From Vocalo Radio 91.1 FM in Chicago, Reggie Ponder is The Reel Critic — Vocalo’s resident film expert. Every week, join Reggie as he interviews industry professionals and breaks down box office numbers, film festivals and the “reel talk” on movies… ‘The Reel Critic’ on Vocalo is a collaboration between Reggie Ponder and Vocalo Radio 91.1 FM in Chicago. For more of Vocalo’s arts and culture coverage, visit Vocalo.org.
“One Battle After Another” is "frenetic, chaotic and just plain weird"
One Battle After Another (2025) · Sep 26, 2025
"Love, Brooklyn" is full of mixed messages, dishonesty and smooth tension
Love, Brooklyn (2025) · Sep 5, 2025
“I Know What You Did Last Summer” is a mysterious blood bath
I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) · Aug 22, 2025
“Highest 2 Lowest” is a provocative look at culture and legacy
Highest 2 Lowest (2025) · Aug 21, 2025
Family over fame in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”
The Fantastic 4: First Steps (2025) · Aug 14, 2025
Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio return in the latest ‘Karate Kid’ installment
Karate Kid: Legends (2025) · May 29, 2025
‘Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning’ explores how “our lives are the sum
of our choices”
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (2025) · May 23, 2025
‘Another Simple Favor’ is not exactly simple, and not exactly a favor
Another Simple Favor (2025) · May 2, 2025
'Daughters' is a powerful documentary touching on love, loss and redemption
Daughters (2024) · Mar 7, 2025
‘Captain America: Brave New World’ is about “redemption, revenge and renewal”
Captain America: Brave New World (2025) · Feb 25, 2025
Ke Huy Quan stars in Valentine’s-themed action film ‘Love Hurts’
Love Hurts (2025) · Feb 14, 2025
In 'Unstoppable,' wrestler Anthony Robles' journey stands out as a story for the
ages
Unstoppable (2024) · Jan 10, 2025
‘Albany Road’ explores resentment, reconciliation and repentance
Albany Road (2024) · Dec 13, 2024
‘The Piano Lesson’ challenges viewers to confront their past and consider their
legacy
The Piano Lesson (2024) · Dec 6, 2024
John David Washington says his role in ‘The Piano Lesson’ made him a better
artist
The Piano Lesson (2024) · Nov 8, 2024
Adam Elliot hopes 'Memoir of a Snail' makes audiences laugh and cry
Memoir of a Snail (2024) · Oct 25, 2024
‘The Piano Lesson’ adaptation opens Chicago International Film Festival
The Piano Lesson (2024) · Oct 18, 2024
‘Joker’ sequel “intrigues, but doesn’t quite satisfy”
Joker: Folie à Deux (2024) · Oct 10, 2024
The Reel Critic: ‘Sing Sing’ champions the human spirit
Let the Canary Sing (2023) · Aug 9, 2024
Producers of ‘Sing Sing’ say vulnerability brings us closer together
Sing Sing (2024) · Aug 8, 2024
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ unites unlikely friends and foes
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) · Jul 29, 2024
Music-based film ‘Dandelion’ explores power, passion and second chances
Dandelion (2024) · Jul 11, 2024
In ‘Sing Sing,’ an arts program in a prison stokes empathy and compassion
Sing Sing (2024) · Jul 9, 2024
The Reel Critic: ‘Back to Black’ Champions Winehouse’s Music
Back to Black (2024) · May 17, 2024
‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Brings Forth A New Reign
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) · May 13, 2024
The Reel Critic: ‘Monkey Man’ Is Cultural, Compelling And Complicated
Monkey Man (2024) · Apr 5, 2024
'Shirley': New Biopic Shines A “Well Overdue” Spotlight On Shirley Chisholm
Shirley (2024) · Apr 2, 2024
Godzilla x Kong: Epic Battles In A New Empire
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024) · Mar 29, 2024
‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’ Is A Satirical Journey Through Race And
Identity
The American Society of Magical Negroes (2024) · Mar 15, 2024
‘Sacred Soil’ Shines A Light On Historic Piney Woods School
Sacred Soil: The Piney Woods School Story (2024) · Feb 26, 2024
The Reel Critic: “One Love” Transcends Bob Marley’s Music
Bob Marley: One Love (2024) · Feb 16, 2024
The Reel Critic: “One Love” Transcends Bob Marley’s Music
Bob Marley: One Love (2024) · Feb 16, 2024
Ava DuVernay’s ‘Origin’ Emphasizes the Intersection of Race and Caste
Origin (2023) · Jan 29, 2024
Part 2: The Women Of 'The Color Purple' On The Big Screen
The Color Purple (2023) · Dec 28, 2023
‘The Color Purple’ Presents The Musical In Full Technicolor
The Color Purple (2023) · Dec 27, 2023
