We have some amazing writers, film critics and video essayists at RogerEbert.com, and as we head into the home stretch of this year, we would like to remind you of some of their work. Although we have many talented critics who contribute reviews and articles occasionally during the year, these particular profiles will highlight the work of our critics who have contributed the most reviews and/or video essays. Here is our critic Susan Wloszczyna, whose breezy, conversational style of reviews I very much enjoy and I know you will too.—Chaz Ebert, publisher
Thoughts on 2016 (so far):
I have a tie. First up, Disney’s current business plan is basically dependent on tricking moviegoers into seeing the same story over and over again. It usually starts with an animated movie. That is followed by a Broadway show. After that there is the live-action movie. Then there is the live TV production. That is followed by a big-screen origin story involving the villain or villainess. Could it hurt to interrupt this cycle to do an actual original movie? (OK, “Zootopia” was pretty terrific).
Second terrible movie trend: The sequel no one wanted. I think this year could have survived just fine without “London Has Fallen,” “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2,” “The Huntsman: Winter’s War,” “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” “Now You See Me 2,” “Independence Day: Resurgence” and “Ice Age: Collision Course.”
Excerpt from Susan's Movie Love Questionnaire (read the full Q&A here):
Saw ["Night of the Living Dead"] at a drive-in with a friend when I was 16. I had never seen anything like it before. What made it worse is that people started walking around like zombies and tapping on car windows. I had my friend go upstairs with me with I got home to make sure my parents weren’t eaten. It has had a permanent effect on my psyche, so much so that I was a zombie extra in George Romero’s "Land of the Dead."
Susan's reviews from 2016 (so far):