A Princeton, Illinois, native who now lives in Chicago, Samantha Martin is proof positive that sticking with your passion and becoming the best at what you do—no matter how seemingly […]
Watching this long-delayed American musical (the film was supposed to be released in 2015) set in India, starring Oscar-winner Brie Larson (but shot before she became an Oscar winner), I […]
After a painful divorce, Ben (Thomas Middleditch from “Silicon Valley”) has decided he is inconsolable and attempts to kill himself. But each time he tries, something unexpected keeps him from […]
Short films still have a nearly impossible time finding an audience outside of a film festival setting (or even during one). The good news is that over the last couple […]
I’ll give filmmaker Clint Eastwood points for trying something different, even if it doesn’t always work. He’s been acting and directing for so long that he’s seemingly able to spot […]
It’s often said that film is the most collaborative of arts. It takes a village, so to speak, to create ninety minutes of story and visuals that move us, inspire […]
After premiering at the Dubai Film Festival at the end of 2015, this beautifully animated work (Dubai’s first animated feature) about a slave who becomes a mighty warrior over a […]
Chicago-based Music Box Films has a knack for cherry-picking impressive independent, foreign fare that’s earned acclaim on the international festival circuit and bringing it to discerning American audiences. It worked […]
A seemingly small but heated exchange of words sets off a powder keg of protests, media frenzy and hate speech in this incendiary, Oscar-nominated (for Best Foreign Language Film, from […]
Over three Sundays in February, the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership presents a film series that traverses the world exploring the connection between Judaism and music. From India […]
Jake Bickelhaupt, the Chicago-based chef who’s the subject of the new documentary 42 Grams, has a life story that ought to be inspiring. He first discovered his passion for cooking […]
Every year, after the Oscar nominations are announced, the dust settles and a few titles rise to the top as head-scratchers. How the heck did that get nominated for an Academy […]