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Based on a true story, Owning Mahowny is an engaging drama about a gambling addict who continues to fund his habit with a few crafty decisions and a lot of luck until he hits the inevitable brick wall. Films about addiction are many, but pulling off well takes a kind of finesse. Addiction comes in…
An artistically creative and tension building film, Rear Window slowly creates big drama in an incredibly small space. Last year, I watched the film Disturbia with Shia LaBeouf. As always, I knew almost nothing going in, but it was primarily about a teenager on house arrest who believes that he has seen a murder while…
Exploring how social media trends can get out of hand, Nerve is an uneven movie about two teenagers during a night of completing dares for likes and cash. The first half is fun, but it takes a turn. Trends on social media have become a thing among users. Whether it’s something that seeks to be…
Love Hurts, a dark comedy that centers around Valentine’s Day, is so cringe that even the endearing presence of Ke Huy Quan can’t save it. I love Ke Huy Quan. He was one of my imaginary friends as Data in The Goonies when I was a kid and I have loved watching his comeback in…
A tense post-apocalyptic thriller, 40 Acres grabs hold of you and doesn’t let go. It makes you ask the question, when there’s very few people left, is there anyone you can trust? There have been a lot of films written about the “end of society,” but in my opinion, only a few have it pretty…
A light and airy romance film in the first half, The Storied Life Of A.J. Fikry is a slow burner that finds emotional depth and nuance by the end. Films based on books can be a risk. If you have a great many people who love a book, they love the book. It is a…
Amazingly gorgeous to look at, The Life Of Chuck has a great cast and an interesting story to tell – it just lacks the connection you may be looking for. When you think of Stephen King books, there are two routes that you can go down – horror and story. While some people may love everything…
A black comedy about a couple on vacation before adopting a baby, I Don’t Understand You brings the laughs as well as the carnage. Black comedy movies can be hilarious. I am not a fan of straight-up horror with the creepy music and the jump scares, but a guy pulling the arm off of a…
Focusing on real-life broadcaster Edward R. Murrow and the conflict resulting from challenging anti-communist tactics, Good Night, and Good Luck is a slow burning revelation. Many of you know that I work as a Chicago theater critic in my off hours. I have always been a play and musical enthusiast, so when I heard that Good…
From The World Of John Wick: Ballerina is chock full of action, fun fight sequences, and gorgeous cinematography, but it lacks the humor and charm of the original series. Oh, John Wick, how I love thee. John Wick films are fun because they are silly and funny with incredible cinematography and fight sequences. There are…
A visually stunning and incredibly funny Marvel movie, Thunderbolts* has hidden depth and explores psychological aspects not seen in previous films. Definitely worth a watch! As MCU and DC movies go, things have been getting kind of tiring. There are so many superhero vehicles out there that they all start to look the same. I…
A historical drama full of mystery and a touch of thriller, Julia is the story of two friends who would do anything for each other, and during WWII, one of them does. There are some actors that you associate with specific roles. Whether you grew up with a particular movie or something left an indelible…
