‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story’ finds variety of goofy fun

November 9, 2022November 9, 2022 John Hansen Movies

Movie review: Director Eric Appel and Weird Al himself use Yankovic’s real career as a foundation to make fun of biopics and share silly laughs.

‘Soul Surfer’ (2011) is Hamilton’s tale of true inspiration

July 21, 2022September 3, 2022 John Hansen Movies

Throwback Thursday (Movie review): This story of the teenage surfer who lost an arm but not her lifestyle hangs 10 in delivering both tears and smiles.

‘King Richard’ (2021) a crowd-pleasing yet nuanced biopic

March 24, 2022April 17, 2025 John Hansen Movies

Movie review: This biopic is a family-approved, loving portrayal, but the screenplay teases out details even Venus and Serena fans might not know.

‘John Hughes: A Life in Film’ (2015) a starter bio

February 16, 2021June 20, 2021 John Hansen Books

Hughes Day Tuesday (Book review): This coffee-table book doesn’t have everything you want in a Hughes bio, but it has interesting nuggets.

‘Professor Marston’ (2017) tells of Wonder Woman’s inspirations

February 13, 2021June 22, 2021 John Hansen Comic Books

Superhero Saturday (Movie review): Like Wonder Woman herself, her creator and the women who inspired him were ahead of their time.

Carrere explores PKD in ‘I Am Alive and You Are Dead’ (1993)

December 7, 2020June 28, 2021 John Hansen Books

PKD flashback (Book review): French writer Emmanuel Carrere provides a fresh perspective on Philip K. Dick in this creative biography.

Sutin’s ‘Divine Invasions’ (1989) is definitive PKD bio

November 30, 2020June 28, 2021 John Hansen Books

PKD flashback (Book review): With “Divine Invasions: A Life of Philip K. Dick,” Lawrence Sutin delivers the core biography of the legendary and troubled author.