The Public (2018) review

During a particularly chilly winter in Cincinnati, the homeless folk use the public library as a shelter from the cold (and to use their computers) but when they refuse to leave one night - because they have no place to go - embattled librarian Stuart (Estevez) lets them stay overnight, which draws police and media attention.  I'm not sure who ever told Emilio that he could (and should) write (or direct) but he's not exactly skilled in those areas: the movie is needlessly long and tedious, existing only to reiterate one rudimentary idea, that the homeless should be treated with respect and dignity (it also milks the mentally ill and has patrons ask dumb questions for 'comedic purposes').  At the very least, he was able to assemble a solid cast - Alec Baldwin, Taylor Schilling, Michael K. Williams, Jena Malone, the great Jeffrey Wright - but gives them little to work with.  Also egregious: aside from one mention of Steinbeck, it has little to do with actual literature.  Read more.