Film Review: Lady Bird Sings
Let’s just cut to the chase: Lady Bird, written and directed by Greta Gerwig (and marking her first time behind the camera), is a perfectly pitched coming-of-age comedy that accomplishes […]
Film Review: One Legendary Scene Takes on New Meaning in 78/52
For both uber-film nerds and casual fans of director Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 ground-breaking Psycho, the documentary 78/52 is a compact film studies program that examines the power of camerawork, editing, […]
Best Chicago Beer for Every Season
The difficulty in choosing a favorite beer lies somewhere between choosing a favorite movie and a favorite child, with the answer inevitably becoming “It depends.” If I want something both […]
Film Review: Last Flag Flying Won’t Leave a Lasting Impression
(This review originally ran as part of my Chicago International Film Festival coverage.) One of the more disappointing, high-profile works of fall movie season is the latest from Richard Linklater […]
Film Review: Daddy’s Home 2 Is Really, Really, Really Not Good
As weird as it is having this sequel released on the heels of Bad Moms Christmas, where both films feature their lead characters during the holiday season, the fact that they […]
Interview: C. Spike Trotman of Iron Circus Comics
In 2009, Chicago webcomic cartoonist C. Spike Trotman, under her own publishing company, Iron Circus Comics, created the Kickstarter page for her first crowdfunded comic, “Poorcraft.” Since then, Iron Circus has […]
Poleitico: Pole Dancing and Politics at the Den
Polaris, a new contemporary pole dance company, debuted at Chicago’s Den Theatre in Wicker Park on Wednesday night with their show Poleitico. Billed as “a contemporary pole show focusing on […]
‘Winter Dreams’ Offers Timeless Views of Urban Landscapes @ Everybody’s Coffee
It was another chilly evening in November. The air was damp, a cold wind was blowing off the lake, and darkness came too soon ― all the signs that winter is […]
Civitas Ensemble and Driehaus Museum Combine Chamber Music with French Posters
Continuing its emphasis on French composers and their milieu, the Civitas Ensemble on Tuesday night teamed up with the Driehaus Museum, which is presently showing an exhibit of commercial art […]
Game Review: Sonic Forces Gets Nowhere Fast
In 2011 Sonic Generations heralded a return to Sonic the Hedgehog greatness. It was short lived. Developer Sonic Team has tried to recapture some of that magic in Sonic Forces, […]
MCA Chicago Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Three-Part Exhibition
Last week, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago celebrated its 50th anniversary, and made quite a spectacle of the milestone. The day began with a few words from MCA Director […]
Film Review: All the Queen’s Horses Has the Who and How, but Lacks the Why
Chicago’s own Kartemquin Films is known in the documentary film world for 50 years of thoughtful, thought-provoking filmmaking. Beyond that narrow niche, the non-profit filmmaking outfit has risen to wider […]