The Cinema Scribe

The subject of artificial intelligence has been all over the news in recent months, with much of the coverage (save for what’s in the business/finance pages) presented in an often-troubling, cautionary light. So, from this, it’s easy to see how it didn’t take long for this topic to make its way into the world of entertainment. But is the prevailing perspective of AI accurate or misleading? Find out more in a review of the new sci-fi offering, "The Creator," on the next edition of The Cinema Scribe.

It’s truly astounding how mankind is capable of both tremendous greatness and despicable savagery. How can one species lay claim to both? What’s more, how can both traits be found within a single individual? Yet, in a surprisingly large number of instances, that ends up being the case. Find out more in a review of the riveting new dramatic character study, "Our Father, the Devil" (“Mon père, le diable”), on the next edition of The Cinema Scribe, premiering September 26.

Willingly excluding certain segments of society makes absolutely no sense. By denying productive, creative individuals from the ability to participate in the development of our world, we run the risk of cutting ourselves off from innovations that make our life more fulfilling, enjoyable and equitable. Unfortunately, there are close-minded forces out there that would seek to restrict some of us from the liberties and freedoms that help to make society thrive in healthy and satisfying ways. And those who are left on the outside looking in must decide whether they want to surrender and conform or to rebel and challenge such limiting ways of thinking. Find out more in a review of the compelling new UK historical drama, "Blue Jean," on the next edition of The Cinema Scribe.

Getting away from it all is often an effective way to regroup, recharge and put one’s life back on track, especially when it comes to sorting out complicated issues and stalled creative endeavors. At the same time, though, things can sometimes go sideways in these experiences; unforeseen developments may intrude on hoped-for expectations, thrusting circumstances into unexpected territory and uncontrolled chaos. Nevertheless, such disruptions can also yield surprising outcomes, opening new doors. Find out more in a review of the new German comedy-drama, "Afire," on the next edition of The Cinema Scribe

Working through conflicted feelings can be difficult, if not unfathomable. And the greater the stakes, the more maddening the process can be. It may be so daunting, in fact, that it might not be overstating things to liken it to psychological and emotional torture. So how does one live with oneself under conditions like these? Find out more in a review of the gripping new historical biography, "Oppenheimer," on the next edition of The Cinema Scribe.

When it comes to the notions of acceptance and forgiveness, it’s always important to remember that they’re beliefs that come with another inherent quality – the power of choice. Indeed, in both cases, we’re free to choose to either embrace or ignore these virtues, regardless of what others may think of us or how the perspectives we adopt might make us look. At the same time, though, we must also consider the consequences that come with either of these choices. Find out more in a review of the domestic drama, "Monica," on the next edition of The Cinema Scribe

All things eventually come to an end, whether we’re ready for it or not. We may not like what we see, either, especially if we’re troubled by what’s on the horizon. We might even feel like there’s more that we could or should have done to forestall what’s unfolding while we had the chance. But sometimes destiny has a way of intervening, giving us another unexpected shot at realizing our aspirations and perhaps even making a meaningful difference. Find out more in a review of the final installment of a long-running action-adventure series, "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny," on the next edition of The Cinema Scribe.

I find it curious how often many of us think of the everyday lives of well-known actors and actresses as being virtually identical to the parts they play in movies and on television. These performers are so convincing in their roles that countless viewers tend to believe their on-screen and off-screen personas are virtually indistinguishable. However, when we examine that idea, many of us can’t help but come to the conclusion this notion is ludicrous, yet the memorable nature of their portrayals is so strong that we often have difficulty shaking that belief. Find out more in a review of the engaging new HBO/MAX documentary, "Being Mary Tyler Moore," on the next edition of The Cinema Scribe.

Most of us would probably agree with the time-honored adage that “Honesty is the best policy.” But is that really true? Is honesty truly worth everything it’s said to be when unadulterated candor cuts like a knife? Find out more in a review of the incisive new comedy-drama, "You Hurt My Feelings," on the next edition of The Cinema Scribe.

As a society that worships those in the celebrity spotlight, we tend to place these icons on pedestals, imbuing them with almost superhuman attributes. We often look on them as leading seemingly perfect lives. We may even wonder, “What problems could they possibly have?” But, given their seemingly larger-than-life accomplishments, we frequently lose sight of the fact that these luminaries are people just like the rest of us. Find out more in a review of the engaging new documentary, "Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie," on the next edition of The Cinema Scribe.