July 2024

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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.

CHICAGO – Last month was historic as two titans of film and filmmaking – Chicago and the Sundance Institute of Park City, Utah – launched a collaborative weekend that signaled a cooperation that has expansion plans. Filmmakers, actors, the Chicago Mayor and Sundance officials were on the Red Carpet.

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio review for the doc series “Charlie Hustle & the Matter of Pete Rose,” about the rise and bitter fall of the major league legend, the MLB’s all-time hits leader, only to be banned from the sport because of gambling. Streaming on MAX and on HBO since July 24th.

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on July 25th, reviewing “Made in England: The Films of Powell & Pressburger,” in theaters beginning July 26th, and will be playing throughout August in select markets.

CHICAGO –In “Wolverine & Deadpool” we witness the complete and utter exhaustion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This movie is like sitting next to a particularly annoying Twitter/X feed that never stops announcing its own cleverness, but whose quips aren’t nearly as funny as it thinks they are. I may be in the minority, but I’ve always found Deadpool to be a little exhausting.

CHICAGO – Scheduled within the recent 2024 Chicago Critics Film Festival was “Shorts Program #2.” During that event … curated by CCFF shorts programmer Collin Souter … the Windy City was introduced to Filmmaker Sarah Lasley, with her surreal, expressive and brilliant short “Welcome to the Enclave.”

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Find Me Falling,” featuring Harry Connick Jr. as a depressed rock star and the Greek island country he escapes to go back to his past to help his present. Streaming on Netflix beginning on July 19th.

CHICAGO – “Twisters” is the kind of movie seemingly engineered to be seen on a big screen, accompanied by ear splitting sound that rattles your seat. And in that kind of environment, it’s exactly the kind of big dumb popcorn movie it sets out to be, even if it doesn’t add up to much once it’s all over.

CHICAGO – The power of performance is on unique display in “Sing Sing,” expanding in theaters this August. It’s directed/co-adapted by Greg Kwedar and features the consummate Colman Domingo. The film is set in the infamous prison, as the incarcerated become a troupe of actors, and how it changes their lives.

CHICAGO – In filmmaking, the short film is usually the medium where most potential directors do their first works or present a shorter version of what they hope will become a longer film or simply that they prefer that length of story-telling. One of the short films fests that has been around Chicago for several years is the “Big Teeth Small Shorts” presentation, and the founder of Big Teeth Productions … Gregg Jaffe …will be facilitating their Summer ’24 Live Screening on Thursday, July 18th, at FACETS Cinema in Chicago’s DePaul Neighborhood. For details and tickets, click BIG TEETH.

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Fly Me the Moon,” an alternative history satire about the Apollo 11 first-msn-on-the-moon mission, featuring Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum and Woody Harrelson. In theaters on July 12th.

CHICAGO – Singer/songwriter Richard Knight Jr. believes that “Love is Possible,” so that is the title of his latest album. He will be performing selections from that album and more as he appears at SPACE in Evanston, Illinois, on Monday July 15th, along with Gerald Dowd. For tickets and details, click SPACE.

CHICAGO – It’s been an exciting year so far for the gem of film exhibition, FACETS Cinema in Chicago’s DePaul Neighborhood. And spearheading that excitement is Executive Director Karen Cardarelli, who began in that position in the pandemic year of 2020 and has shepherded FACET’s growth and new programming, in addition to becoming a leader in Chicago’s film scene.

CHICAGO – Right before the historic Sundance X Chicago summit a new website was launched, two years in the making, ChicagoScreens.org. The site is the first ever one-stop destination spotlighting Chicago area film festivals (with an emphasis on independents) and film series. The site is the brainchild of the recently formed Chicago Alliance of Film Festivals (CAFF).

CHICAGO – The Steppenwolf Theatre of Chicago continues to provide different viewpoints on the American stage, and their latest “Little Bear Ridge Road” is no exception. Featuring ensemble member Laurie Metcalf, it’s the resonate story of a family at the crossroads. For tickets/details, click LITTLE BEAR.