Conform to Performon September 21, 2021 at 3:20 pm

Free Your Mind

Conform to Perform

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Conform to Performon September 21, 2021 at 3:20 pm Read More »

With a third football member leaving, EIU’s conference seeks new memberson September 21, 2021 at 6:30 pm

Prairie State Pigskin

With a third football member leaving, EIU’s conference seeks new members

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With a third football member leaving, EIU’s conference seeks new memberson September 21, 2021 at 6:30 pm Read More »

You call THAT an insurrection?on September 21, 2021 at 10:15 pm

The Chicago Board of Tirade

You call THAT an insurrection?

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You call THAT an insurrection?on September 21, 2021 at 10:15 pm Read More »

Chicago artists invited to Art Infusionon September 22, 2021 at 12:36 am

Chicago’s Art and Beer Scene

Chicago artists invited to Art Infusion

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Chicago artists invited to Art Infusionon September 22, 2021 at 12:36 am Read More »

Part 1 of Jeff Berkowitz’s interview w/newest GOP GOV candidate, Jesse Sullivan, airs this week in Chicago and Rockford, Cable and Webon September 22, 2021 at 1:55 am

Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz

Part 1 of Jeff Berkowitz’s interview w/newest GOP GOV candidate, Jesse Sullivan, airs this week in Chicago and Rockford, Cable and Web

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Part 1 of Jeff Berkowitz’s interview w/newest GOP GOV candidate, Jesse Sullivan, airs this week in Chicago and Rockford, Cable and Webon September 22, 2021 at 1:55 am Read More »

Boy, 15, shot to death blocks from Simeon High School. ‘There’s been only four weeks in school and another student is gone.’Sophie Sherryon September 22, 2021 at 2:16 am

A 15-year-old boy was shot and killed Tuesday afternoon two blocks from Simeon High School, where he was a student.

The teen was shot around 2:40 p.m. by someone in a black car outside a business in the 8300 block of South Holland Road, Chicago police said. He was hit in the chest and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The teen was identified late Tuesday as Jamari Williams, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

A backpack and sandals lay among more than a dozen evidence markers on the parking lot and sidewalk in front of a BMO Harris Bank branch. Officers walked in and out of a nail salon and restaurant next to the bank.

“We heard the sound and saw people running,” said an employee at a GameStop store near the shooting, who declined to be named. “Kids were leaving school and then it happened.”

The manager of a Potbelly was pulling into the restaurant parking lot when she heard gunshots and saw the teen lying on the ground in front of a bank. “I heard it but couldn’t see it,” said the manager, who declined to provide her name. “He was on the ground.”

Williams played on the school’s junior varsity football team. The Rev. Donovan Price said the boy’s father had been killed by gun violence within the last year, and the teen hoped football would be his way out of the neighborhood.

Price said the boy had dreamed of getting “his mother out of the hood with football.”

He said Williams didn’t hang out with the wrong crowd and had a good support system around him. That’s what makes his death even more tragic, he said.

“Unfortunately because of gun violence, we’re losing children,” he said. “We’re losing dreams, we’re losing a lot.”

Williams was shot at a small business plaza where Simeon students hang out after classes, according to Aie’rianna Williams, a senior at the school. Aie’rianna Williams said she has lost several classmates to violence during her time at Simeon.

“I’ve lost multiple classmates every year, and it’s just heartbreaking,” she said at the scene. “There’s been only four weeks in school and another student is gone. It’s like, when is it going to stop? Because we all know, when I graduate it’s not going to stop.

“We’re going to hear about it again and again, and it’s tiring,” Aie’rianna Williams said. “Just stop.”

She said she checked on a friend when the shots rang out.

“We’re students, we’re children,” she said. “Some of us haven’t even hit 18 yet and we have to lose so many people — some that we don’t know and some that we do. It’s sad, it’s messed up.

“I don’t care if it’s vengeance, I don’t care if it’s revenge,” she added. “That’s still a life you’re taking. It doesn’t matter.”

It’s the second student death the school has gone through this year, according to the Chicago Teachers Union, which pointed out that Simeon student Zmaya Bell died earlier this year due to complications from COVID-19. The union will be working with its Foundation Quest Center to offer support services for students.

“Our collective heart goes out to this student’s family and friends, as well as the Simeon school community, after another unspeakable tragedy impacting children in our city,” the union wrote about Tuesday’s fatal shooting.

