Michael Phillips – Page 63

Lady Gaga stars as Patrizia Reggiani and Jared Leto as Paolo Gucci in director Ridley Scott's "House of Gucci."

‘House of Gucci’ review: High fashion, low cunning in a medium-stakes drama starring Lady Gaga, Adam Driver

November 22, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.

Director Ridley Scott loves pretty things. He loves the way a fastidiously composed shot catches the light off the gleaming surface of something hideously expensive. (He's made a few commercials...

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Feb. 18, 2020, after being released from a Colorado prison. Then-President Trump commuted the ex-Illinois governor's 14-year sentence.

Column: Hulu’s ‘Being Blago’ charts the rise, fall and next chapter of Illinois’ disgraced ex-governor. He’s a more interesting guy than you may think

November 19, 2021 at 6:50 a.m.

The question isn't who, or what, but why. Why is Rod Blagojevich? Why does our most recent disgraced ex-governor continue to make improbably interesting television, as evidenced by Hulu's four-part...

Andrew Garfield plays 'Rent' creator Jonathan Larson in the film version of the musical "Tick, Tick...Boom!"

‘Tick, Tick…Boom!’ review: Director Lin-Manuel Miranda lights the fuse with Jonathan Larson’s own musical story of himself, before ‘Rent’ and his death

November 17, 2021 at 12:31 p.m.

Artists suffer, and fail, and work miracles, sometimes in the same frazzled measure of their lives. The late Jonathan Larson, who died at 35 in the final week of rehearsals...

Will Smith in a scene from "King Richard."

‘King Richard’ review: With Will Smith in charge, the Venus and Serena Williams tennis dynasty centers its story on Dad

November 17, 2021 at 7:21 a.m.

"King Richard" redirects tennis phenomenon of Venus and Serena Williams away from the sisters and toward their father, Richard. He is played by Will Smith in a performance guaranteed an...

Benedict Cumberbatch in Jane Campion's "The Power of the Dog."

‘The Power of the Dog’ review: Benedict Cumberbatch stars in 1925 Montana-set drama, reminding us that ‘West’ rhymes with ‘Repressed’

November 16, 2021 at 12:10 p.m.

The gorgeous Otago region of New Zealand makes for one hell of a 1925 Montana in "The Power of the Dog," the first feature written and directed by Jane Campion...

‘Florencia en el Amazonas’ review: Inspired by Gabriel García Márquez, a Spanish-language opera finally docks at Lyric Opera

November 14, 2021 at 8:14 p.m.

Under cruddy November skies, the late Mexican composer Daniel Catán's "Florencia en el Amazonas" made its Chicago premiere at Lyric Opera Saturday and handed first-nighters an eyeful of magenta sunsets,...

Jude Hill, left and Jamie Dornan appear in a scene from "Belfast."

‘Belfast’ review: Emotion competes with nostalgia on Kenneth Branagh’s memory lane, already with Oscar buzz

November 12, 2021 at 7:04 a.m.

Everything that works in "Belfast" keeps the movie's superficialities and lower-grade sentiment at bay — if not every step of the way, then at least every other step. I'd happily...

Actor Will Smith speaks during a tour of the XS Tennis and Education Foundation, 5336 S. State St., Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Chicago. Smith, with fellow actors Demi Singleton and Saniyya Sidney, were in Chicago to promote their new film, "King Richard." (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

Will Smith leads the biggest little book event of the year at Chicago Theatre, with reading, rapping and a ‘Fresh Prince’ theme song singalong

November 11, 2021 at 3:49 p.m.

On stage at the Chicago Theatre Wednesday night, at the only author event of the season to feature a "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" theme song singalong, the human corporation known...

Update: Eyeing a ‘radical new future,’ Kartemquin Films names longtime Heartland Alliance staffer Betsy Leonard as executive director

November 10, 2021 at 2:34 p.m.

Betsy Leonard, who has held various leadership roles in her 29 years at the Chicago-based nonprofit organization Heartland Alliance, has been appointed executive director of Kartemquin Films effective Dec. 1....

Director Kenneth Branagh in Chicago, Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. Branagh's latest film, the autobiographical drama "Belfast," won the top prize at Toronto and is being talked about for the Oscars.

Kenneth Branagh talks ‘Belfast’: Why he cut himself out of his own movie, and why an early version of his family’s troubles amid the Troubles was practically a musical

November 10, 2021 at 6:30 a.m.

Kenneth Branagh pours himself a cup of Big Ben tea, and while the downtown Chicago Peninsula Hotel has many plush and refined components, this particular teapot practically dares its user...

All Stories