Posts in 2020
20 YEAR RETROSPECTIVE: The 10 Best Films of 2001

In an annual series, Every Movie Has a Lesson is going to look back twenty years to revisit, relearn, and reexamine a year of cinema history to share favorites, lists, and experiences from the films of that year. When measuring back as far as twenty years or more, I feel like “favorites” that have stood the test of time have aged to become some level of “best.” I feel like a bunch of those populate my reflective look back at the best of 2001.

Read More
MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the Kicking the Seat's YouTube roundtable for "Spider-Man: No Way Home"

The big one of all 2021 big ones hit “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” assembled, as always, by Ian Simmons of Kicking the Seat. The ever-evolving crew came together for a recorded Zoom roundtable published on Ian’s YouTube channel to talk FULL SPOILERS for Sony and Marvel’s collaboration Spider-Man: No Way Home. We were wowed. We talked deep, and we came away greatly impressed. Enjoy Ian, myself, my Cinephile Hissy Fit podcast partner Will Johnson, David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, Mike Crowley of You’ll Probably Agree, and Annie Banks of Chuck Load of Comics!

Read More
MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the Kicking the Seat's "HawkTalk" YouTube roundtable for Episode 5 of "Hawkeye"

For me, the penultimate episode of Disney+’s MCU limited series Hawkeye felt like the calm before the finale storm that some of us like to call “filler.” Yes, the dreaded TV f-word. In any case, the character development was still strong as was the discussion among “Earth’s Mightiest Critics.” Watch the live-recorded “HawkTalk” Kicking the Seat YouTube roundtable for this fifth episode featuring the talents of Ian, myself, my Cinephile Hissy Fit podcast partner Will Johnson, David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, Mark Krawczyk of Special Mark Productions, Mike Crowley of You’ll Probably Agree, Annie Banks of Chuck Load of Comics.

Read More
MEDIA APPEARANCE: "Cinephile Hissy Fit" guests on "Darkseid of the Moon" to talk "The Incredible Hulk"

Irishman writer, author, creator, and podcaster stud Vincent Greene is former editor of mine from 25YL and he’s got a banger of podcast called Darkseid of the Moon, part of his MDK Productions label. That’s “murder, death, kill” for you non-clever folks. He’s been marching through Phase 1 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and landed on 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. Vinnie’s a big fan of myself, the Cinephile Hissy Fit podcast, and fellow 25YL alum Will Johnson. He invited our duo on his podcast to smash up our likes and dislikes for the Edward Norton superhero vehicle, and we are a surly bunch! Follow Vinnie and his plethora of projects on Twitter and Facebook!

Read More
MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the Kicking the Seat's "HawkTalk" YouTube roundtable for Episode 4 of "Hawkeye"

We’re past the halfway point of the Hawkeye series from Disney+ and “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” are digging the character development while wondering how they’re going to wrap it all up in a tidy Christmas bow in merely two episodes. The dais is invested and we question what surprises are left to play. Enjoy the live “HawkTalk” Kicking the Seat YouTube roundtable for this third episode featuring the talents of Ian, myself, David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, Mark Krawczyk of Special Mark Productions, Mike Crowley of You’ll Probably Agree, Annie Banks of Chuck Load of Comics! Come check out the streaming discussion!

Read More
MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the Kicking the Seat's "HawkTalk" YouTube roundtable for Episode 3 of "Hawkeye"

Like a swift arrow whizzing by your head, the Hawkeye series from Disney+ is already at its halfway point in three episodes. Earth’s Mightiest Critics” hosted by Ian Simmons are enjoying the character development and the balanced action. The feelings are quite positive. Enjoy the live “HawkTalk” Kicking the Seat YouTube roundtable for this third episode featuring the talents of Ian, myself, David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, Mike Crowley of You’ll Probably Agree, Annie Banks of Chuck Load of Comics, and my Cinephile Hissy Fit podcast partner Will Johnson! Come check out the show!

