Film reviews

Lorne Review

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I have always been curious about what makes Saturday Night Live so lively and successful. I am a millennial and remember my parents always enjoying it on those weekend evenings. I even remember falling in love with the many unforgettable skits and sketches. What I did not know though, is that so much of it comes under the control of one man. Lorne is an absolute treasure of a documentary. Directed by Morgan Neville, there is a rich backstory of the world of television and finding an audience—the structure of continual change delightfully fulfilling. Lorne Michaels is the man behind all the angles of Saturday Night Live.

The first question that comes from the film is, “What is funny?” There is frequent portrayal of the serious business side of comedy presented in Lorne. Lorne has been around Saturday Night Live since it all began and the structure of his life is what defines the pattern of how the show runs today. The film brings back tons of nostalgia with a lot of compelling voices. The quote that defines Lorne frequently is that he is, “A creature of habit!” That element is in the weaving elements of this strong and profound documentary that I find truly special.

The level of prestige is what Neville is amazing at capturing. He knows how to grasp what is real about an individual. The narrative set to be so strictly around Lorne is where I found the backstory of Saturday Night Live compelling. Lorne is a film that carries  a prestigious list of contributors to the setting. There are many interviews with Mike Myers, Colin Jost, Jimmy Fallon, Dana Carvey, and more. They mention moments of his routine. Moments where shows have had ups and downs—the realism of what makes Saturday Night Live today feel as present as ever in Lorne.

The fact that Lorne Michaels was a man that was trying to fill a late-night slot is the aspect of what had my mind so driven for more information with Lorne. I was thinking so much about how audiences were more in tune in the era before personal computers and cell phones– in a time frame where television was just making the rounds. The “creature of habit” tones keepstreaming through the attitude of Lorne. Audiences will see his patterns, his moments, and his personality.

As the documentary continues to capture interviews from current and former members, audiences get a better idea of why Saturday Night Live continually evolves. The landscape of reality is surreal in Lorne. The fact that sacrifices and unfairness are all part of the game in the business side of creating an entertaining show comes through in the narrative. With the show’s colorful writing more context continues to unfold in the evolution of Lorne and the series himself. There is just a humanistic aspect that feels special to me.

It is mesmerizing, breathtaking, and historic. Lorne is a reminder of what talent can bring to the table when there are the many dynamics of show business and the right-thinking process involved. This gem has a flow of continuity to recreate a time and era of comic gold. Former cast member Tina Fey states, “You have to find a lunatic writer and put up with them!” Astatement saying it all– that tolerance of talent can be rewarding. Four out of four stars for Lorne.

CinemaCon 2026, Film reviews, Warner Bros

Warner Bros. Presentation-CinemaCon 2026-Movies with Tarek

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On April 14, Dan Fonseca opened the presentation. He is the Executive Director, Technical Services of Santikos Entertainment.

Patton Oswalt ran the event. He mentioned that he saw 117 films in a cinema, and he continued to inspire with his appreciation ofcinema and comedy. His first job was at the cinema in 1986. Hetalked a lot about the many moving parts during his days working at and going to the movies. He also elaborated on how Cable TV and Blockbuster began to change the game of going to cinemas.

The CEOs of Warner Bros were Pamela Abdy and Mike De Luca. They mentioned how audiences helped their studio accelerate and reach 4 billion dollars in 2025. They recently started a new label called Warner Bros Clockwork.

Jeff Goldstein is the President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros Pictures. He came to the stage and talked about the question of revenue. He also mentioned audiences finding, “The gold standard,” which is defined by how audiences connect.

The event continued with a virtual discussion of a special video by Jack Black promoting his fun sense of humor. M. Night Shyamalan did a special video as well. Sam Esmail did one too, and many of them provided much gratitude. Tom Cruise and Alejandro G. Innaritu came to the stage to promote their newest feature Digger. I loved it when Cruise and Oswalt recalled that they were in Magnolia together.

There were many panels, but the first look at Mortal Kombat II spoke to me the most. I appreciate that a continued storyline based on a foundational approach is in the works. There were many highlights of box office records and genres presented, but Mortal Kombat II was the most rewarding and visual moment. It will rock the start of the summer with its release in May.

CinemaCon 2026, Film reviews

CinemaCon 2026-Reclaiming Cultural Moments Locally and Globally-Movies with Tarek

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With CinemaCon at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, there are so many things in the movie industry that continue to speak. There is the money, the concessions, and the audience. We live in a world where attendance in theatres still tends to ebb and flow. Since I work in the industry, I see it from many angles and understand the challenges who are doing all they can to survive. Cinemas today must implement many creative ways to make profits to stay afloat. 

Daniel Loria moderated a discussion with Shannah Miller, Laura Najilis, Christof Paposuck, and David Sieden. All of them are leaders in the cinema industry. They talked about how they have tried to fill seats and boost attendance. The person who I connected most though was Shannah because I attend and cover many events from Fathom Entertainment. She provided insightsinto how particular days drive patterns and create regulars. She also mentioned that playing films on Sundays speaks to audiences because of a church and movie combination. In addition, she mentioned that playing films on Wednesdays creates a pattern for growth since it allows for events that appeal to different age ranges. The cinema world can be rewarding to all kinds of audiences if there are features to keep theatres thriving by attracting traffic.

There were also conversations about movie memberships. This is where Najilis, Paposuck, and Sieden contributed and discussed their operations. In each cash, the operations of sales and attention-grabbing captivations play an important role. Overall, there are different ways of implementing pricing and membership strategies. Both of those elements drive revenue as well. Buyers consider how best to utilize their memberships to enhance opportunities for movie experiences. I found this conversation fascinating in that I see the cinema world almost every day of my life. I often contemplate what is the primary inspiration that motivates a person to go to the movies. Apparently, it is not just the movie itself, but also the many different features that cinemas offer audiences.

Treating cinema in many forms of art!