19 Oct 2020

Home Court Advantage: “The Trial of the Chicago 7” and “Honest Thief”

By Mike Schulz

With the exceptions of 12 Angry Men and maybe the first two Godfather flicks, I literally can't think of another movie so abundant with exceptional ensemble acting in juicy character roles; you could expand the Oscars' Supporting Actor roster from five nominees to 10 and still pack it solely with deserving Chicago 7 performers.

12 Oct 2020

Battle Boyale: “The War with Grandpa,” “Yellow Rose,” and “The Glorias”

By Mike Schulz

I think I'm speaking literally when I say that, had The War with Grandpa been released in any other year, I'd probably have found it close to unbearable. But this isn't any other year. And beyond being grateful simply for cineplexes – some of them, at least – staying open these days, I find myself inordinately appreciating the movie-going experience, which turns out to include the sound of other patrons, for 100 minutes, howling with delight at a dopey little comedy.

04 Oct 2020

Party with a Purpose: “The Boys in the Band”

By Mike Schulz

Despite the bitchiness and anguish inherent in the material, Netflix's new streaming version of The Boys in the Band is one of the very few releases of the last six months that feels absolutely suffused with joy. You won't necessarily find it in the characters, and certainly not in most of the things they say and do. But as a filmed reunion for the cast and director of Broadway's 2018 Tony Award winner – a revival of playwright Matt Crowley's iconic examination of urban gay life in 1968 – there's so much love baked into the presentation that you might find yourself grinning even when situations are at their most dire, and they frequently are.

18 Mar 2020

A-Z INDEX: Reader Movie Reviews, 2000 - 2020

By Mike Schulz

Numbered Titles / A /  B / C / D / E / F / G / H / I / J / K / L / M / N / O / P / Q / R / S / T / U / V / W / X / Y / Z / Special Features

21 Oct 2020

Now Playing: Friday, October 23, through Thursday, October 29

By Administrator

Now playing at area theaters and drive-ins.

28 Sep 2020

Minimum Rage: “The Last Shift” and “Shortcut”

By Mike Schulz

Although Andrew Cohn's indie dramedy takes a more intriguing turn than you may initially expect, his film is almost pure formula, and formula you're likely familiar with: it's Chico & the Man; it's Superior Donuts; it's every entertainment in which a cranky (white) senior and a sassy upstart (of color) bicker and banter their way to mutual acceptance. But it stars Richard Jenkins, and that alone makes it more worthwhile than this well-meaning diversion might've otherwise been.

21 Sep 2020

Pandemmys: Notes on the 2020 Emmy Awards Telecast

By Mike Schulz

The 72nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were presented last night in a relatively lively, primarily virtual ceremony featuring riotous highs (you are a national treasure, Mr. Letterman), only a few dismal lows (poor Anthony Anderson), some great surprises (thank you Jennifer, Courtney, and Lisa for the half-reunion of Friends), and, in a wonderful change of pace, loads of truly deserving victors. (My favorite comedy series, drama series, and limited series all won! Who woulda thunk it?!)

20 Sep 2020

Saints and Sinners: “Infidel” and “The Devil All the Time”

By Mike Schulz

No matter how many Thin Red Lines or Person of Interests Jim Caviezel makes, he's always going to be identified as He Who Was Jesus in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ – which makes his casting in this political thriller so on-the-nose it may as well be a nostril.

18 Sep 2020

Living Local's At the Movies: “The Broken Hearts Gallery” & “I’m Thinking of Ending Things”

By Reader Staff

Movie Mike chats with Zane Satre about the predictable but fun The Broken Hearts Gallery and the insane yet fasinating I'm Thinking of Ending Things, and the pair also preview the thriller Infidel and Netflix drama The Devil All the Time.

 

16 Sep 2020

“Schitt's” or Get Off the Pot: 2020 Emmy Predictions

By Mike Schulz

I should preface by saying that I'm terrible at predicting Emmy Award winners. Seriously: I'm terrible.

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