Movie musings

The new Michael Jackson film repeatedly emphasizes cinema as a source of inspiration for the "King of Pop." Here, we break down the many movies (and books adapted into movies) referenced in 'Michael.'

Staying home with your special someone or kicking back solo are perfect ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day — so long as you have a good movie to watch! Here are four streaming movies to keep your heart full this weekend.

When Robert Redford visited Iowa City for the 1976 Refocus Festival at the University of Iowa, he made quite the impression on one student, who had the honor of hosting him for dinner. Decades later, and a month after his death, she remembers what it was like to sit across the table from the Hollywood star.

From his golden hair and blue eyes to his striking smile and charming nature, actor Robert Redford was a Hollywood heartthrob. He was also an award-winning director, a producer, an industry leader and a political activist. Although his career and life have come to a close, he left us with decades of great films to revisit and discover. If you haven’t had the chance to fall in love with Redford yet, here’s where to start.

The cult craze of The Room hits Iowa this week, with Greg Sestero (Oh, hi Mark) set to appear in-person at screenings in Davenport and Des Moines. Widely considered to be the worst movie ever made, fans of The Room continue to flock to theaters for a rowdy good time. Don’t forget the plastic spoons!

This weekend, audiences in Des Moines will have the opportunity to hear from Joseph Giunta, the music director and conductor at the Des Moines Symphony, during the Varsity Cinema’s two-night premiere of Maestro. Giunta will share stories about his time working with legendary conductor Leonard Bernstein before the 7 p.m. screenings on Dec. 15 and 16.