Review: In the Rousing, Sweeping Dune: Part Two, a World Becomes Real and a Young Man Confronts His Fate With Ferocity

As is often the case with origin stories, there’s a great deal of world building and character establishment that has to play out before we can even get to the […]

Steve Prokopy /

Review: At American Blues, The Reclamation of Madison Hemings Tells the Story of Two of Jefferson’s Enslaved Laborers, One of Them His Son

Two middle-aged Black men, both formerly enslaved, visit Monticello the year after the Civil War ends. They’re not there as tourists to explore the majesty of Thomas Jefferson’s estate or […]

Nancy S Bishop /

Review: Magic From Paris to Chicago—Extraordinaire With Alexandra Duvivier at Rhapsody Theater

The Rhapsody Theater in Rogers Park is perfect for a magical night. It is beautifully redesigned with intimate tables and Art Deco flair. In this space, Alexandra Duvivier is performing […]

Kathy D. Hey /

Review: Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Puts Some Heat in Winter With Of Hope

The Hubbard Street mission is to awaken the human spirit through contemporary dance. That is a lofty mission in the contemporary world but I think that they have succeeded with […]

Kathy D. Hey /

Review: Wartime Documentary Kiss the Future Centers Artists in Sarajevo Alongside U2

For the last couple of weeks, members of the band U2 and others connected to the documentary Kiss the Future (including producers Matt Damon and Ben Affleck) have been doing […]

Steve Prokopy /

Review: Italy’s Harrowing Io Capitano Earns Its Place Among This Year’s International Feature Oscar Nominees

Although it’s one of this year’s five Oscar-nominated Best International Feature Films, Italy’s Io Capitano is the last of the five to finally be released in theaters stateside, and now […]

Steve Prokopy /

Review: Hilary Swank Elevates Ordinary Angels From Hallmark Fare to Something of a Sweet, True Story

Based on a true story (I’m guessing with more than a few embellishments), Ordinary Angels is the story of Sharon Steves (Hilary Swank), an alcoholic hairdresser living in small-town Kentucky, […]

Steve Prokopy /

Review: In Drive-Away Dolls, Ethan Coen Maps a Road Movie with Plenty of Sex and Laughs Along the Way

At least for now, the Coen Brothers as a filmmaking unit, are no more. Three years ago, Joel Coen adapted Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, and now brother Ethan counters […]

Steve Prokopy /

Review: Goodman Theatre’s Matchbox Magic Flute Is a Tiny Enchantment

Great works of art come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes, they are vast and sweeping, like the Sistine Chapel or Anna Karenina; and sometimes they are tiny, like a […]

Doug Mose /

Review: Howl Is a Tight Turn-Based Strategy With a Melancholy Atmosphere

2023 was packed full of great video games, so it makes sense if you missed a few. I know I did–I’m still playing catch-up. That means I missed some great […]

Antal Bokor /

Preview: Uniflora Brings the Heat with “Hellgirl” Before Their Show at Metro

The Chicago music scene is just overflowing with treasures. With every passing year, new, more and more outright amazing bands come out of our city. Sometimes it can be overwhelming […]

Julian Ramirez /

Your Chicago Curated Weekend: 2/22 and Beyond

It’s unseasonably warm this weekend (except for Saturday, that one seems about right) so let’s get out into the city and find something fun to do! There’s markets, movies, concerts, […]

Julian Ramirez /