Michael Shannon

CHICAGO – “When two great saints meet, it’s a humbling experience,” said Paul McCartney of John and Yoko. Well that also applies to “Elvis & Nixon.” Their meeting, albeit brief, has layers of meaning for our times – and their time – and the movie with the “E&N” title exposes that meaning with humor and grace.

CHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 10 pairs of guaranteed movie tickets up for grabs to the highly anticipated film “Elvis & Nixon” starring Michael Shannon as Elvis Presley and Kevin Spacey as Richard Nixon!

CHICAGO – Writer/Director Jeff Nichols is a pure American voice, understanding the dreams of the U.S. culture, and how those dreams interact with the morality they create. After breaking out with the films “Take Shelter” and “Mud,” he is back with his latest cinema vision, “Midnight Special.”

CHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 20 pairs of advance-screening movie passes up for grabs to the SXSW Film Festival sci-fi hit “Midnight Special” starring Michael Shannon and Jaeden Lieberher!

CHICAGO – The tradition of the holiday party gets a workout in “The Night Before,” as three friends take a Christmas Eve walk through the environs of New York City, and make their merry journey an unforgettable night of libation enhancement, magic moments and yes, the Holiday Spirit.

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Bruce Dern, lead actor in ‘Nebraska,’ directed by Alexander Payne.

CHICAGO – On the most exciting moments of any major film premiere is the red carpet, on which the film stars, directors and producers appear for photos and interviews. At the 2013 49th Chicago International Film Festival, there were several major red carpet events, and HollywoodChicago.com was there to cover them.

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Michael Shannon of ‘Man of Steel,’ ‘Boardwalk Empire’ and ‘Take Shelter.’

CHICAGO – Last month’s 2013 version of the Wizard World Comic Con in Chicago was a memorable event, with appearances of Marvel Comic’s legend Stan Lee, favorites from the new Star Trek movies, ‘The Man of Steel,’ ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ and TV’s ‘Homeland,’ ‘The Walking Dead’ ‘Heroes’ and ‘Hawaii Five-0.’ HollywoodChicago.com was there to capture Exclusive Portraits.

CHICAGO – HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” found a narrative urgency and a deep sense of poetic melancholy in 2012’s season three, the best of the program’s run to date.

CHICAGO – Place the Superman legend into the hands of director Zack Snyder (“Watchmen”) and storyteller/producer Christopher Nolan (“Dark Knight”), and old Supes is bound for a makeover in “Man of Steel.” When it works, it’s adds to a legend’s richness. When it doesn’t, it is less than hero.

CHICAGO – From the CGI-heavy attack on Krypton that opens Zack Snyder’s “Man of Steel” to its soaring finale, I had the same reaction -– where’s the “Man half? Snyder’s attempt to reboot the Superman legacy with the loving assistance of David Goyer and Christopher Nolan of “The Dark Knight” fame gets the superhero part but misses the humanity at the core of this legendary character.