My Favorite Films of Summer 2017

With an end to the 2017 summer movie season, it’s time to round up my favorite films of this summer.  While I was credentialed for both the Chicago Critics Film Festival, the Fantasia International Film Festival, and remotely covered a few films selected for the Flyover Film Festival, I am not including any of those films unless they’ve been released in theaters, video on demand, or Digital HD. I’ll start with the documentaries.  I’ve seen…

"My Favorite Films of Summer 2017"

The House Fails and What’s Going On With Comedy Movies This Summer?

Comedy movies have taken a toll at the box office this summer.  What’s going on with this and how can it be fixed? Paramount, Sony, and Warner Bros. have taken a hit with Baywatch, Rough Night, and The House, respectively.  I’ve seen and reviewed both Baywatch and Rough Night.  The House, however, was not screened for critics. Baywatch has struggled since it’s release.  It’s made just over $57 million against a $69 million budget.  It’s…

"The House Fails and What’s Going On With Comedy Movies This Summer?"

The Solzy Awards for Film in 2017 So Far

We’ve reached the halfway point of 2017 so that means it’s time to issue the Solzy Awards for Film in 2017 So Far. The two films that really stand out to me at this point in the year are The Big Sick and Baby Driver.  I started writing this article prior to seeing The Beguiled when it opened in Chicago on Friday.  I debated a lot to myself about whether or not I should include…

"The Solzy Awards for Film in 2017 So Far"

Band Aid fights it up through music

Band Aid is a funny relationship comedy where the fights are done through music.  The movie throws a new perspective on love in cinema. Written, directed, and produced by Zoe Lister-Jones, the film stars Lister Jones, Adam Pally, Fred Armisen, Susie Essman, Retta, Hannah Simone, Ravi Patel, Brooklyn Decker, Angelique Cabral, Majandra Delfino, Colin Hanks, Chris D’Elia, Jamie Chung, Erinn Hayes, Gillian Zinser, and Jesse Williams. Actress/writer Zoe Lister-Jones makes her directorial debut with this…

"Band Aid fights it up through music"

CCFF: Band-Aid fights it up through music

Band-Aid is a funny relationship comedy where the fights are done through music.  The movie throws a new perspective on love in cinema. Actress/writer Zoe Lister-Jones makes her directorial debut with this cute indie film about a couple, Anna and Ben (Lister-Jones, Adam Pally), that keep having fights to the point in which they decide they should write songs about their fights.  The decision, with the hope of saving their marriage, to write the songs…

"CCFF: Band-Aid fights it up through music"