This past week, I was honored to be a guest on the CinemaJaw podcast, hosted by Matt K. and "Ry the Movie Guy" and ran by the "Best in the Biz." Since 2009, the Chicago-based trio of Matt Kubinski, Ryan Jagiello, and engineer Eliaz Gonzalez have put together one of the best and entertaining movie podcasts in this or any city. I'm a big fan of their work and you should be too.
Read MoreOne of the perks of becoming a regular blogging contributor on a podcast site is getting the occasional chance to appear on the actual podcast. Aaron White, one of the hosts of "Feelin' Film," connected time zones to bring myself and Popcorn Confessional critic Steve Clifton together for an extended post-Oscar wrap-up show. Listen to our reactions, rants, loves, and heartbreaks to both the 89th Academy Awards and the website's first annual "Feeler's Choice Awards."
Read MoreI had the pleasure to be joined by the team of John Robinson and El'Ahrai Stanek of The Harvey and Bob Show podcast and LodgeCon 2017. We hosted a panel on genre and fantasy films together. Afterwards, El'Ahrai and John live-recorded their weekly podcast from the event and I was privileged to be a guest participant.
Read MoreYours truly was asked to host a film-centered panel and I wholeheartedly accepted the chance to back a friend. The topic will be "The State of Genre and Fantasy Films" and I will attempt to hold court on the matter. I'm not going alone though. I have enlisted two Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle colleagues and fellow genre film fans to join me, John Robinson and El'Ahrai Stanek, of "The Harvey and Bob Show" podcast based in Woodridge, Illinois.
Read MoreMatching my signature niche, I pitched the Feelin' Film website on writing a weekly column on the serious and farcical life lessons learned each week from either the current film releases or the prevailing movie industry trends of the moment. Since mid-January 2017, that idea has become the column "What Did We Learn This Week." My weekly column features commentary and content I don't post anywhere else, not even here.
Read MoreMy recent website article promoting the Wilmette Theatre's upcoming "Science on Screen" series was picked up as a guest post on the local Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch website. My thanks go out to Jonah Meadows for approaching me for the shared use. It's always nice to see your name in a by-line.
Read MoreThis past week, I was given the outstanding opportunity to be an in-studio guest on WGN Radio's "The Nick Digilio Show" with host and fellow movie critic Nick Digilio. The main reason for my appearance was to represent the Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle as one of the co-directors and co-founders to talk about our inaugural CIFCC Awards happening on January 8. I announced the full list of CIFCC nominees and made the exclusive announcement of two of the award winners on Nick's show.
Read MoreIn the same taping as our back-and-forth boosting or spiking "Passengers," host Ian Simmons of Kicking the Seat brought a group of film critic peers to put a bow on 2016. Ian, David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, Emmanuel Noisette of Eman's Movie Reviews, Harold Egbo, myself, and a pre-taped Pat McDonald of Hollywood Chicago came together to answer a few key pre-selected questions and compare our reflection on the year that was.
Read MoreSeveral Chicago film critics got together earlier this week for a "year-end" roundtable hosted by Ian Simmons for his "Kicking the Seat" site and podcast. We had just gotten out of an advance screening for "Passengers" and were brimming with positive and negative opinions that couldn't be contained, creating a second reason for Ian to turn on the mics and recorders. Enjoy Ian, Emmanuel Noisette of Eman's Movie Reviews, Harold Egbo, David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, and myself as we challenge the gravity and go on a trip for "Passengers."
Read MoreAfter attending a last-minute press screening of "Moana" for a plus-one Date Night with my wife and "Pillow Rankings" cohort Thanh Shanahan, I was cordially invited by "Kicking the Seat" film critic and friend-of-the-page Ian Simmons to once again be a guest on his stellar podcast. This 173rd episode was my first solo flight with Ian and we shared a highly enjoyable back-and-forth at the Golden Nugget Pancake House about strong female characters, Candyland conundrums, the appetizing animated short "Inner Workings," the ever-present Dwayne Johnson bump, mythology comparisons, Katherine Helmond tributes, and much more.
Read MoreFive of the best film critics Chicago has to offer from the Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle may have dodged the high frame rate experiment of Ang Lee's "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk," but they still caught the full film. Enjoy the mixed reactions from Leo Brady, Jon Espino, Clint Worthington, Don Shanahan, and Jim Alexander!
Read MoreThe CIFCC was founded on the pillar of diversity. It is a message that resonates in all that we do, both as a group and as critics. In our eyes and through our passion as film lovers and creative individuals, diversity means more than just demographics. Take a watch and a listen to this special trailer and message from the CIFCC, featuring yours truly.
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