From Vocalo Radio 91.1 FM in Chicago, Reggie Ponder is The Reel Critic — Vocalo’s resident film expert. Every week, join Reggie as he interviews industry professionals and breaks down box office numbers, film festivals and the “reel talk” on movies… ‘The Reel Critic’ on Vocalo is a collaboration between Reggie Ponder and Vocalo Radio 91.1 FM in Chicago. For more of Vocalo’s arts and culture coverage, visit Vocalo.org.
Latest episodes
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2 min
"The Smashing Machine": A love letter to MMA
Benny Safdie’s “The Smashing Machine” follows real-life pioneering MMA fighter Mark Kerr — played by former wrestler Dwayne Johnson — as he fights to the top of his career while ba…
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2 min
“One Battle After Another” is "frenetic, chaotic and just plain weird"
Director Paul Thomas Anderson’s newest film “One Battle After Another” is an action thriller following ex-revolutionary Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio) who must rescue his daughte…
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3 min
Family, football and faith in “HIM”
From director Justin Tipping and Jordan Peele's Monkey Paw Productions, new film "HIM" asks: "What is the price of success?" After enduring a career-threatening injury, pro-footbal…
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4 min
"Love, Brooklyn" is full of mixed messages, dishonesty and smooth tension
“Love, Brooklyn” is a refreshing film capturing Black love in the big city. As Brooklyn is constantly evolving, Roger (André Holland) finds himself appreciating the change yet also…
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3 min
“I Know What You Did Last Summer” is a mysterious blood bath
After five friends reunite for an engagement party, their night takes a sudden turn when a man dies. Although they hide their involvement, someone finds out and is determined to ma…
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3 min
“Highest 2 Lowest” is a provocative look at culture and legacy
Spike Lee’s newest joint "Highest 2 Lowest" finds music mogul David King (Denzel Washington) in the middle of a life-or-death ransom plot and a moral dilemma – questioning whether…
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3 min
Family over fame in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”
When astronauts Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm — played by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn, respectively — return home from s…
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3 min
‘Ballerina’ does the ‘John Wick’ legacy proud
Ana de Armas stars in this action-packed continuation of the ‘John Wick’ franchise. We find her as Eve Macarro, an assassin trained in the traditions of the Ruska Roma, as she seek…
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3 min
Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio return in the latest ‘Karate Kid’ installment
In this new installment of the ‘Karate Kid’ film franchise, kung fu prodigy Li Fong must let go of his past in order to fit in with his new classmates. But when a friend needs his…
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4 min
‘Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning’ explores how “our lives are the sum of our choices”
Tom Cruise returns for signature action stunts in this newest (but maybe not-so-final) installment of the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise. He stars once again as Ethan Hunt, agent…
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3 min
‘Another Simple Favor’ is not exactly simple, and not exactly a favor
Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively reprise their roles as Stephanie Smothers and Emily Nelson in ‘Another Simple Favor.’ Smothers travels to Italy to be the maid of honor to Nelson — b…
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3 min
‘The Accountant 2’ has laughs, suspense and heart
Ben Affleck is Christian Wolff — AKA “The Accountant” — back for a lethal sequel. After an acquaintance is murdered, Wolff teams up with his brother Brax (Jon Bernthal) to solve th…
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4 min
'Sinners' is a cautionary tale through music history
When twin brothers return home to Mississippi for a fresh start, they uncover something far more evil than what they left behind. Michael B. Jordan stars as both twins, Smoke and S…
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3 min
‘The Amateur’ is not just another revenge film
Rami Malek stars as CIA decoder Charlie Heller, whose world comes to a halt when his wife is killed in a terrorist attack. When his superiors don’t take action, Heller embarks on a…
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4 min
‘Novocaine’ is a stomach flipping rom-com-turned-bank-heist
Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid) is an introverted assistant manager at a trust credit union with an interesting condition: He can’t feel pain. When his crush-slash-coworker Sherry is kid…
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3 min
'Daughters' is a powerful documentary touching on love, loss and redemption
2024 documentary 'Daughters' follows four young girls as they prepare to reunite with their fathers for a special Daddy Daughter Dance at a fatherhood program in a DC jail. Reggie…
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6 min
Melanin, Roots, and Culture returns to celebrate Black History Month at the Music Box Theatre
Yearly film series Melanin, Roots, and Culture celebrates Black stories and filmmakers at the Music Box Theatre, wrapping up tonight with “Life Within The Lens” — a short film scre…
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3 min
‘Captain America: Brave New World’ is about “redemption, revenge and renewal”
In this latest Marvel Studios offering, Steve Wilson — previously the Falcon, now the new Captain America — finds himself in the middle of an international incident after meeting w…
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4 min
Ke Huy Quan stars in Valentine’s-themed action film ‘Love Hurts’
Action comedy ‘Love Hurts’ follows Milwaukee realtor Marvin Gable (Ke Huy Quan), who is shocked to receive a letter from Rose (Ariana DeBose): his former partner-in-crime who he le…
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4 min
'One of Them Days' has "heart, humor and humanity"
When Alyssa's (SZA) boyfriend blows their rent money, she and her best friend-slash-roommate Dreux (KeKe Palmer) race against the clock to pay their rent, avoid an eviction and kee…