2022 in Review: Best Documentary Films of the Year
As I am prone to do every year, I separate documentaries into their own Best of the Year list, not because I feel they should be judged any differently than […]
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: Olivia Colman Does Her Best to Add Heart, Meaning to a Featherweight Joyride
The simple fact is that I likely wouldn’t be reviewing Joyride were it not for the presence of Olivia Colman as Joy, an attorney who is preparing to journey across […]
Review: Despite an Impressive, Devastating Central Performance, I Wanna Dance With Somebody Remains Frustratingly Shallow
Sometimes with a music biopic, it’s the music that carries the day when the story seems painfully familiar. So why do most music biopics feel like they follow the same […]
Review: In Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale, Brendan Fraser Delivers a Career-Best Performance of Transformation and Grace
A difficult watch at times (but not for the reasons many are saying), director Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale (based on the acclaimed play by Samuel D. Hunter, who also wrote […]
Review: Wildcat is a Journey of Healing for Both the Rescued Animals and the Veteran Caring for Them
In one of the most emotionally fueled documentaries you’re likely to see this year, Wildcat tracks the story of Harry Turner, a young British veteran of the war in Afghanistan […]
Review: Animated Sequel Puss In Boots: The Last Wish Offers Great Voice Acting, Vibrant Animation and a Heartfelt Story
I have a very clear memory of watching 2004’s Shrek 2, seeing (and hearing) the new character of Puss in Boots for the first time, and thinking “Well, that’s my […]
Review: A Story of Love and Loss, The Almond and The Seahorse Plays More Like a Subpar Movie of the Week
Based on the play of the same name by Kaite O’Reilly (who also co-wrote the screenplay with co-director and co-star Celyn Jones), The Almond and the Seahorse is about as […]
Review: First The Father, Now The Son Grapples with Family Dynamics, Depression and Doing What’s Best for Our Children
From the French-born writer/director who brought us The Father a couple years back, Florian Zeller unveils The Son, based on his play of the same name (as was The Father […]
Review: James Cameron Takes Digital Cinema to New Heights in a Visually Impressive Avatar: The Way of Water
Aside from the small contingent of moviegoers who believe 2009’s Avatar is the greatest affront to movie making in the history of film, the film connected with most people in […]
Review: The Mean One Turns a Holiday Humbug into Horror Nobody Asked For
They can’t all be winners (or even Hallmark Channel-worthy), but some Christmas movie ideas are great on paper, and then falter when it comes to the execution. Case in point: […]
Review: A Man with Something Important To Say, Loudmouth Gives Rev. Al Sharpton His Due
The legacy of the Rev. Al Sharpton is complicated, one that is still being written and re-evaluated by films like Loudmouth, from actor-turned-director Josh Alexander (Prescription Thugs). The filmmaker presents […]
Review: Spoiler Alert Explores the Beginning, End and Building Blocks in the Middle of a Loving, Long-Term Relationship
Full disclosure: I used to read Michael Ausiello’s writing in TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly, but I had no idea going into Spoiler Alert that the film was based on […]