Paddington in Peru (PG) ★★★½
It’s been seven years since the wildly popular “Paddington 2” (2017) was released with a stellar performance by Hugh Grant and cast set in London. Now, we are given Paddington’s delightful back story in the … Read more
Reviews
September 5 (NR) ★★★½
“September 5” transports us back to the historically significant year of 1972, during the Olympics in Germany. ABC, in a bold move, continued to broadcast live the 22-hour terrorist attack by militants from a group … Read more
Unstoppable (PG-13) ★★★½ Amazon Prime MGM
Looking for an inspirational and heart-warming family story? Look no further as the movie “Unstoppable” (PG-13) is based on the true story of Anthony Robles, played by Jharrel Jerome, an NCAA Champion wrestler who was … Read more
Emily in Paris Season 4 Netflix ★★★★
Virgin River Netflix Series is Homespun Coziness (PG) ★★★★
The immensely popular romantic drama television series “Virgin River” streaming on Netflix is currently airing its sixth season, which launched in December 2019. Diving into the source material, I found that Robyn Carr, a New … Read more
Best Films and TV of 2024
It’s been a fabulous year for both film and TV, with so many different genres and many wonderful family films. Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” is definitely my favorite animated film of the year. It’s not … Read more
A Complete Unknown (R) ★★★½
Dylan, a 19-year-old singer and songwriter, leaves his home in Minnesota and arrives in New York in 1961, destined to change the course of American music. Moving into Greenwich Village, he begins forming personal relationships … Read more
Mufasa: The Lion King (PG) ★★★
Mufasa: The Lion King” is a prequel to the ‘The Lion King’ movie series, focusing on Mufasa’s early years as a lion cub. Director Barry Jenkins addresses two key questions: How did the young Mufasa … Read more
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (PG) ★★★½
‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” is the perfect holiday family film for all to enjoy this year. It’s playing now in theaters and streaming online, told through a narrator, young Beth Bradley (Molly Belle Wright), … Read more
Moana 2 (PG) ★★★
Families can rest assured that younger children will enjoy “Moana 2” in the theater just as much as their older siblings and friends. The film boasts catchy songs, a powerful female lead character, and breathtaking … Read more
Wicked (PG) ★★★
“The Wizard of Oz” (1939) holds a special place in my heart. It’s been my favorite movie since I was 10 years old, and I’ve had the pleasure of viewing it over 25 times, many … Read more
Gladiator 2 (R) ★★★½
The historical story begins sixteen years after the Academy Award-winning movie “Gladiator” concluded, as Ridley Scott returns as director, with an opening setting of northern Africa where Lucius, a refugee, warrior, and farmer, is captured … Read more
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Interviews
Paddington in Peru (PG) ★★★½
It’s been seven years since the wildly popular “Paddington 2” (2017) was released with a stellar performance by Hugh Grant and cast set in London. Now, we are given Paddington’s delightful back story in the … Read more
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
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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
Paddington in Peru (PG) ★★★½
It’s been seven years since the wildly popular “Paddington 2” (2017) was released with a stellar performance by Hugh Grant and cast set in London. Now, we are given Paddington’s delightful back story in the … Read more
September 5 (NR) ★★★½
“September 5” transports us back to the historically significant year of 1972, during the Olympics in Germany. ABC, in a bold move, continued to broadcast live the 22-hour terrorist attack by militants from a group … Read more
Unstoppable (PG-13) ★★★½ Amazon Prime MGM
Looking for an inspirational and heart-warming family story? Look no further as the movie “Unstoppable” (PG-13) is based on the true story of Anthony Robles, played by Jharrel Jerome, an NCAA Champion wrestler who was … Read more
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