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A stark adaptation of William Golding’s novel about boys stranded on an island, Lord Of The Flies is visually striking and faithful to the book, but the tension never quite builds as it should. To say that I didn’t read the books assigned for us in high school English class is an understatement. I believe…
A harrowing dramatized thriller about the real 2008 terror attack in India, Hotel Mumbai is an intensely gripping survival story that highlights the courage of the hotel’s staff. In 2008, a series of twelve coordinated attacks befell Mumbai, India. Executed by a jihadist militant organization, men were sent to different locations to carry out their…
A character-driven dramedy about a struggling publisher who convinces her reclusive author to go on a book tour, Best Sellers is boosted by two strong leads, even if it takes until the last act to fully invest in them. My 20-year-old son and I each discovered Aubrey Plaza in a different way. I first met…
A darkly funny thriller about a chance encounter that spirals into something more complicated, It Was Just An Accident balances mystery, tension, and surprising emotional weight. When I was at university, our theatre department put on a production of Death And The Maiden. I was on the stage crew at that point, working towards being…
A quirky comedy about a controversial experiment testing nature versus nurture, Birthmarked is an enjoyable watch, even if it never fully capitalizes on its clever premise. Films about parenting are incredibly common. It is a hugely relatable topic for many people, and there are all kinds of angles to take. Whether the twins were separated…
A tender science-fiction drama about a household robot who begins to develop human emotions, Bicentennial Man is far sweeter and more profound than I expected. Robin Williams had an incredible career in comedy, but his more serious roles are my favorites. As husband Chris Nielsen in What Dreams May Come, he tugged at our hearts,…
A fun and campy film about a girls’ boarding school on the verge of closing, St. Trinian’s is a high-spirited watch with lots of familiar faces. I have to admit, I love a good YA film. Teens being teens or adolescents finding their way, it’s a different, more nostalgic level of maturity that is often…
Based on the childhood of food writer Nigel Slater, Toast is an intimate coming-of-age story focused on the bittersweet and delicious moments with his parents and challenging stepmother. My first introduction to Freddie Highmore was in the 2001 miniseries The Mists Of Avalon. Once an adorable and tiny King Arthur, he has grown up on…
A psychological thriller about a woman traveling alone who happens upon what seems like a crime, Dead Of Winter is a slow trudge through the cold, thawing only at the end. I think Emma Thompson is fantastic. With a catalogue of films that range from Peter’s Friends to Love Actually to The Children Act, she…
A no-frills documentary about a group of incarcerated men who have been granted creative outlets while serving time with no parole, Toe Tag Parole: To Live And Die On Yard A will make you think. For many, many years, if you weren’t someone who had a friend or family member who was incarcerated, the idea…
A dazzling fever dream, Moulin Rouge!, about a poor writer who falls in love with a courtesan in France, is full of amazing music, colors, and style. I watched this movie when it first came out in theaters in 2001, but I only saw it that once. Then, when a version of Moulin Rouge! got…
A wonderful and intimate look at the 15-hour vocal recording, Original Cast Album: Company shows you what the actors, orchestra, and creators of the show faced behind-the-scenes. Having been raised on musicals and later becoming a Chicago theatre critic, I have long been a Broadway nerd. I have favorite musicals that I listen to on…
