2017

THOR: RAGNAROK: A Beast Of Hollywood's Burden
THOR: RAGNAROK: A Beast Of Hollywood’s Burden

In the age of over-bloated Hollywood tentpoles and remakes, Thor: Ragnarok is truly King of the…

Bill Nye: Science Guy
BILL NYE: SCIENCE GUY: Scientist As Superhero

Readers of a certain age will fondly remember Bill Nye as their de facto substitute teacher,…

1922: A Man Unraveled By Guilt
1922: A Man Unraveled By Guilt

1922 is a movie experience that does its due diligence to fester, just like the body that resides at the center of Wilfred’s shame.

SCHOOL OF BABEL: A Band Apart
SCHOOL OF BABEL: A Band Apart

The fascinating documentary School of Babel focuses on a group of diverse students settling into a new life in France.

UNREST: A Brave, Personal Look at Invisible Illness
UNREST: A Brave, Personal Look At Invisible Illness

Unrest is a brave piece of documentary filmmaking that’s absorbing, sensitive and most importantly, has the power to save lives.

ONE OF US: A Fairly Effective Profile Of The Powerless

One of Us is a sometimes powerful portrayal of three Hasidic Jews, showing their struggles to get by in a world that oppresses them.

SUBURBICON: Fake Smiles & Stale Cookies Doesn't Always Win You Over
SUBURBICON: Fake Smiles & Stale Cookies Doesn’t Always Win You Over

Suburbicon is a somewhat effective thriller that unfortunately squanders its potential at being a deeper film about racial tension.

CREEP 2: A Comically Engaging Character Study
CREEP 2: A Comically Engaging Character Study

Creep 2 takes the comedy and emotional performances of its predecessor to create something entirely new and unique.

THE LURE: The Mermaid Horror Musical You Didn't Know You Wanted
THE LURE: The Mermaid Horror Musical You Didn’t Know You Wanted

A reworking of The Little Mermaid, Agnieszka Smoczynska’s The Lure is quite a unique and often spectacular cinematic treat.

MAYHEM: Hilarious & Horrifying Socially Salient Satire
MAYHEM: Hilarious & Horrifying Socially Salient Satire

Mayhem is a culmination of film, art, historical and current affairs references, genre juxtapositions, and effective stylized filmmaking.

SUBURBICON: On The Inherent Violence Of The American Suburb
SUBURBICON: On The Inherent Violence Of The American Suburb

Despite some flaws, Suburbicon is still a riot of a good time, poking fun at the inherent obscurity of the American Dream in a unique way.

MUM: The Everlasting Bond
MUM: The Everlasting Bond

Mum is an incredibly moving and profound short film about a transgender woman reconnecting with her ailing mother.

RODENTS OF UNUSUAL SIZE: A Tale Of Rats & Resilience
RODENTS OF UNUSUAL SIZE: A Tale Of Rats & Resilience

Rodents Of Unusual Size is a lesson in just how much a canny filmmaker can fit into a documentary that’s barely an hour long.

THE SQUARE: First (Art) World Problems
THE SQUARE: First (Art) World Problems

Though not every element of The Square works, and frequently gets heavy-handed, it’s hard not to appreciate Ruben Östlund’s sense of humor.

53rd Chicago International Film Festival Report
53rd Chicago International Film Festival Report

At the 53rd Chicago International Film Festival, writer Laura Birnbaum recalls the wonderful films she was able to see.