Archive: Samuel R. Staley

True Spirit Lifted by Individual Courage, Tenacity, and Mental Toughness
Heroic sailing circumnavigation raises serious questions about parental responsibilities
Samuel R. Staley | March 28, 2023
Blonde Deprives Marilyn Monroe of the Dignity She Earned
Stunning cinematography and an Oscar-worthy performance by Ana De Armas can’t save this off-the-rails cinemagraphic meditation on Monroe's life
Samuel R. Staley | December 20, 2022
Wakanda Forever Charts Risky Course in Marvel Universe
Afrocentric plot and themes may fail to engage broader audiences
Samuel R. Staley | December 19, 2022
The Gray Man, Harvard Elites and State-Sponsored Murder
The new Netflix action movie is surprisingly shallow but still exhilarating
Samuel R. Staley | August 15, 2022
The Black Phone’s Christian Themes
The sleeper hit movie The Black Phone is a well crafted coming of age story within the horror genre
Samuel R. Staley | July 29, 2022
Shang-Chi Earns Its Blockbuster Stripes
Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, a review from The Beacon
Samuel R. Staley | September 21, 2021
Black Widow Boasts Strong Themes and Performances
The new Marvel film's familial intimacy and knockout acting lift the action blockbuster
Samuel R. Staley | August 17, 2021
Movies to Queue During the Supreme Court Ruckus
Educational entertainment for those who need a break from this news cycle
Samuel R. Staley | October 17, 2020
George Floyd and the Future of Police Misconduct
Real solutions to combat structural racism in American police departments
Samuel R. Staley | June 2, 2020
Harriet Breathes Life into Call for Liberty
The movie breathes long overdue life into Harriet Tubman’s heroic efforts to rescue her family and others from slavery.
Samuel R. Staley | February 18, 2020
Little Women Shows Timelessness of “Coming of Age”
As in real life, choices are made about passions, life’s trade-offs, and love.
Samuel R. Staley | January 11, 2020
Neo-Noir “Motherless Brooklyn” Puts Power, Corruption at Center of Urban Renewal Story
Motherless Brooklyn might well contend for the most pro-liberty film to come out of Hollywood in 2019.
Samuel R. Staley | December 7, 2019