Presented in celebration of Black History Month, director Bill Duke's acclaimed 2003 drama Deacons for Defense enjoys a special February 18 screening in the Community Room of the Rock Island Public Library's downtown branch, the film's stars including Oscar winner Forest Whitaker and legendary actor and Civil Rights activist Ossie Davis.

Adapted from the iconic book the New York Times deemed an "extraordinary work" and a "document of horrifying reality [that] possesses literary quality," the 1973 television-movie version of Go Ask Alice enjoys a special February 23 screening at the Rock Island Public Library's downtown branch, the film detailing the life of a teenage girl who develops a drug addiction at age 15 and runs away from home on a journey of self-destructive escapism.

I had so much fun at Luc Besson's garish vampire yarn that I can easily imagine watching it again, this time with more than the one friend who joined me, and with all of us preferably looped out of our minds. That way, we'd at least come close to approximating Besson's vibe.

With River Action sponsoring a rare double feature in its QC Environmental Film Series, the fascinating program for February at St. Ambrose University's Galvin Fine Arts Center features a pair of short documentaries: Kelp!, the Jury Award winner of the 2024 Wild & Scenic Film Festival, and The Green Buffalo, which details how the biggest strides in hempcrete construction are going down on one of the smallest Native American reservations.

Sam Raimi's latest is the ultimate “revenge on a horrible boss” comedy, one far nastier than Horrible Bosses itself, and like 9 to 5's empowered kidnappers, Rachel McAdams' marginalized, fed-up office drone is eminently worth cheering. Ma-a-aybe not when holding a knife dangerously close to her paralyzed employer's privates, but … . Oh, who am I kidding? Especially then.

The biggest story regarding contenders for the 98th Oscars, which were revealed this morning by Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman at 7:30 a.m. CT, is Sinners. And it's quite literally The Biggest Story, as Ryan Coogler's period vampire musical flew away with 16 nods – the most citations for one movie in Academy Awards history.

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

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, February 5: Discussion of Send Help, Iron Lung, and Arco, previews of The Strangers: Chapter 3, Dracula, and Solo Mio, and a question of whether NBA star and upcoming GOAT cast member Stephen Curry is using a fake voice. Not in the animated film. In life.

Winner of Best Feature Documentary prizes at the Waco Independent Film Festival and Richmond International Film Festival, as well as the Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the Green Film Festival of San Francisco, 2024's The Cigarette Surfboard serves as the fourth presentation in the 2026 QC Environmental Film Series hosted by River Action, the 90-minute movie also hailed by KPBS.org as "a beautiful and inspiring portrait of activism."

Pages