The Chatham community area has seen 22 homicides so far this year, two more than the same time last year, according to Sun-Times data.

Chatham is one of the city’s 15th most violent community areas that have been prioritized by the city for increased anti-violence funding and community programs, although some of those areas have seen little increased funding.

The police district that covers Chatham has seen a 15% increase in murders over the same time last year, from 55 to 63, according to police statistics. Shootings have risen 28%, from 185 to 237, over the same period.

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Boy, 15, shot to death blocks from Simeon High School. ‘There’s been only four weeks in school and another student is gone.’Sophie Sherryon September 22, 2021 at 2:16 am Read More »

Finding quality depth key for Cubs as team builds toward the futureRussell Dorseyon September 22, 2021 at 1:09 am

The next time the Cubs are in the postseason, the team’s roster will look dramatically different than it does right now. As the Cubs have started to rebuild as they turn their roster over post-World Series core, it has increased the emphasis on scouting and developing talent at the major-league level.

The Cubs took a step back this season after the trade deadline as they moved nearly a third of the Opening Day roster including their World Series core of Javy Baez, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo. But after seeing so much high-end talent walk out the door, the team’s roster naturally took a step back.

But one thing the Cubs have done successfully since the beginning of the season has been finding different depth pieces that have contributed in some way at the major-league level. While it might not move the needle now as they restock their talent, identifying different traits in players and that will be valuable as they build their next contender.

“I think that goes into [the front office] doing a really nice job,” manager David Ross said before Tuesday’s game against the Twins. “The scouting, player development and front office identifying those guys.”

“I mean, that’s a long tedious process that they’re always focused on up there [in the front office].”

When you look around baseball and see the teams that are fighting for spots in the postseason, while several of them have a group of superstars that they rely on, it’s the depth pieces that are found either in the offseason or during the season that push those teams over the top.

“I think that’s the secret of every organization,” the Cubs’ skipper said. “Finding those hidden gems and coupling those with the minor leaguers or the guys in your organization that you already have, or guys that you feel like are going to need, two months in the minor leagues, and might be on the map. All those things kind of factor into building that next team for the following year and then future years.”

This season, the Cubs hit on several of the players they’ve taken fliers on either the minor league free-agent market where they acquired Rafael Ortega and Michael Hermosillo or on waivers where they picked up Frank Schwindel and Sergio Alcantara.

Some of those finds have benefitted the Cubs in big ways whether it be Patrick Wisdom breaking the team’s rookie home run record after signing a minor-league deal last season or in a trade.

Former Cubs reliever Ryan Tepera signed on a minor-league deal prior to last season. Tepera turned into one of the team’s best relievers in his two seasons in Chicago and the Cubs were able to turn that into a prospect at the trade deadline.

“I think we would be crazy to think all those guys are gonna hit, right?,” Ross said. “You get a [Ryan] Tepera and a [Brandon] Workman. The chances of both of those guys working out this year are probably thin. But you’ve got to try to balance that with finding the value and where those hidden gems are. And hopefully somebody can make adjustments or something ticks back up to past performances that they’ve identified.”

Having depth is only one part of the equation when it comes to building a roster. Having go-to players will always be a main part of building any team. The Cubs will have to be active this offseason during free agency to build their roster back up, ensuring those depth pieces don’t get overexposed.

But once you’ve successfully added those superstar-caliber players, which the Cubs will look to do over the next few seasons, making sure to fill out the roster with players who are capable of contributing at the major league level will be an important part of the team’s rebuilding process.

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Finding quality depth key for Cubs as team builds toward the futureRussell Dorseyon September 22, 2021 at 1:09 am Read More »

Willie Garson, starred as Stanford Blatch on ‘Sex and the City,’ dies at 57Miriam Di Nunzioon September 22, 2021 at 1:09 am

Willie Garson, who starred as Stanford Blatch on the HBO series “Sex and the City” and two spin-off feature films has died. He was 57. The cause of death has not been released.

News of his passing was confirmed by his family via social media, including his young son Nathen, who posted a loving tribute to his late father on Instagram.

“I love you so much papa,” Nathen wrote. “Rest In Peace and I’m so glad you got to share all your adventures with me and were able to accomplish so much. I’m so proud of you. I will always love you, but I think it’s time for you to go on an adventure of your own. You’ll always be with me. Love you more than you will ever know and I’m glad you can be at peace now. You always were the toughest and funniest and smartest person I’ve known. I’m glad you shared your love with me. I’ll never forget it or lose it.”

