Film Review: The New It is Damn Genius
Whoever came up with the idea to produce a new version of Stephen King’s It (the first for the big screen) 27 years after the original television miniseries is a […]
TV Review: Narcos Finds its Footing without Escobar
The following review contains spoilers. The first two seasons of Netflix’s Narcos were defined by the storyline of a single character: Pablo Escobar, as portrayed with magnetic charisma by Wagner […]
Screens Monthly: What to See in September
In a new monthly series in the Screens section, we’ll highlight some of the film happenings around Chicago, from major theatrical openings to arthouse screenings and independent events. This month, […]
Eight Local TV Pilots Get Chicago Screening Before New York Premiere
On the first Tuesday of every month, the Midwest Independent Film Festival hosts one of the most unique film events in the city. Month after month, presenters put together programs […]
Film Review: After Love, Stunning Acting, Minimalist Approach
A film so authentic in its portrayal of the slow, painful dissolution of a marriage, France’s After Love takes a fly-on-the-wall approach at observing the emotionally destructive dance taking place […]
Film Review: Temple, an Homage to Japanese Horror Films
Veteran cinematographer-turned-first-time-director Michael Barrett (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) and in-demand screenwriter Simon Barrett (You’re Next, The Guest, Blair Witch) combine scary forces with Temple, a U.S.-Japanese co-production that pays homage […]
Film Review: Goon: Last of the Enforcers Retreads Familiar Ice
Some sequels are a natural extension of what has come before. Others are an exercise in assembling nearly all of the cast from the previous film and finding ways to […]
Film Review: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (4K reissue), Director’s Cut, Still Great After All These Years
The film that is opening in the most theaters this week is actually a 40-year-old masterpiece from writer-director Steven Spielberg. I’m not going to spend a lot of time talking […]
Film Review: Sit Up and Take Notice of Indie Thriller Valley of Bones
A little gem of a suspense thriller is being given a limited release this week from director/co-writer Dan Glaser. Although the story is much different than the currently in release […]
Film Review: I Do…Until I Don’t…and Maybe You Shouldn’t, Either
I’m still not entirely sure why writer-director-actor Lake Bell (who last helmed the appealing In A World…) chose the making of a documentary about marriage as the framework for her […]
Film Review: Lakeith Stanfield Stands out in Flawed but Effective Crown Heights
When 18-year-old Colin Warner was arrested for murder in 1980, I’m guessing he believed the truth—and a lack of credible witnesses—would set him free. But the type of shoddy defense […]
New on Netflix in September 2017: Gangs of New York, Requiem For a Dream, and More
Hellooo, loyal 3CR readers. Starting this month, I’ll be publishing “New on Netflix,” a regular column in which I highlight movies worth checking out from the large number of films […]