HollywoodChicago.com Arts & Entertainment News

Film News: 2023 Chicago Critics Film Festival Opens with 'BlackBerry' on Friday, May 5th

CHICAGO – 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

Trade Federation, Otherworld Theatre

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

U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, Photo by Joe Arce 2023

CHICAGO – 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

CHICAGO – 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.

Podtalk: Screenwriter Alex Convery Reaches Rarified ‘Air’

Air

CHICAGO – The “Black List” of Hollywood means something totally different in the current vernacular. This list contains the un-produced screenplays of the highest quality, either optioned and not sold or in turnaround from an attempt to produce. One of those screenplays on the List was “Air Jordan” by Chicagoland native Alex Convery. Once eventual director Ben Affleck got involved, the finished film became “Air.”

On-Air Film Review: 'Peter Pan & Wendy' Battle to Never Grow Up

Peter Pan & Wendy

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on April 27th, reviewing “Peter Pan & Wendy,” the live action reboot of the 1953 animated “Peter Pan.” Streaming on Disney+ beginning April 28th.

On-Air Film Review: Madame Kickassery in ‘Polite Society’

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on April 27th, reviewing “Polite Society,” the debut action film tribute from British/Pakistani director Nida Manzoor (“Lady Parts”. In theaters on April 28th.

On-Air Film Review: Madame Kickassery in ‘Polite Society’

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on April 27th, reviewing “Polite Society,” the debut action film tribute from British/Pakistani director Nida Manzoor (“Lady Parts”. In theaters on April 28th.

Podtalk: Rebecca Martin Fagerholm of Cinema Femme Short Film Festival, April 28-May 4, 2023

CHICAGO – The renaissance for women filmmakers has been a boon for the creative voice in cinema, and in Chicago the conduit of that voice is Rebecca Martin Fagerholm, the founder of Cinema Femme, and festival director for the CINEMA FEMME SHORT FILM FEST.

Podtalk: May Pang on John Lennon in ‘The Lost Weekend A Love Story’

CHICAGO – One of the closest persons to John Lennon in the decade between the break up of The Beatles and his untimely death was May Pang … his lover from 1973 to 1975 … a time in Lennon’s life often called the “Lost Weekend.” Pang narrates a new documentary that sets their record straight, aptly titled “The Lost Weekend A Love Story.”

Podtalk: Sam Mirpoorian & Ian Kibbe on ‘Greener Pastures,’ Midwest Film Fest on April 24th, 2023

Greener Pastures

CHICAGO – The family farm is fast becoming extinct, and the people who continue to try and keep those farms are under tremendous pressure, financially and otherwise. This theme plays out in the documentary “Greener Pastures,” produced by Ian Robertson Kibbe and produced/directed by Sam Mirpoorian.

Audio Film Review: Fear Factors Abound in 'Beau is Afraid’

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for the new film from writer/director Ari Aster (“Hereditary,” “Midsummer”) … featuring Joaquin Phoenix and Patti Lupone … entitled “Beau is Afraid.” Currently in theaters, since April 21st.

Audio Film Review: King Ray Romano in ‘Somewhere in Queens’

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for the new film release “Somewhere in Queens,” featuring Ray Romano as lead actor, co-writer and director, also featuring Laurie Metcalfe. In theaters on April 21st.

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