Michael Phillips – Page 78

I've been rewatching this dramedy that ran for two seasons from 2003 to 2004, and it is as sardonic and easy-to-watch as I remembered. The premise: An apathetic 18-year-old (played by a wonderfully deadpan Ellen Muth) is killed by a piece of airplane equipment falling from the sky — a toilet seat, to be exact — and enters the afterlife equivalent of annoying temp work, helping recently deceased souls leave their bodies to move on to the next realm. She and her small group of "colleagues" (including the marvelous Jasmine Guy) have none of the perks you'd expect: They still more or less have to live on earth, scrambling for housing, but minus any meaningful human connections. Mandy Patinkin plays her boss (of sorts), who calls her "pumpkin" but cuts her zero slack. It might be my favorite (and least-known) show from creator Bryan Fuller, who would later go on to create "Pushing Daisies" and "Hannibal." (Tubi, Amazon Prime, VOD) — Nina Metz

‘A Week Away’ review: Finding love, acceptance and a higher power in Netflix’s Christian summer camp musical

March 26, 2021 at 5:00 a.m.

The storyline of "A Week Away," the Christian summer camp lark now streaming on Netflix, presents its troubled male protagonist two options: relocate (after stealing a police car, among other...

‘Bad Trip’ review: Eric Andre, Lil Rel Howery hide the cameras and seek the laughs

March 26, 2021 at 2:00 a.m.

The other day I watched two Netflix features back-to-back: "A Week Away," the faith-based summer camp musical romance, followed by "Bad Trip," which requires — and rewards — a different...

A scene from "In the Heights" and a steak jibarito from Jibaritos y Mas ($7.85)

Watch this. Eat that: What to serve with ‘Julie and Julia’? Fare that would’ve made Julia Child proud.

March 24, 2021 at 12:35 p.m.

Watch this: 'Julie and Julia' A feel-good movie is like comfort food: It warms you up inside and makes you feel safe and hopeful. "Julie and Julia" has always been...

A decade ago, two Loyola professors talked about a Flannery O’Connor documentary. Now it’s on PBS ‘American Masters.’

March 23, 2021 at 1:50 p.m.

Her literal landscape dotted by dozens of peacocks raised on her family's farm, Flannery O'Connor filled her literary landscape with stories of fervent true believers, ingrained white supremacy, rampant psychopathology,...

What to watch: Descend into ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ or rise with Jason Sudeikis’ ‘Ted Lasso’

March 19, 2021 at 9:47 a.m.

Wondering what to watch this week? Check out our weekly film and TV recommendations. We want to know what you're streaming, too. Click here to share your picks with us....

‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ review: Does the first episode fly?

March 19, 2021 at 3:05 p.m.

After the buzzy What is this, exactly? phenomenon of "WandaVision," episode 1 of Disney+'s second Marvel limited series, "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," gets right to work reassuring Marvel...

Watch this. Eat that: Prepping for the Oscars with ‘Minari’? Head to Chicagoland’s new Koreatown.

March 19, 2021 at 9:12 a.m.

Watch this: 'Minari' Steven Yeun nabbed a best actor Oscar nomination this year for his role in "Minari," about a small family of Korean immigrants — mom, dad, their two...

The front of the Field Museum on Jan. 21, 2021 in Chicago.

What Pritzker’s ‘bridge’ plan means for movies, theater, concerts and more

March 18, 2021 at 8:33 p.m.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced a plan for new, relaxed COVID capacity restrictions for indoor movie theaters, performance venues and museums Thursday, in what Music Box Theatre general manager Ryan...

‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ review: Twice as long, more punishing — and yes, better

March 19, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.

Like the Kraken in "Clash of the Titans," "Zack Snyder's Justice League" has been released. It premieres March 18 on HBO Max, all four hours and two minutes of it....

Bob Dole, who overcame disabling war wounds to become a sharp-tongued Senate leader from Kansas, a Republican presidential candidate and then a symbol and celebrant of his dwindling generation of World War II veterans, died at age 98 on Dec. 5, 2021.

Remembering Yaphet Kotto, and the screen career Hollywood didn’t accommodate

March 17, 2021 at 7:07 p.m.

Yaphet Kotto died this week at 81. The 1973 James Bond outing "Live and Let Die" was how I came to know him. At age 12, I remember hating that...

All Stories