May 2022

CHICAGO – In an extraordinary flash of timing, the new French film “Happening” gets a general release in select theaters on May 13th, right in the midst of an another abortion debate in the U.S. The story of a young woman seeking the procedure in 1963 features Anamarie Varolomei and is adapted by director Audrey Diwan. They spoke to HollywoodChicago.com.

CHICAGO – Another great film festival is back, as the full Chicago Critics Film Festival opens on May 13th, 2022, with “Cha Cha Real Smooth” at the Music Box Theatre. The Fest runs through May 19th, click CCFF for schedule and ticket info.

CHICAGO – The tradition of the music salon goes as far back as 16th Century Italy, and is designed as a destination “either to please or to educate.” On May 7th, 2022, Soprano Kirsten Leslie Karadzhova and pianist Paul Dykstra will present the first Art Song Series at Dykstra’s “Salon des Artiste” music studio in the Fine Arts Building on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. For complete details regarding this “free to the public” event, see below.

CHICAGO – “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” proves that more Doctor Stranges do not necessarily equal more fun. And more so than other comic book adventures, this seems like a cog in the Marvel machine first, and an adventure in its own right a very distant second.

CHICAGO – The movie star Marilyn Monroe, arguably the brightest star in the history of Hollywood, led a life of triumph and tragedy, up to and including her death in 1962. The recent Netflix release of “The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes” – directed by Emma Cooper – is a documentary that seeks truth, through never-heard-before audio interviews.

CHICAGO – The Spring Season continues on Saturday, May 7th, 2022, as the Chicago Humanities Festival presents an amazing day of forums and speakers. Kicking off the day will be a woman of history … in a week where we need her … as Anita Hill speaks on the topic of “Believing Women,” the subject of her new book. Ending the day will be mondo film director John Waters, speaking on his new book, “Liarmouth: A Feel-Bad Romance.” In between, the full day will have many other forums and discussions, click CHF MAY 7TH for schedule, details and ticket information.

CHICAGO – Mental health and sports have been in the spotlight the last couple of years. The high profile breakdowns of tennis star Naomi Osaka and Olympian Simone Biles, as well as the confessions of swimmer Michael Phelps, has drawn scrutiny towards sports and mindful stress. Director Darryl Roberts explores this in his new doc, “I’m Fine, (Not) Really.”

Rating: 5.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on The Eddie Volkman Show on WSSR-FM (Star 96.7 Joliet, Illinois) on April 29th, 2022, reviewing the new animation film, “Pompo the Cinephile,” based on a popular Manga comic, in theaters on April 29th.