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Imaginary friends... everybody knows them. Everybody’s heard of them. Everybody knows somebody who had them. And honestly, imaginary friends go back way further than people think. Psychologists were studying imaginary companions back in the 1890s, and even before that, adults throughout history had their own versions: guardian angels, household gods, muses whispering in their ears. These weren’t “imaginary friends” in the modern sense, but they filled the same role, to provid

Father’s Day is right around the corner, and while most people are picking out cards, firing up the grill, and celebrating the wholesome, dependable, hard-working dads of the world… I’ve decided to take a slightly different approach. In true Nick D fashion, I’m here to pay tribute not to the best movie dads—but to the worst. Yes, the terrible. The twisted. The criminally incompetent. The dangerous. The dads who never should’ve had kids in the first place, and somehow managed

Not only am I wearing my stylish Film Critic pants, but I am also sporting a lovely Easter Bonnet, so I am ready to review four new movies in this week's capsule (short) movie reviews for Friday, April 18th, 2025. 1) SINNERS Look, I love a big swing, especially in genre filmmaking. I respect when a filmmaker goes for broke, throws it all on the screen, and isn't afraid to get weird. And there's no question that Ryan Coogler —yes, the guy who made Fruitvale Station , Creed ,  

We had a very rainy week in Chicago, so I'm wearing my Film Critic pants and my Film Critic galoshes to review five new movies in this week's capsule (short) movie reviews for Friday, March 7th, 2025. 1) MICKEY 17 Simply put, Mickey 17  is one of the year's best movies. I know it's only March, but I doubt I'll see many movies this year as good as this one. It will almost certainly be on my top 10 list at the end of the year—it's that good. Director Bong Joon-ho  is in peak fo

Stephen King  is, without question, one of the most beloved and prolific horror writers of all time. His books and short stories have terrified and mesmerized readers for nearly 50 years, and throughout that time, Hollywood has consistently mined his work for adaptations—some great, some good, some forgettable, and some downright awful. Like any lifelong fan, I've seen just about every movie based on his work. And trust me, there have been some absolute disasters. Which bring

The truly one of a kind actress/producer, Shelley Duvall, passed away on July 11th, 2024, and boy, will she be missed. Watching Shelley Duvall play Olive Oyl is a singular delight She was a unique performer of incredible versatility who appeared in seven films for her director/mentor, the great Robert Altman ("Brewster McCloud," "McCabe and Mrs. Miller," "Thieves Like Us," "Nashville," "Buffalo Bill and the Indians," "3 Women," and as Olive Oyl in "Popeye"), and was known for