Film, Film & TV, Review

Review: Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard Star in Beautifully Crafted Relationship Drama Memory

This year has been a very good one for the kind of films I’m naturally drawn to, films without much flash or special effects but with real, authentic stories about […]

Lisa Trifone /
Film, Film & TV, Review

Review: The Good Nurse Finds Intrigue and Drama in a Sometimes Predictable True Crime Genre

One of the upsides of the world’s seemingly endless fascination with true crime stories in all formats (podcasts, documentaries, investigative books, etc.) is that there has been a tidal shift […]

Steve Prokopy /
Film, Film & TV, Review

Review: The Plot (and Point) of The Forgiven Gets Lost in Gross Class and Culture Clashes

A slightly gross treatise on white privilege, writer/director John Michael McDonagh’s (War on Everyone; Calvary) The Forgiven takes place over a long weekend in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco, […]

Steve Prokopy /
Film, Film & TV, Review

Review: What Female-Driven Spy Thriller The 355 Lacks in Plot, It (Mostly) Makes Up for in Action

The 355

The legend of Agent 355 is that she was likely America’s first female spy, in operation during the American Revolution, but that she died without anybody knowing her real name. […]

Steve Prokopy /
Film, Film & TV, Interview

Interview: Director Michael Showalter on His Background in Comedy, Watching Jessica Chastain Work, and Creating the Colorful World of The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Michael Showalter Eyes of Tammy Faye

Without making much of a fuss about it, Michael Showalter has transitioned from being one of the most successful comedic talents (as a writer, director and performer during his time […]

Steve Prokopy /
Film, Film & TV, Interview

Interview: The Eyes of Tammy Faye Co-Star Vincent D’Onofrio on the Importance of a Good Script, Working with an Actor’s Director and Reprising His Marvel Role

Vincent D'Onofrio Eyes of Tammy Faye

I remember first interviewing Vincent D’Onofrio almost 10 years ago to the day from when we spoke via Zoom recently. He was here in Chicago promoting his directorial debut, a […]

Steve Prokopy /
Film, Film & TV, Interview

Interview: Actor Cherry Jones on First Meeting Jessica Chastain, Playing People of Faith and Getting the Tone Right in The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Cherry Jones Eyes of Tammy Faye

I don’t think I’m overstating the facts to say that Cherry Jones can do it all, as far as acting goes. The five-time Tony nominee (winning twice—the first time in […]

Steve Prokopy /
Film, Film & TV, Review

Review: The Eyes of Tammy Faye Explores Price of Faith and One Couple’s Rapid Ascension and Devastating Descent

The Eyes of Tammy Faye

In the opening moments of the new biopic directed by Michael Showalter (The Big Sick), The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Tammy Faye Bakker (played flawlessly by Jessica Chastain) is being […]

Steve Prokopy /
Film, Film & TV, Review

Review: A Teacher’s Timeless Influence on Generations of Actors in Creating a Character: The Moni Yakim Legacy

Creating a Character

When I first moved to New York City a few years ago, I splurged on a tiny studio apartment in Manhattan, 160 square feet (not counting the bathroom and closet) […]

Lisa Trifone /
Film, Film & TV, Review

Review: The Story Continues As the Scares Fade in It Chapter Two

It Chapter Two

In many ways, it’s remarkable that you can make what is effectively a single story, told in two parts, with the same creative team throughout, and still come up with […]

Steve Prokopy /
Film, Film & TV, Review

Review: A Phoned-In Conclusion to a Mutant Saga in Dark Phoenix

Dark Phoenix

In looking over my thoughts on Apocalypse, the previous X-Men movie, I made a point of singling out Sophie Turner’s performance as Jean Grey as being one of the many reasons […]

Steve Prokopy /
Film, Film & TV, Review

Film Review: Aaron Sorkin Directs a Sharp, Brisk Molly’s Game

This sweeping, swirling look at the life of an Olympic skiing hopeful turned facilitator of one of the most exclusive poker games in the world also marks the directing debut […]

Steve Prokopy /