Garson was currently slated to reprise his role for the HBO series “And Just Like That,” a reboot of “Sex and the City,” starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon.

Garson was born in Highland Park, New Jersey, and studied theater and drama at Wesleyan University and Yale Drama School. His other television credits include his role as Mozzie the con artist on the USA Network series “White Collar,” as well as guest appearances on “Hawaii Five-O,” “NYPD Blue” and “Supergirl.”

On Twitter, Nixon, who starred as Miranda Hobbes on the series, remembered her “Sex and the City” co-star as “a source of light, friendship and show business lore.” “He was a consummate professional — always,” she wrote.

Mario Cantone, who co-starred as gay stylist Anthony Marantino on the HBO series opposite Garson’s Stanford (their two characters eventually married as part of the storyline for “Sex and the City 2”) expressed his sadness via Twitter, writing in part: “I couldn’t have had a more brilliant TV partner.”

In what appears to be his final Tweet, posted Sept. 4, Garson shared a message of love: “BE KIND TO EACH OTHER……ALWAYS. LOVE TO ALL. APRROACH KINDNESS.”

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Willie Garson, starred as Stanford Blatch on ‘Sex and the City,’ dies at 57Miriam Di Nunzioon September 22, 2021 at 1:09 am Read More »

Chicago Sun-Times journalism recognized with national, state and regional honorsPaul Saltzmanon September 22, 2021 at 12:20 am

Since December, Chicago Sun-Times journalism has received a host of national, state and regional honors. The awards recognize a wide range of work by 29 individual Sun-Times journalists, the newspaper’s editorial board and the entire staff.

They include:

Society for Features Journalism

In September 2021, two Sun-Times staffers received recognition — including one top honor — in the Society for Features Journalism’s Excellence-in-Features Awards:

Maureen O’Donnell | Society for Features Journalism’s 2021 Excellence-in-Features Awards, first place for best short feature for her Sept. 22, 2020, story “Pound cake another pandemic loss, long the queen dessert at many funeral repasts.” The contest judges called her story funny and sweet,” saying her “descriptions of the repast food are mouth-watering” and praising “the gentle humor” of her writing.

Maureen O’Donnell | Society for Features Journalism’s 2021 Excellence-in-Features Awards, second place for general feature for her Nov. 1, 2020, story “A faithful caretaker of the ‘faithful departed.’ “

Stefano Esposito | Society for Features Journalism’s 2021 Excellence-in-Features Awards, honorable mention for short feature for his Jan. 26, 2020, story “Failure to launch.”

National Association of Black Journalists

In December 2020, one staff member received recognition for her lifetime achievement, and six Sun-Times staffers received honors for three powerful stories:

Mary Mitchell | Enshrined in the NABJ Hall of Fame, recognizing the work she’s done over the span of her career.

Mary Mitchell | NABJ Salute to Excellence Awards, first place for best feature for her July 26, 2019, report “A century of progress but still an invisible divide,” in which she wrote about how much — and how little — has changed in Chicago since the city’s 1919 race riots.

Carlos Ballesteros, Tom Schuba, Jon Seidel and Rachel Hinton | NABJ Salute to Excellence Awards, first place in the category “news-single story” for “Rev. Leon Finney Jr.’s free fall,” published Sept. 8, 2019, an examination of the precarious finances of a clout-heavy minister with decades of government contracts.

Manny Ramos | NABJ Salute to Excellence Awards, first place for business reporting for “Why tearing down Englewood to save it hasn’t worked,” by Manny Ramos, published Aug. 25, 2019, investigating systemic housing redevelopment failures in the South Side neighborhood.

