Fellow Chicagoans, “Hidden Figures” has been winning big at the U.S. box office. In a great gesture to her hometown, one of the stars of the film would like you see “Hidden Figures” on her dime. Taraji P. Henson has personally bought out a theater at AMC Ford City Mall on Sunday, January 22nd at 2:00PM for the general public.
Read MoreThe 28 film critics and voting members, including yours truly, of the Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle completed their final ballots in 25 categories for their first annual CIFCC Awards. The CIFCC hosted an invitation-only awards reception at Transistor Chicago on January 8, 2017.
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 MoreThis website and writer has long celebrated the “Pixar Punch,” the animation studio’s uncanny ability to absolutely destroy our hearts with raw and simple emotionality in perfectly calculated amounts and moments within their feature films. In quicker chunks of time, Pixar’s animated shorts are no slouch at hitting the same body blows. Their settings have always been warm and sunny family films, long begging the question of what would more adult fare look like in the same creative boxing gloves. “Borrowed Time” is a striking glimpse into such a possibility
Read MoreGive a warm, Show-Me-State welcome to Mr. Shane Bowen. Shane is a fourth grade teacher in the St Louis area. Like so many educators (myself included), Shane flexes a creative muscle outside of the textbooks and paper-grading. Mr. Bowen also writes novels as a hobby. Shane recently started his own publishing company, Out the Window Books at www.outthewindowbooks.com. This man has talent and knows the power of a good beer and a good movie. Enjoy this review of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."
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 MoreI'm calling in the big guns for this latest "Guest Critic" entry. The man you will read tonight is full-fledged fellow film critic with his own podcast. Fancy pants! Meet Blaine Grimes, a new Oklahoma resident by way of Texas. I became social media acquaintances through another Texan, friend of the page and all-round critic himself, Tim Day of "Day at the Movies." We have enjoyed following each other's work and pestering Tim Day every since.
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.
Read MoreAfter an advance screening of "Doctor Strange," I was invited to participate in a post-film round table podcast hosted by Ian Simmons of Kicking the Seat. After a brief eulogy for deceased comic book artist Steve Dillon, I was one of four Chicago film critics chatting about our feelings, opinions, and reactions to "Doctor Strange" with tangents on other Marvel Cinematic Universe entries, tropes, and tendencies.
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