Indie Outlook: Seventh Anniversary
It’s only fitting that Independence Day has been followed each year by the anniversary of Indie Outlook, my site dedicated to films and artists who are among the finest in […]
Tag Archives: Chicago Critics Film Festival
Why “Psycho” and “Alien” are the Perfect Double Bill
“Mother’s interrupted the course of our journey. She’s programmed to do that should certain conditions arise.”—Dallas (Tom Skerritt) 40 years ago today, Ridley Scott’s horror classic, “Alien,” went into wide […]
Out of Time: The Brilliant Soundtrack of Hal Ashby’s “Coming Home”
On May 7th of last year, I was fortunate enough to catch Amy Scott’s splendid documentary, “Hal,” at the Chicago Critics Film Festival. I had already been a fan of […]
Schrader & Brüggemann: Masters of Slow Cinema
The most exciting film opening in Chicagoland theaters today has absolutely nothing to do with “Star Wars,” though it does harken back to another crucial work of the 1970s. Before […]
The Angels, They Forgot Her: The Tragedy of “The Blackcoat’s Daughter”
“Just because someone isn’t alive anymore doesn’t mean your exploration of the relationship you have with that person doesn’t continue,” observed filmmaker Osgood “Oz” Perkins during our interview this past […]
Peyton Kennedy on “American Fable,” “XX” and “Odd Squad”
Millie Bobby Brown in “Stranger Things.” Angourie Rice in “The Nice Guys.” Ella Ballentine in “The Monster.” Dafne Keen in “Logan.” All excellent examples of performances by young women who […]
Top 20 Films of 2016: Part I
As we close the book on 2016, a year many of us would rather forget, it’s worth reflecting on the parts of it that are worth savoring—namely, the movies. This […]
Indie Outlook: Fourth Anniversary
Four years ago, I began this independent film blog as a labor of love dedicated to covering the latest gems in recent cinema. Talking with filmmakers about their work has […]
CCFF 2016: Six Films to Remember
The fourth installment of the Chicago Critics Film Festival wrapped yesterday at the Music Box Theatre, and I couldn’t be prouder of my colleagues who made this passion project a […]
Top Ten Spielberg Summer Movies
Steven Spielberg is not only the undisputed king of summer movies, he invented them. Films were no longer mere entertainments, they were grand cultural events. The highest compliment one can […]
Indie Outlook 