kathy bates – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

THE MIRACLE CLUB – Review by Valerie Kalfrin

June 26, 2023June 26, 2023 Valerie Kalfrin kathy bates, laura linney, lourdes, Maggie Smith, Thaddeus O’Sullivan, the miracle club

Working-class Dublin and the women who want something more out of life are the core of The Miracle Club, an ensemble dramedy about a pilgrimage to Lourdes, the Catholic shrine in France where the Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared in 1858. Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates and Laura Linney lead an esteemed cast in a story that has so much on its mind at times, the tone and the pacing are uneven. Still, fans of the three may find this story rewarding, especially in its focus on honesty and forgiveness.

Reviews

ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET – Review by TJ Callahan

May 1, 2023May 5, 2023 T. J. Callahan abby ryder fortson, ann roth, are you there god? It's Me Margaret, Benny Safdie, Elle Graham, kathy bates, kelly fremon craig, lionsgate films, rachel mcadams

It’s difficult to reinvigorate excellence, but this cast and crew has. Sometimes
you want your favorites to be so good, you become too critical, but this feature version manages
to keep our memories intact of reading the book under the covers with a flashlight and taking
some of the pain out of puberty.

Reviews

ARE YOU THERE, GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET – Review by Valerie Kalfrin

April 25, 2023April 25, 2023 Valerie Kalfrin abby ryder fortson, ann roth, are you there god? It's Me Margaret, Benny Safdie, Elle Graham, kathy bates, kelly fremon craig, lionsgate films, rachel mcadams

If you know a tween girl—or you remember being one—go see Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret. Judy Blume’s beloved book about an eleven-year-old girl’s budding puberty comes to rich, layered life in this charming adaptation that’s funny, empathetic, and affecting. Abby Ryder Fortson takes the lead as Margaret, an easygoing, wide-eyed girl who returns home from summer camp to find her world upended. Her mom and dad have bought a home in New Jersey, leaving the bustle and clutter of a New York City apartment behind. For Margaret and her paternal grandma, moving across the Hudson might as well be across the country.

Reviews

RICHARD JEWELL – Review by Diane Carson

December 15, 2019December 15, 2019 Diane Carson 0 Comments clint eastwood, kathy bates, olivia wilde, paul walter jauser, richard jewell, truth-based

Joel Cox’s editing moves this story along with emotional closeups, and cinematographer Yves Bélanger’s strong compositions deliver strong content without distractions. The takeaway is that Eastwood’s presentation of Richard Jewell’s unjust victimization insists on a political relevance for our current climate, a targeted message that can’t be missed.