CHICAGO – “When you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet all the way … “ And there is no more appropriate way to lyrically pay tribute to a classic staging of the Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim musical, “West Side Story.” There is a new staging currently at Lyric Opera of Chicago, which runs through June 2nd, 2019. Click here for more details and tickets.
HollywoodChicago.com Arts & Entertainment News
Podtalk: Alison Klayman on ‘The Brink,’ Her New Documentary Profiling Steve Bannon
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 6, 2019 - 10:21amCHICAGO – What does the title of Alison Klayman’s new documentary, “The Brink,” mean? On the surface, it is a fly-on-the-wall profile of right wing operative Steve Bannon, who worked for Donald Trump’s campaign in 2016 and was on his executive staff at the White House, until he unceremoniously resigned.
Interview: Dillon Schneider of ‘Best Video’ Nominee at American Country Music Awards
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 5, 2019 - 10:14pmCHICAGO – Dillon Schneider is the quintessential local man made good. A graduate of Chicagoland’s Barrington High School and the city’s Columbia College, Schneider was the cinematographer for the music video “Burn Out” by Midland, which is nominated for Best Video at the 54th American Country Music (ACM) Awards, coming up on April 7th, 2019.
Podtalk: Wendy Mateo of ‘Good Mothers’ at 35th Chicago Latino Film Festival, April 7, 2019
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 5, 2019 - 8:14pmCHICAGO – The 35th Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) continues this week through April 11th, 2019, with a ghostly double feature. The short film “Good Mothers” (USA) is about two sisters building an altar to their mother, which conjures her spirit for 24 hours. Writer/director/Lead Actor Wendy Mateo will represent the film at the screening on April 7th, paired with “My Girlfriend’s Ghost” (Dominican Republic). For more details and tickets, click here.
Film Review: ‘Shazam!’ is a Paint by Numbers Superhero Movie
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 5, 2019 - 9:04amCHICAGO – The former Captain Marvel (story below) is now “Shazam!,” and has his own film in the DC Comics universe. Zachary Levi portrays the title character, now with a new origin to go along with his new name. Speaking of that, no new ground is broken in this pretty standard foster-kid-makes-good hero epic.
Interview: U.S Premiere of ‘Humanpersons’ at 35th Chicago Latino Film Fest, April 3, 2019
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 2, 2019 - 1:45pmCHICAGO – The 35th Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) continues this week with the special U.S. Premiere of “Humanpersons,” a searing Spain/Panama/Brazil co-produced drama on human trafficking, specifically for the harvesting of transplant organs. Writer/director Frank Spano, a Spanish/South American filmmaker and actor, completed this second feature recently, and filmed some scenes in the State of Illinois. He will make an appearance at the premiere, which will be at 6pm on April 3rd, 2019. For more details and tickets, click here.
Podtalk: Chicago Co-Producer JoAnn Fakhouri on Digital Release of ‘Dreams I Never Had’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 1, 2019 - 6:50pmCHICAGO – Immigration is a hot-button topic in our current landscape, and director Iyad Hajjaj has pushed that button with his latest film, “Dreams I Never Had.” The spin in the story is based on truth, where a teenage girl – trafficked illegally into America – is attached to a family to essentially become their domestic laborer. Chicagoan JoAnn Fakhouri was the co-producer on the project, and brought in some Chicago talent to contribute to the production. “Dreams I Never Had” is now available for download on Amazon Prime Video and other digital outlets.
Film Review: Historical Drama is Fortified by Technique in 'Sunset'
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 1, 2019 - 12:19pmCHICAGO – History is made when you’re often busy making other plans. That is ardently illustrated in “Sunset,” a drama set early in the second decade of the 20th Century in the on-the-brink-of-revolution capital of Budapest, Hungary. A retail store is the town’s centerpiece, plus there is a mysterious woman associated with that store, until she isn’t.
Podtalk: Midwest Independent Film Fest Screens ‘Same Boat’ on Apr. 2, 2019
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 1, 2019 - 11:00amCHICAGO – Combining time travel and a cruise ship has never been so hilarious. So describes this unique and magical “Same Boat” (directed by Chris Roberti and written by Roberti with Josh Itzkowitz), is a Chicago Premiere at the Midwest Independent Film Festival on April 2nd, 2019. Click here for tickets and details.
Film Review: ‘The Beach Bum’ is a Sharp Stick Satire by Harmony Korine
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 29, 2019 - 5:48pmCHICAGO – The beach life is the paradise that most Americans aspire to, and either get it when they’re not ready or when they’re too old. The off-kilter director Harmony Korine (Spring Breakers) presupposes all of the life through Matthew McConaughey, in an incredible tour de farce called, appropriately, “The Beach Bum.”
Film Review: Tim Burton’s Version of ‘Dumbo’ is Disappointingly Glum
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 29, 2019 - 7:06amCHICAGO – For reasons which remain unexplained, Walt Disney Studios and director Tim Burton have decided to weigh down the sweet story of a flying elephant with a whole pachyderm’s worth of pathos. The animated original clocked in as one of Disney’s shortest full length animated features. But the live action version drags us through nearly an extra hour’s worth of post-World War One misery.
Film News: 35th Chicago Latino Film Festival Opening Night with ‘Yuli’ on Mar, 28, 2019
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 28, 2019 - 11:56amCHICAGO – One of the oldest Latino Film Festivals is right here in the Windy City, as the 35th edition of the Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) kicks off with a Cuban/Spain/UK/German film entitled “Yuli” on March 28th, 2019, at the AMC River East 21 in the Streeterville neighborhood. This Opening Night and its gala after celebrates a Night of Cuba. Although the event is sold out, click here for additional information.
Interview: Chicago’s Asian Pop-up Cinema Features ‘High Flash’ on Mar. 28, 2019
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 28, 2019 - 10:19amCHICAGO – It’s week three in Season Eight of Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema (APUC), featuring films from Taiwan. On Thursday, March 28th, 2019, APUC will screen “High Flash,” a whodunnit thriller mixing romance, corporate intrigue, the environment and politics.
Interview: Chicago’s Asian Pop-up Cinema Features ‘Sen Sen’ on Mar. 27, 2019
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 26, 2019 - 8:01pmCHICAGO – It’s week three of Season Eight of Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema (APUC), featuring films from Taiwan. On Wednesday, March 27th, 2019, APUC will screen “Sen Sen,” an emotional film about death, dying and celebrating life, featuring the legendary Hong Kong actress Nina Paw Hee-ching.
