Nell Minow

McLean, Washington, D.C.

Freelance Movie Critic at Freelance

Movie critic on radio, print, online https://t.co/chm9W1rhgq, Assistant editor @ebertvoices, @thecredits moviemom at https://t.co/chm9W1rhgq

Articles

How to Say No to the President

1 week ago | theatlantic.com | Nell Minow

One night while my family was having dinner, the president of the United States called my dad to complain about something he’d seen on television. My father, Newton Minow, was then the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. And the president, John F. Kennedy, was furious. “Did you see Huntley-Brinkley tonight?” Kennedy asked, referring to NBC’s nightly news broadcast, anchored by the journalists Chet Huntley and David Brinkley.
Creating a Meta-Rom-Com: Karen Morey and Terence Chen on "Meet Cute in Manhattan"

3 weeks ago | rogerebert.com | Nell Minow

Director/co-screenwriter Karen Morey and co-screenwriter/star Terence Chen wanted to make a romantic comedy about romantic comedies, a meta-story that nods to many of the most beloved classics in the genre, from "Roman Holiday" to the oeuvre of Richard Curtis. In "Meet Cute in Manhattan," the movie within the movie has a couple named Jason and Nora in a classic rom-com situation.
Having a Lunatic's Dream: Emily Bett Rickards on "Queen of the Ring"

1 month ago | rogerebert.com | Nell Minow

Emily Bett Rickards plays the title role in "Queen of the Ring," based on the true story of Mildred Burke, the pioneering wrestler who began her "not fixed, scripted" fights when women were still banned from wrestling in every state. She became a world champion and the first woman athlete to earn $1 million. How did you first hear about Millie and about her story? The first time I'd ever heard about her was when I was reading the script. I knew nothing of her.
Looking Back: Highlighting Some Great Pieces by Our Female Critics

1 month ago | rogerebert.com | Nell Minow |Chaz Ebert |Sheila O'Malley |Peyton Robinson

During Women Writers Week, we publish reviews and articles by female critics and journalists, but we're committed to gender equality in the industry throughout the year. As a companion to the great articles launching this week, we wanted to highlight some excellent work from past editions of WWW as well as outside of the special event. Here is just a sampling of the hundreds of great pieces we could have chosen.
Writing Her Way: Marya E. Gates on Her New Book

1 month ago | rogerebert.com | Nell Minow

In Cinema Her Way, Marya E. Gates interviews visionary women directors about their inspirations and struggles. It is filled with wonderful stories of determination, resilience, leadership, and partnerships. In an interview, Gates discussed her year of watching only female-directed films, the difference between the directors who worked in Hollywood and those in other countries, and the answer that surprised her the most. What led you to decide to watch only women-directed films for a year?
Pay Attention Now: Gretchen Mol and Juliana Margulies on "Millers in Marriage"

1 month ago | rogerebert.com | Nell Minow

Ed Burns wrote and directed "Millers in Marriage," the story of three middle-aged siblings and their complicated relationships. Burns plays a recently divorced man beginning a relationship with his wife's former boss. In an interview, Gretchen Mol and Juliana Margulies, who play his characters' sisters, Eve and Maggie, talked about the scene they shared, why they did not hug, and what they think couples should discuss after seeing the film.
I Know Where I'm Going! Movie Review

2 months ago | commonsensemedia.org | Nell Minow

Movie NR 1947 91 minutes age 10+ Love competes against money in '40s classic. Parents need to know that this movie has some social drinking and a reference to a curse, and stories of women whose infidelity leads to disaster. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails. a little Drinking at a party.
Dragonslayer Movie Review

Jan 19, 2025 | commonsensemedia.org | Nell Minow

age 10+ Vintage fantasy epic is great, despite a too-graphic death. Parents need to know that Dragonslayer is a 1981 fantasy film and is one of the best swords and sorcery movies out there. The movie really builds up the tension, and viewers see bursts of smoke and fire, falling rocks, a shaking ground and other indications that something big is lurking for the first half of the film.
King Solomon's Mines Movie Review

Jan 14, 2025 | commonsensemedia.org | Nell Minow

Movie NR 1950 103 minutes age 10+ Dated classic has colonial racial views. Parents need to know that some children may be disturbed by the violence, and others may be upset by the scene in which Elizabeth Curtis admits that she did not love her husband, and that she is seeking him out of guilt rather than devotion.
A Moral Compass: Ben Chaplin, Leonie Benesch, and Tim Fehlbaum on "September 5"

Dec 11, 2024 | rogerebert.com | Nell Minow

"September 5" is the story of a small group of ABC Television sports journalists covering the 1972 Munich Olympics when Baader-Meinhof terrorists attacked Israeli athletes. The ABC team, the only ones with a camera inside the Olympic village, made an instant switch to cover breaking news.