Too Many Sub-Plots for Kids
Sadly, overly-stuffed “Smallfoot” invents modern fairy tale notions about Yeti’s, with mediocre animation, and songs without actually teaching anything of substance to kids.
Smallfoot is an animated children’s film by… Read more about Smallfoot (PG) ★★ Radio Review…
Claire Foy’s Janet Armstrong Sparkles
There’s a saying from the past, “Behind every successful man there is a woman.” In “First Man” (PG-13) Director Damien Chazelle tells the true story of the United States space… Read more about First Man (PG-13) ★★★½…
Halloween Fun, Beware of Slappy
Here’s the sequel to “Goosebumps” (2015) both films are based on the children’s horror book series of the same name by R. L. Stine of which millions of young readers… Read more about Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (PG) ★★★…
Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga are Magic
Undeniably, the new “A Star is Born” shines due to the realistic chemistry between Bradley Cooper (Jackson Maine) and Lady Gaga (Ally). Cooper’s directorial debut is a winner,… Read more about A Star is Born (R) ★★★★…
Book Launch, “The Greatest Love Story Ever Told”
It was a special day in Chicago on Tuesday, Oct. 2, when Michigan Avenue Magazine celebrated their October issue with cover stars, Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman. The… Read more about On the Red Carpet with Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman by Patty Babin…
Bradley Cooper Gives His Perspectives on “A Star is Born”
Bradley Cooper and Oliver Platt were in Chicago, IL at the AMC River East Theater on the evening of September 17, 2018, to discuss the… Read more about Bradley Cooper Q&A “A Star is Born”…
A Heartfelt Journey That Will Not Be Putting on the Brakes Anytime Soon
Regardless of your feelings towards Jane Fonda on her controversial mistakes in Viet Nam in the 70s, this outstanding documentary sheds light… Read more about Jane Fonda in Five Acts ★★★½…
Non Kid-Centered Movie, Billed for Kids
Here’s what’s truly infuriating—the fact that this beloved young-adult novel fell into the hands of the “Hostel” (torture porn) series horror-famed writer, director, producer Eli Roth. As a film,… Read more about The House with the Clock in its Walls ★½ (PG)…
Dry Martini’s in the Suburbs
Despite the ambiguous genre of this superb diabolical modern-suburbia film—that has themes of mystery, comedy, murder, romance, secrets, and betrayals—for sure it’s one of the best times I’ve had at… Read more about A Simple Favor (R) ★★★½…
A “Crazy Great” Movie
Director Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of Kevin Kwan’s book stands on its own, by adding key scenes, tweaking character’s roles while at the same time astonishingly bringing the over-the-top opulence to… Read more about Crazy Rich Asians (PG-13)★★★½…
One of the Years Best
Ron Stallworth’s memoir is retold with passion and admiration—aptly Lee’s finale reminds us of our current gut-wrenching racial tensions. Be prepared for a history lesson of shock and awe—it’s about… Read more about BlacKkKlansman (R) ★★★★…
A Visit With Warm Fuzzy Friends
Oh bother, as Winnie the Pooh would say; this is not the live action over-the-top film kids and adults may expect; however, it is true to the laid-back nature… Read more about Christopher Robin (G) ★★★…
Intense Adrenaline Filled Ride
The “Mission Impossible” film series launched in 1996 produced by and starring Tom Cruise at age 33 brought Cruise’s action skills to the forefront. In “Fallout,” 2018, the sixth film in… Read more about Mission Impossible: Fallout (PG-13) ★★★★…
MARC TURTLETAUB on PUZZLE, Kelly Macdonald and Women’s Roles — Sarah Knight Adamson interviews
As producer, Marc Turtletaub has been investing cash and cred in femme-centric feature films since 2004, standing behind award-winning films such… Read more about Interview with Marc Turtletaub Director of Puzzle…
Mamma Mia, How Could We Ever Forget You?
Opening the musical Mamma Mia 2 in the middle of an unseasonably sweltering, summer, is brilliant marketing—especially if your vacation plans are late August as you’ll be… Read more about Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (PG-13) ★★★½…
A Few Tender Moments and Catchy Songs Can’t Save this Sinking Ship
As a relentless advocate for quality children’s films, the Hotel Transylvania animated series (2012, 2015) has never been high on my list—especially now… Read more about Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (PG) ★½…
New Female Superhero “The Wasp” has Equal Star Billing
Paul Rudd is back in all of his goofy glory as dad (Scott Lang) also known as Ant-Man in the follow-up to Ant-Man (2015). Here’s the… Read more about Ant-Man and The Wasp (PG-13) ★★★½…
My interview with writer-director, Shana Feste and teen actor Lewis MacDougall was conducted via phone as I was ill with a bad cold, which was a shame as I prefer to meet talent face to… Read more about Shana Feste (Director, Writer) and Lewis MacDougall (Actor) in the film “Boundaries”…
Benicio Del Toro Soars, Giving an Outstanding Performance in this Bleak and Dark Role
Violent anti-heroes (CIA operative) Josh Brolin and (ex-lawyer, prosecutor, hit-man) Benicio Del Toro minus the much-needed government moral compass of (FBI… Read more about Sicario: Day of the Soldado (R) ★★½…
The Dinosaurs Have Left the Island…They Could Now Be in Your Homes
If you’re expecting to hear the word “run” and view people with horrified (panic-stricken) expressions on their faces while desperately fleeing hungry meat-eating dinosaurs, then… Read more about Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (PG-13) ★★★…
Timely Messages of Marriage Equality and Female Empowerment
Pixar’s long awaited animated sequel to the Incredibles (2004) is a laugh-out-loud summer popcorn flick that guarantees to strike a chord with all family members. Not veering… Read more about Incredibles 2 (PG) ★★★★…
Fred Rogers An American Hero to Children of the World
Won’t You Be My Neighbor? by director Morgan Neville offers an in-depth look at Fred Rogers, the man behind the PBS children’s program, Mister Roger’s… Read more about Won’t You Be My Neighbor (PG-13) ★★★★…
Female Glam-Caper Steals the Spotlight
Ocean’s 8, the female answer to the three previous Oceans’ heist movies, (Ocean’s Eleven 2001, Ocean’s Twelve 2004, and Ocean’s Thirteen 2007) is exquisitely cast with (Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and… Read more about Ocean’s 8 (PG-13) ★★★…
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a Petite but Mighty Force
Upon the conclusion of RBG, a joyous smile stretched across my face, as the feeling of pure elation was my first reaction—yes, 84-year-old Supreme Court Justice Ruth… Read more about RBG (PG) ★★★★…