‘Meg 2: The Trench’ review: This murky, underwater sequel doesn’t even have enough sharksAs Jonas, Jason Statham’s lack of excitement is contagious. “Great,” he mutters at one point, sounding like he’s in line at the post office. “More Megs.” August 04, 2023
Review: ‘A Compassionate Spy’ is a Manhattan Project espionage story that began at UChicagoSeen in the context of “Oppenheimer,” Steve James’ film serves as a fascinating complement — and in some ways, a corrective — to the Christopher Nolan blockbuster. August 04, 2023
This movie critic went looking for the biggest, best way to see ‘Oppenheimer.’ Here’s what I found.My travels took me to the Music Box Theatre in Chicago, the Emagine Batavia “Super EMX” and a real IMAX screen in Indianapolis. That last one twice. August 03, 2023
Column: Hollywood is spending more than ever. Where is the money going?The Hollywood actors and writers strike has made it clear: Money isn’t going to workaday people who make TV shows. So where is it going? August 03, 2023
Column: In defense of background TVThere's a place in the TV landscape — or there should be — for the kind of easy-to-watch shows you pick when you’re tired or distracted. August 02, 2023
My Worst Moment: Beau Bridges and the surreal moment on stage“It’s like when something strikes you funny when you’re in church — it’s the worst timing imaginable," said Beau Bridges of his worst moment on stage. August 01, 2023
‘Talk to Me’ review: When a game of talk-to-the-hand turns into a nightmareIn this summer of screaming pink (”Barbie”), is there room for a dour, low-lit Australian horror film about demonic possession? July 28, 2023
10 Things to do around Chicago: Ed Sheeran, fair weekend in Chinatown and cool cars on Navy PierLook for another summer weekend of live music, Fiesta Del Sol, Chinatown Summer Fair and a Bollywood-inspired performance in the park. July 28, 2023
‘The Beanie Bubble’ review: Tiny treasures, massive workplace dramaFour movies about the wonders of corporate mythmaking have been released in the first half of the year. "The Beanie Bubble" on Apple TV+ is the latest July 27, 2023
Column: The lesson Hollywood should learn from ‘Barbenheimer’? Let originality come through.Post-Barbenheimer, says Slate critic Dana Stevens, Hollywood should "make space for interesting filmmakers who’ve proven themselves at getting audiences excited in their work." July 26, 2023
‘Futurama’ review: The animated comedy will not be quashed! It’s back for Season 11 on a new home: HuluToo many live-action TV comedies these days aren’t even really comedies. Animated TV comedies are where you'll find gags upon gags. July 26, 2023
My worst moment: ‘Swagger’ star Orlando Jones on being unceremoniously dumped from a show“It was odd because I did my job to the best of my ability, and everybody said it was incredible — but that wasn’t good enough." July 25, 2023
Tony Bennett appreciation: Decade after decade, he left his heart in every fan’s memoriesTony Bennett toured all the way into his 90s. He went public with his Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2021. Music, his third wife said, kept him as present in his life as humanly possible. July 21, 2023
Column: What’s next for the beloved Pickwick Theatre — and what they shouldn’t ignore (hint: it’s the movies)The Pickwick Theatre is something more than a symbol of the past, or a nostalgia novelty for Park Ridge. The venue may be unfashionably scaled, and a little ungainly. But it’s special. July 20, 2023
‘Minx’ review: In Season 2, the perils of success from a feminist mag with male centerfoldsNo longer a start-up story, this year the show examines the moral compromises of a feminist magazine featuring male nudes centerfolds. July 20, 2023
10 movies for summer 2023: From ‘Indiana Jones’ and ‘Barbie’ to some smaller gems The summer '23 movies may rely on a slew of name brands--from Indy to missions: impossible--but if a film as lovely and near-perfect as Celine Song’s debut feature “Past Lives” also qualifies as a summer picture, then summer looks pretty good to me. July 19, 2023
