authenticity

‘Mr. Nobody Against Putin’ offers a profile in courage

Courage comes in many forms, some of them plainly apparent and others seemingly unlikely. Ironically, it’s those emboldened but unsuspecting heroes who often end up achieving the greatest victories in their endeavors, even when up against formidable opponents. And now the makings of such an implausible scenario provide the focus for an insightful first-person documentary, one in which an unassuming, mild-mannered David matter-of-factly takes on a daunting Goliath.

Brent Marchant2026-03-08T18:55:44-05:00March 8th, 2026|Conscious Creation, Documentary, Featured Post, Foreign, Movie Reviews|

‘Rebuilding’ celebrates the virtues of compassion

When the slate gets involuntarily wiped clean, we generally have two choices available to us: (1) walking away and starting anew or (2) attempting to rebuild. Both options usually represent hard choices, not only because of the effort required, but also due to the emotional anguish we’re likely to face. Of those two choices, the restoration option can be particularly trying, given that, as we go through it, we’re constantly reminded of what we lost. However, there are also things to be gained, especially when it comes to the compassion, assistance and support we’re likely to receive from those who want to help.

Brent Marchant2026-02-20T14:07:10-05:00January 12th, 2026|Character Study, Conscious Creation, Drama, Movie Reviews|

‘Peacock’ seeks the nature of the self and our existence

In this age of increasingly untrustworthy AI, rampant fake news and unabashedly self-serving social media, it’s becoming ever more difficult for many of us to distinguish what’s “real” and what isn’t these days, almost as if we’re stuck in a frightening new Orwellian paradigm. That’s significant, not only for how we perceive existence, but even in terms of how we experience and respond to it. In fact, these circumstances might even be looked upon as a metaphysical or existential nightmare. But how do we cope with such circumstances?

Brent Marchant2026-01-06T20:04:40-05:00October 20th, 2025|Character Study, Comedy, Conscious Creation, Drama, Foreign, Movie Reviews|

‘Familiar Touch’ examines the fragility and wonder of memory

Memory is one of those phenomena that makes the human experience unique and captivating. It plays a central role in defining the character of that experience and, in turn, helps us to define our very own individual nature. It provides a sense of continuity and stability, an assumed, seeming knowledge of what constitutes our lives and existence. It fundamentally allows us to believe in what we know and to know what we believe. However, it also possesses an innate fragility, and, when memory – and the underlying beliefs that support it – begins to fail with age, we’re frequently left confused about the essence of our world.

Brent Marchant2025-10-31T05:01:11-05:00September 3rd, 2025|Conscious Creation, Drama, Movie Reviews|

‘Nightbitch’ unmasks the challenges of motherhood

Ah, motherhood – it’s one of those notions that, in the minds of many, is sacrosanct, inviolable and beyond reproach. Indeed, they believe, there is no more noble a calling than this, a venture that every woman should feel honored to experience. But is that really the case? Is it truly everything it’s said to be? In fact, isn’t it possible that some women who find themselves in this role aren’t cut out for it and innately regret having taken that step?

Brent Marchant2025-04-25T04:11:38-05:00March 16th, 2025|Comedy, Conscious Creation, Movie Reviews|

‘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?

Brent Marchant2025-03-01T11:33:37-05:00December 30th, 2024|Biography, Character Study, Conscious Creation, Drama, Movie Reviews|

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.

Brent Marchant2025-01-28T22:16:18-05:00November 22nd, 2024|Biography, Comedy, Documentary, Drama, Film Festivals, Foreign, Movie Reviews, Smart Horror|

‘Will & Harper’ presents a loving ode to friendship

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.

Brent Marchant2025-01-20T14:48:22-05:00November 9th, 2024|Conscious Creation, Documentary, Movie Reviews|

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. And here's what I thought.

Brent Marchant2025-03-27T03:08:47-05:00October 29th, 2024|Action-Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Film Festivals, Foreign, Movie Reviews, Sci-Fi, Smart Horror|

‘Sing Sing’ explores personal resurgence through the arts

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.

Brent Marchant2024-10-20T01:13:53-05:00August 22nd, 2024|Biography, Character Study, Conscious Creation, Drama, Movie Reviews|