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‘Cabrini’ extols the virtues of faith, inspiration, accomplishment – Brent Marchant
“Cabrini” (2024). Cast: Cristiana Dell’Anna, John Lithgow, David Morse, Giancarlo Gioannini, Romana Maggiora Vergano, Federico Ielapi, Liam Campora, Patrick “Patch” Darragh, Jeremy Bobb, Rolando Villazón, Giacomo Rocchini, Montserrat Espadalé, Giampiero Judica, Federico Castelluccio, Andrew Polk. Director: Aléjandro Monteverde. Screenplay: Rod Barr
‘We Grown Now’ explores the joys and perils of growing up – Brent Marchant
“We Grown Now” (2023 production, 2024 release). Cast: Blake Cameron James, Gian Knight Ramirez, Jurnee Smollett, S. Epatha Merkerson, Lil Rel Howery, Avery Holliday, Charles Jenkins. Director: Minhal Baig. Screenplay: Minhal Baig. Web site. Trailer.
A Cautionary Tale on The Cinema Scribe – Brent Marchant
Tune in for the latest Cinema Scribe segment on Bring Me 2 Life Radio, beginning Tuesday April 23, available by clicking here. You can also catch it later on demand on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Podchaser, Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict and Jiosaavn.
Wrapping Up the 2024 Chicago Latino Film Festival – Brent Marchant
With the 40th (and my first-ever) Chicago Latino Film Festival now in the books, it’s time to take a look at what I screened. The event featured films from 28 countries in the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Europe, along with
‘Civil War’ delivers a potent cautionary tale – Brent Marchant
“Civil War” (2024). Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Nick Offerman, Sonoya Mizuno, Jefferson White, Nelson Lee, Evan Lai, Greg Hill, Edmund Donovan, Melissa Saint-Amand, Karl Glusman, Jin Ha, Juani Feliz, Jesse Plemons (uncredited). Director: Alex Garland.
New Movies for April – Brent Marchant
Join me and show host Frankie Picasso for looks at six new films, as well as one of 2024's first film festivals, on the next movie review edition of the Frankiesense & More video podcast, beginning Thursday April 18 at 1 pm ET. Tune in for all the fun and lively discussion on
‘Origin’ questions the validity of entrenched beliefs – Brent Marchant
“Origin” (2023). Cast: Aunjanue Ellis Taylor, Jon Bernthal, Niecy Nash-Betts, Emily Yancy, Finn Wittrock, Victoria Pedretti, Vera Farmiga, Blair Underwood, Nick Offerman, Connie Nielsen, Audra McDonald, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Isha Carlos Blaaker, Matthew Zuk, Hannah Pniewski, Myles Frost, Suraj Yengde Ph.D, Gaurav
The Power of Perseverance on The Cinema Scribe – Brent Marchant
Tune in for the latest Cinema Scribe segment on Bring Me 2 Life Radio, beginning Tuesday April 9, available by clicking here. You can also catch it later on demand on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Podchaser, Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict and Jiosaavn.
‘One Life’ shows how perseverance makes the impossible possible – Brent Marchant
“One Life” (2023 production, 2024 release). Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Helena Bonham Carter, Lena Olin, Johnny Flynn, Jonathan Pryce, Marthe Keller, Alex Sharp, Romola Garai, Juliana Moska, Samuel Finzi, Martin Bednar, Frantiska Polakova, Anna Darvas, Jonathan Tafler, Samantha Spiro, Adrian Rawlins,
Personal Empowerment on The Cinema Scribe – Brent Marchant
Tune in for the latest Cinema Scribe segment on Bring Me 2 Life Radio, beginning Tuesday March 26, available by clicking here. You can also catch it later on demand on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Podchaser, Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict and Jiosaavn.
‘Beyond Utopia’ charts the quest for freedom of thought – Brent Marchant
“Beyond Utopia” (2023). Cast: Pastor Seungeun Kim, Hyeonseo Lee, Barbara Demick, Sue Mi Terry, Soyeon Lee, Hyukchang Woo, Yeongbok Woo, Yonggil Roh, Jinhae Roh, Jinpyeong Roh, Sunok Park. Archive Footage: Kim Il-Sung, Kim Jong-Il, Kim Jong-Un, Douglas MacArthur, Nikita Khruschev.
