Film critic Taylor Sinople rounds up his picks for the 17 best films of 2017 in this video countdown. Picks include a sumptuous coming-of-age romance, a minimal crime thriller, a whimsical documentary, the new film from beloved director Paul Thomas Anderson, and more. Taylor’s Picks from Past Years: 2016 2015 2014
Film critic Taylor Sinople rounds up his picks for the 16 best films of 2016 in this video countdown. Picks include an unconventional documentary, a standout drama from a new American director, a searing erotic thriller, an animated masterpiece, and more. Taylor’s Picks from Past Years: 2015 2014
2015 may seem like an off-year for cinema – many of the biggest American directors are still producing their next projects – but it was really one that had to be defined by discovery. With the exception of a certain space action franchise, a lot of discussion on cinema these past few months has been on mid, […]
The 51st Chicago International Film Festival blends big ticket premieres, festival favorites from 2015, and obscure international debuts from around the globe. I haven’t seen all of the 120+ films showing at the fest this year, not even close, but I’m excited to share a few of my favorites from what I have seen ahead […]
While dramatically impressive and well-acted, director Alex Ross Perry's "Queen of Earth" is somewhat disjointed in how it handles its obligations to the thriller genre.
Chicago indie film power couple Joe and Kris Swanberg reflect on parenthood in these two films about new parents and their struggle in taking on a new, adult identity. DIGGING FOR FIRE It’s difficult to talk about Joe Swanberg’s growth, because even his most recent films are humble, minimalistic affairs. But the progress is tremendous […]
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is on the tip of many indie-aware moviegoers tongues as one of the most anticipated films of the summer. Greg, his best friend Earl, and Rachel – the dying girl diagnosed with leukemia –united Sundance audiences en masse, resulting in a surprise win of both top prizes in […]
Butter Lamp may be more a series of compelling sentences than a completed short story, but it’s unlike any Academy Award-nominated short film from this year or last. The idea is brilliantly simple: a traveling photographer sets up shop and spends a day shooting portraits for indigenous Tibetan families, bringing with his collection of large […]
