Michael Phillips
Orlando Sentinel
Chicago, IL, United States
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Recent articles by Michael:
‘Infinity Pool’ review: Vacation-set horror thriller goes right to the deep edge
“Infinity Pool” stretches its R-rating in terms of sexual content and bloody deeds. But this is confident, considered, mind-bending filmmaking. → Read More
10 takeaways on the 95th Oscar nominations: Some possible firsts?
If “Avatar: The Way of Water” and “Top Gun: Maverick” hadn’t broken the billion-dollar barrier, would they be in this year's best picture nomination bracket? Doubtful. → Read More
‘No Bears’ review: From Iran, a master class in house-arrest filmmaking from Jafar Panahi
Nothing is simple or forgiving in this land, or in Jafar Panahi's remarkable lockdown feature "No Bears." The movie shifts planes of reality with uncanny effectiveness. → Read More
From Chicago Film Society Wednesday, a ‘Sunrise’ you can’t afford to miss
Tonight (Jan. 18), the Chicago Film Society opens its winter season with the 1927 gem "Sunrise"--"an avant-garde work," says CFS co-founder Kyle Westphal, "steeped in traditionalism.” → Read More
Chicago filmmaker Jennifer Reeder looks at the awards season nominees so far — where did all the women go?
"Who gets to tell what story, who gets to make the movies, who gets nominated — they’re all part of it," says filmmaker Jennifer Reeder, on the ingrained sexism of her industry. → Read More
Alamo Drafthouse opens a 6-screen cinema with dining in Wrigleyville next week — here’s a look
“We really love Wrigleyville,” says Alamo Drafthouse founder and executive chairman Tim League. “We love Chicago, period. It’s a fantastic film town.” → Read More
‘Saint Omer’ review: A real-life murder trial becomes a singularly moving courtroom drama
By the end of "Saint Omer," with Nina Simone’s version of “Little Girl Blue” accompanying images of the empty streets, filmmaker Alice Diop turns courtroom drama into poetry. → Read More
‘Skinamarink’ review: In this eerily abstract low-fi thriller, home is where the heart isn’t
Not since “Poltergeist” has the family TV taken so prominent a role in a movie. "Skinamarink" is nothing grabby or pushy; it's more of a dreamlike reverie. → Read More
‘M3GAN’ review: The sweetest lil’ lethal robotic friend a girl could want
The writer Philip K. Dick once asked: Do androids dream of electric sheep? M3GAN, which stands for “Model 3 Generative Android,” looks as if she dreams only of Nicole Kidman in “To Die For.” → Read More
Forecast for ‘23 moviegoing, at the Pickwick and beyond: Cloudy with a chance of optimism
Brian Andreotti of the Music Box Theatre: "Cinema isn’t dying. But it’s more important than ever to have a formula that works." → Read More
Winter movies 2023: Ant-Man, John Wick and Adonis Creed, back for more!
In my eternal quest for cheese, Gerard Butler in "Plane" smells promising. Every winter movie season must make room for a title not even trying to be clever. → Read More
‘Babylon’ review: The glory and cruelty of Hollywood in the last days of silent pictures
It’s not easy to send “Singin’ in the Rain” on a collision course with the Hollywood nighmare "The Day of the Locust." But "Babylon" tries. → Read More
‘The Whale’ review: Brendan Fraser does his best with a movie that lays the pathos on thick
Brendan Fraser always was a crafty character actor, often tucked in the not-fake prosthetics of male beauty. "The Whale" relies on something different. → Read More
The Top 10 best movies of 2022 (plus a few of the worst)
Tribune film critic Michael Phillips on the best/worst of 2022: "There’s more to cinema than the business of cinema. The artists may not run the show, but they're everything. Everywhere. All at once." → Read More
Review: ‘EO’ is a donkey’s tale, clear-eyed and moving. Now at the Film Center.
Co-writer and director Jerzy Skolimowski has managed something quietly remarkable in this animal tale. → Read More
Column: Sex and gender on the screen is the subject of ‘Brainwashed’ at Facets
Nina Menkes' "Brainwashed” draws on a mountain of come-hither evidence to make a point: Shot design, and who's behind the camera, is as gendered as anything in our culture. → Read More
‘Emancipation’ review: Will Smith wins the Civil War, and a true story loses its authentic edge
"Emancipation" treats the photo that inspired it as a hook for its action-movie inventions. By the end, we get a rousing climax not even the filmmakers seem to believe. → Read More
‘Violent Night’ review: Santa’s got a brand new bag
For some, David Harbour’s sodden gravity and sneaky levity will be enough. He does get to stab a bad guy in the eye with a Christmas tree star, for a start. → Read More
‘Nanny’ review: Anna Diop shines in an eerie, assured feature film debut
"Nanny" star Anna Diop carries every scene here with aplomb. This is a truly character-driven psychological thriller. → Read More
Anna Diop interview: In ‘Nanny,’ one immigrant story informs another
“My mother LOVED John Ritter,” says "Nanny" star Anna Diop. "‘Three’s Company’ was a huge part of our welcoming into this country." → Read More