Year: 2017

Reviews of “Marjorie Prime” and “Shadows of Liberty,” as well as details about an awards program, are all in the latest Movies with Meaning post on the web site of The Good Radio Network, available by clicking here ...

“Marjorie Prime” (2017). Cast: Jon Hamm, Geena Davis, Tim Robbins, Lois Smith, Stephanie Andujar, Hannah Gross, Azumi Tsutsui, Hana Colley, Leslie Lyles, Bill Walters. Director: Michael Almereyda. Screenplay: Michael Almereyda. Play: Jordan Harrison, Marjorie Prime. Web site. Trailer. Coping with loss is something that most of us have had to deal with at some point in our lives. This can take a variety of forms, too, from the loss of a loved one to the loss of something we value to even the loss of some part of our own selves. How we handle such situations varies from person to person, depending on our individual circumstances and coping capabilities. Some of us soldier on, getting through the circumstances and moving on with our lives. But others among us may need some assistance in approaching these challenges, especially if they’re associated with strong emotions, a tremendous or unrelenting sense of loss, or unresolved aspects that prevent us from progressing. Such are the questions raised in the haunting new sci-fi drama, “Marjorie Prime.” Aging senior Marjorie Lancaster (Lois Smith) suffers from acute dementia. She loses a little bit of herself every day, a painful process for others to witness, such as her ...

“Dave Made a Maze” (2017). Cast: Nick Thune, Meera Rohit Kumbhani, Adam Busch, James Urbaniak, Scott Krinsky, Frank Caeti, Scott Narver, Kirsten Vangsness, Timothy Nordwind, Stephanie Allynne, Rick Overton, John Hennigan, Kamilla Alnes, Drew Knigga. Director: Bill Watterson. Screenplay: Steven Sears and Bill Watterson. Story: Steven Sears. Web site. Trailer. What lurks inside our mind? Most of us probably just scratch the surface of what’s there. Some aspects of it would probably delight us, while others would likely be best left unexamined. But we’ll never know exactly what’s there unless we make an attempt to go in and explore the labyrinth of our consciousness. That can be especially tempting if we feel unfulfilled in our lives. However, should we embark on such an undertaking, we’d be wise to prepare for it, particularly when it comes to getting ready for the unexpected. Such is the quest of a melancholic thirtysomething in the unusual new indie release, “Dave Made a Maze.” Dave (Nick Thune) is an aspiring artist who never finishes any of the projects he starts. He’s also frustrated that he spends his days working at jobs he hates, making little money and having nothing substantial to show for it. He ...

Join host Frankie Picasso and me this Thursday, August 31, at 1 pm ET for the next Movies with Meaning segment on Frankiesense & More radio. We’ll talk about several current film releases and other movie news. Tune in live or listen to the on-demand podcast for some lively movie talk, available by clicking here ...

Reviews of “Dave Made a Maze” and “Our Little Sister” and a radio show preview are all in the latest Movies with Meaning post on the web site of The Good Radio Network, available by clicking here ...

I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve been nominated in the Writer of the Year category for the Third Annual Crystal Chalice Awards program, sponsored by Project Bring Me 2 Life. The annual art, music and holistic awards program was launched by PBM2L founders Selomon Closson and Shannon Shine to recognize individuals who are doing great things for the world. Further information about the program is available by clicking here. Winners are determined by the public. To vote, click here. The awards will be presented in a ceremony October 21 at Mezzos in Cumberland, MD, with dinner at 5 p.m., the awards ceremony at 6 p.m. and a masquerade-themed after-party to follow. You can find more information on the program’s Facebook event page by clicking here. And for a video sneak peek at the ceremony, click here. Wish me luck! ...