What’s Going On Here: The Dark Side of “The Room”
If laughter is one of the greatest gifts we can give and receive, then Tommy Wiseau’s 2003 cinematic disaster, “The Room,” is the bargain basement gift that keeps on giving. […]
Tag Archives: Indie Outlook
Clare Cooney on “Runner”
A year before the Harvey Weinstein scandal upended Hollywood by placing a glaring spotlight on its culture of sexual harassment, the career of a similarly revered-yet-notorious figure in the Chicago […]
Margaret Betts on “Novitiate”
I’ve never tired of my parents’ stories detailing their Catholic education. Their vivid memories of the nuns who taught them run the gamut from endearing and hilarious to flat-out terrifying. […]
CIFF 2017: “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” “The Shape of Water” and Eight More to Remember
The 53rd Chicago International Film Festival is now complete, and my mind is swimming with countless flickering images that have become forever etched into my consciousness. I was honored to […]
CIFF 2017: Jakob Lass on “Tiger Girl”
The cinema of German filmmaker Jakob Lass is characterized by an intoxicating energy. His camera and characters are always on the move, involving us in their adventures with such playfulness […]
Six Soundtracks Worth Blasting Out Your Window On Halloween
Ever since I deemed myself too old to trick-or-treat, my favorite Halloween tradition has been to conjure the spirit of the holiday through the realm of music. When I was […]
CIFF 2017 Preview: “Princess Cyd,” “The Square” and Eight More
There is an immense assortment of highlights to be savored at the 53rd Chicago International Film Festival, kicking off Thursday, October 12th, and running through Thursday, October 26th. I am […]
Sean Baker’s “The Florida Project” is One of the Year’s Best Films
The following review was written by master video essayist Nelson Carvajal of Free Cinema Now. It’s hard to write about “The Florida Project” without writing about Florida itself. As I […]
Jennifer Reeder, Fawzia Mirza and Sari Sanchez on “Signature Move”
One of the most buzzed-about Chicago indies in recent memory is “Signature Move,” the latest feature from prolific filmmaker Jennifer Reeder. It stars the wonderful comedian Fawzia Mirza as Zaynab, […]
Why Darci Lynne Farmer is 2017’s Entertainer of the Year
Before I wanted to be a writer, a filmmaker or even a film critic, my first dream job was that of a full-time puppeteer. I grew up marveling at the […]
Indie Outlook 