CHICAGO – Excelsior! Comic book legend Stan Lee’s famous exclamation puts a fine point on the third and final play of Mark Pracht’s FOUR COLOR TRILOGY, “The House of Ideas,” presented by and staged at City Lit Theater in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood. For tickets/details, click HOUSE OF IDEAS.
BlackBerry
On-Air Film Review: Called CrackBerry, Addicted to ‘BlackBerry’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 13, 2023 - 8:23amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on May 11th, reviewing “BlackBerry,” the story of the rise and fall of the world’s first smartphone. In theaters on May 12th.!—break—>
CCFF23: 'Theater Camp' is Chicago Critics Film Fest Closing Night
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 11, 2023 - 7:29amCHICAGO – All great things must come to an end, as the 2023 Chicago Critics Film Festival (CCFF) Closing Night is on Thursday, May 11th, with the anticipated “Theater Camp” at the Music Box Theatre. The Fest spanned six days, click CCFF FINALE for closing night ticket info.
Podtalk: Co-Writer/Director/Actor Matt Johnson of ‘BlackBerry’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 8, 2023 - 7:25pmCHICAGO – As technology goes, it seems so long ago, but at its peak the first multi-use smartphone was nicknamed the “CrackBerry” because of user addiction. The product’s improbable rise and fall is told in the new film “BlackBerry,” co-written/directed and featuring Matt Johnson.
CCFF2023: 10th Chicago Critic’s Fest Weekday Films Preview
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 8, 2023 - 9:48amCHICAGO – The 10th Chicago Critics Film Festival (CCFF) continues through May 11th, with many screenings to come. On Wednesday, May 10th, a searing drama of sibling youth set in early 1990s Toronto is “Brother.” Click on BROTHER for tickets and more information.
CCFF2023: 10th Chicago Critic’s Fest Weekend Films Preview
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 5, 2023 - 11:20amCHICAGO – The 10th Chicago Critics Film Festival (CCFF) continues on May 6th, with a local filmmaker and her feature debut. “Waiting for the Light to Change,” directed by Lihn Tran, is Sunday’s featured film. Click on WAITING for tickets and more information.
Film News: 2023 Chicago Critics Film Festival Opens with 'BlackBerry' on Friday, May 5th
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 3, 2023 - 11:54pmCHICAGO – One of the best local film gatherings is back, as the 2023 Chicago Critics Film Festival (CCFF) opens on Friday, May 5th, with “BlackBerry” at the Music Box Theatre. The Fest runs through May 11th, click CCFF for opening night ticket info.
Podtalk: Jim Healy, Consulting Programmer of the Wisconsin Film Festival, April 13-20, 2023
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 11, 2023 - 4:32pmCHICAGO – Spring is busting out all over for film festivals, and upcoming is the Wisconsin Film Festival, taking place within the environs of the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison, Wisconsin, from April 13th-20th, 2023, The popular fest is celebrating 25 years, and features a mix of current festival films, local filmmakers, International films and special presentations of cinema history. For all information and ticket availability, click WIfilmfest.org.
SXSW2023: Spotlight Narrative ‘BlackBerry’ Tells a Story of Our Times
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 27, 2023 - 2:19pmAUSTIN, TX – Remember the term “CrackBerry”? It described the addicts of the earliest multi-function smartphone, the BlackBerry. In the days before the iPhone, it was the BlackBerry that held the mobile communication crown. The fascinating story of extreme success and monumental miscalculation is all encompassing.