HollywoodChicago.com Arts & Entertainment News

Podtalk: Paul Raci, Divine Eye Maclin & Dino Johnson of ‘Sing Sing’

Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 17, 2024 - 6:47pm

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.

Podtalk: Gregg Jaffe for ‘Big Teeth Small Shorts’ Summer ’24 Live Film Fest

Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 16, 2024 - 4:50pm

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.

Podtalk: Johnny Brower Remembers John Lennon in ‘REVIVAL69’

Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 16, 2024 - 9:53am

CHICAGO – One month after John Lennon made his iconic walk across Abbey Road for that classic album cover, he got a call from Canadian promoter Johnny Brower. Would Lennon play at a Toronto rock show? The answer to that question is told in the recently released rock doc “REVIVAL69: The Concert That Rocked the World.”

Audio Film Review: Blast-Off From the Past in ‘Fly Me to the Moon’

Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 11, 2024 - 4:51am

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.

Podtalk: Richard Knight Jr. for His Music Appearance at Evanston's SPACE

Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 10, 2024 - 9:02pm

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.

Podtalk: Brittani Ward for ‘Single Car Crashes’ at Gene Siskel Film Center July 12-14 & 16, 2024

Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 10, 2024 - 5:52pm

CHICAGO – Writer/director Brittani Ward is bringing her made-in-Chicagoland feature, “Single Car Crashes” back home to the Gene Siskel Film Center for a special screening run on July 12th-14th & 16th, 2024, after the festival circuit with Cinequest (New Vision Award) and the Midwest Film Fest. For tickets and details, click SCC SISKEL.

Podtalk: Exec Director Karen Cardarelli of FACETS on 2024 So Far

Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 9, 2024 - 7:15pm

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.

Podtalk, Review: Actor KiKi Layne on Blossoming in ‘Dandelion’

Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 9, 2024 - 6:02pm

CHICAGO – Growth from a young and rising actor is defined by KiKi Layne. After getting her big break as Tish in “If Beale Street Could Talk” from 2018, she has build her resume in both independent (“Native Son”) and tentpole (“Coming 2 America”) films, and showcases her music talent as the title character in “Dandelion,” which opens Friday, July 12th.

Film News: Launch of ChicagoScreens.org Highlights Film Fests & Series

Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 8, 2024 - 5:04pm

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).

Entertainment News: Comcast Introduces NOW TV Latino Package

Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 8, 2024 - 12:40pm

CHICAGO – As of July 1st, 2024, Comcast has a new service package for their Xfinity internet customers. For only 10 dollars a month, they are offering NOW TV Latino, the best value in Spanish-language live TV, which includes Peacock Premium. For complete details and information on the package, click NOW TV Latino.

Theater Review: Steppenwolf’s Familial ‘Little Bear Ridge Road’

Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 7, 2024 - 9:33pm

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.

Audio Film Reviews: ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ & ‘Despicable Me 4’

Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 6, 2024 - 6:13pm

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film reviews for “‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” with Eddie Murphy & “Despicable Me 4 with the voice of Steve Carell, both in the fourth film in their respective series. “Cop” is streaming on Netflix since July 3rd, and “Me” is in theaters since the same date.

Audio Film Review: No One Ever Left Alive in 1985 for ‘MaXXXine’

Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 6, 2024 - 10:13am

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “MaXXXine,” the third film in writer/director Ti West’s overview of the 1970s/80s American Cinema porno film era, after “X” and “Pearl,” and featuring Mia Goth.In theaters since July 5th.