Hey folks, welcome back to Little Big Screen: On the Big, Big Screen, where film columnist Benjamin McElroy recommends five screenings happening at Iowa’s independent movie theaters. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) Directed by Steven Spielberg The last time E.T. was in the headlines, a self-described ufologist had presented his unlicensed likeness to Mexico’s Congress. Now, […]
Benjamin McElroy
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Little Big Screen: ‘Vertigo’ and other streaming movies starring Kims who aren’t Reynolds
In search of a watchable companion to Little Village’s May cover story, which details the many bad kinds of history made by Gov. Kim Reynolds over the past eight years, I went to Reynolds’ IMDb page. Who knows, maybe she got a kickback producer credit on a Mel Gibson movie? Nope, nothing but news shows. […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Stick-and-pokes, baseball ghosts and the top five movies you’ve gotta see on the big, big screen this May
Hey folks, welcome back to Little Big Screen: On the Big, Big Screen, where film columnist Benjamin McElroy recommends five screenings happening at Iowa’s independent movie theaters. This month, the rotten word from Washington D.C. can’t be ducked. FilmScene and Varsity Cinema were both notified on May 2 that their National Endowment for the Arts […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Little Big Screen: ‘Party Girl’ and other movies to stream with your library card this month
The headlines haven’t been too kind to libraries of late, what with the book ban nonsense and slashed funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services. To plant some good press in your newsfeed, Little Big Screen is letting everyone in on a little secret. Kanopy, one of the best streaming services, is free […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
From Swayze’s mullet to Bowie’s bulge, catch these five iconic films in local theaters this April
Hey folks, welcome back to “On the Big, Big Screen.” From courtside seats to seaside heists, film columnist Benjamin McElroy recommends five screenings happening this month at Iowa’s independent movie theaters. Then, keep on scrolling for a round-up of other special screenings, events and movies of note.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Little Big Screen: Michelle Monaghan movies to watch after this week’s episode of ‘The White Lotus’
Is Michelle Monaghan the most actress-y actress? She’s been an actress playing an actress for Shane Black, Sofia Coppola and Mike White on this season of “The White Lotus.” Monaghan, evidently the very essence of a Hollywood lead, grew up in Winthrop, Iowa of all places.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
On the Big, Big Screen: Five movies you’ve gotta go see in local theaters this month
LV film columnist Benjamin McElroy recommends five screenings happening this month at Iowa’s independent movie theaters.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Little Big Screen: Say goodbye to Hy-Vee’s Wahlburgers with ‘Boogie Nights’ and other Marky movies streaming this month
Just two short years ago the Wahlburgers franchise had 109 locations, and for some reason, 79 of them were attached to Hy-Vee grocery stores. On February 4, Hy-Vee lopped off the last of these Boston-green growths. The split could mean Mark Wahlberg, the youngest of the three brother-founders, has sheltered in his last West Des Moines basement and signed his last tequila bottle at Wall to Wall Wine & Spirits.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Little Big Screen: Trucker classics you can buy on DVD from the World’s Largest Truck Stop
Iowa 80 is a sort-of paradise that has something for everyone — including Little Big Screen. Inside the Super Truck Showroom at “The World’s Largest Truck Stop,” between the bottles of candy-colored antifreeze and many, many chrome doodads, there are a few shelves of DVDs.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Little Big Screen: ‘The Beast,’ ‘The Substance’ and more of 2024’s best movies to stream and go see
Little Big Screen has the best of both screens from the year that almost was. First up, five new-release recs sitting and waiting to be streamed on your own little big screen. Then five could-be bests that’ll be making their way to the big, big screen before the year ends. That adds up to 10 movies. Just like you want from a “best of the year” thing.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Peak Iowa: Arthur Russell, Oskaloosa’s lost genius
Tape hung like curtains in Arthur Russell’s apartment. The recording devices responsible were powered by an extension cord that ran out the window and down a few floors to Allen Ginsberg’s. Russell left behind 166 feet of tape when he died, only 40 years old, of AIDS-related illness in 1992. And if you’ll let me […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Little Big Screen: ‘The Last Boy Scout’ and other football-adjacent movies to stream this month
Nicotine gum releases just enough of the good stuff to help you forget about cigs for, like, 15 minutes. A similar cessation aid has yet to be developed for fans of Iowa Hawkeyes football, but to maybe take the edge off Kirk Ferentz’ next press conference, Little Big Screen has some counter-programming to chew on.