National Society of Newspaper Columnists

Mark Brown | National Society of Newspaper Columnists, first place, general column writing, recognized for these two columns published in 2020:

‘Ghosts of summers past: When the big worries were bees, barbed wire, bullies — and that bull’

‘A 7-decade love story cut short by coronavirus’

Steve Greenberg | National Society of Newspaper Columnists, third place, sports columns, recognized for these two columns published in 2020:

‘Down but never out’

‘One-handed player’s passion for hoops has no limits’

National Headliner Awards

Nader Issa | National Headliner Awards, second place, education beat reporting, recognized for his reporting on the Chicago Public Schools. Three of his stories were honored for best education beat reporting in 2020:

‘At CPS high schools, a stark racial divide on when cops are called on students and arrests’

‘Inside the life of a homeless Chicago student in the age of the coronavirus: Fear of failing — or not surviving

‘From 1619 to now: How CPS students are learning about black history and white supremacy — and how that’s helping them understand George Floyd’

Illinois Associated Press Media Editors Awards

In May 2021, Sun-Times journalists were recognized with 10 first-place honors in the Illinois Associated Press Media Editors Awards for work published in 2020. Awards included breaking news coverage, best website, video storytelling, enterprise reporting, sports columns and editorial writing.

The Sun-Times also swept the statewide competition’s three top honors — for general excellence (for the best showing overall in all categories), a best-in-show “sweepstakes” honor selected from among the winners in all categories and “news innovator of the year.”

One staff member also received a lifetime achievement recognition.

The Sun-Times staff also swept 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in two categories — sports columns and editorial writing — and was recognized with 1st and 2nd place awards for video storytelling and enterprise reporting.

The top honors

Mary Mitchell | Lincoln League of Journalists induction, a lifetime achievement honor “bestowed on professionals whose careers have greatly advanced the cause of newspaper journalism in Illinois.”

Sun-Times staff | General excellence, first place, recognized for the best overall showing among big-circulation newspapers in the competition.

Frank Main and Andy Grimm | Editorial / writing sweepstakes winner, recognized for the investigative series “Long delays for justice.”

Mark Brown | top prize in the National Society of Newspaper Columnists column contest for work published in 2020 — first place for general column writing, recognized for these two columns: ‘Ghosts of summers past: When the big worries were bees, barbed wire, bullies — and that bull,’ and ‘A 7-decade love story cut short by coronavirus,’

The columnists group also recognized Steve Greenberg, who got third place for sports columns for these two columns: ‘Down but never out,’ and ‘One-handed player’s passion for hoops has no limits,’.

Paul Saltzman and Alice Bazerghi | “News innovator of the year,” recognized for a yearlong daily reader outreach that used a daily newsletter and social media to solicit readers on their experiences during the coronavirus pandemic and their views on issues related to the pandemic. This effort produced dozens of stories (including multiple page 1 stories) and a curated stream of the findings.

Other IAPME Awards first-place honors

Sun-Times staff | Best website, recognized for chicago.suntimes.com, the Chicago Sun-Times’ main web portal.

Sun-Times staff | Breaking news coverage, recognized for “3 shot, 2 of them fatally, as third night of unrest grips Kenosha.”

Sun-Times editorial board | Editorial writing, recognized for “Strife on the streets and police reform” editorials.

Frank Main and Andy Grimm | Enterprise reporting, recognized for the investigative series “Long delays for justice.”

Rick Morrissey | Sports columns, recognized for a selection of three sports columns.

Sun-Times staff | Video storytelling, recognized for “Experience Illinois’ first day of legal recreational pot in under 3 minutes,” a video compilation of reports from Jan. 1, 2020, the day Illinois first allowed the sale of marijuana for recreational use.

Studs Terkel Community Media Awards

In May 2021, Maureen O’Donnell received the Studs Terkel Community Media Awards for her obituaries that provide an insightful look into the lives of ordinary people in and around Chicago. The honor spotlights journalists “whose work is driven by service and connection to their communities.”

Maureen O’Donnell | Studs Terkel Community Media Awards, recognized for a selection of obituaries.

Illinois Press Association Editorial Excellence Contest

In May, Sun-Times journalists were recognized with 22 first-place awards in the Illinois Press Association’s editorial excellence contest for work published in 2020 — as well as an award in the IPA’s advertising contest for the best newspaper promotion for “Lost and found: rescuing the Sun-Times photo archive,” a print and video report by Brian Ernst, Ashlee Rezin Garcia and Brian Rich.

The winning entries included top honors for: editorial writing, sports coverage, news reporting, government beat coverage, business reporting, obituary writing, feature writing, columns, photography, design, graphics, video journalism, best website, best coverage of taxes, investigative reporting and agricultural coverage.

Frank Main and Andy Grimm | News reporting-series, recognized for the investigative series “Long delays for justice.”

Sun-Times editorial board | Local editorial, recognized for “Strife on the streets and police reform” editorials.

