Movie Minutes with Robin Holabird

'Annette': Robin's Movie Review

August 16, 2021 15:30 - 2 minutes

For this week’s Movie Minutes, KUNR entertainment reviewer Robin Holabird looks at a film that premiered at Cannes Film Festival and has something for everyone to like — and dislike.

'Nine Days': Robin's Movie Review

August 07, 2021 14:00 - 2 minutes

For this week’s Movie Minutes, KUNR entertainment reviewer Robin Holabird looks at a film that explores deep questions about existence.

'Joe Bell': Robin's Movie Review

July 31, 2021 22:18 - 2 minutes

This week, KUNR entertainment review Robin Holabird looks at a new summer flick based on a true story of a man on a mission to end bullying.

'Playing With Sharks': Robin's Movie Review

July 24, 2021 14:00 - 2 minutes

For this week’s Movie Minutes, KUNR entertainment reviewer Robin Holabird looks at a summer film that tells us all it’s ok to go into the water.

'I Carry You With Me': Robin's Movie Review

July 17, 2021 14:00 - 2 minutes

For this week's Movie Minutes, KUNR entertainment reviewer Robin Holabird looks at a movie inspired by the real-life love story of two men from Mexico.

Revisiting 'The Trial Of The Chicago 7': Robin's Movie Review

October 31, 2020 14:00 - 2 minutes - 162 Bytes

Focusing on a controversial event from fifty years ago, Aaron Sorkin reminds us that other eras produced conflicts to match today’s contentiousness. The Trial of the Chicago 7 melds Sorkin’s fascination with history, politics and justice, issues he previously explored as writer for The Social Network , The West Wing and A Few Good Men . Concerned about issues dealing with power abuses, Sorkin turns to a high-profile trial pitting the political establishment against individuals who wanted change.

Rashida Jones Reconnects With Bill Murray In 'On The Rocks': Robin's Movie Review

October 24, 2020 15:00 - 2 minutes - 173 Bytes

Actor Bill Murray and screenwriter/director Sofia Coppola found their way to Oscar attention with Lost in Translation , but they tread a lesser path with their new pairing called On the Rocks . A slight premise limits them, but the duo nonetheless provides an enjoyable jaunt that covers several topics and ultimately solidifies itself by celebrating father-daughter bonding.

Hunting A Serial Killer In 'Memories Of Murder': Robin's Movie Review

October 22, 2020 18:23 - 2 minutes - 161 Bytes

The prestige of Korean films exploded since the time nearly twenty years ago when I traveled there as a panelist for the Busan Film Festival. Korean Air screened the first Korean movie I ever saw; back then, the country’s films rarely made it to United States theaters. After that, I went out of my way to catch Korean movies, which was not an easy task.

Robert de Niro and Oakes Fegley Face Off In 'The War With Grandpa': Robin's Movie Review

October 13, 2020 20:00 - 2 minutes - 173 Bytes

Except for a brief period as a pre-teen and a short stint teaching middle school, I’ve spent most of my life avoiding twelve-year-old boys. This makes me the wrong audience for the new feature film, War with Grandpa . True, filmmakers try to lure a broader, family audience that includes adults by hiring a terrific older cast. Robert de Niro plays the title’s Grandpa, his mob movie credentials making him a tough opponent for anyone, even a twelve-year-old boy. Also playing to their movie track...

Robert De Niro And Oakes Fegley Face Off In 'The War With Grandpa': Robin's Movie Review

October 13, 2020 20:00 - 2 minutes - 173 Bytes

Except for a brief period as a pre-teen and a short stint teaching middle school, I’ve spent most of my life avoiding twelve-year-old boys. This makes me the wrong audience for the new feature film, War with Grandpa . True, filmmakers try to lure a broader, family audience that includes adults by hiring a terrific older cast. Robert de Niro plays the title’s Grandpa, his mob movie credentials making him a tough opponent for anyone, even a twelve-year-old boy. Also playing to their movie track...

Follow Gloria Steinem's Life In 'The Glorias': Robin's Movie Reviews

October 05, 2020 21:39 - 2 minutes - 148 Bytes

You don’t expect a musical number in a biopic about Gloria Steinem, but Director Julie Taymor puts a little bit of song and dance into the mix with her new movie about the activist. As she did when she won a Tony by turning Disney animated characters into live actors handling puppets for Broadway’s The Lion King , Taymor looks for unexpected approaches to spice up the action.