‘Oppenheimer’ review: Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy dissect the tortured conscience behind our atomic age A filmmaker cannot treat the sight, and the fallout, of the dawn of our catastrophic nuclear age as mere spectacle. Well, they can. But it’d be a mistake. This movie isn't perfect but it's Nolan's gravest achievement. July 19, 2023
Column: The actors strike and the dystopian potential of AI, now on screenWhat if studios hope to own and profit from a person’s image and likeness for the rest of eternity? July 19, 2023
‘Barbie’ review: A doll’s life is richly, unexpectedly imagined by Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie Director Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" has lots going on, a lot of it terrifically imaginative. July 18, 2023
Column: Chicago mainstay Amy Morton on the actors’ strike: ‘We’re mad. And we’re fed up.’ "In the old days, around contract negotiation time, at least the actors were paid lip service.'” July 18, 2023
‘My Worst Moment’: Your favorite celebs tell us their most cringe-worthy momentsBy Nina Metz●August 01, 2023
‘Meg 2: The Trench’ review: This murky, underwater sequel doesn’t even have enough sharksBy Michael Phillips●August 04, 2023
Review: ‘A Compassionate Spy’ is a Manhattan Project espionage story that began at UChicagoBy Michael Phillips●August 04, 2023
This movie critic went looking for the biggest, best way to see ‘Oppenheimer.’ Here’s what I found.By Michael Phillips●August 03, 2023
‘Talk to Me’ review: When a game of talk-to-the-hand turns into a nightmareBy Michael Phillips●July 28, 2023
My worst moment: When ‘Justified: City Primeval’ star Aunjanue Ellis saw Sean Combs walk out during her monologueAunjanue Ellis was on Broadway but never felt good about her career in theater — and finally realized she wasn't cut out for the stage. July 18, 2023
‘Theater Camp’ review: Hello muddah, hello faddah, camp is pretty entertainingThis one stretches itself a little thin, for reasons more to do with wit than plot. But those feeling a little roughed up by “No Hard Feelings” this summer now have a PG-13 comedy option. July 14, 2023
Column: Hollywood actors are on strike — here’s what you need to knowA strike means no TV or film work from actors for the foreseeable future. But also no promotional appearances and interviews. July 13, 2023
Jean-Luc Godard’s ‘Contempt’ — his provocative 1963 movie about a marriage — screens in a 4k restoration at Siskel CenterIt remains as peculiar, sullen and gorgeous a film today as when Godard had the profoundly conflicted experience of making it 60 years ago. July 13, 2023
‘Project Greenlight’ review: In Season 5, Issa Rae and friends take over for Matt Damon and Ben AffleckPast seasons resulted in unwatchable movies and careers that never flourished. Maybe that’s why "Project Greenlight" has been moribund for nearly a decade. July 13, 2023
Siskel Film Center executive director Emily Long: ‘How do we overcome the convenience that exists on the couch?’ Gene Siskel Film Center executive director Emily Long: "When we all quarantined, I think a lot of us realized the value of shared cultural experience." July 13, 2023
‘Luann & Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake’ review: Two ‘Real Housewives of New York’ are dropped into small town IllinoisLuann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan, the Frick and Frack of Bravolebrities, star in this "The Simple Life" meets "Schitt's Creek" ripoff. July 12, 2023
‘Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One’ review: I choose to accept the year’s most satisfying action movie"Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One" is the one franchise action blowout this year that knows what it's doing. July 12, 2023
My worst moment: ‘The Bear’ star Liza Colón-Zayas and the bloody stage mishapSometimes on stage actors momentarily lose place of where they are in the story. Here's what happens when you're covered in blood. July 11, 2023
‘Revoir Paris’ review: After a terrorist attack, a survivor searches for closure but the movie stays on the surfaceIn "Revoir Paris" Virginie Efira is as economical and effective as ever. But the movie uses tragic events for its protagonist’s personal growth and well-being dubiously. July 07, 2023