Camera Man by Dana Stevens

Dana Stevens delivers a superb biography of silent film comedian Buster Keaton in Camera Man that isn’t just a book but a book-length essay. Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin? Anyone talking about the great silent film comedy stars start with one of the two. They both have their own quirks which is what makes the debate so hard. After all, the list of the best comedy movies of all time is one that features a…

"Camera Man by Dana Stevens"

Scott McGehee, David Siegel talk Montana Story

During last year’s TIFF, filmmakers Scott McGehee and David Siegel spoke with Solzy at the Movies about Montana Story. The neo-Western from McGehee and Siegel sees a pair of siblings, played by Haley Lu Richardson and Owen Teague, return home to the family ranch and confront a family legacy. After acquiring the film sometime after the Toronto premiere, Bleecker Street is releasing the film today in limited theaters. A theatrical expansion will follow. How thrilled…

"Scott McGehee, David Siegel talk Montana Story"

Senior Year: Rebel Wilson Comedy Has Heart

A cheerleading captain wakes up after two decades in a coma and decides to go back to high school in order to finish her Senior Year. If you have not watched Deep Impact, I suggest turning on HBO Max and watching the disaster thriller. If you don’t have HBO Max, please feel free to rent the movie. Otherwise, there will be Deep Impact spoilers during this film. It’s not a major part of the film…

"Senior Year: Rebel Wilson Comedy Has Heart"

On the Count of Three: A Dark Comedy

Over a year after the film premiered during Sundance 2021, On the Count of Three is finally getting a theatrical release. This is not a light film by any means. In fact, this is a film that touches on mental illness and suicide. It’s a dark comedy even though there is nothing about suicide that is funny. This is exactly why we see the usual suicide hotline message before the film comes to an end.…

"On the Count of Three: A Dark Comedy"

2022 Chicago Critics Film Festival Opens on Friday

The 2022 Chicago Critics Film Festival is set to open on Friday and run through Thursday evening at the Music Box Theatre. For ticket information, please click here. In addition to the following feature films, there are two short film programs taking place on May 14 (12 PM) and May 16 (5 PM). Filmmakers Alyssa Thordarson (After [A Love Story]), Tom Krawcyzk (My Dudus), and Hope Tucker (What Travelers Are Saying About Jornada del Muerto) are…

"2022 Chicago Critics Film Festival Opens on Friday"

Private Property: A Bland Remake of a Thriller

Private Property, a thriller starring a very minimal cast, is a bland remake of the controversial1960 film of the same name. A lost print of the 1960 Leslie Stevens was recently discovered a few years ago. While it was originally released to major controversy, the film was critically praised upon its 2016 re-release. I’m not about to do a compare and contrast between the two movies. All in all, Private Property is such a bland…

"Private Property: A Bland Remake of a Thriller"

The Kids in the Hall Get Revived on Prime Video

Reboots are all the rave so it was only a matter of time before The Kids in the Hall TV series got revived in the digital era. While eight episodes will launch on May 13, only five episodes were made available for review. Suffice it to say, many of the sketches led to a lot of laughter. If you’re a comedy fan, the revival will be pure enjoyment. When you look at the reboots over…

"The Kids in the Hall Get Revived on Prime Video"

Operation Mincemeat Is Stranger-Than-Fiction

Operation Mincemeat has the pedigree to draw viewer interest in this stranger-than-fiction true story of World War II events in 1943. I should warn you first and foremost that if subtitles are not your thing, this film will not be for you. While much of it is in English, there are a number of scenes that have subtitles on screen. The gist of the film is that the Allies are trying to put a stop…

"Operation Mincemeat Is Stranger-Than-Fiction"

Star Trek: Picard – Season 2

Star Trek: Picard sees the Starfleet veteran travel back in time to 2024 in order to prevent a divergence in the timeline and save the future. Season 2 of Picard pulls out all the stops with no shortages of actors reprising their roles. The first season brought back a few of the Enterprise crew as we saw what Picard was up to. This time around, he’s the chancellor of the Starfleet Academy as the season…

"Star Trek: Picard – Season 2"

The Girl Can’t Help It: A Criterion Collection Beauty

Jayne Mansfield may be considered by many to be the poor man’s Marilyn Monroe but she has the talent in The Girl Can’t Help It. It might be hard to believe but without this film, The Beatles might not exist. I mean, sure, they might have come about at some point but not without this film hitting England. Without this film, John Lennon does not meet Paul McCartney in 1957. Rock and roll would never…

"The Girl Can’t Help It: A Criterion Collection Beauty"