Take A Ride With Ewan McGregor In 'Long Way Up': Robin's Movie Reviews

September 26, 2020 14:00 - 2 minutes - 170 Bytes

Movie star Ewan McGregor lets fans armchair travel with him on his newest project, an Apple TV series called Long Way Up . But rather than relax in a comfortable chair himself, the screen’s iconic Obi-Wan Kenobi from the Star Wars franchise sits on a motorcycle and steers it some thirteen thousand miles from the tip of South America to Los Angeles. Not willing to settle for regular bikes — which offer a difficult enough journey on their own, McGregor and his riding partner Charley Boorman dec...

Geraldine Viswanathan Shines In 'The Broken Hearts Gallery': Robin's Movie Reviews

September 19, 2020 14:00 - 2 minutes - 141 Bytes

The chance to see Geraldine Viswanathan in three new projects makes it a great season for her. “Who?” you might ask. The actress defies old-fashioned movie star traits, yet she headlines the theatrical release of The Broken Hearts Gallery and boasts the title role in Hala , a film streaming on Apple Plus. Throw in a key part for HBO’s Bad Education with an Emmy-nominated Hugh Jackman, and Viswanathan not only runs a pace worthy of any certified star, but she also shines in all her works.

John David Washington Shines In Cerebral 'Tenet': Robin's Movie Review

September 13, 2020 14:00 - 2 minutes - 138 Bytes

When you watch a movie by writer-director Christopher Nolan, you find either time travel, explosions, or Michael Caine. Nolan provides all three in his newest release called “Tenet.”

New Update Of Shakespeare's 'Measure For Measure' Stands Out: Robin's Movie Review

September 11, 2020 15:00 - 2 minutes - 123 Bytes

Full of classic Shakespeare plotting elements, an updated version of “Measure for Measure” moves smoothly into modern-day Australia.

New Biopic Tells Nikola Tesla's Story: Robin's Movie Review

August 29, 2020 14:00 - 2 minutes - 143 Bytes

Northern Nevadans know Tesla as the name of a big job provider in the region, but film director Michael Almereyda sees something different. Here's KUNR's Robin Holabird with a review on the new biopic on Nikola Tesla.

Pandemic Gives New Light To 'Sputnik,' 'She Dies Tomorrow': Robin's Movie Review

August 21, 2020 21:00 - 2 minutes - 135 Bytes

In its own warped way, COVID-19 adds extra resonance to horror films, demonstrated by two new releases that deal with types of fear.

Robin's Movie Review: New Disney+ Films Emphasize Music

August 14, 2020 23:28 - 2 minutes - 132 Bytes

The Disney+ channel released two in-depth projects demonstrating the evolution of the company’s musical endeavors.

Robin's Movie Review: Rebuilding Paradise

August 06, 2020 18:54 - 2 minutes - 133 Bytes

With northern Nevada skylines increasingly bearing the orange tinges of nearby fires, Ron Howard’s new documentary Rebuilding Paradise gains extra resonance. Just three hours from Tahoe, Paradise, California shares Sierra terrain with mountains and trees growing dry through drought.

Robin's Movie Review: Old Guard

July 31, 2020 20:44 - 1 minute - 68 Bytes

The Old Guard challenges traditional action movie conceits by putting women front and center as director and stars. Sure, D.C.’s Wonder Woman already did that—but with colorful, form fitting costumes designed to please comic book fanboys. While The Old Guard ’s graphic novel source bears similarities to comics, the team dresses in practical army gear.

Robin's Movie Review: Reno’s Cordillera Festival

July 22, 2020 21:40 - 2 minutes - 166 Bytes

Covid-19 failed to stop Reno’s annual movie festival, despite the closing of traditional venues. Joining with Artown for several free presentations, Reno’s Cordillera Festival put its “summer shorts” lineup at the West Wind El Rancho Drive-in. I watched all seven entries and love the quality, ingenuity, and insights the dedicated filmmakers create.

Robin's Movie Review: Ragdoll

July 17, 2020 21:18 - 1 minute - 70 Bytes

The movie Rag Doll gets its punch from a twist on the sports film genre by focusing on a young woman whose fight to survive takes her into mixed martial arts.

Robin's Movie Review: Artown

July 09, 2020 21:41 - 1 minute - 78 Bytes

Covid Cinematic alternatives flourish this month in Reno during Artown.

