Pat McDonald on Paul Giamatti
There are few character actors in the business as versatile and engaging as Paul Giamatti. Even his weakest vehicles have been bolstered by his sheer presence. Just look at the […]
Tag Archives: Indie Outlook
Sam Shapson and A.J. Sheeran on “The Treehouse”
Co-chairing the Chicago Film Critics Association’s festival of student-made short films has been a nostalgic experience for me, since the submissions all come from my alma mater, Columbia College. It’s […]
Sadie Rogers on “The Wise Kids,” “The Skriker”
Sometimes an actor delivers a performance so vivid and indelible that it transcends the boundaries of screen time. That’s precisely what Sadie Rogers does in Stephen Cone’s masterpiece, “The Wise […]
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 […]
Alec Pinkston and Steve Shields on “Sick Day”
Morning news programs certainly provide fertile ground for satire. When anchors aren’t plugging their network’s latest reality TV sensation or gossiping about a recent celebrity break-up, they’re taking part in […]
Ry Russo-Young on “Nobody Walks”
From Amy Jellicoe on “Enlightened” to Hannah Horvath on “Girls,” there are a growing assemblage of female characters cheerfully breaking conventions and stereotypes while refusing to fall into the trap […]
Matthew Leslie on “Deadhorse”
I’m always fascinated by people who attempt to capture unscripted truth onscreen. That is precisely what filmmaker Matthew Leslie did when he made “Deadhorse,” an epic documentary about a Chicago-area […]
Twenty Enticing Titles at Sundance 2013
Every film festival presents a formidable challenge for journalists and cinephiles. Just how many movies can one cram into such a tight schedule? Why are so many enticing titles scheduled […]
Indie Flashback: Rachel Getting Married
As yet another silly awards season kicks into hyper-drive, it’s important to remember that the vast majority of films vying for accolades will be blissfully forgotten soon after February 24th. […]
Indie Outlook 