Author: Sarah Knight Adamson

Colossal (R) ★★★

The film centers on alcoholism as a monster, and it’s far reaching effects on others. Anne Hathaway (Gloria) is an out-of-work party girl who, after getting kicked out of her apartment by her boyfriend, is … Read more

Colossal (R) ★★★½

You’ve probably never seen a movie quite like this.

I adored Colossal. It’s my favorite film of 2017 so far. I want to campaign for it at every theater across the country. I want to … Read more

Life (R) ★★½

A decent but forgettable thriller that adds nothing new to the Doomed Space Crew genre.

Are you a space scientist?

I’ll assume you’re not and proceed to ask you this: “Not being a space scientist, … Read more

Beauty and the Beast (PG) ★★★½

This live-action remake may not be necessary, but it’s still a lot of fun.

I usually try to review remakes (or prequels or sequels, for that matter) on their own merit as standalone films, but … Read more

T2: Trainspotting (R) ★★★½

The Boys are Back!

Is revisiting the zaniness of Trainspotting (1996) 20 years later worth the trip? (Pun intended.) I guess if you’re wondering if Renton, Sick Boy, Spud, or Begbie made the decision to … Read more

Kong: Skull Island (PG-13) ★★★

Kong: Skull Island is a blast.

Almost exactly a year ago, my husband and I ran around the Islands of Adventure theme park in Orlando. We passed by a large barricaded area surrounded by high … Read more

Logan (R) ★★★½

Logan is the tenth X-Men movie . . . and might just be the best.

When I review a film from any franchise that has what might be described as “rabid fans”—be it Star Wars, … Read more

Oscar Blog Part 2, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress and Best Animated Film

Oscar Blog Part 2

Hi again, here’s the next installment; happy reading. Wow, it’s getting exciting the last week before Oscar. Hey, do you have your tickets to the best viewing party in Chicagoland? I’ll … Read more

Fist Fight (R) ★½

Hey comedy directors: when your end-credits blooper reel is funnier than the rest of your movie, you’ve failed.

Fist Fight should have at least been decent; its trailers gave me hope. It stars the high-strung, … Read more

The Lego Batman Movie (PG) ★★★

The Lego Batman Movie is fun (and funny), but not quite as awesome as its predecessor.

The Lego Movie surprised everyone in 2014. Nobody expected it to be good, much less one of the … Read more

Sarah’s Top 20 Movies of 2016

Top 20 (Award-Worthy) Films of 2016   Listed in order of favorites starting with #1

*Please note that I have not screened Martin Scoreses’s Silence this list may change.

1. Arrival—Science Fiction, based on … Read more

Manchester By the Sea (R) ★★★½

Heartwrenching Family Drama with Excellent Performances

Manchester by the Sea is a movie wherein the more you discuss the great aspects of the film, the more it sounds like your worst nightmare. And by discussing … Read more

La La Land (PG-13) ★★★½

Upbeat Musical with Beautiful Stars

Opening on a warm California winter’s day, we view a typical LA freeway traffic jam and an over-the-top atypical song and dance number; La La Land thus proclaims itself as … Read more

Split (PG-13) ★★★

James McAvoy helps save M. Night Shyamalan from himself in Split.

Like many others, I have been frustrated by M. Night Shyamalan’s career. Since I am a big fan of his first five movies—… Read more

Patriots Day (R) ★★★½

Patriots Day is a powerful reminder of this country at its best.

As I left for the Patriots Day screening, my husband asked me to remind him what I was seeing. After I told him, … Read more

Moonlight (R) ★★★★

Raw Emotion Strikes a Chord with Universal Themes

Superficially, one might sum up Moonlight by declaring that it presents three chapters of a gay black Miami man’s life. However, the film delves much deeper than … Read more

Live By Night (R) ★½

Ben Affleck’s really weird gangster film is a dud.

“What. Is. Happening?!?”

While watching Live by Night, I turned to the person next to me and asked this question several times. She was … Read more

Arrival (PG-13) ★★★½

When is an alien invasion movie not about an alien invasion?

Some of my favorite films (Looper, About Time, Safety Not Guaranteed, Back to the Future, Predestination) and novels (The Time Traveler’s … Read more