Brent Northup

1 week ago | helenair.com | Brent Northup

"Warfare" (R)At the CinemarkGrade: A-War films walk a precarious tightrope as they try to capture battle in meticulous detail, without glorifying the death of the soldiers. The fallen must be remembered, and we must mourn them, but without romanticizing or exploiting their sacrifice. Gen. Eisenhower, supreme commander of Allied Forces, shared that lesson with us when he returned to France in June 1964 to remember D-Day.

2 weeks ago | helenair.com | Brent Northup

"No Other Land"At the Myrna LoyGrade: A-Helena’s law-abiding moviegoers are blessed with the opportunity to go to jail to see fine films. The Myrna Loy occupies a building that once served as a prison. Some of the original iron bars are still in place to remind us to behave when we visit. The Cinemark books mostly mainstream films, while The Myrna’s mission is to bring us “high-quality, culturally significant films.”The Myrna will risk low attendance to reward its viewers with high art.

3 weeks ago | helenair.com | Brent Northup

"Snow White"At CinemarkGrade: C-Once upon another career ago, I served as a feature editor for a Seattle-area paper. Hollywood studios would call me, eager to promote their latest film. Disney’s PR team was the most professional, most honest and, thus, the most pleasant to work with. I remember one time in particular when they asked me what I thought of their latest movie, which I had seen at a special screening. I hinted that my approaching review might not be their favorite.

1 month ago | helenair.com | Brent Northup

"On Becoming a Guinea Fowl" (PG-13)At the Myrna LoyGrade: B+If we wish to understand the world around us, we must listen to the sounds of the guinea fowl. They may well be warning us. So says one of a myriad myths associated with this iconic bird, native to Africa. The guinea fowl is the central metaphor in a disturbing story, which offers up a warning cry to the women of Zambia. The Zambian film “On Becoming a Guinea Fowl” is simultaneously a tribute to the women of Africa.

1 month ago | helenair.com | Brent Northup

"Flow" (PG)At the Myrna Loy and streaming on Max et al. Brent: ANora: A+Nora Bolger, 9, believes “Flow,” the quietest movie of 2024, was also one of the best. “I really liked it,” she said. “It was really good even though it didn’t have words.”And how much did she like it? “I give it an A+. In my class it would be 100%,” the Montessori student said while enjoying her after-movie huckleberry ice cream cone from the Big Dipper.