By Joan Amenn I am a fourth generation Italian American. The stories of my ancestors that I grew up with both mirror and contrast with how my ethnicity have been depicted on screen, much like anyon…

Year: 2025 Runtime: 150 minutes Director: Maria Friedman Writer: George Furth Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Actors: Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, Lindsay Mendez, Katie Rose Clarke, Krystal Joy…

Year: 2025 Runtime: 150 minutes Director: Maria Friedman Writer: George Furth Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Actors: Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, Lindsay Mendez, Katie Rose Clarke, Krystal Joy Brown, Reg Rogers, Max Rackenberg By Joan Amenn “How did you get to be here?” -Stephen Sondheim After a smash revival on Broadway, “Merrily We Roll Along” was finally captured on film at the Hudson Theater last year. As a musical with lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim, it has a rocky origin story. It was adapted from a play written by George S.

Year: 2025 Runtime: 125 minutes Director: Chloé Zhao Writers: Chloé Zhao, Maggie O’Farrell Actors: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Joe Alwyn, Justine Mitchell, Emily Watson, David WIlmot, Freya …

Runtime: 283 minutes Directors: Matt and Ross Duffer, Frank Darabont Writers: Matt and Ross Duffer, Caitlin Schneiderhan, Paul Dichter Actors: Millie Bobby Brown, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Sadie…

Year: 1985 Runtime: 113 minutes Director: Walter Murch Writers: Walter Murch, Gil Dennis, based on the books by L. Frank Baum Actors: Fairuza Balk, Nicol Williamson, Jean Marsh, Piper Laurie, Matt …

Year: 1985 Runtime: 113 minutes Director: Walter Murch Writers: Walter Murch, Gil Dennis, based on the books by L. Frank Baum Actors: Fairuza Balk, Nicol Williamson, Jean Marsh, Piper Laurie, Matt Clark, Michael Sundin, Tim Rose, Brian Henson, Justin Case, John Alexander, Deep Roy, Emma Ridley By Joan Amenn Now that both Acts 1 and 2 of “Wicked” the musical have adapted to film, there has been plenty of online buzz about how dark the plot goes in the ultimate fates of some of its characters. This only shows how little is known not only about the book by…

By Brian Skutle Over the past few months, I’ve been rewatching “WKRP in Cincinnati” (1978-1982) with my mom when I’ve gone to visit her. A few years ago, I bought the Shout Factory DVD set which re…

Year: 2025 Runtime: 90 minutes Director: Rob Margolies Writer: Jonathan Geffner Actors: Sean Young, Jonathan Geffner, Deborah Twiss, Ed Altman, Kristin Samuelson, Hari Bhaskar, David Lambert By Joa…

Year: 2025 Runtime: 90 minutes Director: Rob Margolies Writer: Jonathan Geffner Actors: Sean Young, Jonathan Geffner, Deborah Twiss, Ed Altman, Kristin Samuelson, Hari Bhaskar, David Lambert By Joan Amenn If you’re a fan of film noir and have a fondness for whimsey, “The Dummy Detective” (2025) may help get you through this long holiday weekend. Now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, it is a delightful send up of noir tropes, murder mystery clichés and a few sometimes slightly creepy puppets. Think of “Clue” (1985) as a sundae with Jim Henson…

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Year: 2025 Runtime: 114 minutes Director: Li Wallis Writers: Li Wallis, John Dooley Actors: Gildart Jackson, Milena Rendón, Siebe Schoneveld, Julie Millaud, Juan Hurtado Bergeth, Benjamin Krüger, E…

Year: 2025 Runtime: 114 minutes Director: Li Wallis Writers: Li Wallis, John Dooley Actors: Gildart Jackson, Milena Rendón, Siebe Schoneveld, Julie Millaud, Juan Hurtado Bergeth, Benjamin Krüger, Erika Joy Mitschrich By Joan Amenn It is not often that a thriller of this quality can be found on streaming with little fanfare and yet so deserving of attention. “Flight of Reverie” is haunting in a quiet slow burn that reminded me of Peter Weir’s “The Last Wave’ (1977). Like that film, “Reverie” addresses themes of ecological disaster and human evolution. Director…

Year: 2025 Runtime: 102 minutes Director: Clint Bentley Writers: Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, based on the novella by Denis Johnson Actors: Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, Clifton Collins, Jr., Alfre…

Year: 2025 Runtime: 138 minutes Director: Jon M. Chu Writers: Stephen Schwartz, Dana Fox, Winnie Holzman, Gregory Maguire (based on the book by), Frank L. Baum (based on the characters created by) …

Year: 2025 Runtime: 138 minutes Director: Jon M. Chu Writers: Stephen Schwartz, Dana Fox, Winnie Holzman, Gregory Maguire (based on the book by), Frank L. Baum (based on the characters created by) …

Year: 2025 Runtime: 138 minutes Director: Jon M. Chu Writers: Stephen Schwartz, Dana Fox, Winnie Holzman, Gregory Maguire (based on the book by), Frank L. Baum (based on the characters created by) Actors: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Colman Domingo, Peter Dinklage, Bowen Yang By Rosa Parra “Wicked: For Good” is directed by Jon M. Chu and stars Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Marissa Bode, Ethan Slater, and Jeff Goldblum. This second part serves as the conclusion of the story.

Year: 2025 Runtime: 114 minutes Written by: Gurinder Chadha, based on “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens Directed by: Gurinder Chadha Starring: Kunal Nayyar, Leo Suter, Pixie Lott, Freddie Mars…

Year: 2025 Runtime: 114 minutes Written by: Gurinder Chadha, based on “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens Directed by: Gurinder Chadha Starring: Kunal Nayyar, Leo Suter, Pixie Lott, Freddie Mars…

Year: 2025 Runtime: 133 minutes Director: Edgar Wright Writers: Edgar Wright, Michael Bacall, based on the novel by Stephen King Actors: Glen Powell, Alyssa Benn, Sienna Benn, Lee Pace, Sean Hayes,…

Year: 2025 Runtime: 133 minutes Director: Edgar Wright Writers: Edgar Wright, Michael Bacall, based on the novel by Stephen King Actors: Glen Powell, Alyssa Benn, Sienna Benn, Lee Pace, Sean Hayes, Coleman Domingo, Josh Brolin, Michael Cera By Jordon Searle Director Edgar Wright adapts Stephen King's timely 1987 dystopian tale, set in the seemingly distant year 2025, which depicts an America fallen into a totalitarian hellscape, with prices soaring and the general public eager to seek escapism in strange, malevolent reality television. Perhaps someone should investigate Stephen King as an oracle?

Year: 2025 Runtime: 107 minutes Director: Dan Trachtenberg Writers: Patrick Aison, Dan Trachtenberg, Jim Thomas Actors: Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Ravi Narayan, Michael Homik, S…

Year: 2025 Runtime: 107 minutes Director: Dan Trachtenberg Writers: Patrick Aison, Dan Trachtenberg, Jim Thomas Actors: Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Ravi Narayan, Michael Homik, Stefan Grube By Special Guest Reviewer Jeff Russo Spoilers: Comparisons between “Prey” and “Badlands “include spoilers for both films Director Dan Trachtenberg is back with “Predator Badlands” which as similar overarching themes to his previous film, “Prey” (2022.) For instance, Prey is about a young Native American girl who is not taken seriously as a hunter because of her size, her gender and her youth. She is looking to earn respect by going on her first hunt and finding a worthy kill.