Movie and TV show reviews

On the final night of the 2025 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, it was announced that a concert would take place in October. This announcement was made through a video teaser about the event, which will be hosted by TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz this fall. The concert is part of the festival’s 25th anniversary season and marks the return of Jewish film music concerts, last held 15 years ago during the 10th anniversary celebration.

In regard to our content expenditure, Neumann stated during the 2025 Morgan Stanley Tech, Media & Telecom Conference that we’re far from hitting a limit. As a worldwide entertainment company, he emphasized, “I believe we have only just begun.” This year’s projected $18 billion cash investment in content would represent an approximately 11% increase from the $16.2 billion spent in 2024.

The overall viewership exceeded Trump’s last State of the Union speech in 2024 by 13%, with a total of 32.2 million viewers. However, it didn’t surpass any of his previous State of the Union addresses during his first term as president. His highest viewership was in 2017 with 47.7 million viewers, followed closely by 45.6 million in 2018, then 46.8 million in 2019, and finally 37.2 million in 2020.

When I was younger, I used to enjoy watching a lot of intense, dark films and find them appealing. Now, however, I’ve become more sensitive and can no longer handle such content. It’s ironic because one would expect that as you grow older, you’d develop a greater tolerance for these types of films. Unfortunately, I can’t watch horror movies any longer.

Producer and author Mara Brock Akil is behind a fresh TV series that’s inspired by a 1975 book about teenagers navigating the loss of their virginity. The show offers a unique perspective, unfolding as an extraordinary tale of two African-American teenagers discovering love and self-identity during their shared experience as each other’s first loves, against the backdrop of Los Angeles in 2018, according to its official description.

At some point following Lester Holt’s departure in early summer, Llamas will assume the hosting role for “NBC Nightly News.” Currently, he is hosting a program on the NBC News Now live-streaming service during early evening hours. As such, each weeknight, Llamas will lead “Nightly” from 6:30 PM to 7 PM eastern time, and then transition directly to his streaming show, “Top Story.

Tony Khan, AEW’s CEO, GM, and creative head, expressed his excitement about partnering with Prime Video. This collaboration signifies a significant step forward in extending AEW’s global influence. The pay-per-view events of AEW are renowned for their thrilling nature, making them the best professional wrestling events globally. Now, fans can enjoy these exciting events directly through Prime Video.

As a fervent admirer, I can’t help but express my anticipation for “Speechless,” a documentary masterfully directed by Ric Esther Bienstock (“Enslaved”). This enlightening film will delve into the complexities of higher education, featuring candid interviews with students, educators, and administrators from a diverse array of institutions, ranging from community colleges to the Ivy League.

The documentary promises to shed light on the intense ideological disputes, profound political schisms, and deeply emotional struggles that are moulding the destiny of education. Furthermore, it will scrutinize the current jeopardy to free speech and academic liberty on U.S. campuses, a topic of immense significance in today’s socio-political climate.

To underscore the tumultuous juncture at which academia stands, “Speechless” will incorporate hidden recordings from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offices, chronicle a white professor’s groundbreaking legal battle against racial discrimination, depict a conservative uprising at a Florida college, and dramatize the controversial termination of a Harvard biologist’s esteemed 20-year career.

In essence, I eagerly await this insightful journey into the heart of higher education, where passionately held beliefs collide, political divisions run deep, and personal battles shape the future of our academic institutions.

Mliczewska’s second film focuses on Sang, a child left by American soldiers after the Vietnam War, one of many abandoned and stigmatized. For his entire life, he yearns for the father he never knew. A surprising turn of events leads him to find his gravely ill father in the United States. Despite the significant sacrifice of leaving his family in Vietnam behind, Sang is resolute on meeting him.

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In her sophomore effort, Mliczewska tells the story of Sang, a child abandoned and stigmatized following the Vietnam War due to American soldiers. His whole life, he has longed for a father he never knew. A twist in fate leads him to discover his terminally ill father residing in the U.S., compelling him to leave behind his family in Vietnam to meet him, despite the high cost.

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Mliczewska’s sophomore production revolves around Sang, a child left behind by American soldiers post-Vietnam War, one of many shunned and forsaken. His entire life is marked by a longing for the father he never had. A sudden revelation leads him to his ailing father in the U.S., prompting him to sacrifice his family in Vietnam and reunite with this missing piece of his past.

To put it plainly, I’m not typically a fan of stand-up comedy, but Lobel’s movie managed to draw me in deeply to the stories shared by the comedians. The lineup includes Tiffany Jenkins, Marc Maron, Joe List, Aparna Nancherla, Mark Normand, Baron Vaughn, and Eva Victor. Each contributes their unique brand of humor to the film. However, what truly resonated was when they opened up about their personal struggles with anxiety.