Indie Double Bill: “Short Term 12” and “Monsieur Lazhar”
Some movies are made to come in first at the box office or win overhyped accolades. Others are made because the filmmakers had to make them, not because of a […]
Tag Archives: HBO
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 […]
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. […]
Indie Essentials: Laura Dern
When it comes to polarizing audiences, Laura Dern is absolutely fearless. She has no qualms with picking roles that refuse to fit within a studio’s rigid standards of accessibility. She […]
Top Twenty Films of 2012: Part II
Contrary to what the Academy may have you believe, the year’s best films aren’t always released during November and December. In fact, one of the pictures in my top ten […]
Pat McDonald on Microbudget Tips
I’ve always looked to Pat McDonald not only as a friend and fellow critic for HollywoodChicago.com, but also as somewhat of a father figure. When we rehearsed our presentation at […]
