Getting into the numbers, I reviewed twenty four-star films and twelve five-star gems. That means my final "10 Best" list are all champs with two that had to be bumped to lead the next ten. From there, my four-star reviews were ranked from 12-20 and then honorable mention. In keeping with the hook of my website, each of my "10 Best" are presented with their best life lesson and linked full reviews. Enjoy!
Read MoreIt has to be said every year, but the slowest season of the box office year are the months of January and February. It's a dumping grounds for studios in slow months of cold weather and foot traffic at the multiplexes. These are movies that aren't good enough for awards qualification and the holiday audiences of December or for the chipper personality of spring. It's cold, slow, and drop off from awards frenzy.
Read MoreDuring the shift from December to January, I enjoy retracing what I reviewed and enjoyed from the previous year, but the trailers and previews for next year's films are starting to make an impact. I can't help but look ahead. Every year, I wrote an "Most Anticipated List." 2015 looks wildly loaded with must-see films. Let's make a new list for a new year. Here are my 15 most anticipated films of this new year. Enjoy!
Read MoreHere are three lists of the worst movies of the 2014, as ranked by Every Movie Has a Lesson and fans of the website. Enjoy and Happy New Year! Let's turn the page to a new year.
Read MoreHere is your lineup of films coming your way in the slow months of January and February. Add these to your calendar or print and slip this list on the fridge. As always, release dates shift all of the time, so be aware. Enjoy!
Read MoreHere's my official list of my top 10 movie scores with three unbreakable ties. I can't call them the "greatest," but I'll put my list next to anyone's and defend my choices. My friends and followers kind of poked the bear and encouraged me to make and rank my own list. Well, I love a good challenge and I knew this one would be easy. Movie scores and I get along.
Read MoreHere is the master calendar for the upcoming holiday movie season releases for November and December of 2014. Be sure to check ahead at theaters because release dates shift all the time. Print this out, pin it, or put it on the fridge for the next two months. Enjoy your holidays and enjoy these movies!
Read MoreIn accordance with the rules placed on me with my press credentials, I am not allowed to publish and post full reviews of the films I saw until their official U.S. distribution and release date. For some movies, that's happening now with the festival itself and for others that holding stretches into 2015. I would love to lay out everything, but I can't and you have to be patient. What I am allowed put out are capsule reviews: brief takes and short critiques that offer a taste of the full meal. Here are capsules for all of the films I attended from the 50th anniversary schedule. Each are listed with their anticipatory U.S. release dates for when you will find my review.
Read MoreIn its banner 50th anniversary year, the Chicago International Film Festival welcomed another deep field of cinematic competition spanning feature films, local works, animated efforts, international selections, numerous documentary films, and vast number of short films. On Friday, October 17th, the festival held its annual awards banquet. The ceremony and festivities were hosted by Fox News Chicago entertainment reporter and Chicago Sun-Times columnist Bill Zwecker. Awards were given out in the following categories: International Feature Film Competition, New Directors Competition, Roger Ebert Award, Chicago Award, Q-Hugo Award, DocuFest and Shorts
Read MoreWhile the festival doesn't boast anywhere near the amount of red carpet headliners found at Toronto or New York's film festivals, there are still several worthy films coming to Chicago for the first time in advance of their theatrical release and the year-end Oscar and awards season. This very writer has acquired press credentials through Examiner.com to cover this year's event and here is a list of the must-see films from the festival's schedule.
Read MoreSince starting in 1965, the Chicago International Film Festival has operated as the country's oldest competitive international film festival. Following "Miss Julie" and the Opening Night Gala, two films will be featured as the Festival Centerpieces. Both films will screened on Wednesday, October 15th. Over the course of the two and a half weeks that follow, over 300 more films and events will take place primarily at the AMC River East 21 theater on 322 East Illinois Street. Best of all, this whole extravaganza is open to the public. For this watershed anniversary, several special presentations are planned.
Read MoreIn this special edition of my "Guest Critic" series an old college friend and fellow student newspaper veteran had the wonderful opportunity to attend this year's Toronto International Film Festival. Inside are her reviews of "Rosewater" and "Map to the Stars." Enjoy!
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