Patrick McDonald

CHICAGO – HollywoodChicago.com brings you our red-carpet interviews with the stars of “Barbershop: The Next Cut”! We speak with Ice Cube, Common, Cedric the Entertainer, Anthony Anderson, Deon Cole and Regina Hall at the Chicago premiere on March 14, 2016.

CHICAGO – The “Divergent” series of films are coming to a conclusion, with a two parter adapted from the last book. The first film is “The Divergent Series: Allegiant - Part 1,” and there are some new kids in the mix, with two actors who have made their mark overseas – Nadia Hilker and Bill Skarsgard – joining the series.

CHICAGO – The Asian Pop-Up Cinema Series, spotlighting a variety of diverse Asian films, continues its 2016 season with the film, “Zinnia Flower,” directed by Tom Shu-yu Lin. Mr. Lin will make an appearance at the screening, beginning at 7:30pm on Wednesday, March 16th, 2016, at the AMC River East Theater in Chicago.

CHICAGO – It will be a director’s “Debutante Ball” as filmmaker Bradley Bischoff comes into the spotlight at the historic Music Box Theatre in Chicago, at a showcase event presented by the Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP Chicago) and the theatre on March 16, 2016. Bischoff will showcase his short film package, and talk about the pre-production of his first feature film, “The Grasshopper.”

CHICAGO – She’s the daughter of Hollywood royalty, but managed to carve out her own career as a film actress and entrepreneur. Kate Hudson can now add author to her list of accomplishments as she came to Chicagoland to promote “Pretty Happy: Healthy Ways to Love Your Body.”

CHICAGO – I’ve been quoting Martin Scorsese over the years, that he said “movies are a psychotic’s feverish dream on display.” In searching for those words, I found he never said it. He did say they are “dreams with eyes open.” So let us combine the two quotes in analyzing Terence Malick’s “Knight of Cups.”

CHICAGO – The Chicago Film Critics Association (CCFA) has announced the first wave of films that will be presented at the 4th Annual Chicago Critics Film Festival (CCFF). The fest dates are May 20th to the 26th, 2016, will it will take place at the historic Music Box Theatre in Chicago.

CHICAGO – Last week, one of the most diverse film festivals of the year in Chicago opened with the Swedish film “The Paradise Suite.” The 19th Annual Chicago European Union Film Fest will be at the Gene Siskel Film Center on State Street. With countries ranging from Austria to Slovakia, European cinema voices will be available to the Chicagoland area through March 31st, 2016.

CHICAGO – In the midst of all the Oscar-oriented news, Chicago’s best movie venue – the Music Box Theatre – has been conducting an “ultimate” 70mm Film Festival. It is the last four days of this fest, so this is a reminder to experience it if you haven’t already. 70mm refers to a historical widescreen film format that expresses an amazing cinema canvas, and was used with great fanfare in Quentin Tarantino’s most recent film, “The Hateful Eight.”

CHICAGO – It was a celebration in late January for Women in Film Chicago, as the organization showcased notable women in media with their annual Focus Awards. Advertising guru Jean Batthany, director Kris Swanberg, Editor Kathryn Hempel and writer/actress Megan Mercier were the honorees.