‘Problemista’ examines how successes flow from failures – Brent Marchant
“Problemista” (2023 production, 2024 release). Cast: Julio Torres, Tilda Swinton, RZA, Catalina Saavedra, Laith Nakli, James Scully, Greta Lee, Larry Owens, Logan J. Alarcon-Poucel, Kelly McCormack, Greta Titelman, Theo Maltz, James Seol, Miles G. Jackson, Jason Furlani, River L. Ramirez,
‘Eternal Memory’ seeks to preserve as much as possible for as long as possible – Brent Marchant
“The Eternal Memory” (“La memoria infinita”) (2023). Cast: Augusto Góngora, Paulina Urrutia, Javiera Góngora. Archive Footage: Raúl Ruiz, Cristobal Góngora. Director: Maite Alberdi. Screenplay: Maite Alberdi. Web site. Trailer. It’s been said that one of
A Celebration of Life on The Cinema Scribe – Brent Marchant
Tune in for the latest Cinema Scribe segment on Bring Me 2 Life Radio, beginning Tuesday March 12, available by clicking here. You can also catch it later on demand on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Podchaser, Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict and Jiosaavn.
Wrapping Up the 2024 CEUFF Film Festival – Brent Marchant
If it’s March, it wouldn’t be complete without the Gene Siskel Film Center Chicago European Union Film Festival. After several years of adjustments, the festival has gone through yet another transformation for its 27th annual edition. Rather than featuring films from throughout
‘Tótem’ celebrates life in the face of death - Brent Marchant
It’s never easy to face difficult situations, especially when they’re impending and it seems as though they’re inevitable, circumstances in which there’s nothing we can do about them. Indeed, it’s hard enough for us as adults to process and cope with such conditions, but how are children supposed to handle these kinds of situations? Youngsters seldom possess the experience and wisdom needed to deal with their feelings.
‘Upon Entry’ tests our resolve to live up to our contentions - Brent Marchant
Questions related to immigration have been asked with increasing frequency in recent years. This has been particularly true where illegal entry has been concerned, providing considerable fodder for widespread public debate. But what of legal immigration – is that a benign subject, one worthy of little attention or recognition? Indeed, if would-be immigrants are doing everything by the book, there shouldn’t be any concerns, right?
‘The Teachers’ Lounge’ charts a molehill’s evolution - Brent Marchant
We’ve all no doubt heard about the proverbial molehill unwittingly being made into a mountain. The inconsequential somehow manages to become overly (and unnecessarily) inflated, taking on undeserved significance. This usually comes about as a result of undue attention paid to it by those who have self-serving agendas that they want to see escalated and addressed to resolve petty or trumped-up grievances. And the result is a chaotic maelstrom characterized by overhyped shrieking and misplaced ridicule, often directed at the wrong parties or the wrong issues.
‘When Time Got Louder’ asks, ‘Who cares for the caregiver?’ - Brent Marchant
Caring for those with special needs is certainly a noble, commendable pursuit. The patience, diligence, compassion and dedication required in attending to these individuals is often substantial, and providing the necessary care in line with those qualities is indeed laudable. But, given the commitment called for in such undertakings, one can’t help but wonder, how far should such conscientiousness extend?
‘The Zone of Interest’ weighs the cost of indifference - Brent Marchant
Given humanity’s tremendous capacity for compassion and benevolence, it’s somewhat hard to believe that we’re also capable of qualities at the opposite end of the spectrum. When we consider the magnanimity we often exhibit in times of crisis, it’s difficult to fathom how we can also demonstrate troubling degrees of callous, uncaring indifference toward our fellow man. Yet, if we examine the scope of human history, we can’t willfully ignore the many instances of cruel disregard and unspeakable atrocities we’ve inflicted on others.
‘Memory’ examines what we believe we recall - Brent Marchant
How we remember our past is something we can all bank on, right? Or is it? For instance, what happens when mitigating influences impact our memory, potentially causing it to become fallible and untrustworthy? Can we truly rely on our recall then?
The Worst of 2023 - Brent Marchant
With 2023 now in the books, it’s time to look back on the year in movies. In this second of three blogs, I spotlight my Bottom 10 Films of 2023, followed by 10 Dishonorable Mentions and an open-ended list (in alphabetical order) of other releases that I found disappointing.
‘All of Us Strangers’ celebrates the enigmatic power of love - Brent Marchant
Love is truly an enigmatic force. When it’s present in our lives, it can move us to indescribable degrees of joy, bliss and fulfillment. But, when it’s absent – particularly when it’s suddenly snatched away from us – it can leave us in the depths of despair, a sense of despondency from which we may often feel we’ll never escape. However, just when all seems lost, it can have a way of sneaking back into our lives.