Read More
MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the Kicking the Seat's "HawkTalk" YouTube roundtable for Episodes 1 and 2 of "Hawkeye"

The opening of a new Marvel Cinematic Universe show on Disney+ brings out the re-assembled “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” hosted by Ian Simmons on his Kicking the Seat YouTube channel. It’s Christmastime and Marvel seeks to tie a few bow around the holiday with arrows and swords. Enjoy the live “HawkTalk” Kicking the Seat YouTube roundtable for the first two episodes featuring the expanded cast of Ian, myself, David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, Mike Crowley of You’ll Probably Agree, Mark Krawczyk of Special Mark Productions, Annie Banks of Chuck Load of Comics, Elliott Serrano of the Shaken Not Heard: A James Bond Fancast!, and, last but not least, my Cinephile Hissy Fit podcast partner Will Johnson! Enjoy the show!

Read More
MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" YouTube roundtable for "Eternals"

If you thought all the spice in movies and movie commentary right now was centered on Dune, then you need to slide down the hills of the fresh and rotten debate for Marvel’s Eternals. The critic aggregator site has Chloe Zhao’s film scored as the blockbuster studio’s first “rotten” movie. Leave it to “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” led by Ian Simmons to talk about it on a live Kicking the Seat YouTube roundtable. Enjoy Ian, myself, David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, Mike Crowley of You’ll Probably Agree, and Mark Krawczyk of Special Mark Productions to get hotter than some red-hot eye beams! Enjoy the movie and show!

Read More
MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Seeing and Believing" Podcast with Kevin McLenithan

Recently, I had the pleasure of joining Kevin McLenithan of the long-running "Seeing and Believing Podcast,” part of the Christ and Pop Culture site and podcast network as one of a series of interim hosts. Kevin and I are both members of Chicago Indie Critics and his faith-flavored perspective has always been topical, honest, and outstanding. His regular co-host Wade Bearden has retired from the show for other ventures and this new episode talking about the new James Bond movie No Time to Die was Kevin’s first run on “Seeing and Believing” leading the ship. I was honored to talk about a stellar movie and temporarily fill some big shows.

Read More
MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" YouTube roundtable for "What If..." Episode 6

MY 75TH APPEARANCE ON KICKING THE SEAT! Not that it reached a Keyser Soze level, but episode 6 of rhe animated What If…? series gave us a taste of what would happen in a “bad guy wins” scenario. Michael B. Jordan was featured heavily in a reality where he rescues Tony Stark before he ever becomes Iron Man and uses his new platform as a long game to infiltrate Wakanda. A selection of “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel talked it all over. Enjoy Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat, myself, Mike Crowley of You’ll Probably Agree, and Mark Krawczyk of Special Mark Productions pledging our allegiances .

Read More
MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" YouTube roundtable for "Shang-Chi"

A new Marvel movie, and a very special one at that, summons “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” on Ian Simmons’s Kicking the Seat roundtable. The runaway success that is Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has inspired audiences instantly. It sure hit strong with us film critics too, but, just not all of us. Enjoy Ian, myself, Annie Banks of Chuck Load of Comics, David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, Mike Crowley of You’ll Probably Agree, and Mark Krawczyk of Special Mark Productions to hear praises and one big strong dissenting opinion. Come to the show, but don’t listen to that guy. Enjoy the movie!

Read More
MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" YouTube roundtable for "What If..." Episode 5

What kind of thing can swerve superheroes? Zombies! 2009 called and they want their gimmick back. That said, superpowered zombies is a plenty interesting idea. Leave it to the animated What If…? to try it on for size with its fifth episode. The roundtable of assembled critics on the the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel came away split on our takes of approval or disapproval. Watch and listen to Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat, myself, Annie Banks of Chuck Load of Comics, David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, Mike Crowley of You’ll Probably Agree, and Mark Krawczyk of Special Mark Productions show you who’s who with that division.

Read More