morality play

Wrapping Up Reeling 2026

The 44th annual edition of Chicago’s Reeling International LGBTQ+ Film Festival is now in the books, having featured an array of narrative, documentary and short films. The festival’s lineup was a big improvement over 2025, bringing in a slate of better programing compared to last year. In all, I managed to catch 13 films during the festival’s 12-day run, nine of which I rated good to excellent. So, with that said, here’s my take on what I watched and what I thought. Enjoy!

Brent Marchant2026-09-28T07:24:47-05:00September 27th, 2026|Action-Adventure, Character Study, Comedy, Drama, Featured Post, Film Festivals, Foreign, LGBTQ+, LGBTQ+, Movie Reviews, Romance|

My ‘Starfleet Academy’ Rant

It’s with tremendous sadness that I must report a death, the passing of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (SFA), along with its loyal companion and devoted muse, creativity. Both will be sorely missed, at least by anyone with a modicum of common sense and open-mindedness, who doesn’t fear change, diversity or fairness, or who doesn’t live in their parents’ basement.

Brent Marchant2026-07-13T00:14:17-05:00March 30th, 2026|Sci-Fi|

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|

‘Jurassic World’ reaffirms a crucial message

Some things bear repeating, especially when they’re important and have been disregarded or not taken seriously. It doesn’t matter how many times or how emphatically the message has been said, either. If the word is not getting through as effectively as it should be – or at all – then it needs reiteration, particularly when the stakes are high.

Brent Marchant2022-07-15T15:12:56-05:00June 18th, 2022|Conscious Creation, Movie Reviews, Sci-Fi|

‘Servants’ explores living a life of integrity

In a world where it’s become all too easy to make compromises for the sake of personal considerations to the detriment of people, practices and principles, it’s become almost unfathomable that there are still individuals out there who are ready and willing to stick to their guns.

Brent Marchant2022-04-23T14:04:24-05:00April 13th, 2022|Conscious Creation, Drama, Foreign, Movie Reviews|

Heroism on The Cinema Scribe

Tune in for the latest Cinema Scribe segment on Bring Me 2 Life Radio, Tuesday, February 8, at 2 pm ET

Brent Marchant2022-02-27T22:38:32-05:00February 7th, 2022|Announcements, Drama, Foreign, Media Appearances, Movie Reviews|

‘A Hero’ explores living life with integrity

To truly leave a mark on one’s life, it pays to do so with a genuine sense of integrity, one that accurately reflects one’s authentic self. Such is the essence of heroism, the stuff of which legends big and small are made. But, regardless of the magnitude behind these tales, they all have one thing in common – they’re stories rooted in truthfulness,

Brent Marchant2022-03-10T11:24:17-05:00February 3rd, 2022|Conscious Creation, Drama, Foreign, Movie Reviews|

‘Luzzu’ examines how to fish for solutions

Challenging times call for creative solutions. But, when the circumstances are especially dicey, what are we to do? Where do look for the inspiration to devise inventive answers to our problems? We may think that we don’t have any viable options open to us, but they’re there if we know where – and how – to look.

Brent Marchant2022-02-03T13:43:43-05:00January 4th, 2022|Conscious Creation, Drama, Foreign, Movie Reviews|

‘House of Gucci’ warns of the dark side of ambition

Ambition is a dual-edged sword. On one hand, it can drive the fulfillment of tremendous noteworthy and beneficial accomplishments. On the other hand, however, it can get out of control when left unchecked, taking us places that are better left unexplored. Given that, then, we must ask ourselves, “What will it be – a path to achievement or a road to ruin?”

Brent Marchant2022-01-11T11:08:02-05:00December 8th, 2021|Conscious Creation, Drama, Movie Reviews|

‘Petrunya’ offers hope where it’s absent

When our lives stagnate or don’t turn out as hoped for, we often need a miracle to get on track. Out of cynicism and disbelief, that’s frequently seen as too much to hope for. But, then, all of a sudden, out of the blue, something happens to change all that

Brent Marchant2021-09-08T04:29:38-05:00July 28th, 2021|Comedy, Conscious Creation, Drama, Foreign, Movie Reviews|