Take Me, already out on iTunes, played on the big screen in Chicago for what is likely to be the only time this past Monday night. It’s very funny. Directed by Pat Healy from a screenplay written by Mike Makowsky, the movie stars Healy, Taylor Schilling, Alycia Delmore, and Parks and Recreation favorite Jim O’Heir. With a running time of 83 minutes, the film is really short. O’Heir’s appearance is a pleasant surprise but it’s…
"CCFF: Take Me lets Pat Healy return home"Month: May 2017
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"
The best way to sum up Lucky is that it is a tribute to the life and career of Harry Dean Stanton. John Carroll Lynch makes his directorial debut with Lucky from a screenplay written by Logan Sparks and Drago Sumonja. Stanton leads a cast that includes David Lynch, Ron Livingston, Ed Begley Jr., Tom Skerritt, Beth Grant, James Darren, Barry Shabaka Henley, and Yvonne Huff Lee. The performance by Stanton is one of the…
"CCFF: Lucky is a tribute to Harry Dean Stanton"
Zoe Lister-Jones as Anna, Adam Pally as Ben and Fred Armisen as Dave in Zoe Lister-Jones’ BAND AID. Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films release.
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"
Score: A Film Music Documentary, directed by Matt Schrader, played to 60 people on Saturday morning at the Music Box Theater in Chicago. When I screened the movie on Friday afternoon, it immediately jumped to the top of my shortlist for best documentary film in 2017. Financed in part through a Kickstarter campaign, the documentary is amazing but it could be so much more. It’s only 93 minutes but with a better budget, it could…
"CCFF: Score: A Film Music Documentary amazes"
Wonder Woman is the next movie to be released in the DC Cinematic Universe. Between Marvel and DC, it’s the first comic book movie to be released with a female lead. Unfortunately, that doesn’t say much because I don’t have high hopes for it’s success. Critically speaking, DC hasn’t done well of late with the exception of the Dark Knight trilogy starring Christian Bale. We could nick and pick all we want about what’s happened…
"I Have Low Expectations for Wonder Woman"
Jennifer Morrison, who stars as savior Emma Swan, is set to leave Once Upon a Time should the series be renewed for a seventh season. The announcement was made through Morrison’s Instagram account. As I reached the end of my 6 year contract on ONCE UPON A TIME, I was faced with a significant decision. ABC, Eddy Kitsis, and Adam Horowitz very generously invited me to continue as a series regular. After very careful consideration,…
"Jennifer Morrison to exit Once Upon A Time"
The Librarians, recently renewed for their fourth season, has spun off into a trilogy of books written by Greg Cox. It started with 2016’s The Librarians and The Lost Lamp. This book flashes back between 2006 and present day. With Flynn Carsen off doing who knows what, the flashbacks are the only way to keep the Librarian involved. Given the title, it’s an easy guess to say that there’s a focus on Aladdin’s lamp. The…
"The Librarians spins off into book trilogy"
The Guardians of the Galaxy have returned in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, a sequel that provides just as much action and fun as the first movie. The soundtrack for the sequel is provided by Awesome Mixtape #2. This is the last gift that Meredith Quill (Laura Haddock) gave to her son, Peter (Chris Pratt), prior to dying in the first movie. For Peter Quill, he has never known who his father is. Lo…
"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is Awesome and So Much Fun"
Stephen Colbert made joined The Daily Show in June 1997. Since The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will be off the air when the anniversary takes place, Colbert is going to be celebrating next week. On May 9th, Colbert will play host to Daily Show alumni Jon Stewart, Samantha Bee, John Oliver, Ed Helms and Rob Corddry. Sadly, Steve Carell will not be appearing in the episode. A number of The Daily Show‘s senior correspondents…
"Stephen Colbert brings Daily Show reunion to The Late Show"