Review: Saints Row Introduces Us to the New Saints, Who Are Just Like the Old Saints—Mostly
I know not everyone is going to welcome the new Saint’s Crew. In fact, I wasn’t sure I was going to welcome the new Saints after the rebooted Saints Row […]
Interview: Volition’s Brian Traficante on an All New Saints Row and What to Expect
It’s been a while since Champaign-based developers Volition have been in the final countdown to a big release. After all, Saints Row IV released all the way back in 2013. […]
Dialogs: Two Artists Discuss Developing The Notebook for Chicago Shakespeare in American Writers Museum Event
It may seem a daunting task to take on developing the stage version of a beloved book and film, with thousands of fans. Singer/songwriter Ingrid Michaelson and playwright/screenwriter Bekah Brunstetter […]
Review: The Salt Shed Hits a New High with Courtney Barnett’s Here and There Festival
The past couple of weeks the Salt Shed has been hitting on all cylinders. They attracted a phenomenal lineup of acts for their first month of shows and have been […]
Review: Straight Outta Harvey: Kellye Howard’s Crazy or Nah?! Is a Perfect Storm of in Your Face Grief and Comedy
There have been some really great one-woman performances and standup comics over the years. My favorite ones have told stories that are personal and off-kilter funny. Kellye Howard is yet […]
Review: Human Connection, Communication and Limits Put to the Test in The Immaculate Room
Yet another clean, economic example of a pandemic-made film that isn’t about the pandemic and has higher aspirations than its simple story may let on. Actually, the latest from writer/director […]
Review: Prequel Orphan: First Kill Entertains with the Subtlety of a Lifetime Drama
Let me get this straight: the talented 25-year-old actor Isabelle Fuhrman (The Novice) is once again playing the character of Esther, last seen in 2009’s Orphan, in which [spoiler alert] […]
Review: Beast Is Equal Parts Intense Family Drama and Bloody Cat-and-Mouse Action Thriller
If you’ve seen any movie in the last 50 years involving a shark attack, then you’ve essentially seen Beast, the new release from visionary Icelandic director Baltasar Kormákur (101 Reykjavík, […]
Review: Kathleen Rooney’s Where Are the Snows Meets the Present with Wry Humor and Hope
The title of Where Are the Snows, Kathleen Rooney’s new, award-winning collection of poetry, serves as both question and commentary to start off the book. Where are the snows, anyway? […]
Review: Now Streaming on Shudder, Glorious Succeeds as an Emotionally Dark Morality Play
Some days, a horror film concept just sells itself on paper. In Glorious, the new offering from Rebekah McKendry (All the Creatures Were Stirring), Ryan Kwanten plays a disturbed young […]
Review: Whatever Path Your Life Takes, May it Lead You Away from the Dull, Uninspired Multiverse Rom-Com Look Both Ways
From director Wanuri Kahiu (Rafiki) and writer April Prosser comes another one of these stories that looks at a key moment in someone’s life and considers two possible paths that […]
Review: Midnight Fight Express Is a Brilliant Isometric Beat ‘Em Up
I think the beat ‘em up genre needs a resurgence, much like old school shooters enjoyed after 2016’s Doom. I’m not saying that Midnight Fight Express is going to be […]