Michael Phillips – Page 46

‘Sister Carrie’ leaves the mean streets of Chicago for Paris in Daniel Nearing’s bold premiere, now with a live orchestra at Siskel Film Center

December 16, 2022 at 5:00 a.m.

"I read 'Sister Carrie' when I was 18 or 19 and thought it was terrible," says filmmaker and professor Daniel Nearing. Then he picked it up again in his 50s....

Cate Blanchett stars in writer-director Todd Field's "Tár," one of the baiduhai's Top 10 of 2022.

The Top 10 best movies of 2022 (plus a few of the worst)

December 14, 2022 at 7:04 a.m.

Tom Cruise wins the award for multiplex superhero of 2022. One of the few old-school movie stars left standing, he pushed back on the salvage-yard business strategy suggesting "Top Gun:...

‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ review: In this gorgeous looking sequel, James Cameron has a way with water

December 13, 2022 at 11:45 a.m.

"Avatar: The Way of Water" succeeds in one big way above all. It looks and moves and surrounds the way James Cameron wanted his underwater disappointment "The Abyss" to look,...

Dino Vlahakis, left, and Dave Loomos stand outside of the Pickwick Theatre on Dec. 9, 2022 in Park Ridge. The brothers-in-law own and operate the iconic movie theater.

Column: The Pickwick Theatre may have a new operator in the wings. Here’s what brought the owners to a tipping point

December 12, 2022 at 5:07 a.m.

The headlines last week broke sentimental moviegoers' hearts, in Park Ridge and beyond. The Pickwick Theatre, the beating heart of the downtown area, was closing, with a farewell screening on...

Review: ‘EO’ is a donkey’s tale, clear-eyed and moving. Now at the Film Center.

December 9, 2022 at 5:20 a.m.

A prime year for cinematic donkeys: That's one way to remember 2022. "Prime" does not mean "kind." Jenny, the wee miniature companion of Colin Farrell's character in "The Banshees of...

Column: Sex and gender on the screen is the subject of ‘Brainwashed’ at Facets

December 2, 2022 at 5:00 a.m.

A woman appears on camera, looking strategically desirable, clothed or nude. Kim Novak in "Vertigo"; Phoebe Cates in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High"; the list is as long as film...

Will Smith, left, and Ben Foster in "Emancipation."

‘Emancipation’ review: Will Smith wins the Civil War, and a true story loses its authentic edge

December 1, 2022 at 11:02 a.m.

Opening in select theaters this week before its Dec. 9 streaming premiere on Apple TV+, "Emancipation" is rated R for violence, and for "disturbing images and language." Those words also...

Santa (David Harbour, left) runs afoul of a murderous hostage and heist scenario masterminded by "Mr. Scrooge" (John Leguizamo) in "Violent Night."

‘Violent Night’ review: Santa’s got a brand new bag

November 30, 2022 at 11:20 a.m.

Ultraviolence at the holidays takes on many forms. I've seen children tear open presents in ways that would garner a hard-R rating for graphic, disturbing intensity. At the movies, I've...

‘Nanny’ review: Anna Diop shines in an eerie, assured feature film debut

November 28, 2022 at 11:24 a.m.

Some movies, mostly to do with how they're marketed, keep the audience guessing as to what the hell it is, exactly, right up until the moment the lights go down...

Anna Diop interview: In ‘Nanny,’ one immigrant story informs another

November 25, 2022 at 5:00 a.m.

As a little girl growing up in Houston, Anna Diop devoured rerun after rerun of a particular TV program because her mother was crazy about it. That show, Diop says...

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