Chicago Film Festival: I, Tonya

The Tonya Harding biopic, I, Tonya, could bring Allison Janney an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as the figure skater’s abusive mother. Directed by Craig Gillespie from a screenplay by Steven Rogers, the biopic stars Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney, Paul Walter Hauser, Julianne Nicholson, Caitlin Carver, Bojana Novakovic and Bobby Cannavale. Interspersed with documentary-style footage, the film gives off a humorous vibe as we revisit one of the biggest events…

"Chicago Film Festival: I, Tonya"

Breathe: An Emotionally Exhausting Film

Andy Serkis’ feature directorial debut, Breathe, is a film that is emotionally exhausting to watch and it is one that would have best been served as a documentary rather than what could easily be described as an expensive home movie. Serkis directs from a screenplay written by William Nicholson.  Breathe stars Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Tom Hollander, and Hugh Bonneville. The filmmakers were smart to focus on the love story in the film’s first few…

"Breathe: An Emotionally Exhausting Film"

Chicago Film Festival: Rogers Park

Depicting two biracial relationships, Rogers Park is one of many Chicago-set films to premiere during the 53rd Chicago International Film Festival. Directed by Kyle Henry from a screenplay written by Carlos Treviño, the Chicago-set film stars Antoine McKay, Sara Sevigny, Jonny Mars, and Christine Horn. Rogers Park is a family affair.  The film follows Zeke (McKay) and his wife, Grace (Sevigny), and Grace’s brother, Chris (Mars), and his partner, Deena (Horn).  Both couples are dealing with…

"Chicago Film Festival: Rogers Park"

Christopher Titus talks Special Unit, Casting Disabled Actors

Writer-actor-comedian-director Christopher Titus spoke with Solzy at the Movies about his new film, Special Unit. Thanks for joining Solzy at the Movies today. How are things treating you? Christopher Titus:  Things are good, the movie has all five star reviews. I just wish everyone saw it. Making a film is hard. Promoting a film is like arguing with a Trump supporter. Impossible and draining. Just buy it and laugh so I can make another thing that…

"Christopher Titus talks Special Unit, Casting Disabled Actors"

Slamdance: Supergirl comes to Chicago

Slamdance Film Festival selection Supergirl comes to Chicago for one night only at the Arclight Cinemas as a part of the Slamdance Cinema Club. Directed by Jessie Auritt, we get a glimpse into the life of a very unique pre-teen, Naomi Kutin.  She’s not like other Orthodox girls her age.  One wouldn’t expect to see a powerlifter when they look at Naomi, let alone someone who could lift three times her body weight.  The girl from New Jersey…

"Slamdance: Supergirl comes to Chicago"

The Breakfast Club heads to Criterion

The Breakfast Club is one of several films heading to the Criterion Collection with a Blu-ray release in January 2018. The John Hughes film, which turned 32 years old this year, will see a lot of bonus features in addition to a 4K restoration according to Criterion: 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray Alternate 5.1 surround soundtrack, presented in DTS‑HD Master Audio on the Blu-ray Audio commentary from 2015 featuring actors…

"The Breakfast Club heads to Criterion"

Chicago Film Festival: The Experimental City

The Experimental City documents the fascinating story behind a failed domed metropolis that was to be located in Minnesota. Chad Freidrichs, who directs the documentary, does a fantastic job in bringing history–even if forgotten to many–to life. The city was the brainchild of scientist and University of Minnesota dean Athelstan Spilhaus.  In watching, I was reminded of Walt Disney’s vision for Epcot as being a city of tomorrow.  Just as the Florida project never came to fruition, the…

"Chicago Film Festival: The Experimental City"

Chicago Film Festival: Blueprint

The South Side-focused Blueprint is one of many Chicago-focused films playing at the Chicago International Film Festival. Directed by Daryl Wein from a screenplay that was co-written with Jerod Haynes, the film spotlights the Chicago Southside. Chicago’s Southside is one that does not have a great reputation because of the gang violence that overwhelms the news day in and day out. Haynes stars as Jerod, a daycare teacher.  He loses a close friend and from…

"Chicago Film Festival: Blueprint"

Chicago Film Festival: Chasing the Blues Q&A

Cast and crew were on hand for an entertaining Q&A session following the world premiere of Chasing the Blues at the Chicago International Film Festival. On hand for the Q&A session were director/co-writer Scott Smith, co-writer Kevin Guilfoile, actors Jon Lovitz and Grant Rosenmeyer, producer J.J. Ingram, associate producer Aria DeBenny, and executive producer John Fromstein.  The session was moderated by Anthony Kaufman. Rosenmeyer said that the first time he traveled to Chicago was to…

"Chicago Film Festival: Chasing the Blues Q&A"

Transgender Casting Call Set for October 22nd

The Casting Society of America has set a nationwide casting call for transgender talent for October 22, 2017. “The reasoning that a non diverse ‘star’ gets to play a diverse role is because there weren’t enough talented, diverse options is an industry myth,” said Russell Boast, VP of Casting Society of America.  “We’re going to do something about that.” Boast spoke to Solzy at the Movies in June with regards to improving transgender representation in…

"Transgender Casting Call Set for October 22nd"