The Reel Critic

Malcolm Washington directs a new adaptation of August Wilson’s 1987 play ‘The Piano Lesson,’ which was featured at the Chicago International Film Festival. On the red carpet at the festival before its premiere, Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder met with writer Virgil Williams and the film’s star John David Washington to discuss writing alongside director Malcolm Washington, being mentored by Denzel...

Robert Zemeckis’ new film ‘Here,’ adapted from Richard McGuire's graphic novel, depicts a family across a century of generations in the same home. Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder says the film’s nonlinear timeline can be confusing at times, and it often looks to the past with nostalgia. On the red carpet at the 60th Chicago International Film Festival, Ponder spoke with Zemeckis, along with his wi...

Ten years in the making, adult stop-motion film ‘Memoir of a Snail’ (2024) follows Grace Pudel, an oddball outcast and snail collector who must learn to persevere through loneliness and misfortune. Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder spoke to writer and director Adam Elliot about the claymation, which was featured at the Chicago International Film Festival. Elliot broke down the film's title, the inte...

At the 60th Annual Chicago International Film Festival, Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder spoke with director Malcolm Washington about his directorial debut: an adaptation of August Wilson’s 1987 play ‘The Piano Lesson.’ The film follows the Charles family as they navigate the Great Depression’s aftermath in 1936 Pittsburgh. The household is plagued with conflict as disagreements ensue over what to...

Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder reviews Todd Phillips’ ‘Joker’ sequel – ‘Joker: Folie à Deux.’ The film finds failed comedian Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) — AKA the Joker — incarcerated at Arkham State Hospital. Battling his murderous alter ego and awaiting trial for his crimes, Fleck meets the love of his life: Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga). ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ is now in theaters. This segment w...

New film ‘Young King’ follows Diondre Howell, a young man re-adjusting to civilian life after serving in the Iraq war. Howell finds himself changed after the traumas of combat, now struggling to maintain relationships with his loved ones. Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder sat down with ‘Young King’ stars, Vincent Washington, James Arthur Sims and Kirby Griffin, to discuss their characters and the fi...

Film critic Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder loves an underdog. After attending this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, he added three new films to his “underdog exceeding all expectations” category: ‘Rez Ball,’ ‘The Fire Inside’ and Unstoppable. "The Reel Critic" is hosted and produced by Reggie Ponder. Follow Reggie on Twitter and Instagram @TheReelCritic, and on Facebook @ReggieTheReelC...

‘1992’ follows two father-son pairs against the backdrop of the year’s Rodney King riots. One father, Mercer, has just been released from prison and given custody of his teenage son Antoine. The other, Lowell, has spent his life prepping his son “Riggin Bigby” for a life of crime — staging a plan to steal catalytic converters from the factory where Mercer works. As the heist falls into place, the...

Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder shares his thoughts on Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut, a chilling psychological thriller exploring power, possessiveness and patriarchy. ‘Blink Twice’ follows Frida (Naomi Ackie) and a group of friends as they join charming tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) on vacation at his private island, and things are not quite what they seem. Everything comes to a...

Chiwetel Ejiofore’s film ‘Rob Peace’ follows the life and early death of a young man who risks everything to help his imprisoned father. It was based on the 2014 biography ‘The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace’ by Jeff Hobbs. Rob Peace is a brilliant young man who goes on to attend Yale University — but begins selling marijuana in college to help pay his father’s lawyer fees. In his review of...

Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder shares his thoughts on Greg Kwedar’s 2023 film ‘Sing Sing,’ which follows true events surrounding a group of incarcerated men as they stage a comedic theatrical production within the walls of Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison in Ossining, New York. Participating in the prison’s Rehabilitation Through the Arts program, the men find purpose and a newly-ignited passion...

New film ‘Sing Sing’ follows the real-life story of a group of men who, while incarcerated at Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison in Ossining, New York, explore life’s purpose and vulnerability as they aim to put on an original comedy production with the prison’s Rehabilitation Through the Arts Program. Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder met with producers Greg Kwedar and Monique Walton to discuss the...

‘Deadpool & Wolverine' debuts an unprecedented friendship fighting against evils new to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) learns his world is on the brink of extinction, he enlists the help of an unlikely ally: Wolverine (Hugh Jackman). As the two traverse new landscapes, they encounter familiar foes who take viewers by surprise. Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder shar...

