My friend & colleague Evan Dossey (edossmfj.bsky.social) had a great conversation w/ ANOTHER friend & colleague, Richard Propes (richardpropes.bsky.social), and director / producer Andie Redwine, on THE TENDERNESS TOUR, a documentary w/ a world premiere Saturday at the 34th Heartland Film Festival.

Kathryn Bigelow brings her inimitably intense visual urgency to A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE. But screenwriter Noah Oppenheim's trick play w/ the nuclear football & atypically stiff performances drain all the tension. Find my review for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) in the reply.

Streaming on Apple TV+ tomorrow, THE LOST BUS is a solid-enough tale of real-life rescue — elevated more by its elite visual effects than eh-so-so interpersonal dramas with Matthew McConaughey or America Ferrera. Find my review for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) in the reply.

Modelo really needs to lean into "a few small beers."

In theatres Friday, GOOD BOY is a satisfying under-the-collar scratch of dog-based horror that dives into deeper, sometimes darker dynamics of human-dog bonds. My review for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social). Read, comment, share, enjoy! midwestfilmjournal.com/2025/09/29/g...

Here's my latest piece in my "Class of ..." series for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social), highlighting films celebrating 20th, 30th or 40th anniversaries. Up this month is arguably the greatest Chuck Norris film ever made: INVASION U.S.A. midwestfilmjournal.com/2025/09/26/c...

And here's my review of CODE 3 for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social). Read, comment, share, enjoy! midwestfilmjournal.com/2025/09/10/c...

Excited to share coverage of a film opening nationwide with roots in my old stomping grounds of Springfield, Illinois. CODE 3 is a paramedic dramedy w/ Rainn Wilson & Lil Rel Howery in theatres tomorrow. It's co-written by Patrick Pianezza (patrickpianezza.bsky.social), who drew from years of 🧵1/4

Favorite first-time watches of August: CHIME CONVOY HIGHEST 2 LOWEST JUNIOR BONNER THE NAKED GUN (2025) RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY SAMSON & SALLY THROW DOWN A TOUCH OF ZEN WEAPONS

Good morning! Rarely capitalizing on the considerable gifts of its can't-miss cast, THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB is both a middling mystery & prototypically half-watchable Netflix fare. My review for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) is in the reply. Read, comment, share, enjoy!

In this month's "Class of ... " essay at Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social), focusing on films celebrating 20th, 30th or 40th anniversaries — I wind it back to 1995's DESPERADO, Robert Rodriguez's exceedingly goofy, eminently enjoyable action film. Find my essay in the reply!

Excellent writing as usual from my colleague Joshua Polanski on what has become 2025's biggest film worldwide. Also glad to see a community journalism outlet expanding its coverage to the arts!

While FIXED is fitfully funny & demonstrates respect for classic animation styles, it rarely reaches beyond obvious punchlines in its tale of a dog about to be neutered. My review for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) of the film, on Netflix tomorrow, is in the reply.

When Andy Carr asks to manipulate an image of me for an Odd Trilogies graphic, my answer is always yes. (It's tasteful, after all.) My answer when Andy and Logan Sowash (@SowashYourself) ask me to join them for an episode is ALSO yes! 🧵 1/2

It's also the 40th anniversary of one of my absolute favorite films — REAL GENIUS, which I wrote about 10 years ago for my "Class of ... " series at Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social). In honor of that occasion, here's that piece. Enjoy! midwestfilmjournal.com/2015/08/31/c...

CLOUD is a solid thriller about internet resellers that sometimes feels like Kiyoshi Kurosawa knocking off his own typically patient dread. Still, it's a deal you shouldn't pass up. My review of the film, opening Friday at the Kan-Kan Cinema & Bar (kankanindy.bsky.social), is in the reply.

