Michael Phillips
Sun Sentinel
Chicago, IL, United States
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Past articles by Michael:
A look at Oscars 2023: Who will win, who should win and some thoughts on the nominees
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” is about velocity, while “All Quiet on the Western Front” is methodical in its assault. Yet both films do not let up for a moment. → Read More
‘Creed III’ review: Better than ‘Creed II’ — and Jonathan Majors keeps the champ on his toes
"Creed III" is the ninth installment in the "Rocky"-spawned franchise. Stallone’s out, Jonathan Majors is in, and it’s a fine trade, dramatically speaking. → Read More
Column: ‘Creed III’ is ‘right on time,’ says stars Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors
"Creed III" actor-director Michael B. Jordan: "We’re encouraging these kids coming up to dream bigger. Because we see examples of what can happen when you do." → Read More
Review: Netflix’s ‘Cunk on Earth’ is the funniest mockumentary around
The invention of cinema, Philomena Cunk says, had the advantage of ending “the written word’s centuries-long era of tyranny.” → Read More
Worst movie made from a good book? Or what’s the best movie adapted from a lousy novel?
Author Kristen Lopez on page-to-screen adaptations: “You have to please people who love the source material. but you also have to entice people who’ve never read the book." → Read More
Raquel Welch was the star who came in from the Chicago cold
Raquel Welch remembered her Chicago childhood years as one thing: cold. "That's probably why I’ve had an aversion to anything cold ever since, from icy drinks to frigid people.” → Read More
Best and worst Super Bowl 2023 commercials: Yes to a Pepsi with Ben Stiller, less yes to this ‘Caddyshack’ reboot
Ben Stiller as Zoolander, dousing himself with Pepsi Zero in slow motion: That’s reason enough for that particular Super Bowl commercial to exist. → Read More
Column: Burt Bacharach wrote the songs the world needed then. And now.
Song by mysteriously beguiling song, Burt Bacharach and Hal David built a cultural bridge for the 1960s, a decade gloriously divisive in its musical flowering. → Read More
‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’ review: Channing Tatum’s stripper isn’t enough this time around
The “Magic Mike” saga was a big bag of fun while it lasted. And it lasted up to — but not including — the third and maybe-final film in the series. → Read More
Column: AMC’s new pricing policy? Extra charge for better seats — and thanks for nothing
If every seat at AMC actually delivered an amazing customer experience, would we be getting dinged for a seat in row 6 on the aisle? → Read More
‘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