Backstage Pass

Oscar nominated screenwriter Sarah Polley serves as screenplay writer and director of a horrific story based on true events in a Mennonite community in Bolivia. Polley adapted the film set in 2010 from the best-selling novel “Women Talking” by Miriam Toews. The actual shocking events involved 151 women and girls…

  “Avatar: The Way of Water” opens this weekend! Do you remember viewing “Avatar” in December of 2009? I sure do; in fact, I saw it three times at the IMAX theater. My reaction was similar to seeing “Star Wars” for the first time. Here’s my “Avatar” film review posted…

\ Without a doubt, Season 3 of “Emily in Paris” is the best yet! I’ve championed the series from the beginning, as all the characters are cast perfectly in their roles—however, they all, including Emily (Lily Collins), needed depth and an interesting storyline. Season 3 focuses on Paris’s main attraction,…

“Devotion” is a biographical war film that takes place in 1950 and is based on the 2015 best-selling book “Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism Friendship, and Sacrifice” by Adam Makos. The story centers on two US Navy fighter pilots during the Korean War. Jonathan Majors portrays Jesse Brown, and…

Yes, Daniel Craig is back as the world’s greatest detective Benoit Blanc in the second hysterically comical mystery. The new “Knives Out” adventure showcases the fearless detective at a lavish private estate on a Greek island, but how and why he comes to be there is only the first of…

By far, the anticipation of Steven Spielberg’s film “The Fabelmans” to premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival was sky high! It’s not off to say Steven Spielberg sincerely phones home — as “The Fabelmans,” his artificially titled family substituting for “The Spielbergs,” is a memoir centering on his early…

Daniel Radcliffe is “Weird” Al Yankovic in this highly exaggerated story of his early childhood and rises to fame as a parody singer and accomplished accordion player. The film opened in Toronto to packed crowds, of which I arrived 45 minutes early for my film critic screening and was turned…

Film Fest 919, Celebrates 5 Years  * The following article has additions that do not appear in the Alliance of Women Film Journalist article that was posted October 31, 2022, the additions are from Sarah’s personal experience as a film critic, board member and participant in the festival along with festival…

Yes, “Black Adam,” Dwayne Johnson has been freed from his tomb for almost 5,000 years and is ready to seek justice for his people of Kahndaq with his colossal powers. “Black Adam” sets up the realm of the “DC Extended Universe” with a surprise during the middle of the ending…

“Lyle, Lyle Crocodile” It’s based on the beloved children’s book series by Bernard Warber. The story begins in New York City, with a lively magician, Hector P. Valenti, played by Academy Award winner Javier Bardem. He dreams of being on a national talent show and finds a singing baby alligator…