Reviews of “Sing Sing,” “Green Border” and “Widow Clicquot” are all in the latest Movies with Meaning post on the web site of The Good Media Network, available by clicking here ...

“Green Border” (“Zielona granica”) (2023 production, 2024 release). Cast: Jalal Altawil, Dalia Naous, Al Rashi Mohamad, Taim Ajjan, Talia Ajjan, Sebabastian Svaton, Behi Djonati Atai, Tomasz Włoszak, Katalrzyna Obidzinska, Malwina Buss, Helena Ganjalyan, Monika Frajczyk, Piotr Stramowski, Jaśmina Polak, Michael Zieliński, Marta Stalmierska, Maja Ostaszewska, Maciej Stuhr, Agata Kulesza, Aboubakr Bensaihi, Joely Mbunda, Magdelena Poplawska, Tomasz Jaskowski, Klementyna Lamort De Gail, Grzegorz Gromek, Michael Wawrykiewicz, Sandra Korzeniak, Noah Meskina, Jonathan Louhoua, Georges-Anthony Van Keer, Gabriel Ossotachenho, James Cyiza. Director: Agnieszka Holland. Screenplay: Maciej Pisuk, Gabriela Lazarkiewicz and Agnieszka Holland. Web site. Trailer. There are so many things that can go wrong in life that it hardly seems wise, practical or prudent to go looking for ways to make our existence any more needlessly grueling. Yet, if we’re truly honest with ourselves, there are plenty of situations that can all too easily yield undue stress, pain and difficulty – and all as a result of our own making, too. But why would we do that? Why would we willingly seek to impose pointless hardships on ourselves and others when a little compassion, empathy and concern would go a long way toward avoiding such conditions and creating a harmonious, mutually beneficial, issue-free ...

“Widow Clicquot” (2023 production, 2024 release). Cast: Haley Bennett, Tom Sturridge, Sam Riley, Ben Miles, Paul Rhys, Anson Boon, Cecily Cleeve, Nick Farrell, Ian Cunningham, Natasha O’Keeffe. Director: Thomas Napper. Screenplay: Erin Dignam. Story: Christopher Monger and Erin Dignam. Book: Tilar J. Mazzeo, The Widow Cloquet (2008). Web site. Trailer. What makes us successful as creative beings? That’s a question that scholars, philosophers and artists have been asking rhetorically for eons. Much, of course, depends on the nature of the creation. A lot also depends on the traits and temperaments of the creators. But the actual mix of attributes necessary for achieving such fulfillment may ultimately be difficult to define – or, as the French might say, a certain je ne sais quoi (or, perhaps more accurately in this context, je ne sais pas). As elusive as making such a determination might sound, though, while it may indeed be challenging to put into words, it’s often relatively easy to spot. Individuals who have what it takes frequently stand out, and, even if their gift isn’t always readily apparent at first glance, it usually becomes obvious once they begin working their magic, as evidenced in the example set by the protagonist ...

Tune in for the latest Cinema Scribe segment on Bring Me 2 Life Radio, beginning Tuesday August 27, 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 ...

“Sing Sing” (2023 production, 2024 release). Cast: Colman Domingo, Clarence Maclin, Paul Raci, Sean San José, Sharon Washington, David “Dap” Giraudy, Patrick “Preme” Griffin, Mosi Eagle, James “Big E” Williams, Sean “Dino” Johnson, Camillo “Carmine” Lovacco, Dario Peña, Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez, Pedro Cotto, Miguel Valentin, John “Divine G” Whitfield. Director: Greg Kwedar. Screenplay: Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar. Story: Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin and John “Divine G” Whitfield. Source Material: Brent Buell, Breakin’ the Mummy’s Code (play), and John H. Richardson, The Sing Sing Follies (play), as chronicled in Esquire magazine (October 2005). Web site. Trailer. When everything gets taken away from one’s life, it must be nearly impossible to find something that provides a meaningful reason to carry on. The pervasive sense of hopelessness that sets in makes it difficult to establish a purpose in one’s existence. And so it often is for the incarcerated, individuals faced with an uncertain future of indeterminate duration. Under conditions as difficult as these, realistically speaking, one can’t help but wonder whether even the prospect of rehabilitation will actually pan out as a viable option for reversing one’s fortunes. But, for some, there’s hope through a seemingly unlikely source ...

Select movie reviews from my web site are now available on the Articles & News page of BringMe2Life.com. My latest post features a review of the whimsical animated feature, “Robot Dreams,” titled “‘Robot Dreams’ follows the quest for relationship fulfillment,” available by clicking here ...