★★★★ (4 Stars) is the Highest Rating
Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story is a documentary and based on a true story. Storyboard Artist Harold Michelson and his wife, a film researcher, Lillian Michelson, They are two nameless heroes of Hollywood’s … Read more
Only for diehard franchise fans.
A month ago, Disneyland guests on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride were treated to a cool surprise when Johnny Depp popped up on the attraction in place of the … Read more
Alien: Covenant < Prometheus. Yeah, I said it.
I was thoroughly frustrated by Alien: Covenant and was actually mad when I left the theater. Aside from Michael Fassbender in dual roles and the cast … Read more
To take on the legend of Excalibur, Guy Ritchie sticks with his usual love-it-or-hate-it style.
The Knights of the Round Table. The Sword in the Stone. The Lady of the Lake. Merlin. Ah, I just … Read more
Happy Mother’s Day Weekend!
Here’s my quick take on the film:
I laughed the entire 90 minutes of the film. Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn are both funny, but the supporting cast; Wanda Sykes, Joan … Read more
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is Fantasy, Action & Adventure by British director Guy Ritchie of the Sherlock Holmes movies, he gives us an updated King Arthur film.
Charlie Hunnam stars as Arthur (The … Read more
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
The Promise Fails to Deliver
The Armenian Genocide is one of the most tragic stories of the 20th century as the Turks massacred an estimated 1 million Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire. The systematic … Read more
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 … Read more
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
Table This Film…For Good
Have you ever attended a wedding and ended up wanting to crawl into a hole because you were seated at a table with complete strangers? Despite the initial awkwardness, these situations … Read more
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
Get Out and See this Film
You cannot always judge a book by its cover. Similarly, you shouldn’t judge a movie by its trailer. These words of wisdom are especially true for the film Get … Read more
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
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
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
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
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