This past week, I was pleased as punch to be a guest on the CinemaJaw podcast, hosted by fellow Chicago Indie Critic members Matt Kubinski and Ryan Jagiello. On Episode #447, all three of us just got out of Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story and, boy, did we have feelings. As per tradition, the Top 5 segment was for each of us to list our best break-up, separation, and divorce movies. An extended trivia segment followed later centered on Tom Hanks. Enjoy their excellent show!
Read MoreTHIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What streaming platforms do you currently subscribe to, and why?
This was nice and informative question this week and I was glad to brag on finding free things. Folks, let me tell you the power of a regular library card. You can’t beat FREE. Look locally if your library or library system supports the Hoopla Digital and Kanopy streaming services. The wealth of content available is outstanding for something that doesn’t cost you a dime. If you’re a frugal working dad and cord-cutter like me, I cannot recommend them enough. I was the one person this week namedropping Hoopla and one of only three touting Kanopy. Seek them out.
Read MoreI was approached recently for a collaboration opportunity by Quality Comix, a successful comic sales website which puts out their own editorial content alongside their marketplace. They were working on a long-form article on the 80-year history of Batman’s greatest nemesis, The Joker. The writers there enjoyed my Joker review and I was thankful to be considered and included. The lead question for a short blurb was a character analysis outlining major actions, motivations, or character developments throughout the character’s film incarnations.
Read MoreI had the honor and pleasure this past week to join the war-movie-loving hosts on the Feelin' Film Podcast talking about a true underseeen throwback geme: 1990’s Memphis Belle directed by 90s hitmaker Michael Caton-Jones. This podcast plane ride was celebrating Veteran’s Day week in conjunction with the new Midway movie arriving in theaters this week. Memphis Belle was a worn-out VHS childhood favorite of my brother and me. Patrick had that lifelong affinity as well and Aaron, the former Navy man, had nothing but respect
Read MoreWhen you see a fellow film critic love a movie you loved too, it’s like an invisible fist-bump or high-five. When I heard friend-of-the-page Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast adore Jojo Rabbit, I could not help but nag him to talk about it. He had already covered the film with critic Pat McDonald of Hollywood Chicago for his podcast, but wanted to bring me in for a video to balance the takes out after Pat was a little lukewarm on it compared to Ian and I. Enjoy Ian and I singing spoiler-free praise for Jojo Rabbit on his YouTube channel.
Read MoreTHIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What is the best 21st Century movie about capitalism and class anxiety?
I gotta say, this topic was much tamer and quite the switch from the dangerous inquiry last week. Every generation and decade has their bumper crop of movies about our American capitalizm. In my lifetime, I point to Wall Street in the 80s and Boiler Room in the 90s. For this century, I went sentimental more than combative. The Big Short was a tempting second place choice.
Read MoreTHIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What is the most “dangerous” movie of this century?
I’m not a believer that movies can incite violence, but I am a big believer that they can incite stupidity. Just like the poor fitness and health that comes from when all you eat is garbage, a mind can be trashed the same way. I put the school teacher hat on for my response to this week’s survey question and I don’t care if I get laughed at. Danger to me is seeing the youth of America in my classrooms accepting the Minions as high quality entertainment worth their screen time.
Read MoreThe movie that had everyone talking before its release had four film critics filled with words after its advance press screening. The comic council convened to be dared to love or hate Joker. As always, Ian Simmons leads the Kicking the Seat podcast as myself, David Fowlie of Keeping It Reel and Emmanuel Noisette of E-Man’s Movie Reviews hop into this clown car. The surprise and heat in voices was palpable coming out of that screening. Enjoy this podcast episode!
Read MoreTHIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What is the best biopic performance of all-time?
After a month off to accomodate the heart of festival season for David Ehrlich, the IndieWire Critics Survey returned this week to point at Renee Zellweger’s raved performance in Judy. The question was posed of what is the best biopic performance of all-time. A year ago, the question of the best biopic movie has been done on this survey (where I picked Raging Bull). For single performance, I went more musical.
Read MoreI’ve know film critic and now filmmaker Okema “Seven” Gunn for a few years now. She is someone I recruited into the Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle for a time. When she tabled her review writing to work on her passion project of making a film, I told her I would first in line to give her work a proper review. Her film, A Sisterhood of Signatures, premiered at the Black Harvest Film Festival and recently had another showing at the Oak Park International Film Festival. I’m happy it’s getting itself out there, and I’m glad the words of my positive review could be a benefit for the film, as seen in recent coverage featured in Reel Chicago written by Daniel Patton:
Read MoreTHIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What is the best movie of this summer?
To end the month, David Ehrlich went for the season-ending trophy designation. He called upon us writers, podcasters, and more to tell us which film was the best of the summer. Personally, I think it was a substandard and lemon-filled summer comapred to years past. Redemption came in the form is several late-breaking exemplars that landed in July and early August. I repped one of those little guys as my pick for this week.
Read MoreTHIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What is the best performance in a Richard Linklater movie?
After a small pause in early August, the IndieWire Critics Survey returned in time for the the release of Where’d You Go, Bernadette from renowned Texas filmmaker Richard Linklater. I count as a very positive fan of his work with the Before Trilogy and Boyhood on the drama side and Everybody Wants Some!! and School of Rock on the comedy end. When it comes to the best, I pick the biggest transformation of range that came from Jack Black in Bernie. What a stunner of a character shift from an actor compared to his usual.
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