Film festivals are truly a great place to discover new voices. This is Lilian T. Mehrel’s fantastic debut feature, created when she won the AT&T Tribeca Untold Stories grant. I’ve always been into mother-daughter tales, especially since my late mom was a single parent who loved traveling, but we never got to take a trip …
Author: ruth
I'm just an ordinary girl who loves flicks across all genres (except horror). From Jane Austen costume-dramas, lush fantasy epics to sfx-laden, full-throttle action, my taste in movies can be quite perplexing. My dad was in the film biz in the 70s in my home country Indonesia, so I guess I inherit his love for writing and movies. But it's my mother who first introduced Hollywood classics early in my upbringing. When I was about 11 or 12, she brought "Gone with the Wind," "The Sound of Music," and "My Fair Lady" VHS tapes from her European vacation. To this day, I still think Clark Gable is one hot & manly man (even for someone who despise mustache!); and who didn't have a crush on that stringent-but-hunky-in-uniform Captain Von Trapp? As for "My Fair Lady," the inimitably classy Audrey Hepburn was (and still is) the fairest maiden in Tinseltown.
Top 10 Favorite movies: Batman Begins, Ben-Hur, Casino Royale, Dear Frankie, Gladiator, Moulin Rouge, Return to Me, Roman Holiday, Sense & Sensibility, The Gods Must Be Crazy.
MSPIFF 2026 Documentary Reviews: ‘The Chaplain & The Doctor’ and ‘The Cycle of Love’
Welcome to another double review edition. This time, I'm showcasing a pair of uplifting documentaries I saw at MSPIFF that exemplify the power of compassion, empathy, and love. I enjoy tales of unexpected friendships that develop in surprising places. Betty Clark, an 80-year-old African American chaplain, and Dr. Jessica Zitter, a white Jewish doctor, work …
MSPIFF 2026 Review: The Christophers (2026) – Ian McKellen + Michaela Cole form an unlikely bond in Soderbergh’s witty dark comedy
Steven Soderbergh is one of the best and most prolific directors of modern cinema, effortlessly transitioning between genres. Presence and Black Bag are two of my favorites from last year, and this versatile filmmaker moves from crafting a family ghost tale and a spy caper to a dark comedy centered on an aging artist. Ian …
MSPIFF 2026 Review: Don’t Call Me Mama (2026)—A tense, atmospheric Norwegian forbidden romance that’ll leave you shaken
One of the main reasons I enjoy film festivals is that they frequently expose me to fresh talent in cinema. Last Thursday, I got to know Norwegian writer/director Nina Knag, whose gripping, atmospheric, and subversive debut drama will both excite and frustrate you in the best way. The phrase 'Don't Call Me Mama' is never …
FlixChatter Review: The Travel Companion—A deadpan comedy about the bumpy ride of longtime friendship and indie filmmaking
Travel can be pricey for most folks who aren't billionaires, but it's particularly tough for indie filmmakers who need to travel to create their art. Luckily for Simon (Tristan Turner), a struggling documentary filmmaker in NYC, his roommate and best buddy since 3rd grade, Bruce (Anthony Oberbeck), has a job at an airline that lets …
FlixChatter Review: You, Me & Tuscany (2026)—A frothy escapist rom-com set in a swoon-worthy, picturesque Italian hilltown
In my review of Anaconda recently, I said that not every movie aims for greatness or being award-worthy. Sometimes it just wants to have a frothy good time without breaking new ground. Well, that seems to be what You, Me & Tuscany aims for and makes us swoon for either the cast or the stunning …
FlixChatter Guest Review: BONE KEEPER — An enjoyable British monster horror movie starring John Rhys-Davies
Written and directed by: Howard J. Ford Between the underwhelming Row and the poorly made Borley Rectory: The Awakening, I haven’t had the best luck covering U.K. horror this past year. But when Ruth asked if I wanted to review Bone Keeper, I was intrigued; the premise sounded cool, the promotional images looked creepy, and …
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