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Matt Olien's Movie Reviews
Fridays during Main Street, at 3pm CT and a repeat at 7pm CT

Television producer Matt Olien doubles as Prairie Public's resident movie critic, and uses his background in film studies and extensive knowledge of movie history to review a current film. Stay tuned until the end, where he's quizzed with obscure Oscar trivia.

  • Matt reviews the Netflix film on Diana Nyad's Cuba-Florida swim stars Annette Bening, Jodie Foster; praised for focus, performance, and not sugarcoating Nyad's obsession.
  • Matt Olien lauds "Godzilla minus one" for blending emotional depth with historical insights, elevating it above past films as a critical and visual triumph.
  • Matt reviews "The Zone of Interest," A film about Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife's life near the camp, contrasting domesticity with genocide.
  • Matt reviews: "Anatomy of a Fall,"A film exploring the mysterious death of Samuel and the troubled marriage with his author wife Sandra, leaving viewers in suspense.
  • Matt reviews "Poor Things," which reimagines Frankenstein with a twist, blending satire and sci-fi in a tale of a woman revived with her unborn child's brain.
  • Matt reviews "Maestro" which portrays Leonard Bernstein's life, highlighting his musical genius and personal struggles in a career and relationship-focused narrative.
  • Matt reviews "May December," which delves into a May-December romance, exploring love, societal views, and the complexities of age-gap relationships.
  • Matt reviews "American Fiction," which explores the diverse American experience, focusing on identity, culture, and the pursuit of dreams through rich narratives.
  • "All Of Us Strangers" depicts diverse lives intertwining amidst a global crisis, exploring survival, connection, and human resilience.
  • "Saltburn" is a thriller about a family in northern England grappling with identity and belonging, set against a backdrop of personal and societal challenges.