For Archie Madekwe & Alison Oliver, 'Saltburn' Is Brilliantly Indescribable
Saltburn (2023) · Dec 26, 2023
‘The Color Purple’ Musical Heads To The Big Screen With Fantasia Barrino,
Danielle Brooks and Taraji P. Henson
The Color Purple (2023) · Dec 15, 2023
‘American Fiction’ Explores Literary Industry And Familial Bonds
American Fiction (2023) · Dec 8, 2023
'The Ballad Of Songbird & Snakes' Throws Fans Back Into 'The Hunger Games'
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) · Nov 20, 2023
'Rustin': In Conversation With Colman Domingo & Director George C. Wolfe
Rustin (2023) · Nov 17, 2023
‘The Holdovers’ and ‘The Marvels’ Present Tales of Unexpected Alliances and
Female Empowerment
The Holdovers (2023) · Nov 10, 2023
Raven Jackson Talks Sound Design, Black Love Stories & 'All Dirt Roads Taste
of Salt'
All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt (2023) · Nov 6, 2023
Director Raven Jackson Discusses 'All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt' with The Reel
Critic
All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt (2023) · Oct 20, 2023
The Reel Critic Talks 'Stephen Curry: Underrated'
Stephen Curry: Underrated (2023) · Aug 11, 2023
The Reel Critic Triple-Feature: 'Haunted Mansion,' 'The League' & 'Black Ice'
Haunted Mansion (2023) · Jul 28, 2023
The Reel Critic Triple-Feature: 'Haunted Mansion,' 'The League' & 'Black Ice'
The League (2023) · Jul 28, 2023
The Reel Critic Reviews 'Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1'
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) · Jul 14, 2023
The Reel Critic Goes Back In Time With 'Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny'
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) · Jun 30, 2023
The Reel Critic Double-Feature: ‘The Flash’ And ‘The Blackening’
The Flash (2023) · Jun 16, 2023
The Reel Critic Discusses 'The Blackening' With Writer Dewayne Perkins
The Blackening (2023) · Jun 14, 2023
The Reel Critic Reviews ‘Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts’
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023) · Jun 9, 2023
The Reel Critic Travels 'Across The Spider-Verse'
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) · Jun 2, 2023
The Reel Critic Goes Under The Sea With 'The Little Mermaid'
The Little Mermaid (2023) · May 26, 2023
The Reel Critic Speaks With The Stars Of ‘About My Father’
About My Father (2023) · May 12, 2023
The Reel Critic: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) · May 5, 2023
Reggie Ponder Talks With Creator And Cast Of Film ‘Spinning Gold’
Spinning Gold (2023) · Mar 24, 2023
"The Reel Critic" reviews 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.’
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) · Feb 17, 2023
The Reel Critic Reviews ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’
Magic Mike's Last Dance (2023) · Feb 10, 2023
The Reel Critic: Will Smith and Director Antoine Fuqua Discuss Freedom and
‘Emancipation’
Emancipation (2022) · Jan 6, 2023
The Reel Critic Reviews ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022) · Dec 27, 2022
The Reel Critic Reviews ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) · Dec 16, 2022
The Reel Critic Reviews ‘Black Panther' sequel, 'Wakanda Forever’
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) · Nov 11, 2022
‘Aftershock’ Sheds Light On The Maternal Health Crisis And The Need For Change
Aftershock (2020) · Sep 12, 2022
Reggie Ponder Chats with Dir. Kasi Lemmons for the 25th Anniversary of Her Film
‘Eve’s Bayou’
Eve's Bayou (1997) · Sep 2, 2022
The Reel Critic Reviews 'Space Jam: A New Legacy'
Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021) · Jul 16, 2021
The Reel Critic Reviews 'Summer Of Soul,' 'Zola,' and 'Summertime'
Summertime (1955) · Jul 2, 2021
The Reel Critic Reviews 'Summer Of Soul,' 'Zola,' and 'Summertime'
Parasite (2019) · Jul 2, 2021
Reggie Ponder Pays tribute to Cicely Tyson and Reviews 'The Little Things'
The Little Things (2021) · Jan 29, 2021
Reggie Ponder Reviews 'Our Friend' and 'The White Tiger'
The White Tiger (2021) · Jan 22, 2021
The Reel Critic on 'One Night In Miami' and 'MLK FBI'
One Night in Miami... (2020) · Jan 15, 2021
The Reel Critic reviews "Ford vs. Ferrari" and "The Good Liar"
The Good Liar (2019) · Nov 15, 2019
Film Critics Seven and Reggie Ponder discuss "Us," "The Upside," and "If Beale
Street Could Talk"
If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) · Jan 11, 2019