Review: Michael Shannon, Jason Narducy and Friends Tackle R.E.M. Classics at Metro
In the 21st century, it’s normally a matter of when, not if, a band that breaks up will reform. Some acts barely allow enough time to be missed when the […]
Review: A Film Chronicling Important Global History, Nuremberg Equally Delves into Psychology and Justice
Sometimes you read history, and other times you have history read to you. And the new film from writer/director James Vanderbilt (the established writer and producer whose only other directing […]
Interview: Michael Shannon and Screenwriter Brett Neveu on Eric LaRue’s Chicago Ties, Adapting a Stage Play and Casting Judy Greer in a Lead Role
With its roots in Chicago theater, the story of Eric LaRue is set in an anonymous suburban community in the aftermath of a shocking crime committed by the high school-age […]
Photos: Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy and Friends Pour Their Souls into Fables of Reconstruction at Metro
This article was written by Wendy Davis. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of R.E.M.’s acclaimed 1985 album, Fables of Reconstruction, Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy and Friends hit the road again […]
Interview: Documentarian Joshua Oppenheimer on His Jump to Narratives with Apocalyptic Musical The End, Lyrics versus Poetry and Casting for Vulnerability
The End marks the narrative film directing debut from Oscar-nominated documentarian Joshua Oppenheimer, whose one-two punch was 2012’s The Act of Killing and 2014’s The Look of Silence. The former […]
Review: In Adapting a Journalist’s Photo-Book, Jeff Nichols’ The Bikeriders Creates New Narratives Around Compelling Characters
Rarely has a group of such gifted actors been gathered to tell a story that somehow feels both insightful and shallow, depending on the scene and character. Based on a […]
Review: 44 Posters, Weeds Tavern, by Dave Hoekstra and Sergio Mayora
Weeds Tavern is a bar biography, but something more, and slightly less. More or less an artist’s monograph, SunTimes writer and critic Dave Hoekstra covers the titular Chicago tavern’s background […]
Review: A Red Orchid Theatre’s Thriller, Turret, Builds a Bunker Home from Memory
Turret, a new show written and directed by Chicago playwright Levi Holloway, is born from a cinematic legacy of horror, apocalypse, and suspense, and it uses the mechanisms of live […]
Review: In The Flash, a Crowded Storyline, Cast and Sense of Nostalgia Overwhelm an Otherwise Interesting DC Comics Character Film
The truth is, the long-delayed solo film The Flash is one of the more enjoyable experiences I’ve had recently with a DC Comics character on the big screen, and it […]
Interview: Zach Braff on Writing A Good Person for Florence Pugh, Casting Morgan Freeman and Processing Tremendous Grief
New Jersey-born, Northwestern-educated (with a degree in film) Zach Braff is probably known by many for his comedic acting in films such as Manhattan Murder Mystery, The Broken Hearts Club, […]
Review: Michael Shannon Is Just About the Only Thing Worth Watching in Heart of Champions
Like many, I’ll watch Michael Shannon in anything. And I have proven this time and time again. Case in point, the new film from director Michael Mailer (Blind) and writer […]
Interview: Andrea Riseborough on Connection Through Brutal Annihilation, Working with Auteur Directors and Possessor‘s Psychological Anxieties
In recent years, British actress Andrea Riseborough has been absolutely dominating the world of genre filmmaking, while also making a real name for herself in more mainstream works. Stateside, she […]