Film Reviews

With an all-star cast and a buzzy premise, “Death of a Unicorn” blends fantasy, comedy and horror. Unfortunately, Nathan Weinbender says, it’s one of the biggest letdowns of the year so far.

Set during an incendiary time, “The Penguin Lessons” fails to rise above its protagonist’s self-involvement, Dan Webster says.

On this week’s show, Dan Webster, Nathan Weinbender, Mary Pat Treuthart discuss a pair of films that, each in its own way, indulge in imagination. The films are Bong Joon Ho’s blend of sci-fi and comedic social commentary titled “Mickey 17” and the Errol Morris documentary “CHAOS: The Manson Murders.”

In directing “CHAOS: The Manson Murders,” documentary filmmaker Errol Morris tries to ferret out a conspiracy, Dan Webster says.

Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett star in the espionage thriller “Black Bag,” Steven Soderbergh’s second feature of 2025. Nathan Weinbender says it’s an entertaining genre exercise and a surprising domestic comedy about work-life balance.

On this week’s show, Dan Webster, Nathan Weinbender, and Mary Pat Treuthart discuss two surreal foreign films—one from Canada, titled “Universal Language,” and the other from Italy, titled “Parthenope.”

“Mickey 17” is Bong Joon-ho’s first film since “Parasite,” starring Robert Pattinson as an ill-fated worker on a ship headed to a new planet. Nathan Weinbender says the movie is broken up into halves, one much more compelling than the other.

On this week’s show, Dan Webster, Nathan Weinbender, and Mary Pat Treuthart preview this year's Spokane International Film Festival, which began March 7th and ran through the 9th. They also have a few words to say about the recent Oscars broadcast.

“Universal Language” is a true sleeper, a Canadian comedy that imagines a version of Winnipeg that has an Iranian cultural influence. The movie is opening at the Magic Lantern, and Nathan Weinbender says you should give it a shot.

As a surreal, offbeat blending of Canada and Iran, “Universal Language” boast a tone that is both somber and humorous, Dan Webster says.