Paul Willistein
Program HostPaul Willistein is Editor of the Lehigh Valley Press Focus section, a position he has held since 2008. He has received more than 30 Keystone Media state newspaper journalism awards and an Allentown Arts Commission Arts Ovation Award. He reviews movies and theater and writes features stories about arts and entertainment, news stories about municipal and school topics and takes photographs for Lehigh Valley Press newspapers and websites.
He has taught screenwriting and media studies at Northampton Community College. He was marketing and public relations director at The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. For 22 years, he worked at The Morning Call, where he was Features Editor, Arts Editor and Entertainment Editor. He worked for the former Bethlehem Globe-Times as Arts Editor, Night Editor and News Reporter. He studied American Studies and film-making at Syracuse University and attended Southern Lehigh High School.
He has written, directed and produced documentary films, some of which have been telecast on public television stations, and narrative fiction films, some of which have been shown in film festivals. He was host and producer of “Hot Splices,” a movie review-interview show; producer and co-host with Michael Gontkosky of ”The Movie Show,” a movie review show, and “Valley Arts,” a Lehigh Valley arts interview show, all telecast on RCN. He is a songwriter, having co-written “Do The Dutch (Hey Now)” with Steve Brosky and Mike Krisukas.
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Said to be the final feature animation film from Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, this mythic journey provides beautiful animation and dizzying action scenes.
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Disney's newest animated film commemorates the 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company, with Ariana DeBose and Chris Pine in feature voice roles.
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The epic action/adventure/biography directed by Ridley Scott features Joaquin Phoenix in the title role and Vanessa Kirby as Napoleon’s wife Josephine.
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Alexander Payne and Paul Giamatti team up in this comedy drama, which proves to be a charming and wise film. Also starring Da'Vine Joy Randolph and newcomer Dominic Sessa.
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The action, adventure, fantasy film is a sequel to the 2019 "Captain Marvel." Featuring Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, and Kamala Khan.
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The biographical drama film is directed by Sofia Coppola and features Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi as Priscilla and Elvis Presley.
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The concert film is the next best thing to attending a Taylor Swift concert. Featuring around 40 songs from the Berks County local, the movie takes audiences on a journey through the new "Queen of Pop's" various eras.
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Paul Willistein reviews the Western crime drama, which is based on the killing of Osage Native Americans in Oklahoma during the 1920s to obtain oil rights to their land. The film is directed by Martin Scorsese and stars Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Lily Gladstone.
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The biography/comedy/drama based on the true story of GameStop during the Covid-19 pandemic features stars like Paul Dano, America Ferrera, Nick Offerman, Seth Rogen and more.
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The comedy/drama film about a religious pilgrimage from Ireland to France features powerhouse actresses Laura Linney, Kathy Bates, Agnes O'Casey, and Dame Maggie Smith.