Chicago Indie Critics Awards: 2019 Winners

The Chicago Indie Critics Awards were handed out on Saturday night during the 4th annual CIC Awards with Knives Out and Parasite taking four wins a piece.  Little Women and 1917 followed in honors with three wins a piece. The 2019 Chicago Indie Critics Awards took place at the Cards Against Humanity Theater and were hosted by Chicago comedian Katie Baker. BEST INDEPENDENT FILM (budgets under $20 million) Parasite (Producers: Bong Joon-ho, Kwak Sin-ae, Moon Yang-kwon, and Jang…

"Chicago Indie Critics Awards: 2019 Winners"

The Fighter Puts On A Masterclass in Acting

The performances from Christian Bale, Melissa Leo, and Amy Adams in The Fighter are the very definition of a masterclass in acting. Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) is a welterweight boxer.  Ward is managed by his mother, Alice Ward-Eklund (Melissa Leo), and trained by older half-brother Dicky Ecklund (Christian Bale).  As far as his boxing career goes, Micky isn’t at a great point when he first meet him.  He’s the person that you defeat while you’re…

"The Fighter Puts On A Masterclass in Acting"

Brooklyn: Saoirse Ronan is Phenomenal

Phenomenal performances from Saoirse Ronan and Emory Cohen help to elevate 1950s romantic drama Brooklyn in the 2015 adaptation. Irish immigrant Ellis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan) finds herself in quite the predicament following her arrival to the United States in 1951.  Thanks to her sister’s help, Father Flood (Jim Broadbent) arranges for Ellis to stay at a boarding house in Brooklyn.  Finding work at a department store doesn’t really lead to happiness and Ellis begins to…

"Brooklyn: Saoirse Ronan is Phenomenal"

Birdman: Oscar Winner Benefits From Unique Style

When it comes to filmmaking, the Michael Keaton-starring Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is a unique achievement in cinema. The film, featuring a star-studded cast, is Michael Keaton’s comeback so to speak.  Did he ever go away?  Well, probably not.  Regardless, Keaton turns in one of the greatest performances of his career. Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton) used to portray the iconic Birdman.  While battling his alter-ego, the actor now mounts a Broadway play…

"Birdman: Oscar Winner Benefits From Unique Style"

Moneyball: A New-School Approach to Baseball

Moneyball takes us into the front office by bringing a new school approach of utilizing sabermetrics in how the game of baseball is played. Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), a former baseball player, would go one to become one of the game’s greatest innovators.  It’s not sure yet as to whether he’ll eventually enter the Baseball Hall of Fame.  However, his legacy will live on by way of the sabermetric system as proven by what we…

"Moneyball: A New-School Approach to Baseball"

The Social Network: A Classic For The Ages

The Social Network remains not only the best film that was released in 2010 but it’s also one of the greatest films to ever be made. When The Social Network first hit theaters in October 2010, nobody could predict what would become of Facebook.  The social media platform may be a great way to stay in touch with friends and family but it’s so much more than that.  Listen, all the platforms have their issues. …

"The Social Network: A Classic For The Ages"