I don't share many individual Blu-ray reviews at Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social). But I wanted to share my take on Kino Lorber Studio Classics' new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray of CONVOY — Sam Peckinpah's 1978 action-comedy based on the hit song. 🧵 1/2

Favorite first-time watches of July: BARRY LYNDON EDDINGTON GET CARTER (1971) GRAND PRIX THE HANGING TREE LAST BULLET MAGIC CRYSTAL THE PUBLIC ENEMY (1931) WHITE HEAT WINCHESTER '73

The monthlong celebration of Willem Dafoe at Midwest Film Journal (@midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) comes to a close! So many great essays, but I love this one from my friend and colleague Andy Carr at Odd Trilogies, who suggested it as a gag when I solicited folks on what they wanted to do. 🧵 1/2

I was also fortunate enough to get an advance 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray copy of Wes Anderson's THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME — one of my favorites so far from 2025. My review for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social). Read, comment, share, enjoy! midwestfilmjournal.com/2025/07/28/o...

This month's "Class of ... " essay looks back at a film you're forgiven for having forgotten existed — 2005's BAD NEWS BEARS remake directed by Richard Linklater & starring Billy Bob Thornton. My essay for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social). midwestfilmjournal.com/2025/07/28/c...

Good morning! All month at Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social), we're celebrating Willem Dafoe's 70th birthday w/ "Dafoe? Dafriend." Here's my contribution on his awesome work in the otherwise dumb "Top Gun" knockoff FLIGHT OF THE INTRUDER. midwestfilmjournal.com/2025/07/15/d...

I'm honored to be the screening host & panel moderator for the Sydney Pollack Film Festival this weekend in Lafayette, Ind. Here's my preview for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) about festival screenings & events. Hope to see you there! midwestfilmjournal.com/2025/07/09/t...

Good morning! Remember "The Old Guard"? Probably not, but it was a very good 2020 Netflix action film that now has a pretty good 2025 Netflix action-film sequel. Here's my review of THE OLD GUARD 2 for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social). midwestfilmjournal.com/2025/07/02/t...

And for the year's halfway point, my 10 favorite first-time watches so far (non-2025 films and limiting to 3 Kurosawas): High and Low High Plains Drifter Orca Righting Wrongs Sketches of Frank Gehry Stray Dog The Swimmer They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Three the Hard Way Yojimbo

Favorite first-time watches of June: Amazing Grace (2019) High Plains Drifter The Phoenician Scheme Righting Wrongs Thunderbolts*

Good morning! JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH didn't make me hate movies as a concept like its two immediate predecessors, so I guess that counts as evolution. It's still not that good. My review for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) is in the reply. Read, comment, share, enjoy!

Looking forward to introducing OUT OF AFRICA at 7p Tuesday at the Long Center for the Performing Arts! It's a sneak-peek for a Sydney Pollack Film Festival on 7/11 & 7/12, where I'll introduce more films & moderate a Q&A on the Lafayette native's work. longpac.org/events/film-...

Good morning! I also got to close out Career, Uninterrupted — Midwest Film Journal’s (@midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) monthlong celebration of Angelina Jolie’s 50th birthday — with a take on her turn in WANTED. Read, comment, share, enjoy! midwestfilmjournal.com/2025/06/27/c...

Clint Eastwood's PALE RIDER hit theatres 40 years ago & it's my annual "I'd-not-seen-this-before" entry for my "Class of ... " series — which looks at films celebrating 20th, 30th or 40th anniversaries at Midwest Film Journal (@midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social). Find my essay in the reply!

Midwest Film Journal (@midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) has been celebrating Angelina Jolie’s 50th birthday with a series titled Career, Uninterrupted. Here’s the second of my three contributions—in which I watched all 305 minutes of SALT. midwestfilmjournal.com/2025/06/25/c...

Favorite first watches of May: Clean and Sober Friendship Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning Sketches of Frank Gehry Three the Hard Way

Good evening! Just in under the wire w/ May's "Class of ... ," but the wait let me get a look at the stunning new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray transfer of 2005's KINGDOM OF HEAVEN — which is the subject of this month's essay (in the reply). Read, comment, share, enjoy! midwestfilmjournal.com/2025/05/31/c...

Ethan Hunt's canonical birthplace made me chuckle.

