Episodes

  • Oscar-Nominated Documentary "Viva Verdi!"

    Oscar-Nominated Documentary "Viva Verdi!"
    Feb 10 2026
    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 into my writing. It proved to me at the time – and ever since – that creativity is essential to help keep us feeling young, fulfilled and vital. And that lesson has also been crucial in the lives and well-being of the residents of Casa Verdi, a retirement facility in Milan, Italy for aging musicians established by famed operatic composer Giuseppe Verdi. Find out more in a review of the new Oscar-nominated documentary, "Viva Verdi!", on the next edition of The Cinema Scribe.
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    17 mins
  • Coming-of-Age Drama “The Plague”

    Coming-of-Age Drama “The Plague”
    Jan 27 2026
    Anyone who has ever been on the receiving end of a bully’s wrath can understand the hurt, anxiety, and self-esteem issues that frequently accompany such physical and emotional trauma. The abusive taunting, teasing, mockery, and ostracism that come with such cruel treatment can leave its victims devastated for years afterward, making it difficult, if not impossible, to recover. And this doesn’t even account for the awkwardness that the abused go through in seeking to assimilate into society and its everyday course of conduct. However, such incidents – as painful as they can be – frequently lead to valuable life lessons in empowerment and overcoming adversity, despite the seemingly insurmountable odds stacked against their targets. Find out more in a review of the new coming-of-age drama, “The Plague,” on the next episode of The Cinema Scribe.
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    18 mins
  • Heartfelt Story of Recovery “Rebuilding”

    Heartfelt Story of Recovery “Rebuilding”
    Jan 13 2026
    When the slate gets involuntarily wiped clean, we generally have two choices available to us: (1) walking away and starting anew or (2) attempting to rebuild. Both options usually represent hard choices, not only because of the effort required, but also due to the emotional anguish we’re likely to face. Of those two choices, the restoration option can be particularly trying, given that, as we go through it, we’re constantly reminded of what we lost. However, there are also things to be gained, especially when it comes to the assistance and support we’re likely to receive from those who want to help. Find out more in a review of the heartfelt new story of recovery, “Rebuilding,” on the next edition of The Cinema Scribe.
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    14 mins
  • Domestic Comedy-Drama “Sentimental Value” Movie Review

    Domestic Comedy-Drama “Sentimental Value” Movie Review
    Dec 23 2025
    Forgiveness is one of the most challenging but potentially rewarding exercises in which we can engage. Mustering up the courage and gumption to take on this task may be difficult, even anguishing. But, once we make our way through this potentially intimidating process, we often find ourselves feeling renewed, brimming with rejuvenated emotions and grace that we never knew we possessed. In that sense, then, it’s also a revelatory experience, one that can light the way to fulfilling new and satisfying accomplishments, achievements that might have always seemed out of reach. Find out more in a review of the enlightening new Norwegian domestic comedy-drama, “Sentimental Value,” on the next episode of The Cinema Scribe.
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    19 mins
  • Movie Review of Comedy-Drama “Eleanor the Great”

    Movie Review of Comedy-Drama “Eleanor the Great”
    Dec 9 2025
    We’ve all been taught the wisdom behind the notion of “honesty is the best policy.” It’s sound, solid guidance that’s nearly always appropriate (provided it’s not carried to an unhealthy extreme). But what about the opposite of this advice: Is there ever any benefit in a falsehood, the so-called “good lie?” At first glance, it might be easy to dismiss this idea out of hand, but what if something less than truthful is capable of imparting insight, inspiration, or comfort to someone in distress? In cases like that, can it realistically be summarily rejected? Find out more in a review of the new comedy-drama-character study, “Eleanor the Great,” on the next edition of The Cinema Scribe.
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    18 mins
  • Cinema Scribe Reviews Eternity

    Cinema Scribe Reviews Eternity
    Nov 25 2025
    Life can sometimes present us with hard choices. However, strange as it might sound, death might actually hand us some even bigger ones. That’s the dilemma posed to a recently deceased woman who led a long and largely happy life. But, much to her surprise, now that she's in the afterlife, she faces a decision that’s not at all what she expected, a choice far greater and more difficult than anything she experienced while alive. Find out more in a review of the entertaining and enlightening new romantic comedy-drama-fantasy, "Eternity," on the next edition of The Cinema Scribe.
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    18 mins
  • Comedy-Drama-Sci Fi Fantasy "Bugonia"

    Comedy-Drama-Sci Fi Fantasy "Bugonia"
    Nov 11 2025
    In an age where distinguishing what seems genuine from something that’s clandestinely veiled, it may be difficult to know what to believe. As a result, we might abandon any attempt to identify inherent (and potentially significant) differences. Or, by contrast, we may become so obsessed with reconciling such matters that we descend into a sea of paranoid conspiracy theories, potentially seeing shadows at every turn and placing ourselves on the sidelines of reality with no credibility to our names. In actuality, the “truth” probably resides somewhere in between, but where and how do we draw the lines of accurate and meaningful distinction? Find out more in a review of the new darkly satirical comedy-drama-sci fi fantasy, "Bugonia," on the next edition of The Cinema Scribe.
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    18 mins
  • Dark Comedy-Drama "Peacock"

    Dark Comedy-Drama "Peacock"
    Oct 28 2025
    In this age of increasingly untrustworthy AI, rampant fake news, and unabashedly self-serving social media, it’s becoming ever more difficult for many of us to distinguish what’s “real” and what isn’t, almost as if we’re stuck in a frightening new Orwellian paradigm. That’s significant, not only for how we perceive existence and our connections (or lack thereof) to it, but also in terms of how we experience and respond to it. But how do we cope with such circumstances? Find out more in a review of the hilarious and thoughtful new Austrian dark comedy-drama-satire, "Peacock," on the next episode of The Cinema Scribe.
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    19 mins