08 Dec 2025

Grief Encounter: “Hamnet,” “Jay Kelly,” “Merrily We Roll Along,” “Fackham Hall,” and “Five Nights at Freddy's 2”

By Mike Schulz

Although the film is anchored by a ferocious Jessie Buckley and a frequently moving Paul Mescal, it might be impossible, after seeing director/co-writer Chloé Zhao's Hamnet, to reflect on the movie without the face of its titular portrayer coming instantly to mind, and potentially making you well up all over again.

02 Dec 2025

“A Clockwork Orange,” December 17

By Reader Staff

With Rotten Tomatoes' critical consensus calling the film "disturbing and thought-provoking" as well as "a cold, dystopian nightmare with a very dark sense of humor," Stanley Kubrick's 1971 classic A Clockwork Orange will be screened on December 17 as part of the community series Filmosofia, this evening at Rock Island's Rozz-Tox also featuring a reading discussion on the movie's philosophical themes hosted by Augustana College's Dr. Deke Gould.

01 Dec 2025

Pulpit Fiction: “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery,” “Sentimental Value,” “Eternity,” and “Zootopia 2”

By Mike Schulz

While Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is fun, it's mildly underwhelming fun – like that three-minute roller-coaster ride you realize wasn't worth the half-hour you waited in line for it.

18 Mar 2020

A-Z INDEX: Reader Movie Reviews

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

04 Dec 2025

Mike Schulz with Dave & Darren on Planet 93.9 FM

By Reader Staff

Going to the cineplex or staying in and streaming this weekend? Every Thursday morning at 8:15 a.m. you can listen to Mike Schulz dish on recent movie releases & talk smack about Hollywood celebs on Planet 93.9 FM with the fabulous Dave & Darren in the Morning team of Dave Levora and Darren Pitra. The morning crew previews upcoming releases, too. Or you can check the Reader Web site and listen to their latest conversation by the warm glow of your electronic device. Never miss a pithy comment from these three scintillating pundits again

Thursday, December 4: After a week off, a lightning-round discussion of Wicked: For Good, Rental Family, Train Dreams, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Sentimental Value, Eternity, and Zootopia, and previews of Five Nights at Freddy's 2, Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair, Hamnet, Merrily We Roll Along, and Fackham Hall ... the latter, because lof the FCC, a title the boys pronounce ve-e-e-ery carefully.

 

03 Dec 2025

Now Playing: Friday, December 5, through Thursday, December 11

By Administrator

Now playing at area theaters.

25 Nov 2025

“An Evening Inside 'The Room' with Greg Sestero,” December 4

By Reader Staff

Hailed, or maybe derided, by Entertainment Weekly as "the Citizen Kane of bad movies," multi-hyphenate Tommy Wiseau's legendary 2003 melodrama will enjoy two special screenings at Davenport venue The Last Picture House on December 4, the eagerly awaited An Evening Inside "The Room" with Greg Sestero featuring live Q&A sessions with the cult classic's co-star who authored the best-selling The Disaster Artist. Oh hi, Mark!

22 Nov 2025

Grande Dame: “Wicked: For Good,” “Rental Family,” and “Train Dreams”

By Mike Schulz

The only real reason to see this musical continuation is Ariana Grande, who deepens her portrayal of Glinda (née Galinda) to such a degree that both the character and the performer feel remarkably fresh, almost as though we're meeting them for the first time.

17 Nov 2025

Dispatch Me If You Can: “The Running Man,” “Now You See Me: Now You Don't,” “Keeper,” “Nouvelle Vague,” “Being Eddie,” and “The Perfect Neighbor”

By Mike Schulz

This opinion may seem counterintuitive, or even downright crazy. But I found director/co-writer Edgar Wright's The Running Man, a violent, profanity-laden dystopian thriller based on a Stephen King novel … kind of adorable.

10 Nov 2025

What Doesn't Eat You Makes You Stronger: “Predator: Badlands,” “Frankenstein,” “Nuremberg,” “Die My Love,” “Christy,” and “It Was Just an Accident”

By Mike Schulz

I had an utterly spectacular time at director Dan Trachtenberg's sci-fi thriller that's also, brace yourselves, a thoroughly winning buddy comedy.

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