Guest Appearance Archives | Deep Focus Review

The CineFiles – Ep. 6

Brian Eggert — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 20:29:21 +0000

Dear readers, On the latest episode of The CineFiles, host Chris Hrapsky (KARE 11), critic Jamie Rogers (The Playlist), and I cover two new releases from A24 that are bound to spark debate and interesting conversations. First up, we tackle Eddington, Ari Aster’s divisive new film about a small town in New Mexico fighting the culture war during the COVID-19 pandemic. It stars Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, and Austin Butler, among others, and it’s bound to get under your skin one way or the other. The second A24 title is Sorry, Baby, the directorial debut of Ava Victor, a promising new talent with a moving story about feeling stuck after experiencing a trauma. Jamie also interviews Victor for the show, and it’s a must-see discussion. Finally, we talk about Jamie’s “CineGift” of 2016’s Miss Stevens, the first feature by Julia Hart, starring Lily Rabe and Timothée Chalamet. Follow the show by subscribing to the KARE 11+ app (available on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, etc.) or watch on YouTube. Happy viewing! Brian Eggert Critic, Essayist, Founder Deep Focus Review

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The CineFiles – Ep. 5

Brian Eggert — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 22:52:03 +0000

Dear readers, On episode 5 of The CineFiles, host Chris Hrapsky (KARE 11), critic Jamie Rogers (The Playlist), and I cover two of the biggest movies in theaters this summer. First, we discuss James Gunn’s Superman, a movie that Jamie and I were initially skeptical about, but we both recommend. We weren’t quite as aligned about Jurassic World Rebirth, but we agreed that it’s worth checking out. Then, Jamie and I share our lists of the Top 5 Films of 2025 so far, as well as our picks for who should play the new James Bond. Finally, we discuss my “CineGift” of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 kidnapping thriller High and Low, starring Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, and Tatsuya Nakadai. If you want to learn more about the film, read my essay in The Definitives. Follow the show by subscribing to the KARE 11+ app (available on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, etc.) or watch on YouTube. Happy viewing! Brian Eggert Critic, Essayist, Founder Deep Focus Review

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KARE 11 – Three Summer Movies

Brian Eggert — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 17:44:57 +0000

Dear readers, On Saturday, June 28, I returned to Minnesota’s NBC affiliate, KARE 11, to discuss three summer movies. Specifically, I recommended F1, the exciting racing drama by director Joseph Kosinski, for its excellent racing scenes and the charisma of the cast (including Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Damson Idris, and Kerry Condon). I also highlighted two underperforming titles and encouraged audiences to see them in the theater: Pixar’s latest wonder, Elio, a heartening sci-fi story about a kid who becomes Earth’s emissary to a “Communiverse” of alien, and The Life of Chuck, the latest adaptation of a Stephen King story by writer-director Mike Flanagan. Watch the segment on KARE 11’s website and visit the Guest Appearances page for other TV and podcast appearances. Happy viewing! Brian

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The CineFiles – Ep. 4

Brian Eggert — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 12:43:20 +0000

Dear readers, On the new episode The CineFiles, host Chris Hrapsky (KARE 11), critic Jamie Rogers, and I talk about a few new titles in theaters right now. The episode starts with my coverage of F1, director Joseph Kosinski’s racing melodrama starring Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Damson Idris, and Kerry Condon. Much to my surprise, I enjoyed this Formula One feature; it reminded me of John Frankenheimer’s Grand Prix (1967). Jamie and I agreed that Celine Song’s second feature, Materialists, is worth checking out. Despite its imperfections, the charming cast (Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal) and thoughtful look at modern dating make it both honest and familiar. And we were mostly aligned about the impact of 28 Days Later (2002), the entertaining disposability of 28 Weeks Later (2007), and the uneven but mostly spectacular quality of 28 Years Later. Finally, we talk about Chris’ “CineGift” of Stanley Kubrick’s 1957 feature Paths of Glory, which we all agreed is a phenomenal feature. Read my updated essay on the film, starring Kirk Douglas, in The Definitives. Also, I share my “CineGift” for next time: Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 masterpiece, High and Low, which you can watch on Max or The Criterion Channel. […]

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The CineFiles – Ep. 3

Brian Eggert — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 19:08:48 +0000

Dear readers, On the latest episode of The CineFiles, our crew—including host Chris Hrapsky (KARE 11) and film journalist Jamie Rogers—discussed a couple of new releases. First, Jamie and I shared our thoughts about Wes Anderson’s latest, The Phoenician Scheme, now in theaters. We agreed that it’s typical of Anderson’s recent work in that it’s impeccably crafted and hyper-stylized. But unlike some of his more recent films, there’s a heart here that proves endearing. We both said, “See It.” We also discussed Mike Flanagan’s The Life of Chuck, one of my favorite films of the year, also now in theaters. Jamie and I loved the film and both declared, “Don’t Miss It.” Jamie also shared two interviews she conducted with the cast, including one with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Karen Gillan and another with Mark Hamill and Benjamin Pajak. Perhaps now is a good time to explain our rating system. We have four rather self-explanatory ratings, going from best to worst: Don’t Miss It, See It, Try It, and Skip It. In the final third, we talked about Jamie’s “CineGift,” which she gave us in the last episode. Her pick was A Silent Voice (2016), a feature-length anime about bullying, depression, […]

