Film Review: The Edge of Seventeen, Effortlessly Smart
If I ever have the pleasure of meeting or speaking with writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig, I’m going to thank her from the bottom of my heart for reminding me of […]
Steve Prokopy is chief film critic for the Chicago-based arts outlet Third Coast Review. For nearly 20 years, he was the Chicago editor for Ain’t It Cool News, where he contributed film reviews and filmmaker/actor interviews under the name “Capone.” Currently, he’s a frequent contributor at /Film (SlashFilm.com) and Backstory Magazine. He is also the public relations director for Chicago's independently owned Music Box Theatre, and holds the position of Vice President for the Chicago Film Critics Association. In addition, he is a programmer for the Chicago Critics Film Festival, which has been one of the city's most anticipated festivals since 2013.
Film Review: Bleed for This, The Story of a Grueling and Hellish Recovery
If it didn’t actually happen, I’m not sure I’d believe it. But there’s a reason that the return to boxing of Vinny Pazienza is known by some as the greatest […]
Film Review: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, Jarring and Almost Senseless
In what is arguably one of the oddest movies you may see all year, Oscar-winning director Ang Lee (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; The Ice Storm; Sense and Sensibility; Brokeback Mountain; […]
Film Review: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, A Thrilling New World That Still Feels Vaguely Familiar
I’m sure admirers of the works of author J.K. Rowling already know this, but it bears repeating: don’t expect backstories and answers to all the questions raised in this first […]
This Week in Art House Cinema: The Eagle Huntress, The Monster and more
The Eagle Huntress From first time feature filmmaker Otto Bell comes the epic and stunningly shot documentary The Eagle Huntress chronicling not only 13-year-old Kazakh girl Aisholpan Nurgaiv’s training […]
Film Review: Loving, Fragile But Strong
If you’re in dire need of a story about how two people instigated a process instigated by their love for one another that literally changed the laws of the land, […]
Film Review: Arrival, A Beautifully Human Story
I’m not sure if Paramount deliberately set the release date for Arrival for the Friday after Election Day, but in so many ways, it makes sense. What happens in the […]
This Week in Art House Cinema: Tower and The Alchemist Cookbook
The big news is that the Cubs won the World Series and the city has been in a state of perpetual hysteria ever since. Earlier this week, we took a […]
Trolls Film Review: Uncut Joyous Mania
It may not happen right away, but there will likely come a point while watching the new Dreamwork Animation film Trolls that it will win you over. Although for some, […]
Hacksaw Ridge Film Review: Hope Within the Horrors of War
Continuing with my theme this year of reviewing the film and not the scandal, allow me to introduce you to Hacksaw Ridge, the latest battle-laden epic from director Mel Gibson. […]
Doctor Strange Film Review: Lush and Mystical
Part of the reason Marvel’s latest comic book adaptation, Doctor Strange, works is because huge swaths of it don’t feel like a Marvel comic book adaptation at all. And while […]
This Week in Art House Cinema: The Handmaiden, Moonlight and more
It’s been another solid week in cinema here in Chicago. The Chicago International Film Fest wrapped up it’s stellar two week run yesterday. We took a look at Inferno, the […]