Review: Sound of Metal Charts the Painful, Inspiring Journey of a Musician Losing His Hearing
In what might be one of the coolest opening sequences of the year, the beginning of Sound of Metal sees Riz Ahmed’s Ruben drum as if his life depends on […]
Review: Per Aspera Offers a Rich Escape to the Stars Through Its Hardships
There are certain things I aspire to like–cultural experiences I feel robbed of based on my tastes. Sushi. Baseball. Any sort of video game requiring me to actually think and […]
Review: The Storied Life and Prolific Work of ’70s Rocker (and So Much More) in Zappa
As someone who was in elementary school when rock legend Frank Zappa died in 1993, I never had much of an awareness of the musician, a multi-talented composer, songwriter, band […]
Review: Video Game Documentary Insert Coin Is a Fun Look at an Interesting Time in the Industry
The era of video games discussed in the new documentary Insert Coin was one I basically missed, but I don’t just watch documentaries about subjects I’m familiar with. In fact, […]
Review: Chaos Reigns:Spirit of the North Suffers From Sloggy Controls and a So-So Story
It’s not hard to sell me on a game where you get to play as an animal, or even get to interact with one a lot. Hell, I spent entire […]
Review: The Loop: The ‘L’ Tracks That Shaped and Saved Chicago, by Patrick T. Reardon
The Loop: The ‘L’ Tracks that Shaped and Saved Chicago by Patrick T. Reardon Southern Illinois University Press Reviewed by Mary Wisniewski There are lovelier and more prestigious symbols of […]
Review: Astro’s Playroom Shows Off DualSense Controller While Being Full of Joy
Pack-in games for new consoles are nothing new to PlayStation, but they haven’t exactly been big hits. Recently, The Playroom on PlayStation 4 and Welcome Park on PlayStation Vita were […]
Review: Neo Noir Chicken Police Is a Delight
It’s New Year’s Eve, and you’re a washed-up detective. You’re 121 days until retirement—but it feels like an eternity slowly ticking away. When you step into your office, you’re met […]
Review: 9 Monkeys of Shaolin Is Brawler Bliss
Brawlers always have a fond place in my heart. I remember spending countless hours with my brother on the couch playing Turtles in Time, Double Dragon, and countless other brawlers. […]
Dispatch: Films to Make Time For (at Home, at the Drive-In) in Chicago International Film Festival’s First Weekend
As the 56th Chicago International Film Festival kicks off, the majority of this year’s film selections are available to stream online for the duration of the event (October 14-25). In […]
Review: A Long-Ago Blaze That Echoes the Pandemic, Chicago’s Great Fire, by Carl Smith
Chicago’s Great Fire: The Destruction and Resurrection of an Iconic American City by Carl Smith Atlantic Monthly Press Devastation is devastation, whether brought about by fire or pandemic. The Great […]
Fall Museum Guide: What’s Open, How to Stay Safe, and How to Enjoy Chicago’s Museums From Home
UPDATE: Due to the sharply rising number of COVID-19 cases in Cook County, the city of Chicago is returning to Tier 3 mitigation beginning Friday, November 20th. Details of what […]