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH — Guy Ritchie's latest adventure — works best when it sticks to the cup-of-a-carpenter version of its treasure-hunt story. Here's my Midwest Film Journal (@midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) review of the film, streaming Friday on Apple TV+. midwestfilmjournal.com/2025/05/22/f...

Favorite first-time watches of April: Orca Sinners (2025) The Swimmer They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)

Hello! Over at Midwest Film Journal (@midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social), we've been celebrating Robert Downey, Jr.'s 60th birthday all month long with an essay series called Deep Downey. In the reply is my entry, which looks at RDJ's work in the pair of contemporary Sherlock Holmes films.

Acknowledging a high bar for the director of what arguably remains the century's best action film, Gareth Evans' long-awaited HAVOC (debuting Friday on Netflix) feels like people punching the last thing you expect — a clock. My Midwest Film Journal (@midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) in the reply.

Time again for another installment of "Class of ... " — my monthly Midwest Film Journal (@midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) series looking back at films with 20th, 30th or 40th anniversaries. This time: 2005's KUNG FU HUSTLE. Read, comment, share and enjoy! midwestfilmjournal.com/2025/04/24/c...

Good morning! This month's essay in the "Class of ... " series at Midwest Film Journal (@midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social)—where I look at a film celebrating a 20th, 30th or 40th anniversary—looks back at 1995's DOLORES CLAIBORNE. Read, comment, share, enjoy! midwestfilmjournal.com/2025/03/26/c...

For Midwest Film Journal's (@midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) monthlong celebration of director Paul W.S. Anderson, I wrote about what I would call his masterpiece: 2008's DEATH RACE — an epically loaded triple-cheeseburger good time. Find my essay in the reply. Read, comment, share and enjoy!

LOCKED — a two-hander thriller w/ Bill Skarsgård & a disembodied Anthony Hopkins — hits stop-and-go traffic in its second act but remains reasonably engaging. Here's my Midwest Film Journal (@midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) review of the film, opening Friday. midwestfilmjournal.com/2025/03/19/l...

Good morning! My first of two contributions to Midwest Film Journal's (@midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) Libera te Tutemet, a weekly celebration of director Paul W.S. Anderson's 60th birthday this month, is the film from which our series takes its title, EVENT HORIZON. Find my essay in the reply!

MICKEY 17 offers strong and occasionally soulful sci-fi satire at its outset, but writer-director Bong Joon-ho gives over its third act to a cacophony of focus, performance and tone pitched at spiking volume. Find my Midwest Film Journal (@midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) review in the reply.

John Lithgow, Geoffrey Rush & George Henare deliver strong turns in THE RULE OF JENNY PEN — with an especially strong sicko swan song for Lithgow — but the script makes up all its own rules as it goes. Find my review for Midwest Film Journal (@midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social in the reply!

Pretty disgusting to speculate on the "sordid" circumstances of a Hollywood legend's death investigation and / or hail it as some final twist befitting of his profession. True-crime brain rot and look-at-me preening on social media have turned too many of you into ghouls.

Good morning! It may not be Nudie Magazine Day, but it is "Class of ... " Day at Midwest Film Journal (@midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) — where my monthly look back at films with 20th, 30th or 40th anniversaries now includes 1995's BILLY MADISON. midwestfilmjournal.com/2025/02/25/c...

In theatres Friday, CLEANER hearkens back to eccentrically entertaining "Die Hard" knockoffs while interrogating what a just resolution to its hostage scenario would even entail. Call it "Under Squeegee." Find my Midwest Film Journal (@midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) review in the reply!

THE GORGE, streaming Friday on Apple TV+, offers high-concept sci-fi anchored by hooky ideas, thematic tension and strong chemistry between Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy. My review for Midwest Film Journal (@midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) is below! midwestfilmjournal.com/2025/02/13/t...

It’s nice to see a sleek, canny, well-shot genre mashup in theatres predicated on Valentine’s Day violence, the utility of a straw as a weapon & the dialogue “Love hurts.” Too bad LOVE HURTS isn't that movie. Find my Midwest Film Journal (@midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) review in the reply.