More of the same, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
It’s 44 degrees in Chicago as I write this, but make no mistake—summer is here. I know this because Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.… Read more about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (PG-13) ★★★…
A Film Critic’s Personal Journey to Ebertfest and Revisiting Her Childhood Home of University of Illinois
The 19th Annual Ebertfest Film Festival, April 19-23, was held at the historic 1,525-seat Virginia Theater and the University… Read more about Ebertfest 2017, Focuses on Empathy, Kindness, Compassion and Forgiveness…
The Fate of the Furious is action & adventure, it’s the eighth film in The Fast and the Furious series. Many actors from the previous films have returned, two newcomers to the series are, Charlize Theron… Read more about The Fate of the Furious (PG-13) ★★★…
The Zookeeper’s Wife is the true story of Antonina Żabińska a working wife and mother who became a hero to hundreds during World War II and based on the book of the same name by… Read more about The Zookeeper’s Wife (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 about Colossal (R) ★★★…
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 about Colossal (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 about Life (R) ★★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 about Beauty and the Beast (PG) ★★★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 about T2: Trainspotting (R) ★★★½…
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 about Kong: Skull Island (PG-13) ★★★…
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 about Logan (R) ★★★½…
Oscar Blog Part 4-Final Oscar Blog!
Wow, Oscar weekend 2017 is here! We are very excited over here at Sarah’s Backstage Pass, as this is a huge weekend for us! We love viewing the Academy… Read more about Oscar Blog-Part 4 Best Documentary, Best Original Screenplay, Best Visual Effects, Best Makeup & Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Original Song…
Oscar Blog Part 3
*BEST DIRECTOR – Damien Chazelle, La La Land, Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea (Should win)
Nominees: Denis Villeneuve, Arrival, Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge, Damien Chazelle, La La Land, Kenneth Lonergan,… Read more about Oscar Blog Part 3-Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design…
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 about Oscar Blog Part 2, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress and Best Animated Film…
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 about Fist Fight (R) ★½…
It’s Oscar Time!
As an avid life-long Academy Award watcher, I’ve always enjoyed attempting to see all Oscar-worthy films, along with selecting my personal winners. The Oscars are my Super Bowl so to speak, an… Read more about Oscar’s BackStage Pass Blog 2017 Part 1-Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor…
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 about The Lego Batman Movie (PG) ★★★…
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 the… Read more about Sarah’s Top 20 Movies of 2016…
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 about Manchester By the Sea (R) ★★★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 about La La Land (PG-13) ★★★½…
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—The Sixth… Read more about Split (PG-13) ★★★…
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 about Patriots Day (R) ★★★½…
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 about Moonlight (R) ★★★★…
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 equally… Read more about Live By Night (R) ★½…