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 2000.
Read Moreby Bethany Watson
Oftentimes, directors get all the credit when a movie is being celebrated. Other crucial individuals such as cinematographers, are ignored. This sort of misconception is rife not only in film but in spheres like music, cybersport, etc. However, every insider knows that for a movie to be shot correctly, the cinematographer has to be excellent. In this collation, we celebrate some of the best-shot movies of all time. (In no particular order).
Read MoreAs I grow with press credentials and professional affiliation locally and nationally, I find myself more and more landing and conversing in circles with other film critics of various levels. Recently, I answered an open social media call from Jordan Ruimy of World of Reel. He is a fellow Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic who also has contributed to The Young Folks, The Playlist, We Got This Covered, and The Film Stage. His poll was to collect the Top 5 films of the 2000s from critics and other industry folk. I was honored to chime in with my quintet with some very high company, even if my picks didn’t climb very high compared to my peers. Enjoy the article and list. Check out your boy!
Read MoreWelcome to the ninth year of Every Movie Has a Lesson's "Awards Tracker." My goal every year is simple: Help each and every one of you win your Oscar pools. As a member of three recognized awards-voting bodies of film critics (OFCS, OFTA, and Chicago Indie Critics), it’s a pleasure and honor to see my own picks made it into the award season discussion. Here's how this little page of my personal interest works. I find value in tracking the trends and following the tea leaves of the all the minor lead-up awards before the Oscars. I chart the winners of each category with listed winners and comments on the surrounding buzz.
FINAL TAKE: Prediction-wise, I was a so-so 16 of 24. Not great, but not bad. I’ll take being wrong to watch a night of history honoring women and international film!
Read MoreTo build a master list, I turned to the Pub Meeple Ranking Engine. I entered a list of just under 200 five-star and high four-star movies and let the hundreds of clickable “versus” matchup permutations slot everything. It’s really a slick tool, and it nailed my results. The cream of the rose to the top, just as they should. I’ve said this before on other lists, but this is more about “best” than “favorites.” Also, I did not include documentaries. Quality edges easy entertainment more often than not. Here are the results with a little commentary here and there in between!
Read MoreIn all, I published “only” 94 film reviews in 2019, which is plenty, but down from 110 last year and my high mark of 126 in 2017. I saw a dozen and a half more, but full-time school teachers, husbands, and dads like me only have so much free time to put 1000 words down every time. Work-life balance, so to speak, is always a challenge, one that I aim to do better in the life direction. No matter, I think I’ve got 2019 figured out. Here are my picks for the ten best films of the year accompanied by, as always and true to my site’s namesake niche, their best life lesson.
Read MoreAs the historians will tell you, 1999 was a damn fine year. Man, that was living. There are many films from that year that count as favorites and greats in several different ways. Some have gotten better with age and some have worsened, even dropping at as former favorites. Here are my little breakdowns of the “rest of 1999.” Enjoy some personal favorites, underrated gems, guilty pleasures, overrated picks, and still bad dogs.
Read MoreIn 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 1999.
Read MoreFor some, it’s quite difficult to come to terms with the fact that some of the iconic figures in the entertainment front were ordinary people at some point doing regular jobs and others going for days without shelter. Many of the biggest acts in the movie industry got their start by chance while others worked really hard to get to where they are currently. Well, we could go ahead to say it does help to be in the right place at the right time but then again for some hard work supersedes all.
Read MoreAs one of the founders and directors of the Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle, I am honored and thrilled to share with you the results of the third annual CIFCC Awards. On Saturday, February 2nd at a special evening members event hosted by the Cards Against Humanity Theater in Chicago, the film critics and guests gathered to honor the year in film, celebrate member accomplishments, and promote overall group achievements. The event was streamed live over the CIFCC YouTube channel.
Read MoreIf this teacher/critic learned anything himself this year it’s to more consistently define the difference between “favorite” and “best.” Often they are different measures, yet it is a special distinction when some films can be both. That’s a whole bunch of those of this definitive 2018 list. All ten and a few extra were no-doubt five-star films for me. True to this website’s specialty, each film will be paired with its best life lesson. Enjoy!
Read MoreAlright, I’ve spelled out my absolute “10 best” from 1998 in the previous post. It’s time to take the press badge off and get casual. Here are more categories of distinction and remembrance from 1998. Guess what? You still don’t see The Thin Red Line. That’s too bad. In the completely opposite direction, I was so very close to putting Wild Things in my Top 10 for 1998. Read on for more!
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