“Palm Royale” (R) ★★★ TV Series Apple TV+

The comedy-drama series “Palm Royale” is steaming now on Apple TV, and it’s a total blast to view. The year is 1969; Kristen Wiig stars as Maxine Simmons Delacorte an outsider and former pageant queen Read more

One Life (PG) ★★★★

“One Life” is a heartwarming film I screened during the Toronto Film Festival; it stars Anthony Hopkins as Nicholas Winton, an English stockbroker in a true story. In 1938 he helped save over 600 children … Read more

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (PG-13) ★★½

It’s been three years since we’ve last seen the Spengler family as they relocated from Oklahoma to New York. They’ve moved into the original Ghostbusters Firehouse, complete with a firepole, ghost-catching equipment, containers, and the … Read more

Rob Lorenz Interview “In the Land of Saints and Sinners”

For the film “In the Land of Saints and Sinners,” I was invited to speak with the director, Rob Lorenz. We had a Zoom interview, and it was informative. We talked about his Irish heritage, … Read more

In the Land of Saints and Sinners (R) ★★★½

In the absorbing thriller starring Liam Neeson, director Rob Lorenz accomplished a remarkable feat in his movie “In the Land of Saints and Sinners.” He utilized Neeson’s cadre of noteworthy acting roles to guide his … Read more

Shirley (PG-13) ★★★★

Here’s the best component of the movie “Shirley”—Regina King, the star who portrays Shirley Chisholm. Hands down, she embodies her actions, timing, and subtle nuances. Think Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth in her Oscar-winning performance … Read more

Dune: Part Two (R) ★★★★

Once in a while, a sweeping saga masterpiece comes along, such as 1977’s “Star Wars,” retroactively retitled “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” by George Lucas or Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the … Read more

Ordinary Angels (PG) ★★★½

Set in 1993, with flashbacks, Ed (Alan Ritchson), a hard-working roofer’s treasured wife, Theresa (Amy Acker), has died of a congenital liver disease, biliary atresia, which their youngest daughter Michelle Schmitt (Emily Mitchell)) also has; … Read more

Bob Marley One Love (PG-13)★★★★

When Kinsley Ben-Adir brilliantly appears on stage during a concert as Bob Marley and the Wailers, it’s as if he was born to play the part. His lip-syncing is perfection, and his dancing to the … Read more

Masters of the Air” ★★★½ Apple+TV (MA 15+) Series

Apple TV 9-Part Series, “Masters of the Air,” is a war drama centering on the actions of the 100th Bomb Group; you’ll also learn about the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber plane. The squad is … Read more

Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive (PG-13) ★★★★

The final quote spoken by Gloria Gaynor in her new documentary film says it all: “I will survive and thrive.” If ever there was a role model for perseverance in the face of adversity, Gloria … Read more

Argylle (PG-13)★★½

Bryce Dallas Howard from the (Jurassic World franchise) is Elly Conway, the author of a series of best-selling spy novels. Her books center on secret agent Argylle (Henry Cavill) and his mission to unravel a … Read more

Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story (PG-13) ★★★

Here’s a tale of a British teen, Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), whose excellent gaming skills with PlayStation’s Gran Turismo landed him in a professional racecar competition. The title says it all, although the film should … Read more

Mean Girls (PG-13) ★★★½

It’s been 20 years since “Mean Girls” starring Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Seyfried, Amy Poehler, Rachael McAdams, Tina Fey, and Tim Meadows debuted. The original screenplay writer, Tina Fey, based the film on the book Queen Read more

Rustin (PG-13) ★★★★

Returning to the civil rights march in Washington D.C. in 1963, director George C. “Rustin” boasts an embodied performance by Coleman Domingo as Bayard Rustin, the openly gay civil rights activist who orchestrated the famous … Read more

The 29th Critics Choice Awards Honor a Wide Variety of Film and TV posted to Roger Ebert

The 29th annual Critics Choice Awards, held this past January 14th, moved to the Barker Hanger at the Santa Monica Airport, to accommodate the large number of critics that attend as well as the film … Read more

Nyad (PG-13) ★★★½

The docudrama Netflix film centers on long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad (Annette Benning), who stopped swimming competitively after she turned 30 years old, although her failure to complete the journey from Cuba to Florida continued to … Read more

The Boys in the Boat (PG-13) ★★★

George Clooney directs a true sports drama that centers on the sport of competitive rowing that takes place in 1936, before and during the Olympics in Nazi Berlin, Germany. The book is based on the … Read more

Top 10 Films of 2023 and Key Film and TV Events this Year

My top ten films of 2023 and key events I attended are listed below. It’s been a great year for film as I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this year. The writer’s and actor’s strike did affect talent … Read more

The Color Purple (R) ★★★½

The Color Purple” is playing in theaters now; it opened on Christmas Day. Boating an all-star cast, Fantasia reprises her Broadway theater role as Celie, with Halle Bailey of this year’s (The Little Mermaid), Taraji … Read more

Maestro Review and Interviews (R) ★★★★

I attended the “Maestro” screening in Hollywood during a press event hosted by Netflix in November of this year. Critics viewed the film in the luxuriously decorated Netflix Tudum Theater; the velvet scarlet seating brought … Read more

Wonka (PG) ★★★½

“Wonka” is the musical origin story of the classic movie based on the book “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” It stars Timothée Chalamet as Willie Wonka. He’s a magician, inventor, and chocolatier who dreams … Read more

Critics Choice Celebration of Cinema and Television Honoring Black, Latino, AAPI Awards-2023-Posted to Roger-Ebert

Century Plaza this past Monday evening, Dec. 4, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. The celebration is typically a lively and joyous occasion, and this year was especially so due to combining several celebrations. There were … Read more

The Holdovers (R) ★★★★

“The Holdovers” is the story of an eccentric boarding school teacher, played by Paul Giamatti, who works at an elite school where each year, a teacher stays at the school during the holiday break to … Read more