Wrapping Up the 2025 Chicago Film Festival
With this year’s 61st edition of the Chicago International Film Festival in the books, I’ve completed my screenings for 2025. Here’s what I screened and what I thought.
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.
Surviving Retirement on Bring Me 2 Life
Select movie reviews from my web site are now available on the Articles & News page of BringMe2Life.
Wrapping Up the 2023 Chicago Film Festival
As this year’s edition of the Chicago International Film Festival winds down, I’ve completed my screenings for 2023. I viewed seven films in all, which is considerably fewer than in recent years, for a variety of reasons (cost, venues, programming), and I must admit I’m coming away from the event somewhat disappointed.
‘Everything Went Fine’ pits love against death
Questions related to assisted suicide and the right to die have been debated hotly for decades, and proponents on each side of these issues have made passionate arguments for their causes. Is it ethical to help someone take his or her own life, or must its sanctity be preserved at all costs? At the same time, is it proper to deny someone the right to bring their existence to an end if they so choose, especially if they are in extreme pain or if they feel that their continuation is anguishing or pointless?
Wrapping Up the 2022 St. Louis Film Festival
The 31st annual edition of the Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival is now in the books, having featured an array of narrative, documentary and short films in theaters and online. Like the recently completed Chicago International Film Festival, the overall programming was a little less satisfying compared to past years, especially in its severe reduction of virtual offerings.
New Movies on Frankiesense & More
Join yours truly and show host Frankie Picasso for six new film reviews on the next movie edition of The Good Media Network's Frankiesense & More video podcast! The show, to begin airing on Thursday October 27 at 1 pm ET, will also feature recaps of two recent film festivals
Wrapping Up Reeling 2022
The 40th 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 on theaters and online. While the event had its strong points, the overall programming was a little less satisfying compared to past years. Nevertheless, I managed to screen 16 films during the festival’s two-week run. So, with that said, here’s my take on what I watched and what I thought.
‘Olga’ spotlights the essential power of choice
Many of us face times when we’re presented with seemingly impossible decisions. The choices open to us may appear fundamentally unpleasant across the board, or they may give us options that have both upsides and downsides that might tend to cancel one another out. These conditions can make it difficult for us to know what to do, potentially leaving us locked in a state of stalemate. However, that need not be the case if we can hold on to our awareness of our innate power of choice.
‘Fire in The Mountains’ ignites a feminist manifesto
To paraphrase Bruce Springsteen, it takes a spark to light a fire. But sometimes such blazes don’t take on the first strike. There’s not enough energy behind it to catch flame. In fact, it may take multiple sparks before a conflagration erupts, a concept that’s applicable both literally and metaphorically. But, when things finally come alive, watch out...