Casey Puccini on “Children Without Parents”
Nothing brings a family together quite like a sudden tragedy, yet in the case of Casey Puccini’s caustic dark comedy, “Children Without Parents,” the family is “together” only in the […]
‘La Camioneta’ Takes Soulful Ride to Guatemala
One of the great gifts of cinema is its ability to transcend the social and cultural boundaries that too often prevent us from viewing the world through the eyes of […]
“Carrie” (1976) VS “Carrie” (2013)
Ever since it was published by then-unknown author Stephen King in 1974, the novel, “Carrie,” has inspired various adaptations, yet only one has been hailed as a triumph. Brian De […]
Top 10 Favorite Witches
With All Hallows’ Eve on the orange-hued horizon, Indie Outlook takes a nostalgia-filled look at my most beloved seasonal monstrosity: the witch. Her maternal façade only makes her demonic nature […]
CIFF Exclusive: Three Must-See Docs
Quixotic odysseys have captivated audiences ever since the dawn of storytelling. We love to watch characters attempt the impossible, defying the odds in their pursuit of an unlikely triumph. At […]
CIFF Exclusive: Tenderness and Cruelty on Barren Landscapes
Elusive dreams of fortune evaporate like the morning dew in several of this year’s CIFF selections. Poverty and violence are commonplace themes on the festival circuit, yet it takes a […]
Jack C. Newell on “Open Tables”
Few filmmakers have attempted to mine the Windy City’s wealth of improv talent with as much tenacity and exuberance as Jack C. Newell. His first feature-length directorial effort, 2012’s “Close […]
CIFF Exclusive: “12 Years a Slave”
American cinema has never shied away from depicting human atrocity through a historical prism, though the history is rarely that of its own country. Nearly 150 years after the abolition […]
CIFF Exclusive: In Praise of Long Takes
One of the most refreshing things about an international film festival is its utter disinterest in catering to America’s overly indulged demographics. Studios are so petrified to lose their audiences […]
Kill Bill: Top Ten Chapters
If Stuntman Mike had hallucinated while getting beaten to a pulp in the final moments of “Death Proof,” his gleefully nihilistic fantasy may not have looked all that different from […]
