CHICAGO – It is Chicago where New York City native Harry Wood is debuting his first play, entitled “Roast,” through The Comrades theater company at the Greenhouse Theater Center. The comic drama, about a gathering of stand up comics and relatives to “roast” – rather than eulogize – a deceased fellow comedian, is a World Premiere that runs through August 18th, 2019. For tickets and more information, click here.
HollywoodChicago.com Arts & Entertainment News
Film Review: ‘Yesterday’ is a Can’t-Miss Premise That Still Misses
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 28, 2019 - 10:12amCHICAGO – As a Beatles fanatic who has a band because of their existence, the premise of “Yesterday” was can’t miss. A man wakes up after an accident to discover he’s the only person to know that The Beatles existed? Sign me up and buy me popcorn. It’s unfortunate that the story went in a direction that did miss.
Film Review: Horror is Worth a Visit in 'Annabelle Comes Home'
Submitted by JonHC on June 26, 2019 - 6:52amCHICAGO – There is such an unnerving quality to older dolls, which is why they lend themselves so perfectly to horror stories. There’s just an unsettling feeling when looking at their static expression, usually plastered with a permanent smile that gives me terrible flashbacks to when I worked retail.
Podtalk: Director Miranda Bailey Feature Film Debut is ‘Being Frank’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 23, 2019 - 7:50amCHICAGO – Miranda Bailey has a proven track record as a film producer of big title independent films, and has worked as a writer and actor. She has now conquered the creative side, as she makes her debut as a feature film director with “Being Frank.” The film features comedian Jim Gaffigan in the title role, and also features Anna Gunn, Samantha Mathis and Alex Karpovsky.
Film Review: Less Black Magic, More Black Mirror Succeeds in 'Child's Play'
Submitted by JonHC on June 23, 2019 - 6:15amCHICAGO – There are some fears in this world that seem irrational to us. Like a fear of clowns or the fear of using an elevator. Horror films are at the core of some of these fears, with the truly great ones creating new things to fear. The “Child’s Play” franchise may have had its roots in psychopathic soul transfers, but the update focuses on the ghost in the machine.
Podtalk: Comedian Jim Gaffigan on His New Film ‘Being Frank’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 22, 2019 - 10:53amCHICAGO – Comedian Jim Gaffigan is one of the funniest persons on earth, basically by being himself (Score!). In the last five years, he has been immersing himself into the waters of character acting in the movies, doing some serious supporting roles in films like “Chuck” and “Chappaquiddick.”
Film News: Jakob Dylan to Appear in Chicago for ‘Echo in the Canyon’ on June 21, 2019
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 21, 2019 - 8:57amCHICAGO – Rock royalty is coming to town, both in the presence of Jakob Dylan (The Wallflowers) and in a new documentary where Dylan explores the roots of the California rock sound of the 1960s, entitled “Echo in the Canyon” (many of the rockers back then lived in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Laurel Canyon). Director Andrew Slater will join Dylan for the film perspective, and Dylan will perform after the screening, taking place on June 21st, 2019, at the historic Music Box Theatre. For more information and tickets, click here.
Podtalk: Director Gigi Saul Guerrero Previews ‘Culture Shock’ at Cinepocalypse Film Fest
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 20, 2019 - 4:14pmCHICAGO – She calls her style of grindhouse and gore films “Tex Mex,” and you won’t find a better femme fatale producing a better debut film in that genre. Director Gigi Saul Guerrero gave Chicago audiences a sneak preview – at the Cinepocalypse Film Festival at the Music Box Theatre – of her debut “Culture Shock,” which will premiere for Hulu on July 4th, 2019, part of their “Into the Dark” series of horror films through Blumhouse Television.
Film News: Closing Night of 2019 Cinepocalypse in Chicago is ‘Airheads’ on June 20, 2019
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 20, 2019 - 3:06pmCHICAGO – Has it been a week already? Has it been 25 years already? The 2019 Cinepocalypse Film Festival is drawing to a close with the film “Airheads” (1994), celebrating its 25th Anniversary. The All-Star cast, in their younger days, includes Brendan Frasier, Steve Buscemi, Adam Sandler, Chris Farley, Joe Mantegna and Judd Nelson. Director Michael Lehmann (“Heathers”) will appear on behalf of the film at the historic Music Box Theatre in Chicago, with a Closing Night after party to follow. For more information and tickets, click here.
Film Review: Another Winner from the Creative Team of ‘Toy Story 4’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 19, 2019 - 8:11pmCHICAGO – When you’ve brought to life one of the greatest animation series ever produced, there is not much to prove. The “Toy Story” series has relied on the strong and emotional stories since 1995, and after a nine year break comes back for one more intriguing spin for their characters, finding a new path in “Toy Story 4.”
Film Review: 'The Dead Don't Die' Offers Full-On Horror Homage But Little Else
Submitted by JonHC on June 18, 2019 - 6:46pmCHICAGO – Before Jordan Peele, before Mike Flanagan, before James Wan, and especially before all of Blumhouse, there were other masters of horror who paved the way for the filmmakers we know today. The Carpenters, the Cravens, and the Argentos of the world helped turn horror into the thriving genre it is today. Jim Jarmusch’s “The Dead Don’t Die” openly acknowledges this with their love letter approach to the genre itself.
Podtalk: Singer NORAA is Ready to Break Through in the USA
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 18, 2019 - 12:28pmCHICAGO – One the most exciting moments in the culture of music is the anticipated new talent sensation. Warner Music Group’s Elektra France recently discovered a German-born singer known as NORAA – who was supplementing her music career by working as a school teacher – and took her out of the classroom and into the recording studio. She has already made in-roads in her native European scene, and now is poised to conquer the USA. Her first single, “Lie to Me,” was released in April, and is already made its way to radio station and streaming playlists in Europe and America.
Podtalk: Filmmaker Scott Powers on ‘Insomnium,’ with VOD Release on June 18, 2019
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 18, 2019 - 10:05amCHICAGO – The supernatural thriller, where unseen forces begin to permeate the normalcy of life, has been a staple in the “scary movie” genre since telling stories on film began. The debut of filmmaker Scott Powers, the aptly titled “Insomnium,” is one of those types of supernatural film, combining sleep deprivation with the connective spirits of something not quite right. The film is releasing on Video-On-Demand (VOD) through various outlets on June 18th, 2019. See below for a special offer for readers of HollywoodChicago.com. For the trailer of “Insomnium, click here.
Theater Review: Brown Paper Box Co. ‘Grace, Or the Art of Climbing’ thru July 7, 2019
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 17, 2019 - 12:39pmCHICAGO – What is life but a constant climb? The Brown Paper Box Co., one of the most vital storefront theater groups in Chicago, asks that question and more in the significant “Grace, Or the Art of Climbing.” Using a woman’s journey through some difficult situations, the parallels of “the climb” become a artfully performed story that is all inspiration and uplift. The play runs through July 7th, 2019, at Stage 773 in the Belmont Avenue Theater District in Chicago. For more information and tickets, click here.
