Illinois

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Sugarcane,” a different road of a documentary from National Geographic Films, chronicling the discovery of heinous and complicit crimes of Canada and the Catholic Church. In select theaters since August 16th, see local listings.

CHICAGO – This is an important upcoming weekend in the art evolution of Chicago’s own Jack C. Newell. The filmmaker will have a (click) WORLD PREMIERE of his new documentary “The Candidate” at the Gene Siskel Film Center (8/17/24) and “turn on the glow” for an installation ten years in the making, Wabash Lights (8/15).

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Mickey Hardaway,” the feature film debut of Marcellus Cox, taking on the systemic mental health dysfunction in America’s black communities. In select theaters on August 9th, with digital download available September 1st.

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Trap,” the latest movie from the suspenseful filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, and featuring his musician daughter Saleka in a Taylor Swift-like role as a popular singer. In theaters now, since August 2nd.

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 – There is a new movie theater in Chicagoland’s Highland Park, with the Grand Opening of Wayfarer Theaters at 1850 2nd Street. On May 31st, the official start of a new era in theatergoing in Highland Park begins, with multiple screenings of “Ezra” from the theater’s sister company, Wayfarer Studios. For complete information on these FREE SCREENINGS and the theater, click WAYFARER.

CHICAGO – Season 18 of Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema moves to Week Three on April 4th and 6th with screenings in Evanston (Illinois) at the Block Museum of Art and the APUC screen headquarters at conveniently located AMC NEWCITY in Chicago. There will be a director appearance, with meet/greet opportunities and post screening Q&As.

CHICAGO – It began with a boy and his dream (nightmare?). John LaFlamboy, to be exact, as he took an idea he had in college and made it his life’s work. He owns and operates the HellsGate Haunted House in Lockport (Illinois), which was designed, built and put together by Haunted House experts expressly for the spookiest month of the year. For info on how to purchase tickets, click HellsGate.

CHICAGO – Nicole Bernardi-Reis is a veteran local producer, yet found another calling within the film arts as co-director … with Laura Bermúdez … of “With This Light.” The documentary is the story of Sister Maria Rosa Leggoi, a Honduran nun who spent her life building and providing shelter for orphaned, poverty stricken and abused children. “With This Light,” makes its Chicagoland premiere on August 9th, 2023, and begins a one week run at the Wayfarer Theaters in Highland Park (Illinois) on August 11th. Click LIGHT for details.

CHICAGO – It’s rare to see a director debut that is nuanced, anarchistic and different, but the high school coming-of-age comedy “The Crusades” – by first-timer Leo Milano – scores with its solid comedic script, unique characters and passionate homage to Chicagoland’s Northwest Burbs, as well as featuring hot actor Rudy Pankow (Netflix’s “Outer Banks”).