Robin's Movie Review: Hamilton

July 03, 2020 21:40 - 2 minutes - 155 Bytes

Disney Plus puts “The Room Where It Happens” in homes for streaming a version of the play Hamilton , once bound for movie theaters. Covid-19 changed those cinematic plans, moving the project’s release up to the thoroughly appropriate July Fourth weekend.

Robin's Movie Review: Runner

June 25, 2020 21:32 - 1 minute - 116 Bytes

Both the grim and bright sides of humanity show up in the documentary Runner about one of Sudan’s Lost Boys war victims.

Robin's Movie Review: Da Five Bloods

June 18, 2020 21:11 - 2 minutes - 145 Bytes

As protestors across the country continue demanding racial equality and an end to police brutality, Director Spike Lee combines message making with classic storytelling in his new Netflix project, Da Five Bloods .

Robin's Movie Review: 6 Underground And Douglas

June 12, 2020 20:41 - 2 minutes - 144 Bytes

No one should hear the names Michael Bay and Hannah Gadsby in the same sentence, but streaming changes that; both their newest projects show up as Netflix Originals, and both have a link with Renaissance art.

Robin's Movie Review: Vast Of Night

June 03, 2020 20:40 - 1 minute - 118 Bytes

With a nod to the old Twilight Zone series, a new movie called The Vast of Night takes viewers back to the nineteen-fifties through a television screen leading to Paradox Theater and a set of strange events.

Robin's Movie Review: The Lovebirds-Trip to Greece

May 29, 2020 02:02 - 2 minutes - 163 Bytes

Two projects originally slated for theaters probably get better play with their recent Covid induced straight-to-streaming release rather than fighting it out with giant projects in big movie houses.

Robin's Movie Review: The Half Of It

May 22, 2020 01:28 - 2 minutes - 131 Bytes

In the tradition of Clueless and The Easy A , the new Netflix release called The Half of It transfers a classic piece of literature to a high school setting while maintaining the source material’s ultimate message.

Robin's Movie Review: Hollywood

May 14, 2020 21:01 - 2 minutes - 131 Bytes

With a track record that includes Glee, American Horror Story, and Feud, Ryan Murphy puts his own fantasy spin on movie history in his project called Hollywood. Setting the story in nineteen forty-eight, Murphy and his co-creators imagine a world where an openly gay Rock Hudson finds work, while non-whites like Anna Mae Wong manage to win Oscars.

Robin's Movie Review: Bosch

May 09, 2020 02:49 - 2 minutes - 166 Bytes

Binge watching sent me armchair traveling to Los Angeles for one of my favorite mystery series on both screen and book, Bosch . Recently starting its sixth season, Bosch continues as an effective translation of the books, despite numerous changes. Those switches from author and producer Michael Connelly, add commercial benefits while preserving the original’s soul.

Robin's Movie Review: Bosch

May 09, 2020 02:49 - 2 minutes - 166 Bytes

Binge watching sent me armchair traveling to Los Angeles for one of my favorite mystery series on both screen and book, Bosch . Recently starting its sixth season, Bosch continues as an effective translation of the books, despite numerous changes. Those switches from author and producer Michael Connelly, add commercial benefits while preserving the original’s soul. The most obvious difference comes as main character Bosch transforms from a Viet Nam vet to one from the Gulf War. This allows a ...

Robin's Movie Review: Sci-on Film Festival

May 01, 2020 02:16 - 2 minutes - 127 Bytes

People continue finding flexible and creative movie watching methods as Covid-Nineteen restrictions continue. For instance, Reno’s science film festival called Sci-on goes completely online next Monday rather than use its usual base at the National Automobile Museum. As a longtime judge for the event, I always streamed entries ahead of time, then showed up in person as a panelist. This year, attendees will also stream the films in their homes, then hear from panelists and filmmakers via Zoom....

Robin's Movie Review: Film Making Contests

April 25, 2020 02:15 - 2 minutes - 133 Bytes

Besides catching up on all those streaming options you meant to watch for the past three or four years, the Covid-19 pandemic provides opportunities to start your movie making career. Based on an idea spawned by schlock movie mogul Roger Corman, some Ely Film Festival board members created a “Stay Home Means Nevada” movie contest going on right now through May First. I’m now a board member too but can’t take credit for the idea, which strikes me as a fun and simple one. Using a cell phone, sh...

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