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"Tag: Chicago International Film Festival
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"
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"
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"
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"
Sam Pollard’s documentary, Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me is the first major documentary to spotlight the life of the late Rat Pack member. The documentary features interviews with Billy Crystal, Norman Lear, Jerry Lewis, Whoopi Goldberg and Kim Novak, among others, including Nixon staffers such as former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. We are treated to never-before seen photos as well as numerous clips from Davis’ career. For someone such as Davis, it’s beyond crazy…
"Chicago Film Festival – Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me"
From writer-director Stephen Cone, Princess Cyd adds to a nice collection of films showing that the Chicago filmmaking scene is as vibrant as ever. The film is also important in that the coming-of-age film adds to the LGBTQ voices in media. Written and directed by Cone, the film stars Rebecca Spence, Jessie Pinnick, Malic White, James Vincent Meredith, with Matthew Quattrocki and Tyler Ross. The younger actress makes her feature film debut and rises to the…
"Chicago Film Festival: Princess Cyd" Chasing the Blues director/co-writer Scott Smith and actor Grant Rosenmeyer spoke about the new film on the red carpet prior to the world premiere at the 53rd Chicago International Film Festival. Actor Jon Lovitz and producers Aria DeBenny, John Fromstein, and J.J. Ingram also walked the red carpet. A Q&A session took place following the world premiere. The film was produced by Fulton Market Films. They are currently looking for buyers.
"Scott Smith, Grant Rosenmeyer talk Chasing the Blues"
The Replacement, starring the Midwest Independent Film Festival’s own Mike McNamara, is one of the shorts to make its world premiere during the Chicago Style: City and State shorts presentation at the Chicago International Film Festival. “What I love about this script is that it packs so much into 15 minutes,” McNamara tells Solzy at the Movies. “Action, satire, humor, suspense and even a little bit of romance. And it’s so timely. And we shot…
"Chicago Film Festival: The Replacement"
Norway’s official Oscar submission, Thelma, makes a stop in Chicago this weekend. Directed by Joachim Trier (Louder than Bombs) from a screenplay co-written with Eskil Vogt, the foreign film stars Eili Harboe, Okay Kaya, Ellen Dorrit Petersen, and Henrik Rafaelsen. The film combines a few genres with a mix of romance, thriller, and the supernatural as the shy Thelma (Harboe) undergoes terrifying seizures away at college in Oslo. It’s not even a few minutes into…
"Chicago Film Festival: Thelma"