Echo Chamber Drama: A Review Of Shyamalan’s “Knock At The Cabin”
At the end of the world in a rental cabin in a night full of strangers.
Talking Screens, February 3-9, 2023: M. Night Shyamalan’s “Knock At The Cabin” is Sincere | Mia Hansen-Løve’s “One Fine Morning” is Tender | Lukas Dhont’s “Close” is Gentle
THIS WEEK: heaping helpings of film history in a partial list of offerings around town: “Forbidden Paradise” at Chicago Film Society; “Dancer in the Dark” and “Scent Of A Woman” at DOC Films; “One Fine Morning,” “Argento 1970s” and “War and Peace” at Siskel; and “Close,” “Ace in the Hole” and “Escape from New York” at Music Box.
Reading Pictures: Movies In Black-And-White
Almost nothing has been written about Walter Hill or his great work. A new book, which the director cooperated with, is “A Walter Hill Film” by critic Walter Chaw. There’s much I learned even as a lifelong student of Hill’s work: “The Warriors.” “Streets of Fire.” “48 HRS.”
Film Top 5: February 2023
Mia Hansen-Løve, Magic Mike redux, and feasting on Argento and Wilder
Talking Screens, January 27-February 2, 2023: A Toast to Jean at Siskel | Framing Agnes & Trans Creativity | Memoria at Music Box
THIS WEEK: Midwest Film Festival’s Best of The Midwest Awards Shorts Showcase; “Local Hero” at Block Cinema; “Relative” and “Tár” at Facets; “Framing Agnes,” “US,” “The Great Dictator” and “Sátántangó” at Siskel; and “Infinity Pool,” “Memoria” and “Sunset Boulevard” at Music Box.
Talking Screens, January 20-26, 2023: No Bears is One of the Best Films of the Year | Dekalog Could Be the Best Films Ever Made | And More Masterpieces
THIS WEEK: What a week! Masterpieces: And how! “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” at Chicago Film Society; “Baby Face” and “The Crime of Monsieur Lange” at DOC Films; “No Bears” and “Dekalog,” at Siskel; and “Double Indemnity,” “Assault on Precinct 13” and “Rules of the Game” at Music Box.
Talking Screens, January 13-19, 2023: Saint Omer is Electrifying | 13 1/2 Hours of La Flor or 146 Viewings of Predator?
THIS WEEK: “Sunrise: A Song Of Two Humans” at Chicago Film Society; “Aftersun” at Facets; “Magnolia” and “The Seventh Seal” at DOC Films; “Saint Omer,” “Broker,” “Alcarràs” and “La Flor” at Siskel; and “Predator,” “Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge,” “Ball of Fire” and “So Sweet… So Perverse” at Music Box.
Uncanny Ally: A Review Of M3GAN
“M3GAN” sells itself in its first handful of seconds in how it introduces the handiwork of roboticist Gemma (Allison Williams, “Get Out”) and her present product, PurrPetual Petz from Funki.
Talking Screens, January 6-12, 2023: A Man Called Otto is Bubba Grump | Bill Nighy is Living | Vicky Krieps Romps in Corsage
“Synecdoche, New York” and “Ikiru” at DOC Films; “Ninotchka” and “Total Recall” at Music Box; “OUT 1: Noli Me Tangere,” “Alcarrás” and “Broker” at Siskel. “Corsage,” “Living,” “A Man Called Otto” and “M3GAN” open.
As Long As A Piece Of String: The Attention Span Of Life
“No good movie is too long and no bad movie is short enough,” Roger Ebert said.
