What role does a film critic play in critiquing culture and politics today? Participants joined Nevada Humanities and the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) for a special talk and presentation by Chicago Tribune's film critic, Michael Phillips, as he discussed the relevancy of art and film during challenging political times. After a short talk, there was screening of the Nevada-filmed John Huston film, The Misfits, and a Q+A with Philips followed the film. The conversation was moderated by Katherine Fusco, Associate Professor of English, UNR. To learn more about this event, visit the Nevada Humanities website.
Michael Phillips is the Chicago Tribune's film critic, covering everything from Godzilla to the latest in Turkish cinema. He has appeared on Turner Classic Movies, "CBS Saturday Morning," "Charlie Rose," and the long-running nationally syndicated program "At the Movies." He joined the Tribune in 2002 as a theater critic, a post he previously held at the Los Angeles Times; the San Diego Union-Tribune; the St. Paul Pioneer Press; and the Dallas Times-Herald. He appears regularly on the popular Chicago Public Radio show "Filmspotting."
This program was made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Reynolds School of Journalism at the UNR, the Hilliard Endowment, and the UNR department of English Public Occasions Committee and Distinguished Speakers Fund. This program was also a part of the "Democracy and the Informed Citizen" Initiative, administered by the Federation of State Humanities Councils. We thank The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for their generous support and the Pulitzer Prizes for their partnership.