Reviews

Piece By Piece (PG) ★★★½

American singer and songwriter Pharrell Williams’s biographical animated movie “Piece by Piece” follows his early life and career. What makes the movie lively and fun is that the storytelling is filmed using only Lego pieces. … Read more

The Wild Robot (PG) ★★★ by Kathryn Rachford

“The Wild Robot,” the newest DreamWorks film, pairs a dazzling animation style with a heartwarming story, delivering a beautiful experience. It follows the turbulent life of a robot, Roz (Lupita Nyong’o), who inexplicably finds herself Read more

Megalopolis (R) ★★½

Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis is a science fiction futuristic film in which the theme of early Rome is the center. Imagine a ‘Modern America’ as the city of ‘New Rome,’ and due to the unrest … Read more

Transformers One (PG) ★★★★

“Transformers One” is the 8th movie since the series began in 2007; yes, I’ve seen all of them. They are based on Hasbro toys and can be changed to any form. The robots change to … Read more

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice (PG-13) ★★★½

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice” is the sequel to the original 1988 film “Beetlejuice,” with Tim Burton returning as director and Michael Keaton reprising his role as the beloved Beetlejuice. Keaton shines throughout the film with his nuanced … Read more

Ripley TV Series ★★★½

As the prestigious Emmy Awards draw near, ‘Ripley,’ the TV series, stands out with an impressive 13 nominations. This acclaimed series, now available for streaming on Netflix, promises a viewing experience of the highest caliber.… Read more

My Penguin Friend (PG) ★★★½

The film ‘My Penguin Friend’ is a poignant portrayal of the extraordinary bond between a solitary father and a penguin, set against the backdrop of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The narrative unfolds as the penguin, … Read more

It Ends with Us (PG-13) ★★★½

Blake Lively, staring as Lily Bloom, the main character from Colleen Hoover’s ultra-successful 2016 romance novel about an abusive relationship, is an excellent choice as we can see her serious side. She plays serious well; … Read more

Harold and the Purple Crayon (PG) ★★★ by Kathryn Rachford

“Harold and the Purple Crayon” (2024), based on the beloved children’s book by Crockett Johnson, follows the story of Harold (Zachary Levi), a young boy with a vivid imagination, as he grows up and faces … Read more

Deadpool & Wolverine (R) ★★★½

It’s been six years since Wade Wilson, Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) retired from his superpower role. However, his quiet life is about to get crazy as he’s informed by Mr. Paradox (Matthew MacFadyen), that the world … Read more

Fly Me to the Moon (PG-13) ★★★★

Space travel has traditionally intrigued people, especially traveling to the moon. Reflecting back to NASA’s landing on the moon in 1969, the live video coverage was forever under scrutiny—were we really the first country to … Read more

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (R)

30 years after its original, “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” (2024) continues all the laughs with new conflicts and characters while still incorporating fan favorites. Detroit’s favorite cop, Axel Foley, returns to Beverly Hills to … Read more

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Interviews

Chaz Ebert Discussion “It’s Time to Give a FECK” Book Tour

Chaz Ebert asked me to interview her for the start of her book tour at Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville, Illinois. What a great evening it was to listen to Chaz further explain some of the … Read more

The Bikeriders (R) ★★★★

The Bikeriders” has an all-star cast, with Jodi Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy and Michael Shannon. The movie is inspired by a photo book of the same name by Danny Lyon, written in 1968. Jeff … Read more

Rob Lorenz Interview “In the Land of Saints and Sinners”

For the film “In the Land of Saints and Sinners,” I was invited to speak with the director, Rob Lorenz. We had a Zoom interview, and it was informative. We talked about his Irish heritage, … Read more

Dune: Part Two (R) ★★★★

Once in a while, a sweeping saga masterpiece comes along, such as 1977’s “Star Wars,” retroactively retitled “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” by George Lucas or Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the … Read more

The Bikeriders, a Motorcycle Club Film, Highlights a Positive Woman’s Role posted to Roger Ebert’s Website

Blending comedy, violence, and moments of tenderness while exploring the biker code of loyalty, Nichols creates an intriguing modern story of a gangster film told uniquely from a woman’s perspective in “The Bikeriders.” There’s so … Read more

The 29th Critics Choice Awards Honor a Wide Variety of Film and TV posted to Roger Ebert

The 29th annual Critics Choice Awards, held this past January 14th, moved to the Barker Hanger at the Santa Monica Airport, to accommodate the large number of critics that attend as well as the film … Read more

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Film Festivals and Events

Chaz Ebert Discussion “It’s Time to Give a FECK” Book Tour

Chaz Ebert asked me to interview her for the start of her book tour at Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville, Illinois. What a great evening it was to listen to Chaz further explain some of the … Read more

The Bikeriders (R) ★★★★

The Bikeriders” has an all-star cast, with Jodi Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy and Michael Shannon. The movie is inspired by a photo book of the same name by Danny Lyon, written in 1968. Jeff … Read more

One Life (PG) ★★★★

“One Life” is a heartwarming film I screened during the Toronto Film Festival; it stars Anthony Hopkins as Nicholas Winton, an English stockbroker in a true story. In 1938 he helped save over 600 children … Read more

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (PG-13) ★★½

It’s been three years since we’ve last seen the Spengler family as they relocated from Oklahoma to New York. They’ve moved into the original Ghostbusters Firehouse, complete with a firepole, ghost-catching equipment, containers, and the … Read more

In the Land of Saints and Sinners (R) ★★★½

In the absorbing thriller starring Liam Neeson, director Rob Lorenz accomplished a remarkable feat in his movie “In the Land of Saints and Sinners.” He utilized Neeson’s cadre of noteworthy acting roles to guide his … Read more

Shirley (PG-13) ★★★★

Here’s the best component of the movie “Shirley”—Regina King, the star who portrays Shirley Chisholm. Hands down, she embodies her actions, timing, and subtle nuances. Think Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth in her Oscar-winning performance … Read more

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Radio Podcasts

Piece By Piece (PG) ★★★½

American singer and songwriter Pharrell Williams’s biographical animated movie “Piece by Piece” follows his early life and career. What makes the movie lively and fun is that the storytelling is filmed using only Lego pieces. … Read more

The Wild Robot (PG) ★★★ by Kathryn Rachford

“The Wild Robot,” the newest DreamWorks film, pairs a dazzling animation style with a heartwarming story, delivering a beautiful experience. It follows the turbulent life of a robot, Roz (Lupita Nyong’o), who inexplicably finds herself Read more

Transformers One (PG) ★★★★

“Transformers One” is the 8th movie since the series began in 2007; yes, I’ve seen all of them. They are based on Hasbro toys and can be changed to any form. The robots change to … Read more

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