Book Club: The Next Chapter filmmakers Bill Holderman and Erin Simms opened up on the creative process behind the sequel. Holderman and Simms reteam with their Book Club stars–Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen–in taking a vacation to Italy. Where 50 Shades of Grey was the book of choice in the first film, The Alchemist drives the plot of the sequel. Going into the interview, a pressing question on my mind goes…
"Bill Holderman, Erin Simms talk Book Club: The Next Chapter"
Book Club: The Next Chapter takes audiences on a much-needed vacation to Italy in a film that is more epic in scope than its predecessor. The studio might have changed but the magic that Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen have not. How often is it that four 65+ women are leading a movie? Not often. Regardless, it is a great credit to both their chemistry and both Bill Holderman and Erin…
"Book Club: The Next Chapter Takes Us On A Vacation To Italy"
Actor Richard Dreyfuss is not a fan of the recently adopted diversity standards of Best Picture nominees at the Oscars. In short, the Oscar-winning actor, who won for The Goodbye Girl, said that the new standards make him vomit. Dreyfuss has been making the rounds with the recent release of Sweetwater in theaters. For an actor starring in a film about the first Black basketball player to sign an NBA and later be inducted into…
"Richard Dreyfuss Slams Oscars Diversity Standards"
The 2023 Chicago Critics Film Festival kicks off on Friday night at the historic Music Box Theatre with several Chicago premieres. This is a film festival that offers something for everyone, whether you’re a Star Wars fan, theater fan, Paul Schrader fan, or even someone interested in the rise and fall of technology. Last year’s closing night was a night to remember. This year’s closing night selection is Theater Camp. The Sundance Film Festival award…
"2023 Chicago Critics Film Festival Kicks Off Tonight"
The Core may be among the worst disaster thrillers as far as realism is concerned but the the film’s cast keeps it entertaining. I had hoped to watch the film in time for its 20th anniversary in March. Unfortunately, Paramount Home Entertainment did not make the 4K UHD release available for review. Had they done so, I’d have worked with a terrible depression to try my best to get a viewing in. As such, I…
"The Core: A Delayed 20th Anniversary Viewing"
Israel Swings for Gold follows Team Israel during the Tokyo Olympics as the baseball team competed in the Olympics for the first time. “No Jew, who is a true Jew, can ever give up hope.” – Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks When Team Israel clinched a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, it was an opportunity for a sequel to Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel. How could the filmmakers not make a documentary after…
"Israel Swings For Gold in Heading Home Sequel"
While Closed Circuit is a documentary that is about a terrorist attack, the film manages to find the humanity when it comes to the survivors. June 8, 2016 is a date that many people will remember and likely for the rest of their lives. It is on this date that people were running and screaming at the Sarona Market in Tel Aviv, Israel. The market had only been open since 2015 prior to two gunmen…
"Closed Circuit – Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema 2023"
Those Who Remained focuses on the healing process for a young girl and the father figure in her life following the Holocaust. I’ve seen a number of Menemsha Film releases through the years and Those Who Remained is one of the best films that they’ve acquired for domestic release. In a perfect world, I would have attended a screening during the 2019 Chicago International Film Festival. Alas, the fall chagim falling during the week made…
"Those Who Remained Finds Joy After the Holocaust"
Showing Up is a dreadfully slow film about an artist that reunites writer-director Kelly Reichardt with actress Michelle Williams. I initially put off my review after watching the film in March. One was because it wasn’t coming out for a month so I didn’t feel the need to rush things. Little did I know that the depression triggered one day earlier would not be an easy one to kick. Let me just add that I…
"Showing Up: Kelly Reichardt Film Hurt By Slow Pace"
Honorable Men: The Rise and Fall of Ehud Olmert is the second of two Film Movement documentaries about former Israeli prime ministers. Much like What If? Ehud Barack on War and Peace, Honorable Men is another film that premiered in 2020 and took forever to find US distribution. Part of it, I assume, was the pandemic but still, it’s no excuse for taking this long in getting a US release. In any event, it was…
"Honorable Men: The Rise and Fall of Ehud Olmert"