Review: Animated Fable Orion and the Dark Gets the Charlie Kaufman Treatment
Whenever a writer you admire decides to tackle a story (in this case, an animated film) aimed at younger people, the fear is always that they will dumb things down […]
Steve Prokopy is chief film critic for the Chicago-based arts outlet Third Coast Review. For nearly 20 years, he was the Chicago editor for Ain’t It Cool News, where he contributed film reviews and filmmaker/actor interviews under the name “Capone.” Currently, he’s a frequent contributor at /Film (SlashFilm.com) and Backstory Magazine. He is also the public relations director for Chicago's independently owned Music Box Theatre, and holds the position of Vice President for the Chicago Film Critics Association. In addition, he is a programmer for the Chicago Critics Film Festival, which has been one of the city's most anticipated festivals since 2013.
Review: Spy Actioner Argylle Gets Bogged Down in Unnecessary Layers of Plot and a General Lack of Espionage
Director Matthew Vaughn is capable of some pretty incredible work (Kick-Ass, the first Kingsman movie, X-Men: First Class) and he’s amassed a fun collection of regular actors who support his […]
Review: A Blossoming Friendship Is at the Heart of Spirited, Sweet Driving Madeleine
From the director of the Oscar-nominated Joyeux Noel, Christian Carion’s latest work is a far more intimate but equally moving affair. The film kicks off by placing Madeleine (Line Renaud), […]
Review: As Earth Devolves into War, An American and Russian Space Crew Clash in I.S.S.
More an ethical puzzle than a proper film, director Gabriela Cowperthwaite (known for the docs Blackfish and The Grab, as well as the narrative feature Megan Leavey), works from a […]
Review: Kevin Hart Dials Back the Antics for Lift, a Serviceable, Airborne Heist Movie
It’s a new month, so it’s time for a new Kevin Hart movie on Netflix. This time around, Hart forgoes comedy for something in the action-heist genre with Lift, in […]
Review: In Occupied City, Filmmaker Steve McQueen Recounts Amsterdam’s History Through Its Present
In one of the most unique examinations of the past almost entirely using images of the present, director Steve McQueen (12 Years A Slave, Widows) brings us a provocative and […]
Review: Actor Jake Johnson Moves Behind the Camera for Original, Likable Self Reliance Co-Starring Anna Kendrick
Marking his debut as a writer/director, actor Jake Johnson brings us his funny and mostly charming take on reality shows, Self Reliance, in which he plays Tommy, a middle-aged guy […]
Review: Jason Statham Goes After the Queen Bee (and Her Son) in Violent Actioner The Beekeeper
If you deliberately turn up for a movie starring Jason Statham, I’m guessing The Beekeeper is exactly the type of movie you’re hoping will play. Directed by David Ayer (Fury, […]
Review: The Book of Clarence Is a Smart, Sharp Satire of the Bible’s New Testament and Modern Race Relations
Here it is, everybody: the first truly great film of 2024 that isn’t a holdover from 2023. (A handful of movies are set for release in January and February that […]
Review: Featuring Varied Animation Styles (and Lily Gladstone), Quantum Cowboys Impresses with its Ambition and Originality
If 2023 didn’t satiate your need to see Lily Gladstone be awesome in both The Unknown Country and her award-winning performance in Killers of the Flower Moon, you have one […]
Review: Imagining a Philosophical Conversation, Freud’s Last Session Frustrates More than it Fascinates
Part of the issue with director and co-writer Matt Brown’s Freud’s Last Session is that it can’t decide what the central core of its story actually is. Certainly, a film […]
Review: Night Swim Boasts Strong Production Credits, but Its Plot and Scares Are Shallow
A slight and silly PG-13 horror film with a hefty pedigree (at least as far as producers go—James Wan and Jason Blum), Night Swim centers on the Waller family, with […]