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Based on a true story about an unassuming woman drawn into Cold War espionage, Red Joan is an engaging, well-paced drama elevated by strong performances and intriguing mysteries. When a film says it is based on a true story, I tend to go down a rabbit hole looking for details about the original. The Emerald…
A small-town comedy about a group of Irish villagers attempting to claim a dead man’s lottery winnings, Waking Ned Devine is a sweet and easygoing film, with charming characters and a warm sense of humor. There are so many movies out there that people recommend that sometimes things slip through the cracks. This is one…
A coming-of-age story about a young girl learning about life and loss, My Girl is a nostalgic film, with a standout performance from Anna Chlumsky and a story that stands the test of time. I remember watching My Girl in the movie theater when it was first released. I don’t know who I went with,…
A romantic comedy about a young woman who works to reunite an older woman with her long-lost love while traveling through Italy, Letters To Juliet is a sweet and predictable film that gets better the longer you watch. I have seen the cover of this movie a few times over the last 16 years, and…
A romantic comedy about a woman finding her own path as she navigates the expectations of her lively Greek family, My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a warm, hilarious film with a fantastic ensemble and a quotable script. In 2002, I was in graduate school. My classes were all in the evening, so daytime was…
A light teen rom-com about a high school girl learning to accept herself, Tall Girl is a cute, heartfelt film with likable actors and a gently enjoyable story. It might seem strange, but particularly as we grow up, many girls have a complex about their height. When I was younger, I was convinced that if…
A romantic comedy about a novelist at a writing retreat, Jane Austen Wrecked My Life is a tonally uneven film with a few fun moments, but far more that leave it feeling flat and forgettable. I first learned about this film while watching the trailers at a Screen Unseen at AMC Theaters. I was immediately…
A surprisingly engaging sequel that takes on current issues in the high-pressure world of fashion journalism, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a stylish follow-up with sharp performances and catty exchanges that captures the same appeal as the original. There tends to be a cardinal rule when it comes to movies – if a sequel…
An incredible proshot recorded during the last days of the production, Rent: Filmed Live On Broadway, about a group of artists living and loving in tenement housing in New York City, uniquely captures the beauty of this history-making show. I watched Rent for the first time in 1997 when it was on tour through Cincinnati,…
A fantasy adventure about a young woman forced to fend for herself, Damsel is visually striking, though it never quite rises above a fairly standard premise. When this movie first came out on Netflix, I remember being told to skip it. Netflix has a habit of cycle-producing movies, some of which are great, but many…
A road trip drama about a teenager setting out to capture meaningful sounds before losing his hearing, The Ultimate Playlist of Noise is an uneven but heartfelt story that builds to a genuinely moving final act. When this movie was first released on streaming, I immediately added it to my watchlist. I liked the cover,…
A historical epic about the origins of the Robin Hood legend, Robin Hood is visually beautiful, with strong production design, though the story feels convoluted and not all that interesting. I remember watching Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves in the movie theater when it was released in 1991. Despite Kevin Costner’s American-accented Robin, who spoke…
