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
To honor the 51st anniversary of the trial of the Chicago 7, Netflix has announced a Global Watch Party for Aaron Sorkin’s film “The Trial of the Chicago 7” starting at midnight tonight PT. For 48 hours this weekend, you can watch by going to the Netflix YouTube Channel In this Cast Announcement Sorkin and the cast offer brief remarks about the importance of remembering this event and the sacrifices that were made to peacefully protest the injustice of the Vietnam... Read more
DvG: Conquering Giants is a new Virtual Reality game aimed at gamers of all ages, but especially kids. Because I am not a gamer myself, I asked my nephew, Max Bressler, a college sophomore in San Diego, and a gamer since kindergarten who has all the technology, to review DvG: the Game for me. It follows below. Personally, I think it is good for the Scriptures to enter into the gaming space, especially in this year that Pope Francis... Read more
Pete (Bradley Gosnell) is a scruffy young guy who is as down on himself as Cindy (Mia Marcon) is upbeat. She is the young woman he meets at a seedy Chicago hotel bar and marries six months later. When he discovers she continues to see another man regularly at that same hotel, he checks in, carrying a backpack with a gun in it. But already present in his room is the fast-talking enthusiastic Gid (Daniel Floren). He’s been there, he... Read more
Recently I had an email exchange with the award-winning filmmaker Frank Frost, president of Frank Frost Productions on the topic of film criticism, specifically on the task of Catholic film reviewers and critics. While some reviews will note content problems (language, sexuality, violence, etc.), it is often offered as guidance for parents for what may be appropriate for children. Our conversation, however, dealt with context, expectation, scope, and concerns of the Catholic film critic. While our conversation did not cover... Read more
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