Review: Long Shot Isn’t Afraid to Be Both Silly and Serious
Imagine a comedy set in the world where a woman becoming president isn’t the butt of most of the jokes—how refreshing. In fact, in the new film Long Shot, the […]
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: A Serviceable Debut in Uneven, if Unique, Family
There are better films in the world about career-focused professionals who discover that actually caring about something other than work is better for the soul, but I’m guessing none of […]
Review: An Interesting Question of Loyalty in an Otherwise Bland Red Joan
The latest work starring Dame Judi Dench is a very different type of spy movie. In a way, the based-on-a-true-story Red Joan asks a question about the seemingly traitorous Joan […]
Review: The End is Here in Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame
This is a nearly impossible review to write, because it’s so wholly satisfying that the inclination is to leave even the smallest plot elements a surprise for those who have […]
Review: Women Fight for Women in Gripping Girls of the Sun
My biggest concern as the story of Girls of the Sun began to unfold was the presence of a white journalist at the center of much of the action in […]
Review: Something Gets Lost Between the Songs in Teen Spirit
For reasons I’m not sure I explain, we are in a cinematic era of fake female rock/pop singers. Gone is the fascination with biopics of real singers (with the exception […]
Review: A Love Poem to Emily Dickinson in Wild Nights With Emily
Hoping to dispel the long-held belief that the late poet Emily Dickinson was a recluse who didn’t want a relationship or anyone to ever read her work (a mythology still […]
Review: Just Enough Scares in an Otherwise Weak The Curse of La Llorona
The greatest crime that the new James Wan-produced horror film The Curse of La Llorona commits is trying to link itself unnecessary to the universe of The Conjuring/Annabelle. Outside of […]
Review: Impressive Footage Chronicles Daily Life in Disneynature’s Penguins
People made a big deal about Marvel Studio’s 10-year anniversary recently, but another Disney imprint is also celebrating a decade of quality filmmaking this year. Granted, the stories that comprise […]
Review: The Early Life of a Jazz Age Star in The Chaperone
Admittedly, most of the people who go to see The Chaperone probably don’t know much about the pre-fame life of silent film star Louise Brooks (played here by Haley Lu […]
Review: Let the Spirit – and Aretha – Move You in Amazing Grace
If I have to convince you to go see this documentary chronicling the two Aretha Franklin performances at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in the Watts neighborhood of Los […]
Review: Laika Continues a Strong Run with Adventurous, Friendly Missing Link
As far as animation houses go, the stop-frame animation loyalists at Laika have a perfect record in my book, with a run that includes ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the […]