Reviews of “The Plague” and “Viva Verdi!”, as well as a Windie Awards recap and a review of the best and worst movies of 2025, are all in the latest Movies with Meaning post on the website of The Good Media Network, available by clicking here ...

Tune in for the latest Cinema Scribe segment on Bring Me 2 Life Radio, beginning Tuesday February 10, 2 pm ET, available by clicking here. You can also catch it later on demand on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Castbox, Podchaser, Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict and Jiosaavn ...

“Viva Verdi!” (2025) (Italy/USA). Cast: Claudio Giombi, Chitose Matsumoto, Tina Aliprandi, Lina Vasta, Anthony Kaplen, Leonello Bionda, Catherine Geller, Massimiliano D’Antonio, Ferdinando Dani. Director: Yvonne Russo. Screenplay: Christine La Monte and Yvonne Russo. Web site. Trailer. One of the most inspiring messages I’ve run across in my life maintains that “The greatest joy is in creation,” a message that, ironically, came my way via a Chinese fortune cookie just as I had begun work on my first book. The timing couldn’t have been better, as this sentiment fed directly and abundantly into my writing. It proved to me at the time – and ever since – that creativity is essential to help keep us feeling young, fulfilled, prolific and vital. And, not surprisingly, that notion has also been crucial in the lives and well-being of a remarkable group of seniors who reside in a truly special retirement community in Milan, Italy, one that celebrates the joy and power of creation and what those qualities can do to help sustain – and even revitalize –.them and us. These talented individuals serve as inspiring role models not only for their peers, but also for anyone in need of rejuvenation in their lives, ...

Photo by Trevor Laster With 2025 now in the books, it’s time to look back on the year in movies. In this second of three blogs, I spotlight my Bottom 10 Films of 2025, followed by 10 Dishonorable Mentions and an open-ended list (in alphabetical order) of other releases that I found disappointing or worth skipping. As much as possible, I’ve included web site and trailer links, as well as those for a few film clips. In separate blog posts, I examine my Best Films of 2025, with an upcoming post about my Best and Worst in 2025 Documentaries. In any given year, for as many good or great movies as there may be, there are also invariably a crop of cinematic disappointments, and 2025 was no exception. These include both films that haven’t lived up to expectations, as well as those that never should have gotten out of the development phase. And, in 2025, there were more than a few examples of both. As much as I enjoy celebrating good films, I also feel it’s my responsibility to call out those that end up failing in their missions, no matter what the cause might be. And, as someone who ...

Photo by Trevor Laster With 2025 now in the books, it’s time to look back on the year in movies. In this first of three blogs, I spotlight my Top 10 Films of 2025, followed by 10 Honorable Mentions and an open-ended list (in alphabetical order) of other releases that I found noteworthy or worth a look. As much as possible, I’ve included web site and trailer links, as well as links to my own reviews. In separate blog posts, I will examine my Worst Films of 2025 and my Best and Worst in 2025 Documentaries. The year just passed was a decent one for movies, with many good (but not great) films, as will become apparent in my selections and reviews. It was certainly a good year for international releases, and many are represented here. It was also a year that saw a marked rise in the number of good smart horror offerings, offbeat comedies (especially romcoms), and releases with themes characterized by issues of contemporary relevance, true cinematic signs of the times. I certainly appreciate the diversity, though those familiar with my tastes and writings will recognize that I believe there’s always room for more. The past year ...

Tune in for the latest Cinema Scribe segment on Bring Me 2 Life Radio, beginning Tuesday January 27, 2 pm ET, available by clicking here. You can also catch it later on demand on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Castbox, Podchaser, Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict and Jiosaavn ...