Based on an inspiring true story of a woman who rescued an elephant from the Belfast Zoo, Zoo showcases bravery in Belfast 1941. Written and directed by by Colin McIvor, the Belfast-set film stars Art Parkinson, Penelope Wilton, Toby Jones, Ian O’Reilly, Ian McElhinney, Amy Huberman, and Damian O’Hare. Tom (Parkinson) has to step it up when his zookeeper father, George (O’Hare) decides to enlist in World War 2. As George takes the fight overseas,…
"Chicago Film Festival: Zoo (Dir. Colin McIvor)"Tag: Chicago International Film Festival
Chasing The Blues is a fun but short-ass dramedy with a running time just under 80 minutes long. Scott Smith directs from a screenplay he co-wrote with Kevin Guilfoile. The film stars Grant Rosenmeyer, Ronald L. Conner, Chelsea Tavares, Clem Cheung, with Steve Guttenberg, Anna Maria Horsford, and Jon Lovitz as Lincoln Groome. It’s 1987 and our story evolves around Alan Thomas (Rosenmeyer) and Paul Bettis (Conner). The two of them try to con the…
"Chicago Film Festival: Chasing The Blues"
The Square, this year’s Palme d’Or winner at the Cannes Film Festival is an amusing but over-long comedy that satirizes the art world. Written and directed by Ruben Östlund, the film stars Claes Bang, Elisabeth Moss, Dominic West, Terry Notary, and Christopher Laessø. How far is too far to go when it comes to getting publicity? That’s what writer/director Östlund is trying to get out of viewers watching the film. The curator of an art…
"Chicago Film Festival: The Square"
Lola Pater was one of 150 films selected to screen at the 53rd Chicago International Film Festival. As a transgender film critic based in Chicago, I opted against screening the film in the lead-up to the first screening on Friday. You’re probably wondering why a transgender film critic would opt against screening Lola Pater, a film in which a transgender character plays a prominent role. It comes down to said character being played by a…
"Chicago Film Festival: Why I’m Not Screening Lola Pater"
A number of special presentations headline the 53rd Chicago International Film Festival, which runs at AMC River East 21 this year from October 12-26, 2017. This year’s special presentations include: The Ballad of Lefty Brown Blow-Up Borg/McEnroe Breathe Call Me By Your Name Goodbye Christopher Robin I, Tonya Lady Bird Last Flag Flying Marshall Mudbound The Shape of Water The Square Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Touch of Evil Wormwood I, Tonya and The Ballad…
"Special Presentations headline the Chicago International Film Festival"
The first films were announced today for the 53rd Chicago International Film Festival. This year’s festival will run October 12-26 and will be headlined by special presentations of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Goodbye Christopher Robin, and The Square. One change entering this year’s edition is that Mimi Plauché took over for Michael Kutza as the artistic director of the festival. Kutza is now the CEO and president of Cinema/Chicago. The following films have been…
"53rd Chicago International Film Festival: First Films Announced"