Neil Steinberg, Ashlee Rezin Garcia | News reporting-single story, recognized for “Our worst day,” an inside look at a hospital during the coronavirus epidemic.

Tom Schuba | Government beat reporting, recognized for a series of stories documenting failures by the state of Illinois to meet social justice and diversity goals in legalizing the recreational use of marijuana.

Tim Novak and Lauren FitzPatrick | Business and economic reporting, recognized for a series of investigative reports documenting failures by the Cook County Land Bank Authority.

Maureen O’Donnell | Obituary tribute, recognized for her Danny Leake obituary, “Longtime sound engineer for Stevie Wonder, Lane Tech grad.”

Stefano Esposito | feature writing, recognized for “‘25 years later, Fox River Grove Metra-school bus crash still haunts engineer, other survivors,” a retelling of a horrific crash in which he got the train engineer to talk for the first time to any reporter — 25 years after the crash.

Rachel Hinton, Ashlee Rezin Garcia and Brian Rich | feature writing-personality profile, recognized for “Resettlement, reunification and romance,” the richly reported story — in print and video — of a refugee couple finally together in the United States after nearly four years apart.

Mary Mitchell | original columns, for a selection of three columns.

Tyler LaRiviere | feature photo, for “My kind of town,” a photo shot June 4, 2020, of Chicago police officers using a CTA bus and themselves to block Black Lives Matter marchers heading toward police headquarters after George Floyd’s death.

Akiko Spencer | informational graphic, for a Sports Saturday graphic headlined “10 more men of steal.”
Akiko Spencer’s winning graphic.
Eric White | single-page design, for a front-page design highlighting Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.Eric White’s winning design.
Sun-Times staff | newspaper design, recognizing outstanding design throughout the newspaper based on two complete editions.

Darel Jevens | headline writing, for selection of five headlines.

Sun-Times sports staff | sports section, recognizing outstanding work based on two sample sports sections.

Sun-Times sports staff | special section, recognizing “Visionaries,” a 2020 baseball preview section.

Ben Pope | sports feature, for “Last fan standing,” for a story, told through the eyes of fans who were there, of the last pro sports game in Chicago before the coronavirus pandemic shut things down.

Tom Schuba | agriculture reporting, for ” ‘Epic failure’ on legal weed licensing in Illinois” series.

Rachel Hinton, Ashlee Rezin Garcia, Brian Rich and Brian Ernst | video journalism, recognized for “Resettlement, reunification and romance,” the richly reported story — in print and video — of a refugee couple finally together in the United States after nearly four years apart.

Sun-Times staff | Best website, recognized for chicago.suntimes.com, the Chicago Sun-Times’ main web portal.

Tim Novak and Lauren FitzPatrick | best coverage of taxation, Maurice Scott Award, recognized for a series of investigative reports documenting failures by the Cook County Land Bank Authority.

Frank Main and Andy Grimm | investigative / enterprise reporting, Knight Chair Award, recognized for the investigative series “Long delays for justice.”

Peter Lisagor Awards for Exemplary Journalism

In May, Sun-Times journalists were recognized with 12 top honors in the Peter Lisagor Awards for Exemplary Journalism, sponsored by the Chicago Headline Club, an affiliate of the Society of Professional Journalists, for work published in 2020.

The winning entries included “bests” for politics and government reporting, columns, editorial writing, business reporting, sports writing, design and breaking news coverage.

Altogether, 14 individual Sun-Times staffers — as well as the Sun-Times staff for the year-in-review special section, best news website, best email newsletter and general excellence in online journalism — won top honors.

Sun-Times winners

o Frank Main and Andy Grimm | Politics and government reporting, recognized for the investigative series “Long delays for justice.”

o Ismael Perez | News column / commentary, recognized for a selection of three columns: “Mexican mother raised American children,” “Remote learning bilingual students challenges Chicago public schools” and “Non-voting Latino ballot box.”

o Lee Bey | Editorial writing, recognized for a series of “Keep Mercy Hospital open” editorials.

o Tim Novak and Robert Herguth | Business / consumer reporting, recognized for reports examining “What Chicago’s COVID hospital cost.”

o Ben Pope | Sports story, recognized for “Last fan standing,” looking at the last pro sports event in Chicago before the coronavirus pandemic shut things down.

o Ashlee Rezin Garcia | News photo, recognized for “Burning rage,” capturing a police car set on fire during protests following the killing of George Floyd.

