Category: Film Reviews

Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story,’ a True Journey of Self-Discovery and Accomplishing Dreams

Not Rated | 1h 26min | Biography, Drama | TV Movie 7 February 2009 As my review of “The Ron Clark Story” just last week revealed, inspirational films based on real people are much more effective. They are a lens into exceptional lives that we can all learn from, no matter what our own hindrances…


Rewind, Review, and Re-Rate: ‘Shooter’: First-rate Action Thriller

R | 2h 4min | Action, Drama, Thriller | 23 March 2007 (USA) Bob Lee Swagger is the name of the character Mark Wahlberg plays in 2007’s “Shooter.” Swagger’s the hero of a long series of books by author Stephen Hunter. Nicknamed “Bob the Nailer,” he’s an ex-Marine corps sniper with 391 kills and supernatural…


Film Review: ‘Land’: Healing Grief Through Living Off the Land

PG-13 | 1h 29min | Drama | 12 February 2021 (USA) Anticipating an encroaching Zombie Apocalypse in my 20s, I started taking classes in primitive skills at Tom Brown Jr.’s Tracking, Nature, and Wilderness Survival School at the now defunct Tracker Farm in Asbury, New Jersey. We built leaf huts, learned fire-making with bow and hand drills…


Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘Meru’: Documentary: The Hardest Himalayan Climb

Groundbreaking climber-filmmaker Jimmy Chin climbs the hardest mountain in the world, Meru, the Shark’s Fin, and films the whole experience.


Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘Meru’: Documentary: The Hardest Himalayan Climb of All

Groundbreaking climber-filmmaker Jimmy Chin climbs the hardest mountain in the world, Meru, the Shark’s Fin, and films the whole experience.


Rewind, Review, and Rerate: The Genius of Woody Allen and ‘Annie Hall’

Woody Allen is again in the news. A new four-part documentary analyzes his relationship with ex-wife Mia Farrow, who has claimed that Allen sexually abused her daughter Dylan. Allen was already cancelled once in 2020, when his publisher, Hachette Book Group, aborted its deal to publish Allen’s memoirs. What makes the prospect of the left…


The Genius of Woody Allen and ‘Annie Hall’

Woody Allen is again in the news. A new four-part documentary analyzes his relationship with ex-wife Mia Farrow, who has claimed that Allen sexually abused her daughter Dylan. Allen was already cancelled once in 2020, when his publisher, Hachette Book Group, aborted its deal to publish Allen’s memoirs. What makes the prospect of the left…


Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘The Ron Clark Story’: Unwavering Dedication to Economically Challenged Students

TV-PG | 1h 30min | Biography, Drama | TV Movie 13 August 2006 Known as “The Ron Clark Story” in the United States (while titled “The Triumph” in several other countries), this biopic film follows the life of the award-winning American educator Ron Clark, a native of Chocowinity, North Carolina. Directed by Randa Haines (“Antwone…


Film Review: ‘The House That Rob Built’: Star Basketball Coach Put Ladies First

Not Rated | 59min | Documentary | 20 February 2020 (USA) “Not in my house!” American basketball fans love this phrase. It’s attributed to 7-foot-2-inch NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo of the Denver Nuggets, the second most shot-blockingest player in NBA history. Mutombo would swat an attempted shot away, wave his finger in the…


Doris Day’s First Romantic Musical Films

St. Valentine’s Day is over, but the coming of spring always foretells the coming of love! Nothing pairs better with leftover Valentine candy than classic romantic films. The Golden Era of Hollywood developed some of the most iconic love stories, like “Casablanca” (1942) and “Gone with the Wind” (1939). However, not all classic romances are…