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The CineFiles – Ep. 2

Brian Eggert — Sat, 31 May 2025 15:57:26 +0000

Dear readers, On the second episode of The CineFiles, host and KARE 11 anchor Chris Hrapsky, self-proclaimed “Movie Snob” Jamie Rogers, and I talk about a few new releases, including Deaf President Now! and Fountain of Youth, both on Apple TV+, as well as Jane Austen Wrecked My Life. (Note: In lieu of a full-length review of Deaf President Now!, fans of documentaries shouldn’t hesitate to seek out the documentary on Apple TV+. It recounts the eight-day student protest in 1988 at Gallaudet University for the deaf and hard of hearing. When the board of trustees appointed a hearing president to head the university, students demanded that they be represented by a deaf president who understood their experience firsthand. This is a passionately told, moving story about the discriminatory treatment of marginalized groups by those in power, the importance of protest, and demanding that leaders both reflect the people they lead and are equipped to advocate for them. Told with a blend of archival footage and interviews with actual protesters, it’s a fascinating look at history that has reverberations today.) In the wake of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, we also rank our favorites from the Mission: Impossible franchise. Finally, we discuss the last […]

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KARE 11 – Memorial Day Weekend Movies

Brian Eggert — Sat, 24 May 2025 16:47:18 +0000

Dear readers, On Saturday, May 24, I appeared on Minnesota’s NBC affiliate, KARE 11, to discuss three movies in theaters on Memorial Day weekend. Anchor Morgan Wolfe and I talked about Tom Cruise’s stunt-laden return in Mission: Impossible – The Finale Reckoning, a sequel with a messy story but a spectacle that must be seen in IMAX. I also recommended Lilo & Stitch, Disney’s latest live-action remake that, unlike the studio’s other cash grabs of this sort, it sweet and worth a trip to the theater for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Finally, I talked about The Phoenician Scheme, Wes Anderson’s latest, which is a vast improvement over his last couple of features. While it’s available in some theaters, it will open in Minnesota on June 6. Catch up with my guest spot below and visit the Guest Appearances page for other TV and podcast appearances. Happy viewing! Brian

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Announcing The CineFiles

Brian Eggert — Fri, 16 May 2025 15:27:59 +0000

I’m thrilled to announce that I’m part of a new streaming program called The CineFiles, a show about all things movies on the KARE 11+ app. The CineFiles stars host Chris Hrapsky, a journalist and anchor on Minnesota’s NBC affiliate KARE 11, and Jamie Rogers, a network broadcast director who also covers movies for KARE 11 and The Playlist. Together, the three of us share reviews of new must-sees, talk about movie news, share old favorites, and more. The first episode just dropped yesterday, and you can watch it on the KARE 11+ app or below on YouTube. In this initial getting-to-know-us episode, we share our three-or-four favorite films (or, in my case, three films to know my tastes). We also shared some thoughts on Fight or Flight, Friendship, and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Plus, I share a “CineGift”—ostensibly, homework for next time. I encourage Chris, Jamie, and the viewing audience to check out Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest (1959) before the next episode. When the episode arrives, we’ll discuss why I picked that film and what it has to do with the Mission: Impossible franchise. Incidentally, episodes will air on the KARE 11+ app every two weeks, […]

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KARE 11 – Three to See

Brian Eggert — Sat, 19 Apr 2025 16:56:00 +0000

Dear readers (and viewers), On Saturday, April 19, I returned to Minnesota’s NBC affiliate, KARE 11, for a Saturday morning segment to share three movie recommendations: something to watch at home on VOD, something to see in theaters now, and something upcoming to keep on your radar. Chris Hrapsky, a journalist and anchor who has studied movies as well, shared his enthusiasm for my picks, including Steven Soderbergh’s latest, the spy-thriller Black Bag, which is now available to rent. I expressed my love of Sinners, Ryan Coogler’s outstanding new film that combines American history, Black history and music, vampires, and bravura filmmaking into a must-see experience, especially in IMAX. Finally, I previewed A24’s summer comedy Friendship, starring Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd, due in theaters on May 9. Each of these titles received a four-star rating from me. I can’t recommend them enough. Watch the whole segment below, and visit the Guest Appearances page for other TV and podcast appearances. Happy viewing! Brian

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Reel Mental Podcast: Hard Truths

Brian Eggert — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 20:55:45 +0000

Dear readers (and listeners) The first time I was on the Real Mental Podcast with host Dr. Marcia Sirota, we debated Pedro Almodóvar’s latest, The Room Next Door (2024), and disagreed about its merits (I was in favor; she was against it). However, when I recently returned, we agreed that there’s a profound interest in human suffering at work in Mike Leigh’s new film, Hard Truths (2024). As I mentioned in the episode, I couldn’t think of anyone I’d rather discuss this film with than a board-certified psychiatrist. Based in Toronto, Dr. Sirota is a published author, practicing psychiatrist, and host of two podcasts: the Ruthless Compassion podcast about mental health and the Reel Mental podcast, where she combines her knowledge of mental health with her passion for movies. Hard Truths is a film about depression, trauma, and how people face the world. Our discussion attempts to decipher the volatile, wounded character played by Marianne Jean-Baptiste—in a role we both agree was 2024’s best female performance. Listen to the episode at the link below or watch here, and be sure to subscribe to Reel Mental. Check out my other podcast conversations on the Guest Appearances page. Brian

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