Mr. Popper’s Penguins
Written by
John
John
John Movie Reviews
Blog Posts That Mention John
Interviews
I Was Compelled to Revisit: Rory Kennedy on “Freefall: A Reckoning For Boeing”
Festivals & Awards
Locarno Film Festival 2026: 17 Urgent Hollywood Blacklist Films
TV/Streaming
HBO’s “Lanterns” Anchors Superhero Storytelling to Human Condition
MZS
Memories of Helen: The Heroic Despair of “John Wick”
DVD/Blu-Ray
All is Well in Our World: On Todd Haynes’ “Safe”
Interviews
Female Filmmakers in Focus: Julia Hart on “Don’t Say Good Luck”
MZS
Silhouettes and Warnings: On Reading Ray Bradbury’s “There Will Come Soft Rains” On the Exact Day When It’s Set
Tributes
Raise Your Hopeful Voice: Glen Hansard (1970-2026)
MZS
Get on the Train: “NYC in Transit” Launches at Film Forum
Festivals & Awards
San Diego Comic-Con 2026: Composers, Costume Designers, and Brad Bird in Hall H
Video Games
Relive the Launch That Changed Gaming in “Halo: Campaign Evolved”
TV/Streaming
HBO Max Spin-Off “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe” Wastes Clever Concept
Roger Ebert
Roger loves Chaz
Chaz's Journal
Chicago, Home of Great Music and Newspapers
Chaz's Journal
Flashback: Chaz Ebert on Watching a Christopher Nolan Movie During the Pandemic
Chaz's Journal
Celebrating the Life of George E. Johnson, Sr. (1927-2026), a Friend and Builder of Black Possibility
Festivals & Awards
MUBI Fest 2026: Better Together
Tributes
The Purpose of the Journey: Sam Neill (1947-2026)
Interviews
He’s Just That Guy: Jeffrey Wright on “Basquiat”
Books
Fascinating New Angle on Legendary Career Explored in The Dreamer’s Path by Brent Simon
TV/Streaming
Netflix’s Aggressively Wholesome “Little House on the Prairie” Plays It Safe
Interviews
This Is Not Art, This Is Life: Ross McElwee on “Remake” and “Sherman’s March”
Interviews
A Leaning Tower of Camp: John Early on “Maddie’s Secret”
Festivals & Awards
KVIFF 2026: The Guest, Dao, The Match
Interviews
You Have to Commit: Robert Richardson on “Robert Richardson: The White Devil”
Festivals & Awards
2026 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Preview: 10 Films We Can’t Wait to See
Features
Through the Window: 10 Times That Foreign Directors Have Looked at America
DVD/Blu-Ray
Home Entertainment Guide June 2026: Hoppers, Crime 101, The Mastermind, More
Features
Retreating From The Elephant: The Perpetually Impending Demise of Indie Cinema
Interviews
The Honor of an Absolute Lifetime: Rod Lurie on “Lucky Strike”
DVD/Blu-Ray
Two Incredible 4K Box Sets Target Loyal Fan Bases
Festivals & Awards
Karlovy Vary Announces 2026 Award Winners
Features
Satirizing and Saluting: Mel Brooks’ “Silent Movie” At 50
Festivals & Awards
Tribeca 2026: The Documentaries
Features
Courtney Grace, “Disclosure Day,” and the One-Scene Wonder
Black Writers Week
Hard Knocks and Rebirth in the Bayou: Alfre Woodard in “Passion Fish”
Black Writers Week
Robert Daniels & Odie Henderson Talk “Baby Boy” at 25
Black Writers Week
Uncomfortable Truths: “Set It Off,” “Girl 6,” and “Naked Acts” at 30
Black Writers Week
Apple TV’s “Sugar” Reaches for the Stars in Grounded, Moving Second Season
Black Writers Week
A Father Learning Beside His Children: What Jiu-Jitsu Taught Me About Fatherhood
TV/Streaming
Paramount+’s “The Agency” Expands Its Scope With An Exhilarating Second Season
Black Writers Week
Through My Lens: The Accidental Archivist of ‘90s Howard University
Black Writers Week
Intro to Black Writers Week 2026
Festivals & Awards
Bentonville Film Festival 2026 Preview
Tributes
Deborah Nadoolman Landis Pays Tribute to Costume Design Legend Albert Wolsky
Features
Roger Ebert’s Best and Worst Alien Movies
Features
The 20 Best Films of 2026 So Far
Interviews
Humor Is a Weapon: A Conversation with John Waters
Video Games
Historic Franchise Finds New Life in Wildly Entertaining “007 First Light”
TV/Streaming
Hulu’s Limp Sitcom “Not Suitable for Work” Is Hardly Suitable for Primetime
DVD/Blu-Ray
Home Entertainment Guide May 2026: The Bride!, Wuthering Heights, Sentimental Value, More
TV/Streaming
“For All Mankind” Spinoff “Star City” is One Small Soviet Step Backward
Books
Documentary Now! 4th Edition is an Incredible Companion to Beloved Show
Features
Going the Distance: Seeing “Rocky” in Concert
Festivals & Awards
Cannes 2026: Table of Contents
Festivals & Awards
Cannes 2026: Colony, The End of It, Roma Elastica
Festivals & Awards
Cannes 2026: Maverick: The Epic Adventures of David Lean, Dernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern
TV/Streaming
“Mating Season” Almost Finds Its Rhythm by the End of Rocky First Season
Festivals & Awards
Cannes 2026 Video #7: Festival Dispatch with Jason Gorber
Festivals & Awards
Cannes 2026: Minotaur, Red Rocks
Festivals & Awards
Cannes 2026: John Lennon: The Last Interview, La Libertad Doble
TV/Streaming
“Dutton Ranch” Keeps the Barn Doors Open for the “Yellowstone” Franchise
TV/Streaming
Prime Video’s “Off Campus” is Big on Romance, Music, and Spice
Festivals & Awards
An Essential Showcase in a Difficult Time: Cannes Film Festival 2026 Preview
Features
A Fond Farewell to Our Critic Monica Castillo
Festivals & Awards
Cannes 2026 Video #1: The 79th Cannes Film Festival Begins!
TV/Streaming
“The Terror: Devil in Silver” Fails to Earn a Spot on the Medal Podium
DVD/Blu-Ray
Home Entertainment Guide April 2026: Send Help, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Highest 2 Lowest, More
DVD/Blu-Ray
Criterion Venerates Three Essential Works of ’90s Black Cinema with “John Singleton’s Hood Trilogy”
Festivals & Awards
An Invitation to a Film Party: The 13th Annual Chicago Critics Film Festival
TV/Streaming
Volume Six of Netflix’s “Untold” Offers More Digestible Breakdowns of Sports Scandals
TV/Streaming
Prime Video’s “Kevin” Won’t Help With the Existential Felines
Ebertfest
“Get Out” Star Betty Gabriel and “Nuremberg” Director James Vanderbilt to Attend Ebertfest 2026
Interviews
The Best Version of the Thing: Steven Soderbergh on “The Christophers”
Ebertfest
‘The Last Dance’ Ends a Beautiful, Impactful Run for the Long-time Roger Ebert Film Festival
Festivals & Awards