Nicole Riegel’s 2024 film ‘Dandelion’ follows Theresa — A.K.A Dandelion — a struggling singer-songwriter who books a last-effort gig at a motorcycle rally in South Dakota before giving up on her dream. There she meets Casey, a guitarist who’s long-since walked away from his musical pursuits. A romance blossoms and for the first time, Dandelion finds her authentic voice. KiKi Layne and Thomas Doher...

From directors Don Cheadle, Tiffany Johnson and Damon Thomas, limited series ‘The Big Cigar’ tells the story of Black Panther Party founder Huey P. Newton. When Newton must escape to Cuba, he enlists the help of unlikely acquaintance Bert Schneider — the Hollywood producer behind ‘Easy Rider.’ The six episodes follow Newton (André Holland) as he puts Schneider (Alessandro Nivola) to the test befor...

Based on a true story, ‘Sing Sing’ centers the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison in upstate New York. Incarcerated for a crime he did not commit, Divine G (played by Colman Domingo) finds purpose through participation in the RTA theatre program as they attempt to stage an original comedic production. Vocalo’s resident film critic Reggie “The Reel Critic”...

Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder shares his thoughts on ‘A Quiet Place: Day One,’ the thrilling prequel to the post-apocalyptic series. Directed by Michael Sarnoski, the film follows Samira, a terminally ill woman living in a hospice facility outside of New York City. When extra-terrestrial creatures with an acute sense of hearing attack the city, Samira and her cat Frodo are forced to survive with...

Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder shares his thoughts on the newest addition to the ‘Mad Max’ franchise, ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.’ Set against the backdrop of a war-torn landscape, this female revenge story follows Furiosa's quest for freedom after being captured by the warlord Dr. Dementus. With a stellar cast including Anya Taylor-Joy as Furiosa, Chris Hemsworth as Dr. Dementus and Tom Burke as I...

Reggie “The Reel Critic” shares his thoughts on ‘Back to Black,’ Sam Taylor-Johnson’s new biopic on the life, legacy and untimely death of renowned singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. From rising star to five-time Grammy winner, ‘Back to Black’ documents Winehouse’s journey and humanizes her struggle with substance abuse. The film fills in the gaps in Winehouse’s life, untold by the media. ‘Back to B...

‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ continues the franchise's thought-provoking commentary on humanity — and Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder shares his thoughts on the new film. Directed by Wes Ball, the film opens to a newly-emerged power dynamic with the apes, once subjugated, reigning supreme over the humans. It follows the struggle for power and freedom as Proximus Caesar asserts dominance, an...

‘The Fall Guy’ follows Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling), a stuntman for world-famous actor Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) who abandons the industry and his girlfriend, Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt), following an accident on set. When Ryder is cast in a new film directed by Moreno, Seavers is lured back into the game later by producer Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham) at what he believes is the request of hi...

Set against the backdrop of Chicago’s Cabrini-Green public housing project in the early ‘90s, ‘We Grown Now' (written and directed by Minhal Baig) follows the lives of two young boys as they navigate the trials and tribulations of their community. Reggie "The Reel Critic" Ponder spoke with Blake Cameron James and Jurnee Smollett, who play the characters Malik and Dolores, to hear more about the fi...

Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder gives his insights into ‘Challengers,’ a new sports romance drama from director Luca Guadagnino. The film stars Zendaya as Tashi Duncan, a tennis star-turned-coach amid a messy, decades-long love triangle with her husband Art (Mike Faist) and his best friend Partick (Josh O’Connor). 'Challengers' blurs the lines between love and competition, guiding viewers through...

Reggie "The Reel Critic" Ponder shares his insights on the apocalyptic film ‘Arcadian’ directed by Ben Brewer. The film follows Paul, portrayed by Nicolas Cage, and his twin sons, Thomas and Joseph, as they navigate a world where nighttime brings forth terror. Check out the Reel Critic’s review of both the film’s strengths and shortcomings. ‘Arcadian’ is in theaters now. "The Reel Critic" is hoste...

2024 action thriller ‘Monkey Man’ is Dev Patel’s directorial debut. The film follows a young man named Kid — played by Patel — who embarks on a journey to exact revenge on a mob of corrupt leaders responsible for the death of his mother. On his quest to fulfill his vendetta, Kid becomes the savior to a faction of helpless people experiencing torment from the same mob leaders he was pursuing. Check...