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A heartfelt 1980s sports drama about two brothers reconnecting through competitive cycling while confronting a troubling family health history, American Flyers feels somewhat dated, but the supportive brotherly dynamic, exciting races, and spectacular aerial photography still make it an enjoyable ride. It’s funny how some movies made a huge impact on you as a child,…
A somber family drama about a man bringing his aging father into his home despite years of hurt between them, Falling quietly explores the difficult question of what we owe the people who raised us, even when they failed us, with beautiful cinematography and extraordinary performances. As many of you know, I am a Chicago…
A darkly playful comedy about a man plotting his way through a wealthy family to claim the inheritance he believes is his, How to Make a Killing turns murder into an entertaining cat-and-mouse game, with a femme fatale watching his every move. The first time I remember seeing Glen Powell in a film was as…
A tense drama about the television host behind To Catch a Predator, Primetime turns the true-crime subject into a disturbing, highly stylized nightmare, with excellent performances and expressionistic visuals. Like many people, I first met Robert Pattinson as Edward in Twilight. I’ll admit that after the second movie (my least favorite), I read all the…
A slow-burning drama about a priest given one week to prepare for his own murder, Calvary balances dark humor and mystery with breathtaking Irish landscapes and a steadily building tension. Over the last decade, Brendan Gleeson has become one of the actors that I look for in film. If he’s on the cover, I’m going…
A culinary dramedy about a restless, college-aged Anthony Bourdain taking a job in a Cape Cod restaurant, Tony takes an unvarnished look at the arrogant young man he once was, learning the value of hard work, responsibility, and good food. My husband has always had a special place in his heart for Anthony Bourdain. He…
A vibrant animated adventure about two lifelong friends transported to a fantastical island filled with the Filipino folklore they grew up hearing about, Forgotten Island includes entertaining animation styles, hilarious characters, and a heartfelt story about friends, loyalty, and chosen family. One of the little secrets that I don’t talk about all that often is…
A period romance about two young men traveling together to record the folk songs of rural America, The History of Sound is a beautifully understated film, with excellent performances and a gentle, emotionally rich story that uses music as both a form of love and a way of preserving history. When I stumbled across this…
A science-fiction spy thriller about an operative attempting to stop a global disaster by unraveling the mysteries of time inversion, Tenet is packed with inventive ideas and impressive visual effects, but spends so much time showing off the brilliance of its concept that its emotional investment takes a back seat. After watching The Odyssey last…
A time-travel comedy about an ordinary man trying to prevent a disastrous future, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die is funny, unpredictable, and refreshingly creative, revealing its story through cleverly interwoven past and present timelines. One of the most entertaining thematic choices for a movie is time travel. No one knows exactly what it should…
A dark comedy about a writer who becomes entangled with a serial killer, Psycho Therapy: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write About a Serial Killer is weird, quirky, and self-aware. I was not familiar with Britt Lower before watching her in Severance. As the lone female on her team, and without…
An epic adventure chronicling Odysseus’s years-long voyage across seas filled with monsters, gods, and impossible choices, The Odyssey is an ambitious and beautifully crafted film, though its emphasis on individual episodes sometimes prevents the emotional momentum from fully taking hold. When my son was in elementary school, he took Latin for 6 years. In addition…
