Pupinia Stewart is Stealing My Sanity
“Slowly, the penguins steal my sanity.”—message on T-shirt worn by friend in high school Among my very favorite memories of adolescence are the times that my sister and I would […]
Category Archives: Indie Spotlight
Brad Bischoff on “The Grasshopper”
Let’s forgo beating around the bush and cut to the chase: Brad Bischoff is one of the most exciting writer/directors in the Chicagoland area. He’s made several short films, many […]
Roaring with Laughter: “The Lion in Winter”
When master cinematographer Douglas Slocombe passed away last month at age 103, tributes began pouring in from cinephiles around the globe, many of them citing his infamous work on the […]
Dietrich Brüggemann on “Heil”
In the fall of 2014, I was covering the Chicago International Film Festival when I stumbled upon Dietrich Brüggemann’s German drama “Stations of the Cross.” It was a shattering portrait […]
Harrison Ford’s Ten Best Non-Lucas Films
Ever since I saw “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens” a whopping four times in theaters, I’ve been on a bit of a Harrison Ford kick. His triumphant return […]
The Walking Undead: Universal’s Classic “Dracula” Films
If Universal’s classic series of interlocking monster movies stands as the forbearer to Marvel’s current superhero franchise, then Dracula is surely the original Iron Man. His film was the one […]
Martin Stirling on “Most Shocking Second a Day Video”
With digital sound and fury continuously vying for our attention on a daily basis, flashy spectacle can no longer guarantee our engagement. Our hearts must be engaged as well in […]
Mirror Images: “American Sniper” and “Selma”
The following essay was written by film critic John Marks, a contributor at Movie Mezzanine.com. Is Oscar-bait good for the movies? This was the question asked by Slate’s S.T. VanAirsdale […]
To Infinity and Beyond: Top Ten Pixar Movies
Perhaps only John Lasseter could’ve transformed an ordinary table lamp into the next Mickey Mouse. In his Oscar-nominated 1986 short, “Luxo Jr.”, Lasseter ingeniously brought a lamp to life by […]
Indie Outlook 