The Reader

The Reader stands out as Nebraska's sole nationally-recognized alternative news monthly. It is part of the Pioneer Publishing family, which includes El Perico and OmahaJobs.com. Pioneer Publishing is a privately-owned family business that operates six media channels—two in print and four online—targeting Omaha's most dynamic and rapidly growing demographics and advertising sectors. Additionally, they boast one of the most well-established networks of local freelance content creators. With an estimated audience of over 100,000 adults, Pioneer is the only non-traditional local media company ranked among the top 10 by audience size, showcasing consistent growth since its inception in 1992.

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Hillbilly Hellegy

5 days ago | thereader.com | Ryan Syrek

The “point” of Sinners, a rip-snorting vampire-centric music video, is not that “human beings are the real monsters.” The point of Sinners is a stake, driven through the heart of monsters of all-kinds, fanged or not. It is also that the most important thing in life is having a good time with the ones you love and also not summoning unholy hell-beasts by playing music that is simply too good. You are safest playing bad music.
Memories Don’t Have to Be About War to Hurt

1 week ago | thereader.com | Ryan Syrek

In the last week, I saw the movie Warfare, and I learned that someone who used to write here in the film section at The Reader died. Maddeningly, painfully, for the second time in less than a year, I find myself crafting something that is closer to a eulogy than it is a movie review. At least this one isn’t my hot take on an animated family film?
To Have and to Hold (at Gunpoint)

2 weeks ago | thereader.com | Ryan Syrek

Casting Michael Fassbender as a militant wife guy who hates liars is certainly a choice when the Wikipedia on his personal life is just right there. Ew.If it helps you endure that knowledge, Black Bag isn’t a sweet love song to marriage so much as a synth-jazz tune about loyalty.
Omaha native leans into personal civic engagement legacy

3 weeks ago | thereader.com | Leo Biga

When Omaha native Rebekah Caruthers considers her work for Washington D.C.-based Fair Elections Center, she’s satisfied to know she’s continuing a history of family activism. Since 2021 she’s served as executive vice president of the nonpartisan center, which does advocacy, litigation and poll worker recruitment. FEC is the plaintiff in cases opposing restrictive voting laws. In July, she will transition to the CEO role.
Myth Misses Due to Blown Tone

3 weeks ago | thereader.com | Ryan Syrek

If you’re going to cast Paul Rudd, let him be funny. It’s not complicated. You have to actively prevent Paul Rudd from being funny. That is a decision you make. “Stop being funny, Paul Rudd,” you have to say. Paul Rudd is not funny in Death of a Unicorn. Very little is, actually. Will Poulter is funny. That isn’t a joke that Will Poulter is little. He is just the only thing in the movie that works. The rest of it is about as creative, fun, and free-spirited as a unicorn gif on a Tumblr blog.
'Film Streams' celebrating the centennial of historic midtown Dundee Theatre

1 month ago | thereader.com | Leo Biga

The last of Omaha’s still active neighborhood motion picture venues, the Dundee Theatre, is celebrating 100 years – the last decade as part of the Film Streams brand. Special Dundee Hundee events include a centennial series representing key markers for the theater and the medium. The Dundee opened in the silent era and transitioned to talkies.
So, Which Horrible Choice Will You Make in the Postapocalypse?

1 month ago | thereader.com | Ryan Syrek

If the start of 2025 hasn’t let y’all know, let me help you out: The future is going to be bad. Real bad. What were once funky fictional postapocalypses have moved from outlandish to landish so fast that if they discover that zombies are real next Tuesday, no one among us will doubt the news. The Assessment isn’t high-concept Armageddon but a bleak soft sci-fi gem that feels like a window into the fast-approaching tomorrow.
It’s a Mid Midsommar

1 month ago | thereader.com | Ryan Syrek

Unsubtle even by TikTok standards, writer/director Mark Anthony Green’s Opus has a hot take on celebrity worship: It is bad. Mind blown yet? Troublingly, the film seems to accidentally file journalism into the naughty bin too, implying that critics and writers are wannabe fame seekers facilitating the problem. Ouch! Personal attack aside, can we maybe give reporters and reviewers just a bit of a break right now? The field is facing a wee bit of a fascism problem.
Despite challenges, Carole Jeanpierre stays true to her vision

1 month ago | thereader.com | Leo Biga

Steeped in a legacy of classical and Black secular and sacred music, veteran Omaha vocalist Carole Jeanpierre is making an audacious long-form composing debut with “Noalia: An Opera of Love.” As a Black opera, it’s a rare entry in the repertory. Even more rare is her having written both the libretto and score. She’s the opera’s designer, director and producer as well. The idea for “Noalia” came to the soprano in a 2003 dream.
If at First You Don’t Succeed, Die, Die Again

1 month ago | thereader.com | Ryan Syrek

Like a conductor playing an orchestra of incongruous emotions, writer/director Bong Joon Ho has never been content to score a simple symphony of sympathy. Mickey 17 is very funny. Mickey 17 is very sad. Watching a blathering narcissistic politician get mocked in outer space? Funny! Seeing innocent alien animals get harmed?