(Chicago, IL) — The Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA), (of which I’ve been a member since 2009), the Chicago-area print, online and broadcast critics group that celebrates the art of film and film criticism Film … Read more
Both Exciting and Exhausting, the Underwhelming Supervillain Further Bogs Down the Overwhelming Amount of Characters and Scope
Avengers: Infinity War is part one of a ten-year Marvel finale, that includes 18 movies starting in 2008 … Read more
The 20th annual Roger Ebert Film Festival (Ebertfest), began on April 18 and ended on April 22, 2018, at the Virginia Theater in Champaign, Illinois. Film-goers were treated to a spotlighted celebration of past years … Read more
Hysterical “Blockers” Boasts Great Cast
The film Blockers main premise is most parents’ worst nightmare−the discovery your teen has made a haphazard life-altering decision. A parent’s glimmer of hope−they just may be able to “block” … Read more
Shh…Don’t Say a Word
Sci-fi giant spider-like creatures can’t see you—so no need to hide—except, if they hear you—they’ll kill you instantly. That’s the premise of this tightly edited, spine-tingling sci-fi horror film. Be prepared … Read more
Popcorn Movie is Worth the Price of Admission
Plot revolves around losing yourself in fantasy worlds, it zip-lines at hyper speed and changes environments just as quickly, jam-packed action with numerous pop-culture nostalgia. Yep, it’s … Read more
My interview with writer/director Susan Walter of the film, All I Wish, a romantic comedy starring Sharon Stone as a late forties single woman who hasn’t found her dream career or the love of … Read more
Sharon Stone Still Rocks
Should a 60-yr-old actress permanently be typecast as a mom or a grandma? Sharon Stone can answer that question—the answer—an emphatic no way! When first-time director Susan Walter took a chance on … Read more
Action Sequences Mirror Transformer Films
The sequel to Pacific Rim continues the ten years after the setting of the original film, the year is now 2035 in a science fiction world where monsters are at … Read more
I Kill Giants
Pre-teen Struggles with Family Trauma
I Kill Giants is based on the graphic comic book series of the same name written in 2008 by the famous comic book writer Joe Kelly, of … Read more
Estonia Gains a Hero
This inspiring universally themed fictionalized story of Endel Nelis (Märt Avandi) an Estonian fencing champion who becomes a role model and mentor to students in his homeland is my kind of … Read more
WWI Drama Shows Courage and Heart
When one reflects back to WWI, images of soldiers fighting in trenches come to mind. Journey’s End, is a riveting account of those claustrophobic tight quarters along with … Read more
Yes, it’s a Non-stop Video-game with Little Pizazz
Tomb Raider (PG-13) stars Swedish actress Alicia Vikander it’s the remake of Laura Croft -Tomb Raider that starred Angelia Jolie in 2001. Both are based on a … Read more
Director’s Sharp Lens Keeps Us Watching
We all know teens do get into trouble, but how about murder? The awful step-dad, Mark (Paul Sparks) just ‘has’ to vanish from existence, and upper-class Lily’s (Anya Taylor-Joy) … Read more
Family Centered, Features a Rising Star-Storm Reid
Madeleine L’Engel’s novel A Wrinkle in Time, 1962 was first introduced to me in the late 80s when I began teaching fourth and fifth-grade gifted literature. We … Read more
Extremely Brutal and Degrading Toward Women
Red Sparrow rated R is based on a novel of the same name by Jason Matthews. Jennifer Lawrence stars as Dominika Egorova Russian Operative − a dangerous, abusive life … Read more
Best film of 2018 so Far
Black Panther is based on the Marvel comic book character, and raises the bar for all comic book films going forward. The film’s genre is Drama, Science Fiction, and … Read more
A ‘Fantastic’ Film
A Fantastic Woman is a foreign film from Chile that is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language. (Update, March 4, 2018 A Fantastic Woman Won the Oscar and Daniela Vega … Read more
Diane Kruger gives a Riveting Performance.
The reason to see In the Fade is due to German-born Diane Kruger’s outstanding performance as a grieving wife and mother. She’s previously acted exclusively in English and … Read more
Fearless Teens Give Us Running, Running, and More Running
After 11 months of delayed production, due to lead actor Dylan O’Brien’s (Thomas) serious onset head injury, the finale brings the dystopian saga cast together again. … Read more
12 Strong Tagline: “19 men attacked our country. The 12 of you will be the first ones to fight back.”
Here’s a true American war drama by Warner Bros. that’s based on the book Horse … Read more
Women and a Child Actress Rocked the 23rd Critics Choice Awards
What a joy to attend the Critics Choice Awards on the heels of the women-driven Golden Globes Awards earlier in the week, as women … Read more
Inspirational, Touching and Beautiful
The film is a biographical documentary about the life of primatologist and conservationist Jane Goodall starting from 1960 until present day. You’ll view never-before-seen footage that has been tucked away in … Read more
Action Packed Start to Finish
Liam Neeson stars in yet again; another action film where his family is threatened with death−and, yet again he’s in a race against the clock as time is never on … Read more