‘Will & Harper’ presents a loving ode to friendship

‘Will & Harper’ presents a loving ode to friendship

“Will & Harper” (2024). Cast: Will Ferrell, Harper Steele, Tina Fey, Tim Meadows, Kristin Wiig, Lorne Michaels, Will Forte, Molly Shannon, Gov. Eric Holcomb. Director: Josh Greenbaum. Web site. Trailer. Friendship is one of those subjects that doesn’t receive nearly enough meaningful attention in the movies. Yet, when we look at its prevalence in life and the many forms it can take, it certainly provides plenty of fodder for engaging storytelling, given that it’s a topic we can all ultimately relate to – and in myriad ways at that. Films that explore unusual and fascinating expressions of this concept are among the most engaging, as seen in a new documentary that examines what it’s like for old friends to get to know one another all over again in a new context. Such is the case in the enlightening and entertaining road trip/buddy movie, “Will & Harper.” In 1995, an aspiring actor and comedian named Will Ferrell joined the cast of the late night sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live. During the same week Ferrell started, the show hired comedy writer Andrew Steele to join its staff. In no time, Ferrell and Steele became one of SNL’s most dynamic duos. Recognizing ...
Wrapping Up the 2024 Chicago Film Festival

Wrapping Up the 2024 Chicago Film Festival

With this year’s 60th edition of the Chicago International Film Festival in the books, I’ve completed my screenings for 2024. I viewed seven films in all, which is considerably fewer than in recent years, for a variety of reasons (ballooning ticket costs, venue choices, programming selections and the inclusion of a wealth of films going into general release in the near future). However, unlike last year’s disappointing event with its less than satisfying staging and filmography, I must admit that I’m coming away from this year’s festival very pleasantly surprised. I apparently chose my movie selections well. The organizers still have some work cut out for them on pricing and logistics, but, on balance, this edition was a marked improvement over the 2023 event. With that said, then, here’s what I screened and what I thought of those films: “The Missile” (“Ohjus”) (Finland/Estonia) (4/5); Letterboxd (4/5), Imdb.com (8/10), TMDB.com (8/10); Web site, Trailer Who would have thought that a reserved, homespun single mother of two married to an abusive imprisoned husband could turn her life around by writing about the dangers of nuclear proliferation? But, if you’re Niina Kuittinen (Oona Airola), a young housewife living in rural Lapland, that’s precisely ...
New Movies for October

New Movies for October

Join yours truly and Show Host Frankie Picasso for looks at five new films and a film festival wrap-up on the upcoming movie review edition of the Frankiesense & More video podcast, beginning Thursday October 24 at 1 pm ET. Tune in on Facebook or YouTube for all the lively chat and movie fun! ...
Personal Greatness on The Cinema Scribe

Personal Greatness on The Cinema Scribe

Tune in for the latest Cinema Scribe segment on Bring Me 2 Life Radio, beginning Tuesday October 22, available by clicking here. You can also catch it later on demand on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Podchaser, Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict and Jiosaavn ...
‘Omni Loop’ asks, ‘What accounts for our greatness?’

‘Omni Loop’ asks, ‘What accounts for our greatness?’

“Omni Loop” (2024). Cast: Mary-Louise Parker, Ayo Edebiri, Carlos Jacott, Hannah Pearl Utt, Chris Witaske, Fern Katz, Michael Laurino, Eddie Cahill, Steven Maier, Harris Yulin, Maddison Bullock, Riley Fincher-Foster, Jacob Bond, Jennifer Bassey, James Healy Jr., Roberto Escobar, Iman Crosson, Tracy Wiu, Rick Moose, James Benson. Director: Bernardo Britto. Screenplay: Bernardo Britto. Web site. Trailer. There are many ways we can live our lives, but the one quality that most of us strive for is to find out what makes that existence – and, consequently, us – great. It’s not an easy question to answer, and we often spend considerable time trying to figure it out. We frequently encounter many fits and starts, and, no matter what “progress” we might like to think we’re making, we’re still often plagued by doubt and second-guessing, sending us around in a relentless cycle of circles. So how do we ultimately arrive at a definitively fulfilling answer to this question? That’s what a dying middle-aged woman hopes to discover for herself in the captivating and thoughtful new sci-fi comedy-drama, “Omni Loop.” Zoya Lowe (Mary-Louise Parker) doesn’t have long to live. The accomplished, Miami-based fifty-something physicist and science writer, ironically, has been diagnosed with the ...
This Week in Movies with Meaning

This Week in Movies with Meaning

Reviews of “His Three Daughters,” “The Becomers” and “Daaaaaali!,” as well as a podcast preview and a film festival wrap-up, are all in the latest Movies with Meaning post on the web site of The Good Media Network, available by clicking here ...
Go to Top