Film News

CHICAGO – It’s time to choose the TEN SCARIEST Donald Trump Tweets, excuse me, The 10 Best films of 2017 (got a lot on my mind). Selected by HollywoodChicago.com’s Patrick McDonald, the “Über Critic,” it is a list that celebrates redemptive spirit, love of the love and just all-out fun at the flickers.

CHICAGO – The lights of State Street will be a bit brighter on Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 as the Gene Siskel Film Center reopens after five weeks of renovations. New seating, carpeting and wiring was put into place, capping the first major upgrade since the legendary theater opened 17 years ago.

CHICAGO – “Lady Bird,” which is the sensational, authentic and emotional directorial debut of actor Greta Gerwig, was honored as the Best Picture of 2017 as determined by the Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA) on Dec. 12, 2017. The Best Director was split to Christopher Nolan of “Dunkirk,” the Best Actor was Timothée Chalamet of “Call Me By Your Name” (who also was awarded Most Promising Performer) and the Best Actress was Saoirse Ronan of “Lady Bird.”

CHICAGO – The eclectic coming-of-age love story, “Call Me By Your Name” topped the nominations list with eight for the 2017 Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA) Film Awards, to be announced on Wednesday, December 13th. Director Luca Guadagnino’s adaptation of Andre Aciman’s novel garnered nods for Best Picture, Guadagnino for Best Director, and acting noms for Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg and Timothee Chalamet.

CHICAGO – The votes were tallied – from internet surveys and the awards committee – and the Midwest Independent Film Festival “Best of the Midwest” (BMA) Awards were given out on Tuesday, December 5th, 2017.

CHICAGO – On Tuesday, December 5th, the Midwest Independent Film Festival will award their 2017 “Best of the Midwest” honors with a ceremony at Landmark Century Centre Cinema in Chicago at 7pm. Nominees include the feature films “Dave Made a Maze,” “Halfway,” “Signature Move,” “The Legend of Swee’ Pea” and “The View From Tall.”

CHICAGO – There is a cinematic event in Des Plaines, Illinois, that celebrated its 4th year last night with the opening night film Signature Move. The Oakton Community College Pop-Up Film Festival is the brainchild of film professor Michael Glover Smith, who also has a film in the festival entitled “Mercury in Retrograde” (Thursday, November 30th, 2017). The second night film, on November 29th, is “Porto,’ directed by Gabe Klinger. Admission for all the screenings is FREE and open to the public. For complete information regarding the festival, click here.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA – He was the heart throb-iest of the teen heart throbs when he came onto the scene in the early 1970s. David Cassidy was the driving force of the manufactured-for-TV pop act The Partridge Family, which provided a soundtrack for their era. Cassidy died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at the age of 67, on November 21st, 2017.

CHICAGO – The fall movie season continues in Chicago with one of the best movie-music-party celebrations of the year. CIMMfest – the Chicago International Movie & Music Festival – is back for its 9th year, and promises another blast of great sounds and movies about those sounds, in all genres.

CHICAGO – The Fall Season Five continues for the Asian Pop-Up Cinema series in Chicago as they roll down the alley for “Split,” Wednesday, November 1st, 2017, at the AMC River East 21 Theatre. This South Korean bowling comedy is directed by Choi Kook-hee. Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com will make an appearance as “the bowler,” with Ron Falzone of Columbia College moderating. For complete details and to purchase tickets, click here.