CHICAGO – In anticipation of the scariest week of the year, HollywoodChicago.com launches its 2024 Movie Gifts series, which will suggest DVDs and collections for holiday giving.
HollywoodChicago.com Arts & Entertainment News
Podtalk: Director Davis Guggenheim on ‘Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 10, 2023 - 3:32pmCHICAGO – An essential documentary will stream on Apple TV+ beginning May 12th. “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie,” directed by Davis Guggenheim (“An Inconvenient Truth”) combines interview, re-creations and most telling, clips of Fox’s film/TV appearances to highlight his triumph and later, his Parkinson’s Disease.
Interview: Actor Jill Thiel on Eclectic Full Contact Theatre ‘The Wonder,’ Thru May 13, 2023
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 10, 2023 - 1:20pmCHICAGO – One of the oddest cases of unknown Illinois history involves the “Watseka Wonder.” In the the 19th Century, the tiny town in the Land of Lincoln drew nationwide attention for a certified case of “spiritual” possession.
Podtalk: Co-Writer/Director/Actor Matt Johnson of ‘BlackBerry’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 8, 2023 - 7:25pmCHICAGO – As technology goes, it seems so long ago, but at its peak the first multi-use smartphone was nicknamed the “CrackBerry” because of user addiction. The product’s improbable rise and fall is told in the new film “BlackBerry,” co-written/directed and featuring Matt Johnson.
CCFF2023: 10th Chicago Critic’s Fest Weekday Films Preview
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 8, 2023 - 9:48amCHICAGO – The 10th Chicago Critics Film Festival (CCFF) continues through May 11th, with many screenings to come. On Wednesday, May 10th, a searing drama of sibling youth set in early 1990s Toronto is “Brother.” Click on BROTHER for tickets and more information.
On-Air Film Review: Arrangement in ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It?’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 6, 2023 - 10:41amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on May 4th, reviewing “What’s Love Got to Do With It?,” featuring Lily James and Emma Thompson about neighbors in England. In theaters on May 5th.
CCFF2023: 10th Chicago Critic’s Fest Weekend Films Preview
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 5, 2023 - 11:20amCHICAGO – The 10th Chicago Critics Film Festival (CCFF) continues on May 6th, with a local filmmaker and her feature debut. “Waiting for the Light to Change,” directed by Lihn Tran, is Sunday’s featured film. Click on WAITING for tickets and more information.
Film Review: Pocket Rocket in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 5, 2023 - 8:27amCHICAGO – The Guardians of the Galaxy have lost some of their freshness over the years. They’re no long the scrappy obscurities who came out of nowhere to deliver one of the more idiosyncratic and enjoyable adventures in the Marvel Cinema Universe. But while familiarity has taken some of the elements of surprise, they’re still an agreeable bunch to watch.
Podtalk: Writer/Director Waheed AlQawasmi for Now Streaming ‘Jacir’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 4, 2023 - 10:51pmCHICAGO – As new cinema voices emerge, writer/director Waheed AlQawasmi takes us on a journey through his hometown streets of Memphis in the Syrian immigrant drama “Jacir.” The film, featuring newcomer Malek Rahbani as the title character and Lorraine Bracco (“The Sopranos”) in a different type of role for her, will be available to stream beginning May 5th, 2023.
Film News: 2023 Doc10 Opening Night is 'Still' on Thursday, May 4
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 4, 2023 - 12:24amCHICAGO – Doc10, the yearly Chicago documentary film festival, opens on May 4th, 2023, with the magnificent new documentary about the life of Michael J. Fox entitled “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie,” directed by Davis Guggenheim, who will make an appearance and participate in a Q&A. Click MJF for more information and tickets.
Film News: 2023 Chicago Critics Film Festival Opens with 'BlackBerry' on Friday, May 5th
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 3, 2023 - 11:54pmCHICAGO – One of the best local film gatherings is back, as the 2023 Chicago Critics Film Festival (CCFF) opens on Friday, May 5th, with “BlackBerry” at the Music Box Theatre. The Fest runs through May 11th, click CCFF for opening night ticket info.
Review: May the Fourth Be With You in Must-See 'Trade Federation’ at Otherworld Theatre
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 2, 2023 - 1:35pm- Andy Boyd
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CHICAGO – Theatrical satires of the Star Wars Universe are like the number of TV series the universe has wrought … too many to figure out if anything is worthwhile. But “Trade Federation” (subtitled “Or Let’s Explore Globalization Through the Star Wars Prequels”), presented by Otherworld Theatre in Wrigleyville Chicago, gets it right on.
Exclusive Portraits: U.S. Congress Rep. Katie Porter at Chicago Humanities Festival
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 1, 2023 - 8:40pmCHICAGO – This past January, U.S. Congress California Representative Katie Porter (Democrat, 47th District) announced her intention to run for the U.S. Senate. The populist for the people, who famously takes down unprepared corporate overlords with her profound financial knowledge (symbolically often illustrated with a white board), also appeared at the Spring Chicago Humanities Festival on April 29th for her book “I Swear: Politics is Messier Than My Minivan.” Photographer Joe Arce of HollywoodChicago.com took these Exclusive Portraits.
Podtalk: Omi Hopper of ‘Next Level Chef’ at Puerto Rican Museum
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 1, 2023 - 10:31amCHICAGO – Omi Hopper is competing … and still survives … on the second season of “Next Level Chef,” the TV cooking show on FOX hosted by Gordon Ramsay. The social media viral star, who created a following with her approach to traditional Puerto Rican dishes, is still in play as the show winds down to the finale on May 11th.
