“Into the Woods”: Stage Versus Screen
When writing about Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s “Into the Woods,” there’s no need to beat around the bush. It’s my favorite musical of all time. I first discovered the […]
Tag Archives: Anna Kendrick
CIFF 2014 Centerpieces: “The Last 5 Years” and “St. Vincent”
Amidst the weighty topics and stark realism permeating this year’s selections at the Chicago International Film Festival are two fairly lightweight crowd-pleasers boasting big names, bouncy soundtracks and red carpet […]
50 Enticing Titles at 50th CIFF
With the Chicago International Film Festival celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Indie Outlook is highlighting 50 of the most enticing titles scheduled to screen during the fest’s two-week run […]
Seven Scenes by Joe Swanberg
In a recent interview with Moviemaker Magazine, Chicago’s trailblazing indie auteur Joe Swanberg was praised by writer Sean Hood for creating a “sustainable production model” based on creative tribalism. The […]
Twenty-Five Anticipated Films at Sundance 2014
The 2014 Sundance Film Festival, held from Thursday, January 16th, to Sunday, January 26th, in Park City, Utah, offers an embarrassment of riches for any self-respecting cinephile. Merely attempting to […]
Joe Swanberg Preserves Style on Bigger Budget in “Drinking Buddies”
I’m always perplexed by critics who complain that nothing happens in Joe Swanberg’s films, as if a more straightforward plot structure would serve as an improvement. Swanberg’s films don’t have […]
Indie Outlook: First Anniversary
On July 5th, 2012, I posted my first article on Indie Outlook. It’s now been an entire year since then, and I’m amazed and humbled by the extraordinary array of […]
23 Films to See in 2013
Though 2013 has barely begun, a slew of hotly anticipated titles have already materialized on the calendar, including a handful destined to generate Oscar buzz prior to next year’s ceremony. […]
Reel Essentials: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
There simply isn’t a more engaging and gifted actor in modern American cinema than Joseph Gordon-Levitt. As a lifelong fan who hasn’t seen a single episode of “3rd Rock From […]
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