CHICAGO – Excelsior! Comic book legend Stan Lee’s famous exclamation puts a fine point on the third and final play of Mark Pracht’s FOUR COLOR TRILOGY, “The House of Ideas,” presented by and staged at City Lit Theater in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood. For tickets/details, click HOUSE OF IDEAS.
Australia
Podtalk: Danny & MIchael Philippou for Their Film ‘Talk to Me’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 25, 2023 - 10:17pmCHICAGO – True unforgettable scares in a horror film are few and far between, despite many attempts. The unsettling air of the new film “Talk to Me” is lingering, as created by two Australian brothers and YouTube sensations, Danny & Michael Philippou. Their channel RackaRacka gave them the opportunity to make their debut film.
Podtalk: Aisling Franciosi Takes the Lead in ‘The Nightingale’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 13, 2019 - 4:33pmCHICAGO – The “star is born” expression is not to be used lightly, yet it absolutely applies to the performance of Aisling Franciosi (Lyanna Stark in “Game of Thrones”) in the role of Clare for “The Nightingale.” As a late 19th Century woman with nothing to lose, she suffers an emotional death, a survival rebirth and humanist hope.
Podtalk: Aisling Franciosi at 7th Chicago Critics Film Festival
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 23, 2019 - 3:34pmCHICAGO – The discovery of rising stars is among the many things the Chicago Critics Film Festival (CCFF) does best, and that continued on May 19th, 2019, at the 7th annual fest. Aisling Franciosi is the lead actress of “The Nightingale,” a new film from Jennifer Kent (“The Babadook”), and she appeared on behalf of the film.
Film Review: Diversity & High Quality in 2018 Oscar-Nominated Live Action Short Films
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 13, 2018 - 9:06amCHICAGO – From deafness to religious conflict to one of the most vicious events in American history, the Oscar nominated Live Action short films fulfill the drama, emotions and even laughs in a compact form. The 2018 Live Action Shorts nominees are being shown in one program, locally at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema in Chicago. Click here for more information. The Animations Shorts are also being shown.
Film Review: ‘Lion’ Can’t Quite Tame Audience’s Hearts
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 30, 2016 - 12:07pmCHICAGO – “Lion” is the kind of inspirational-triumph-over-insurmountable-odds and adversity stories that’s bound to appeal to grandmothers and Academy voters, and it does offer plenty of material to tug at the heartstrings. But it’s a movie that only gets the job half done, and unfortunately loses its way once Nicole Kidman comes into the picture.
Film Review: Strong Cast Turns on ‘The Light Between Oceans’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 2, 2016 - 1:30pmCHICAGO – In the early 1970s, “Love Story” was all the rage, with its catchphrase “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” Just as sudsy, and with its own catchphrase, is “The Light Between the Oceans.” The film, set in the early 20th Century, salvages a by-the-numbers tale with fine performances.
Interview: Producer Marla Gamze to Present ‘Artists of the First Sunrise’ in Chicago on Nov. 14, 2015
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 12, 2015 - 1:55pmCHICAGO – The traditions and ceremony of our tribal past have eventually become homogenized in modern society. But there are some parts of the world where those traditions still exist, and much of it has a connection to art, dance, design, music and ritual. Executive Producer Marla Gamze is working on a new documentary – “Artists of the First Sunrise” – about the indigenous Aboriginal tribes of Australia, a native population that still bond to their tradition and expression.
Exclusive Portrait: Russell Crowe in Chicago for ‘The Water Diviner’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 23, 2015 - 3:23pmCHICAGO – Actor and Oscar Winner Russell Crowe, known for films such as “L.A. Confidential,” “Gladiator,” “A Beautiful Mind,” “Cinderella Man,” “Les Miserables” and “Man of Steel,” breaks out in his directorial debut and also stars in “The Water Diviner,” a story of war and his native Australia.
Film Review: ‘The Sapphires’ Don’t Fit Inside its 1960s Setting
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 30, 2013 - 12:53amCHICAGO – “The Sapphires” is inspired by a true story, about an Australian girl group who entertains the troops in 1968 Viet Nam. There is little feeling regarding the era the film is portraying, and it’s essentially used as a vehicle for period pop songs that have been heard before.
Interview: Director Wayne Blair, Jessica Mauboy of ‘The Sapphires’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 25, 2013 - 10:43amCHICAGO – In other countries and cultures, there are parallel moments going on that are interesting mirrors to U.S. history. In “The Sapphires,” a girl group from Australia entertains the troops in Viet Nam, with many of the same U.S. issues of war, peace and social discord. The film is directed by Wayne Blair and features Jessica Mauboy.