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 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"

Sam Elliott shines through in The Hero

Sam Elliott delivers a shining performance in The Hero as Lee Hayden. Written and directed by Brett Haley, The Hero stars Sam Elliott, Laura Prepon, Nick Offerman, Krysten Ritter, and Katharine Ross. In the newest film from writer/director Brett Haley, Elliott gives one of the strongest performances I have seen so far during this year’s Chicago Critics Film Festival.  We all know his voice–it’s just as iconic as Morgan Freeman.  It’s one of two films…

"Sam Elliott shines through in The Hero"

CCFF: The Hero shines through in Sam Elliott

Sam Elliott delivers a shining performance in The Hero as Lee Hayden. In the newest film from writer/director Brett Haley, Elliott gives one of the strongest performances I have seen so far during this year’s Chicago Critics Film Festival.  We all know his voice–it’s just as iconic as Morgan Freeman.  It’s one of two films that played in which Hayden confronts his own mortality when he gets diagnosed with cancer.  He’s not getting much work…

"CCFF: The Hero shines through in Sam Elliott"