It seems only recently that we have seen a rebirth of musicals filmed for theatrical (and streaming) release, either taping a live performance, such as Hamilton and Come from Away, or adapting a musical for film such as the surprising (to me) and inspiring homage to creativity, the late Jonathan Larson’s “tick, tick … BOOM!” Jonathan Larson (Andrew Garfield) relates his inner angst in song amidst his daily life in New York, trying to write a musical while working… Read more
This inspiring drama is about how Richard Williams (Will Smith) planned and co-coached, with his then wife Oracene “Brandy” Price (Aunjanue Ellis), their talented daughters Venus (Saniyya Sidney) and Serena (Demi Singleton) to become top champions of women’s tennis. Tennis, a sport with no previous black women champions except for Althea Gibson (1927-2003), begins in the late 1980s when Venus is about nine years-old and Serena is seven. The setting is Compton, CA, and Richard is training and coaching two… Read more
3212 Un-Redacted premiers on November 11, 2021, HULU As I write this review of the extraordinary documentary premiering on Hulu November 11, 2021, I am mindful that this is the birthday of the Servant of God, peace activist, and social justice advocate for the poor, Dorothy Day. She knew that American children who practiced hiding under their school desks in case of a nuclear bombing during “duck and cover” Civil Defense drills in the 1950s and 60s would not protect… Read more
On this tenth anniversary of the celebration of “global media and information literacy week” in the United States as sponsored by NAMLE (the National Association for Media Literacy Education) as “U.S. Media Literacy Week” I am pleased to share the presentation that Bonnie Abaunza and I gave, as moderated by Larissa Peltola, for the NAMLE conference this past summer: Hollywood and Hope: Looking at Social Justice and Human Rights and Social Justice through a Critical Media Literacy Lens … Read more
Lilly (Melissa McCarthy) works at a grocery store as a distracted stock person. She seems peculiarly focused on making sure the display of blue snowball snack cakes looks nice and stays upright. The manager, Travis (Timothy Olyphant) reminds Lilly again that there’s work to do. But now Lilly is in a hurry to leave to visit her husband Jack (Chris O’Dowd) who is in a mental health facility. It soon becomes evident that Jack is unable to cope with guilt… Read more
In my review of the 2018 narrative film “Boy Erased,” based on the 2016 book Boy Erased: A Memoir by Garrard Conley, I wrote that the film “is a starting point for parents wondering what God is asking of them when they discover their child is LGBTQ. First, you love your child unconditionally and go from there. You don’t hurt them, or give them pain and suffering so that ‘good’ [change of sexual orientation] may come of it…. Now… Read more
I was able to interview “Finding You” producer Ken Carpenter earlier this year about his new film. It tells the story of a young American girl who goes to Ireland for a semester abroad and discovers herself, romance, and how fulfilling care and love for a resident (played by Vanessa Redgrave) in a home for seniors can be. I have posted links to the audio and video of the interview below as well as to my review in St. Anthony… Read more
With the huge success of Netflix’s three season series “Shtisel” there is growing interest in seeing more films and television series about the Ultra Orthodox Jews who live in Israel, the US and other countries, according to new friends I discovered on the Facebook Group page “Shtisel Addicts.” I am blessed to count among my friends an Ultra Orthodox rabbi and his wife. I have been to their home a few times for Shabbos and once for Succoth. Each time… Read more
Sr. Rose’s 2021 Oscar Ballot ( Name or title in Bold ITALICS is my pick not what the Academy might do!) ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE (All deserving!) Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal Fine, deeply felt performance Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (I think he will win, though) Anthony Hopkins, The Father Gary Oldman, Mank Steven Yeun, Minari ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (All deserving!) Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7 (He really can act. As… Read more
I am happy to post a YouTube link to my conversation with NCReporter’s Christopher White about this year’s Oscar nominations and a link to another conversation with Chris Gunty of Baltimore’s Catholic Review, Ann Augherton of the Arlington Catholic and John Mulderig from Catholic News Service. Enjoy! Catholic Review Radio (Archdiocese of Baltimore): Oscars 2021 and the Pandemic Read more
