This Week in Movies with Meaning
Reviews of "I'm Still Here," "Flow" and "Maria," along with two podcast recaps and a look back at the best and worst of 2024, are all in the latest Movies with Meaning post on the web site of The Good Media Network.
‘Maria’ plumbs the perils of indecision
When one achieves greatness at his or her craft, it’s difficult to walk away when the skills behind it begin to fade. Moreover, facing the hard truth that one’s peak may indeed be irretrievably in the past can be even tougher to accept, no matter how passionate one’s desire might be for it. At times like these, we must often begin making new plans for ourselves and our future, and some of the options open to us may indeed hold considerable appeal, especially if they involve unfulfilled dreams. But what if we have difficulty accepting the reality of such circumstances?
‘I’m Still Here’ explores the virtues of hope
Hope is an undeniably powerful force, and a belief in it firmly cements our faith in it in our consciousness. It’s difficult to shake, too, hanging on persistently in our worldview. Admittedly, though, when circumstances challenge its validity and viability, that quality can come under fire, perhaps even prompting us to question its strength and resilience. But such conditions can also serve to affirm our convictions, to galvanize us in our views of the power of hope, particularly when it seems like that’s all we have going for us.
The Call to Commit on The Cinema Scribe
Tune in for the latest Cinema Scribe segment on Bring Me 2 Life Radio, beginning Tuesday February 11.
New Movies for January
Join yours truly and show host Frankie Picasso for looks at four new films, the best and worst of 2024, and an Oscars preview on the upcoming movie review edition of the Frankiesense & More video podcast, to begin airing Thursday January 30 at 1 pm ET. Tune in on Facebook or YouTube for all the lively chat and movie fun!
The Best of 2024
With 2024 now in the books, it’s time to look back on the year in movies. In this first of two blogs, I spotlight my Top 10 Films of 2024.
This Week in Movies with Meaning
Reviews of "Lee," "Saturn" and "Exhibiting Forgiveness" are all in the latest Movies with Meaning post on the web site of The Good Media Network.
‘Lee’ follows the call to commit
Many of us often find ourselves in the pursuit of callings that may seem out of character or that we don’t fully understand ourselves. These ventures frequently require true commitment on our part, yet we may also find ourselves perplexed by their seeming inexplicability. And, if we think about walking away from them, we simply can’t bring ourselves to do so. So what’s behind these ostensibly obsessive undertakings?
New Movies for December
Join yours truly and show host Frankie Picasso for looks at five new films and two film festival wrap-ups on the upcoming movie review edition of the Frankiesense & More video podcast, to begin airing Thursday December 12 at 1 pm ET.
Wrapping Up the 2024 Black Harvest Film Festival
The 30th annual edition of the Gene Siskel Film Center’s Black Harvest Film Festival is now in the books, having featured an array of narrative, documentary and short films. The event featured a strong lineup of offerings this year, perhaps the best I’ve ever seen at this festival. In all, I managed to catch six films during the festival’s two-week run. So, with that said, here’s my take on what I watched and what I thought.