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“Sharper”- A razor-sharp thriller
Sandra (Briana Middleton) meets a young bookstore owner Tom (Justice Smith) and the young lovers find themselves in a dire situation as Sandra attempts to bail out her brother from a mob to whom he owes a large sum of money…we then see the truth beneath the lies and the con has begun. But who’s […]
“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantamania” figures out how to be just another super hero movie
Dear Mr. Jack Kirby and Jeff Loveness (writers of “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantamania”), After viewing the latest rendition of the “Ant-Man” series, “Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantamania” starring the familiarly jovial Paul Rudd, I felt compelled to write my review as a letter to you both as well as director Peyton Reed. Each […]
“Jesus Revolution” A pleasant surprise
“Jesus Revolution” isn’t what I expected and you might also be quite surprised. Based on the true story of the Christian movement in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, Jon Gunn and Jon Erwin adapt Greg Laurie’s book to create an inspirational story that allows viewers to step back in time to discover a ripple […]
“Creed III”
It’s the 9th installment of the “Rocky” franchise with “Creed III” as Michael B. Jordan returns to his role as Adonis Creed, the heavyweight champion of the world. But this time, Creed needs to work through the demons of his past which still haunt him thanks to the unexpected arrival of Damian Anderson (Jonathan Majors), […]
“Mafia Mamma”
When we hear the term “mafia” we think hulking characters the likes of James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano or Marlon Brando’s Don Vito Corleone or even jumping into reality to envision Al Capone and Lucky Luciano. Rarely do we conjure the image of a woman and never do we think about the likes of Toni Collette’s […]
“The Flash”
“The Flash” finally makes its way into the super hero realm with its own story starring Ezra Miller as Barry aka The Flash. It’s an origin story and save-the-world story all wrapped into one dizzying, fast-paced affair. With special effects we all expect from this genre, “The Flash” adds a little more zip to the […]
Fall TV: What’s Worth Waiting For
Fall is in the air as the school buses are beginning their morning and afternoon routes, the tinge of red outlines the tops of the maple tree leaves, and the days aren’t lasting quite as long. While is sad to see the summer end, it’s exciting to anticipate the 2023 Fall TV season. Here’s what’s […]
“Charlie Berens: Good Old Fashioned Tour” at the Den Theatre, Chicago
Charlie Berens’ performance at The Den theater in Chicago’s Wicker Park found a way to make even the Bears and the Packers fans happy last Saturday night. With over 7 million followers on social media, an Emmy Award in journalism, and creator of the “Manitowoc Minute” (look it up and thank me later), it’s no […]
“She Came to Me” is Delightfully Bizarre
There are two words that come to mind to succinctly describe the film SHE CAME TO ME…delightfully bizarre! An opera composer Steven played by Peter Dinklage, has hit a wall in his career…writer’s block, if you will. His wife, Patricia played by Anne Hathaway is on odd duck whose talented and brilliantly gifted son Julian […]
“Nyad”- This year’s inspirational film
As I approach my 60th birthday in less than 6 months, I find that “Nyad,” picks up at exactly that same spot for Diana Nyad. Seeing that more of my life is behind me than in front of me, Diana sees the world through the same lens. While I may not have been a champion […]
“The Marvels” is a complete disappointment
I will admit it and I know it’s no secret that I am not a fan of super hero movies. They tend to be repetitive and redundant (see what I did there?) with nothing new or even creative. HOWEVER, to every seemingly hard and fast rule, there are occasionally exceptions…this time, with “The Marvels,” we […]
“The Boys in the Boat” A Perfect Holiday Film
If you’re looking for a feel-good, uplifting story for the holidays, “The Boys in the Boat” is just the ticket. Based on the true story of the 1936 University of Washington rowing team whose losing streak was an embarrassment, a group of rookie rowers just might be up for the task of winning it all…and […]
Top Films of 2023
While there have been literally hundreds and hundreds of movies released in 2023, the huge blockbuster movies seem to quickly dissipate from my memory. This year, as I waited for “the one that knocks my socks off,” I have found that it’s been a year of the more quiet and thought-provoking films and not the […]
“Mean Girls”
“Mean Girls” from 2004 is still a favorite so why remake it? Well, because Tina Fey had the brilliant idea of reimagining it for today’s world and adding a bit of song and dance, that’s why! And she hits every note perfectly as the message still rings true in this new iteration. We’ve got all […]
“American Fiction” is THE movie of the year
The Oscar Nominations are out and now is the best time to catch up on the Award-winning wannabes at our local theaters. Yes, you can see “Maestro,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Anatomy of a Fall,’ and “Barbie,” but the one on your list that you shouldn’t miss is “American Fiction” starring Jeffrey Wright as […]
“Wicked Little Letters”
Hidden stories and truth that is stranger than fiction; these are the things that make great movies and “Wicked Little Letters” is one bizarre story based in reality that will make you laugh, cringe, and feel completely satisfied at the end. Starring Olivia Colman as Edith, a prim and proper spinster living with her overbearing […]
“The Greatest Hits”
A love story centering on the connection between music and memory and how they transport us, sometimes literally. We all have had the experience of hearing a song and having it transport us back to a certain time of our lives. Harriet, portrayed by Lucy Boynton, finds music to take her back to a time […]
“Pluribus” – A Series For All
“Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” remain two of this generation’s most-watched streaming series, and now their creator returns with another gripping, addictive entry; this time with a few familiar faces, though in entirely new roles. Vince Gilligan’s latest, “Pluribus,” stars Rhea Seehorn (known to many as Kim Wexler) as Carol Sturka, a successful but […
“Dust Bunny” Must Be Swept Under the Rug and Forgotten
“Dust Bunny” will certainly make you reconsider those pesky little tumbleweeds that collect in the corners of your home. In this dialogue-light thriller, we meet young Aurora, played by Sophie Sloan, who lives with her foster parents in an aging apartment building. She’s terrified to fall asleep, warning—with the sparse language the film allows her—that […]
“Rental Family” Finds Home
In “Rental Family,” Brendan Fraser delivers one of the year’s most quietly affecting performances in a film that examines loneliness, identity, and the human need for connection with uncommon tenderness. Set in Japan, the story follows Phillip, a struggling American actor adrift both professionally and emotionally, whose agent gets him a gig as an actor […]