‘Shining Girls’ (2022): Make it make sense
Throwback Thursday (TV review): A shaky portrayal of a newspaper and even shakier time-travel logistics undercut nice design and good acting.
Journalism
‘Shining Girls’ (2022): Make it make sense
‘All the President’s Men’ (1976) grandly caps Pakula’s ‘paranoia trilogy’
The ‘paranoia trilogy’ (Movie review): But it’s not paranoia if it really happened, and that’s the case in one of the all-time best non-fictional accounts of newspaper reporting.
‘The Parallax View’ (1974) a timelessly chilling conspiracy noir
The ‘paranoia trilogy’ (Movie review): Though very Seventies in its style, Alan J. Pakula’s gem resonates as a peek into shadowy string-pulling.
Ricci is devastatingly raw and true in ‘Prozac Nation’ (2001)
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): I thought Ricci and Biggs were great in “Anything Else,” but this unheralded gem is something else.
‘Alaska Daily’ puts spotlight on modern investigative reporting
First episode impressions (TV review): “Spotlight” was a thank-you letter to probing journalism; now “Alaska Daily” shows why it’s still important.
Preston, Spezi probe ‘Monster of Florence’ (2008)
Preston & Child flashback (Book review): Journalists aren’t supposed to become the story. But in this bizarre chronicle, you’ll see they can’t be blamed.
‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ and 9 other movies John wouldn’t mind seeing in Summer 2018
The idea of “summer movies” is already past its time, as “Black Panther” and “Avengers: Infinity War” prove that “summer” is now year-round in the movie business. Still, old habits die hard – such as […]
‘The Post’ reviews
John’s “The Post” review, Jan. 21, 2018 Michael’s “The Post” review, Top 20 films of 2017, Jan. 21, 2018
‘Night Stalker’ reviews
John’s “Night Stalker” flashback review, johnvhansen.com, Feb. 1, 2011 “Night Stalker” (2005, ABC), episodes 1-4 – In its ads for “Supernatural,” WB recommends viewers turn off their lights to enhance the viewing experience. ABC, being a […]
‘The Paper’ review
John’s “The Paper” (episodes 1-4) review, Brainerd Dispatch, May 8, 2008