February 2024

CHICAGO – The 2024 Chicago Irish Film Festival celebrates it’s 25th Anniversary and the Opening Night is February 29th, with the drama “Verdigris.” The in-person fest is through March 3rd, and the online fest is March 4th-10th. Click IRISH FEST for tickets and details.

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Ben Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on February 22th, 2024, reviewing the Apple TV+ series “The New Look,” which profiles the real people and their WW2-era decisions, behind fashion’s greatest names and brands. Currently streaming on the Apple TV+ platform.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Ben Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on February 22th, 2024, reviewing “Drive-Away Dolls,” a new film from absurdist master Ethan Coen. In theaters beginning February 23rd.

CHICAGO – The roots of freedom and redemption for Black Americans in their history in this country is within the Black church and its joyful noise. PBS and Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. (“Finding Your Roots”) presents a special overview for Black History Month 2024 of the influential music not only in the Black culture but all popular music culture in the new docuseries entitled “Gospel”

CHICAGO – The popularity of symphonic orchestras providing live soundtracks to classic films is about to get the series treatment in the Windy City. The Chicago Philharmonic and the Auditorium Theatre presents the Auditorium Philms Concert Series, taking place at the Auditorium Theatre. The first film in the series will be “Blade Runner” on Saturday, February 17th, 2024.

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Bob Marley One Love,” the music biopic of the famous Jamaican reggae legend during his most fertile international fame period in the 1970s up until his early demise from cancer in 1981. In theaters on February 14th.

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Madame Web,” a spin-off (grin) of Spider-Man, who first appeared in Marvel Comics back in 1980. This origin story also features a three-woman team (teenagers in the film) that also eventually spin their webs. In theaters on February 14th.

CHICAGO – Bill Murray is a son of Chicagoland, born and raised in the area and beginning his career at The Second City. To honor his friend and collaborator Harold Ramis, Murray made an appearance on February 2nd, 2024, on Chicago’s Navy Pier on behalf of Harold Ramis Day and of course his classic film “Groundhog Day.”

CHICAGO – Maria Bamford has been a top comic force since her breakthrough in the first decade of the millennium. She will be appearing on the Super Bowl Sunday edition of CBS-TV’s @FTER MIDNIGHT, the new show hosted by Taylor Tomlinson after “Late Night with Stephen Colbert.” Appearing alongside her will be A-listers Wayne Brady and Kevin Smith.

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Anselm,” a new documentary by director Wim Wenders highlighting the career of artist Anselm Kiefer … now showing in the latest Digital 3-D tech at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre beginning February 2nd. For additional screenings, see local listings.

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on February 8th, 2024, reviewing “Suncoast,” a re-exploration of the Terri Schiavo case through a fictional nearby family. Streaming on HULU beginning February 9th.

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on February 8th, 2024, reviewing “Lisa Frankenstein,” an adaptation of the famous Monster story, from a 1980s point of view. In theaters on February 9th.

CHICAGO – The internet has invented news ways to harass people, and the category of celebrity has taken the brunt force of it all. Dana Delany is one such A-lister, who began an online communication with a anonymous teen, and tells about it live in “Highway Patrol,” at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre through February 18th. For information and tickets, click HIGHWAY.

CHICAGO – In 1997. Filmmaker Kevin Smith released his third film (after “Clerks” and “Mallrats”) entitled “Chasing Amy.” The story, featuring Joey Lauren Adams, is about a lesbian whose fluidly also includes a romantic relationship with a man. Watching this film was a young female born person who was questioning their own identity, and used the film as a touch point for these feelings. Years later, that person is director Sav Rodgers, and he made a documentary about his experiences with the film in coming to self and its complicated history in “Chasing Chasing Amy.”