o Eric White | Best design (among all newspapers regardless of circulation), recognized for three examples of page 1 design.

o Sun-Times staff | Best special news section (among all newspapers regardless of circulation), recognized for “2020: The year in review.”

o Sun-Times staff | News website, recognized for chicago.suntimes.com, the Chicago Sun-Times’ main web portal.

o Sun-Times staff | Email newsletter, recognized for “Chicago coronavirus newsletter” daily email newsletter.

o Tom Schuba, Rachel Hinton, Ashlee Rezin Garcia, Jake Wittich, Brian Ernst and Brian Rich | Breaking news, recognized for “Customers turned away as recreational weed sales wrap up historic first day in Illinois.”

o Sun-Times staff | General excellence in online journalism.

READ MARY MITCHELL’S NATIONAL AWARD-WINNING COLUMN

READ MARK BROWN’S NATIONAL AWARD-WINNING COLUMNS

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Chicago Sun-Times journalism recognized with national, state and regional honorsPaul Saltzmanon September 22, 2021 at 12:20 am Read More »

‘The Starling’: This bird’s not worth watchingRichard Roeperon September 22, 2021 at 12:42 am

We are deep into the problematic and increasingly cringe-worthy Netflix original movie “The Starling” when Chris O’Dowd’s Jack starts playing with a group of kids on Visiting Day at a mental health facility where he is a client. We just know this whimsical moment is going to turn sideways — and when it does, we’re as horrified as the children and the parents and the staffers who witness Jack’s meltdown.

‘The Starling’: 1.5 out of 4

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The story should end then and there, with Jack remaining a patient in that facility for a very long time because he’s clearly a troubled individual. But we still have a long way to go, and that won’t be the last time “The Starling” takes a wrong turn and goes farther into the weeds and asks us to come along on a treacly, sugar-substitute journey, with a manufactured, unearned conclusion.

Here’s the confounding thing about “The Starling.” The screenplay by Matt Harris was once on the Black List, a famous, annual survey of the most prominent and promising scripts yet to be produced. Director Theodore Melfi has delivered such excellent gems as “St. Vincent” and “Hidden Figures.” In addition to the eminently likable McCarthy and O’Dowd, the cast features Kevin Kline, Laura Harrier, Daveed Diggs, Loretta Devine and Timothy Olyphant. So much talent — and everyone goes down with the ship in one of the worst movies of 2021. (Everyone in that supporting cast save Kline is given minor, meaningless, one-dimensional roles. What a waste!)

I mean, this is the kind of movie where Kline’s kindly veterinarian, who used to be a psychoanalyst, is named Dr. Larry Fine. “Like the Three Stooges?” says McCarthy’s Lilly, upon hearing his name.

Yes, like the Three Stooges.

With one of the most overwrought scores in recent movie history setting the melodramatic tone, “The Starling” tells the story of Lilly and Jack (O’Dowd), a happily married couple whose world is shattered when their infant daughter dies of SIDS. The bulk of the story takes place one year later, with Lilly going through the motions at her job as a clerk in a grocery store, while Jack is in the mental health facility after a suicide attempt. Even though Lilly has a relatively low-paying job and Jack was a grade school teacher, they have a photo spread-worthy, spacious farm house in Northern California thanks to an inheritance, and Lilly decides to plant a garden in the front yard — but her efforts are continually thwarted by a nasty, territorial, obviously CGI starling that keeps destroying the vegetables and literally bonking Lilly on the head, to the point where she starts wearing a football helmet every time she ventures out, because of course there would be a football helmet in the house.

For no reason other than to introduce Kevin Kline into the movie, a therapist at Jack’s facility recommends that Lilly talk to Kline’s Larry, who has a kind of Doctor Dolittle veterinary practice going on, and reluctantly agrees to talk to Lilly even though he gave up the whole counseling-humans thing years ago. McCarthy and Kline are wonderful together as Lilly pours her heart out to Larry and we can see this is a shot at redemption for both of them, but the dialogue is so heavy-handed and so stuffed with metaphors that at one point, after Larry tells Lilly starlings aren’t meant to live alone (just like people!), Lilly cracks, “Real subtle stuff.”

It’s not a good thing when characters in a movie are voicing opinions the viewers are having at the same time.

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‘The Starling’: This bird’s not worth watchingRichard Roeperon September 22, 2021 at 12:42 am Read More »