, Fever

TEAMS

Best record >> Minnesota Lynx, 33-11

>> Best point differential >> Minnesota Lynx, +7.2
>> Best net rating >> Golden State Valkyries, +9.4

Worst record >> Seattle Storm, 8-36

>> Worst point differential >> Connecticut Sun, -9.1
>> Worst net rating >> Connecticut Sun, -11.5

Home team >> Chicago Sky

Road team >> Minnesota Lynx

Best offense >> Indiana Fever

Best defense >> Golden State Valkyries

Fastest pace >> Chicago Sky

Slowest pace >> Golden State Valkyries