Blog

The 4th of July is right around the corner, and you know what that means: fireworks. Lots and lots of fireworks. Maybe you're headed to a big show—something elaborate and professional over Navy Pier here in Chicago, or bursting across the sky above Grant Park while a John Philip Sousa march blares in the background. Or maybe it's a baseball game, and the fireworks fly after the final out. That’s all great—classic, beautiful, family-friendly explosions in the sky. Then ther

My Film Critic pants are covered in Spring-like flowers; they are on, pressed, and ironed. I'm ready to review four new movies in this week's capsule (short) movie reviews for Friday, April 11th, 2025. 1) THE AMATEUR James Hawes'   The Amateur  is a surprisingly solid entry in the spy thriller genre. It is a remake (or, more accurately, a new adaptation) that most people probably forgot already existed. Based on the 1981 novel by Robert Littell , the film was previously made

Let me just start by saying this—I am not a strong swimmer. At all. In fact, I swim like a rock. So when it comes to movies about being caught underwater, being stranded in the middle of the ocean, or dealing with whatever the hell is lurking below the surface, I get seriously freaked out. There’s something inherently terrifying about being submerged, about the unknown lurking just beneath you, about the idea that no matter how much you fight, the water always wins. That’s wh